Indian stock markets ended lower on tuesday, as BSE Sensex fell around 250 points to close near 77,000, while the Nifty 50 slipped about 80–90 points to hover around the 24,000 mark.
The weakness in markets was largely driven by rising geopolitical tensions, especially involving the United States and Iran, which pushed crude oil prices above $110 per barrel. For India, higher oil prices are a concern as they can increase inflation and impact overall economic growth.
Markets started the day on a soft note and remained under pressure throughout the session. While positive sentiment from recent state election results initially offered some support, global developments soon took centre stage, leading to cautious trading.
Among individual stocks, gains were seen in companies like Mahindra & Mahindra and UltraTech Cement, which benefited from positive earnings and steady demand outlook. On the other hand, stocks such as ICICI Bank and Jio Financial Services were among the top losers, pulling the indices lower.
Sector-wise, auto and FMCG stocks showed some resilience, while banking and realty stocks faced selling pressure. The broader market performed slightly better, with select mid- and small-cap stocks managing modest gains despite the overall weak trend.
Another factor weighing on sentiment was the weakness in the Indian rupee, which remained near record lows against the US dollar. A weaker currency increases import costs, particularly for crude oil, adding further pressure on the economy.
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