Mumbai
Benchmarkstock indices Sensex and Nifty extended their slide to a third straight session on Thursday, as surging crude oil prices amid escalating tensions in West Asia dampened investor sentiment.
A broad-based selloff, especially across FMCG, power and IT stocks, and weak global cues also kept domestic equities under pressure.
The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 460.30 points, or 0.62 per cent, to close at 73,249.39. During the day, the benchmark tumbled 704.58 points, or 0.95 per cent, to hit an intraday low of 73,005.11.
The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 123.70 points, or 0.54 per cent, to settle at 22,687.65. In the intraday session, the index plunged 256.5 points, or 1.12 per cent, to a low of 22,554.85. Among the Sensex constituents, Reliance Industries, Eternal, HDFC Bank, PowerGrid, Trent, Asian Paints, Infosys, ITC, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services and Larsen & Toubro were the major laggards.
Bajaj Finance, UltraTech Cement, ICICI Bank, Sun Pharmaceuticals, State Bank of India, Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HCL Technologies and Bajaj Finserv were among the gainers. "Inflation concerns took centre stage today as renewed escalation in West Asia sent crude prices sharply higher. The rupee reversed its recent trend, weakening steadily through the session, which weighed on investor sentiment. Although the benchmark indices attempted a recovery led by banking stocks, the move failed to sustain at higher levels," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Ltd. With domestic bond yields climbing back to recent highs, equity valuation premiums came under renewed scrutiny and selling broadened across almost all sectors, he added.
"Consequently, tracking negative global cues ahead of Japan’s inflation data, Indian equities ended lower after a volatile session, with mid- and small-cap segments underperforming large caps," Nair said.
Oil shock knocks rupee down 44 paise
Mumbai: The rupee slumped 44 paise to close at 94.82 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, weighed down by a negative trend in the domestic equity markets and surging crude oil prices. According to forex analysts, the rupee began trading on a flat-to-lower trajectory due to sluggish domestic equities and surging crude oil prices. Escalation of attacks by Yemeni Houthis on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure deteriorated global market sentiment, they said, adding that softening of the dollar index and a decline in US Treasury yields cushioned the downside. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 94.47 against the dollar, then lost ground to touch an intra-day low of 94.94 and finally settled for the day at 94.82 (provisional), registering a decline of 44 paise over its previous close.
Bullion rally falters as gold, silver retreat
New Delhi: Gold prices fell by Rs 1,000 to Rs 1.48 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday, while silver tumbled Rs 5,900 to a 10-month low of Rs 2.07 lakh per kilogram amid weak trends in the international markets. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity closed at Rs 1.49 lakh per 10 grams on Wednesday. Silver also plunged Rs 5,900 to Rs 2,07,500 per kilogram, inclusive of all taxes, from the previous close of Rs 2,13,400 per kg, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The white metal previously traded around these levels at Rs 2,07,600 per kg on December 18, 2025.