India’s stock market slipped sharply into the red on Thursday, erasing the previous session’s gains as weak global cues and rising geopolitical tensions dented investor sentiment. Both the BSE Sensex and Nifty50 opened lower and extended losses as the trading session progressed.
The benchmarks failed to sustain their earlier upward momentum, opening below the previous closing levels. Selling pressure intensified soon after the opening bell, dragging indices deeper into negative territory.
Sensex crashes over 1,100 points, Nifty slips sharply
Within the first hour of trade, the Sensex plunged 1,117 points or 1.44%, slipping to 76,378. The Nifty50 also dropped 354 points or 1.46%, falling to 23,823, reflecting broad-based weakness across the market.
Losses were seen across sectors, with all sectoral indices trading in the red. Midcap and smallcap stocks also came under pressure, indicating widespread selling and cautious investor sentiment.
Also Read | ‘₹15,000 gone, no response’: SpiceJet delays leave Mumbai flyers stranded— what’s going on?
Market experts attributed the sharp decline to escalating tensions in West Asia. Fresh warnings from US President Donald Trump regarding a potential blockade in the Strait of Hormuz have heightened global uncertainty, triggering risk-off sentiment among investors.
Amid these tensions, crude oil prices in the international market have surged past $120 per barrel once again. Higher oil prices pose inflationary risks for India, putting additional pressure on equities.
Rupee slides past 95 against US dollar
The Indian rupee weakened further, breaching the 95 mark against the US dollar. Currency depreciation has added to investor concerns, particularly in the face of rising import costs.
Also Read | What does E85, E100 mean for your vehicle? Here's all you need to know about India's ethanol push
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continue to pull money out of Indian equities, contributing to the downward trend. Persistent outflows have further dampened market confidence.
Analysts say the current downturn is the result of a combination of factors — geopolitical tensions, rising crude prices, currency weakness, and sustained foreign outflows. The cumulative impact has created a fresh wave of pessimism on Dalal Street, mirroring weakness in global markets.
