Indian benchmark equity indices ended sharply lower on Monday, weighed down by broad-based selling across sectors amid weak global cues and concerns over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The BSE Sensex plunged below 700 points to close at 75,800, while the NSE Nifty 50 fell below the 23,150 mark. Investor sentiment remained under pressure as rising crude oil prices and uncertainty surrounding the Iran-Israel conflict heightened concerns about inflation and global economic growth.
Among the major losers on the Sensex, Tata Motors led the decline, followed by Adani Ports and Trent. Other stocks that ended lower included Maruti Suzuki, Sun Pharma, Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro. Selling pressure was visible across auto, metal and energy stocks.
A few stocks managed to buck the trend. IndusInd Bank, Tech Mahindra and HCLTech were among the notable gainers, supported by selective buying in banking and information technology counters. Infosys and Axis Bank also showed relative resilience compared with the broader market.
Market participants said escalating geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices triggered risk-off sentiment among investors. Higher crude prices are a concern for India as they can increase import costs and fuel inflationary pressures.
Analysts noted that investors are closely monitoring developments in global energy markets, foreign institutional investor activity and upcoming economic data for further direction.
Going forward, market sentiment is expected to remain cautious as traders assess the impact of geopolitical developments and commodity price movements. Any further escalation in tensions or sustained rise in crude oil prices could continue to weigh on equities.