Indian equity benchmarks suffered a sharp sell-off on Monday, with the BSE Sensex tumbling 1,124.02 points, or 1.52 percent, to close at 72,771.72. The decline marked the index’s lowest closing level since March 30, 2026. The NSE Nifty 50 fell in tandem, dropping 360.25 points, or 1.56 percent, to end at 22,780.25, a near six-month low.
The broad-based decline erased substantial investor wealth, with estimates of losses ranging from around Rs 6–7.5 lakh crore in a single session.
Over the past month, the Sensex has declined more than 5 percent, wiping out over Rs 17 lakh crore in market value amid persistent pressure. Nearly all major sectoral indices finished in the red, with PSU banks among the hardest hit, falling over 3 percent. Realty, metals, auto, and FMCG stocks also posted notable losses.
Among Sensex constituents, 29 of the 30 stocks ended lower. Heavyweights such as Larsen & Toubro, Power Grid, Adani Ports, HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever, and Reliance Industries led the declines, each falling more than 2 percent.
Broader markets followed suit, with midcap and smallcap indices slipping between 1.5 and 1.85 percent.
Market participants attributed the sell-off primarily to a sharp rise in global crude oil prices and renewed geopolitical uncertainty. Brent crude climbed above $107–108 a barrel after developments in US-Iran talks, including reports of rejected proposals related to the Strait of Hormuz, heightening concerns over energy supply disruptions.
Elevated US Treasury yields near 5.2 percent, expectations of further monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve, foreign portfolio investor outflows, and a weakening rupee added to the pressure on Indian equities. Analysts say that the external macroeconomic headwinds are currently outweighing domestic economic resilience. The session extended a recent period of caution, with benchmarks having posted weekly declines in prior sessions. Investors will closely monitor oil price movements, global bond yields, and geopolitical developments for cues on whether the selling pressure eases in the coming days.