MARKETS LIVE: Sensex, Nifty Slide in Early Trade as US-Iran Conflict Drives Crude Surge
MUMBAI — Indian equity benchmarks opened sharply lower on Wednesday morning, tracking a broader selloff across global markets driven by rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia and a fresh surge in energy prices.
The BSE Sensex dropped over 340 points in initial trade, while the Nifty 50 surrendered key levels to hover around the 24,000 threshold.
Key Market Desk Takeaways
Crude Pressures Import Bill: Brent crude surged toward $97 per barrel following renewed U.S. strikes on Iranian positions, raising fears of supply disruptions through the critical Strait of Hormuz route.
Global Yields Spike: Rising energy prices sparked renewed global inflation fears, pushing the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield to its highest levels since January 2025 and driving risk-off capital flows away from emerging markets.
Currency Under Strain: The Indian Rupee traded flat-to-lower at 94.94 against the U.S. Dollar as expanding trade deficit expectations weighed on sentiment.
Early Trade Dashboard
| Index / Commodity | Level / Spot | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,055.80 | ▼ 192.55 pts | -0.79% |
| BSE Sensex | ~76,600.00 | ▼ >340.00 pts | -0.44% |
| MCX Crude Oil | ₹8,616 / bbl | ▲ 80.00 pts | +0.94% |
| Dollar-Rupee (USD/INR) | 94.94 | ▼ 0.02 pts | -0.02% |
| MCX Gold | ₹149,806 / 10g | ▼ 1,926.00 pts | -1.27% |
| MCX Silver | ₹225,700 / kg | ▼ 3,854.00 pts | -1.68% |
Precious Metals Retreat: Gold and silver futures on the MCX saw notable profit-taking, declining 1.27% (to ₹149,806/10g) and 1.68% (to ₹225,700/kg) respectively.
