Mumbai: Dalal Street witnessed another sharp fall on Thursday, with the Sensex closing 829 points lower at 76,034, as the ongoing West Asia conflict pushed crude oil prices toward the three digit mark.
The day began on a weak note, with the index down nearly 500 points, and continued to fluctuate amid heightened volatility. Over the last two sessions, the Sensex has lost approximately 2,200 points, reflecting growing investor caution.
Heavy selling by foreign institutional investors contributed to the decline, with net outflows totaling ₹7,050 crore, according to BSE data. The day’s slump erased ₹1.8 lakh crore from market capitalization, leaving BSE’s total value just above ₹440 lakh crore.
Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice President of Research at Religare Broking, said geopolitical tensions in West Asia, coupled with surging crude prices, continue to unsettle global markets. “Oil prices have rebounded to around $97 per barrel, intensifying concerns over inflation, currency depreciation, and potential impacts on India’s trade balance,” he added.
Among the 30 Sensex constituents, 26 ended in the red, with ICICI Bank, Larsen & Toubro, and Mahindra & Mahindra contributing most to the decline. Stocks such as NTPC and PowerGrid provided marginal support.
In the broader market, 2,645 stocks closed lower while 1,598 managed gains, highlighting the widespread impact of rising energy concerns on investor sentiment.