Indian stock markets remained under heavy pressure on Tuesday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty continuing their sharp decline amid rising crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia, and weakness in the Indian rupee. The selloff followed another volatile trading session that erased significant investor wealth across Dalal Street.
According to live market updates, the BSE Sensex dropped over 1,000 points during the session, while the Nifty slipped below key support levels as investors reacted to global uncertainty and sustained foreign fund outflows.
Market sentiment weakened after tensions involving the United States and Iran intensified, raising fears of disruptions in global crude oil supplies. Brent crude prices moved close to $105 per barrel, increasing concerns over inflationary pressure and India’s import bill.
The Indian rupee also touched a fresh record low against the US dollar, adding further pressure on equities. Analysts noted that the weakening currency, along with higher oil prices, could negatively impact corporate earnings and overall economic stability.
During early trade, the Nifty fell as much as 0.83% to 23,617.70, while the Sensex slipped nearly 739 points to 75,276.30, according to NDTV Profit’s live coverage.
The broader market also witnessed strong selling pressure. Midcap and smallcap stocks traded lower, reflecting cautious investor sentiment across sectors. Banking, auto, realty, defence, media, and IT shares remained among the major laggards during the session. Nifty IT emerged as one of the worst-performing sectoral indices, with stocks such as TCS, Infosys, and HCLTech witnessing notable declines.
Data from market trackers showed that the Sensex had already fallen 1,312.91 points in the previous session to close at 76,015.28, while the Nifty ended 360.30 points lower at 23,815.85.
Foreign institutional investor selling also remained a key concern for the market. Reports indicated that overseas investors have pulled out record amounts from Indian equities in recent months, contributing to volatility in domestic markets.
Experts tracking market trends said the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict, combined with elevated crude oil prices and rupee depreciation, has created a risk-averse environment for investors. Additionally, the expiry of Nifty futures and options contracts added to intraday volatility.
Despite the broader selloff, oil-linked stocks such as ONGC and Oil India saw gains as rising crude prices supported sentiment in the energy segment.
Meanwhile, investors are closely watching upcoming inflation data and global developments for further direction in the markets. Analysts believe crude oil movement and geopolitical headlines will continue to influence trading sentiment in the near term.
