Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced a significant decline for the third consecutive day, with a nearly 1 per cent drop, as surging crude oil prices and a sell-off in bank stocks dampened investor sentiment.
Key Points
- Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty fell by nearly 1 per cent, marking the third consecutive day of losses.
- The decline was primarily attributed to a sharp increase in crude oil prices, with Brent crude surging 4.68 per cent to USD 95.27 per barrel.
- Selling pressure in major bank stocks, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, significantly contributed to the market downturn.
- Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and renewed concerns over potential US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports also weighed on investor sentiment.
- Despite the overall market decline, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers on Tuesday, purchasing equities worth Rs 1,650.16 crore.
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled nearly 1 per cent on Wednesday, taking the losses to the third consecutive day, following a sharp spike in crude oil prices and selling in bank stocks.
The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 715.06 points, or 0.92 per cent, to settle at 76,755.05.
During the day, it slumped 828.92 points, or 1 per cent, to 76,641.19.
Nifty's Performance and Top Laggards
The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 191.45 points, or 0.79 per cent, to end at 23,996.25.
From the Sensex pack, InterGlobe Aviation, Infosys, State Bank of India, UltraTech Cement, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank were among the major laggards.
Hindustan Unilever, NTPC, Power Grid, and Titan were among the winners.
Impact of Global Oil Prices and Geopolitical Tensions
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 4.68 per cent to $95.27 per barrel.
"Indian equities closed lower as a sharp rise in crude oil prices and persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East kept investors firmly in risk-off mode.
"The benchmark indices faced sustained selling pressure throughout the session, with broad-based declines across most sectors overshadowing an otherwise encouraging start to the first-quarter earnings season," Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth tech firm.
Investor attention remained firmly on the macro backdrop as higher crude oil prices and renewed concerns over potential US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports weighed on sentiment, he added.
Global Market Overview and FII Activity
In Asian markets, South Korea's KOSPI and Shanghai's SSE Composite index ended higher, while Japan's Nikkei 225 index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index settled lower.
Markets in Europe were trading higher. US markets ended higher on Tuesday.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned buyers on Tuesday. They bought equities worth Rs 1,650.16 crore in the previous trade, according to exchange data.
