Indian stock markets opened sharply lower on Monday amid escalating tensions in West Asia, with the Sensex crashing more than 1,000 points and the Nifty falling over 300 points in early trade.
The BSE Sensex plunged 1,056.10 points or 1.44 per cent to 72,527.12, while the Nifty 50 dropped 306.50 points or 1.34 per cent to 22,513.10. The downward trend that began on Friday continued due to heavy selling pressure and rising crude oil prices as Iran braces for a potential US invasion and Israel intensifies its bombardment.
Volatility is expected to persist, particularly in the energy sector, which is leading the decline in major stocks.
Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, a SEBI-registered online trading and wealth tech firm, said the war in Iran will remain a major detrimental factor for stock markets in the coming days as no resolution to the crisis has been negotiated.
“This uncertainty is forcing investors to sell off their holdings and shift towards safer assets such as US treasury bonds, Bitcoin, gold and silver,” he added.
“Global signals remain negative, with the Nikkei declining over 5 per cent and the Kospi down 4 per cent, indicating a strong risk-off environment and suggesting a weak undertone for Indian markets,” Ponmudi said.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continued to be aggressive sellers, with outflows crossing approximately ₹1.14 lakh crore in March 2026, reflecting sustained global risk aversion and capital flight from emerging markets.
Also read: Crude oil prices jump to $116 per barrel
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