Stock markets opened sharply lower on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel. The BSE Sensex dropped around 1,650 points, while the NSE Nifty50 fell about 470 points, marking one of the steepest declines in recent months.
The sell-off was broad-based. Financials, automobile, and consumer goods stocks, including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Maruti Suzuki, and Tata Motors, led the losses. Meanwhile, some IT and pharmaceutical stocks, such as TCS, Infosys, and Sun Pharma, managed to post modest gains, providing limited support to the indices.
Global cues added to the pressure on Indian markets. Asian indices, including Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi, traded lower, while US futures showed declines overnight. The Indian rupee weakened against the dollar, reflecting elevated risk aversion among investors.
Rising crude oil prices remain a key concern, as fears of a prolonged Middle East conflict could disrupt supplies. India, as a major oil importer, faces higher import costs, which may increase inflationary pressures and dampen investor sentiment.
Analysts expect volatility to continue in the near term until geopolitical tensions ease. A senior executive at a leading global bank warned that it could take “a couple of weeks” for markets to fully absorb the economic impact of the Iran‑Israel conflict.
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