The SENSEX Index Closes 2.46% Lower

India’s BSE Sensex closed about 2.5% down at 72,696.4 on Monday, the lowest since May 2024, as escalating tensions in the Middle East over the weekend added fresh uncertainty to the economic outlook. US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Saturday, warning that Washington could strike key Iranian power and energy infrastructure if Tehran did not fully reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic. In response, Iranian authorities vowed that the strait would be “completely closed” to shipping and threatened retaliation against critical infrastructure. The sell-off was widespread, with all sectoral indices closing in the red. Sectors such as consumer durables, realty, oil & gas, and chemicals declined in the range of 3–6%. Financials and metal stocks also posted sharp losses, between 2%-5%. Among equities, Titan was the worst performer, falling 6.2%, followed by Trent (-5.9%), Ultra Tech Cement (-5.2%), BEL (-4.9%), IndiGo (-4.9%) and Tata Steel (-4.8%).

The SENSEX Index dropped -1837 points or 2.46 percent on Monday to close at 72696 points. Losses were led by Titan Company (-6.55%), UltraTech Cement (-5.34%) and Indusind Bank (-5.06%).

India’s BSE Sensex fell about 1.7% to 73,249 on Monday, reversing the prior session’s gains and hitting its lowest level since April 2025, as a broad Asian sell-off weighed on sentiment amid rising crude prices and escalating geopolitical tensions. As a major oil importer, India faces rising concerns over higher inflation, a widening trade deficit, currency weakness, and slower economic growth. Foreign investors reportedly pulled out about $9.57 billion in March, the largest outflow since October 2024. Corporate developments were also in focus, with Petronet LNG’s target price cut on potential supply disruptions, HDFC Bank pressured by its chairman’s resignation, and developments involving tax demand issues at State Bank of India and a regulatory directive affecting Tata Power. All sectors traded in the red, led by heavyweight financials, with notable declines in HDFC Bank (-2.4%), ICICI Bank (-1.4%), Multi Commodity Exchange (-3.9%), State Bank of India (-3.3%), and BSE (-2.4%).