Indian stock markets ended Monday’s session on a weak note as investors turned cautious amid rising crude oil prices, global uncertainty and fresh geopolitical concerns. The benchmark BSE Sensex fell around 800 points to close below the 82,000 mark, while the Nifty 50 slipped below the 23,450 level, extending losses through the trading day.
Markets opened lower following weak cues from international markets and remained under pressure throughout the session. Selling was witnessed across key sectors including banking, metals, oil and gas, and real estate, indicating broad-based weakness in the market. Mid-cap and small-cap indices also traded lower, suggesting that selling pressure was spread across segments rather than being limited to large-cap stocks.
Among individual stocks, Gland Pharma and IndusInd Bank emerged among the notable gainers and managed to stay in positive territory despite the broader weakness. On the losing side, Power Grid, Tata Steel, HDFC Bank, Maruti Suzuki, and Adani Ports were among the major drags on the benchmark indices.
Market sentiment remained under pressure due to rising crude prices linked to geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Higher oil prices generally raise concerns for India because of its dependence on imports, leading to worries over inflation and increased costs for businesses.
The Indian rupee also remained under pressure during the day, adding to investor concerns over foreign fund flows. Analysts said investors preferred profit-booking after the recent rally and adopted a cautious approach amid uncertainty in global markets.