Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Indian equities suffered a sharp sell-off on Monday as rising crude oil prices, geopolitical uncertainty, foreign fund outflows and weak global cues pulled benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty down over 1.5 percent to near six-month lows, the media reported.
While Sensex plunged 1,124.02 points (1.52 per cent) to 72,771.72, its lowest closing level since March 30, 2026, the Nifty 50 fell 360.25 points (1.56 per cent) to 22,780.25, with 47 of its 50 constituents ending lower.
According to initial estimates, investors lost a whopping Rs.6 trillion in this financial blood bath.
Surging Brent crude, which jumped 3.81 per cent to USD 108.3 a barrel, along with geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran stalemate over the Strait of Hormuz, weighed heavily on sentiment.
Foreign fund outflows, rising US bond yields and weak Asian markets added to the pressure.
The Nifty PSU Bank Index was the worst performer, falling 3.24 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap 100 and Nifty MidCap 100 declined 1.85 per cent and 1.63 per cent, respectively.
FIIs had sold equities worth Rs 3,693.93 crore on Friday last week.
Within Nifty, 47 of 50 stocks closed lower, while only three gained. In the Sensex stable, 29 of 30 Sensex stocks ended lower, leaving Infosys the only winner.
Nifty PSU Bank became the worst-performing sectoral index, down 3.24 per cent. Nifty SmallCap 100 fell 1.85 per cent, and MidCap 100 declined 1.63 per cent.
Amid growing geopolitical uncertainties, Brent crude jumped 3.81 per cent to USD 108.3 a barrel while the Indian Rupee depreciated 28 paise to 96.03 against the US dollar.
The top Sensex laggard was Larsen & Toubro, which fell 2.81 per cent.
Among the Nifty gainers were Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Infosys and HDFC Life.
The Indian stock markets were affected with global cues as well.: South Korea’s KOSPI, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Shanghai’s SSE Composite closed lower; Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained.