Sensex, Nifty open lower as US-Iran tensions, crude prices weigh on sentiment

New Delhi: Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty opened lower on Tuesday as renewed tensions between the US and Iran, along with elevated crude oil prices, weighed on investor sentiment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 30 points to 77,336.32 in early trading, while the NSE Nifty declined 38.80 points to 24,179.50. Losses widened subsequently, with the Sensex trading 139.96 points lower at 77,235.23 and the Nifty down 66.75 points at 24,162.50.

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Among Sensex constituents, HCL Technologies, Tech Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, NTPC, Power Grid Corporation and Bajaj Finance were among the major laggards. Trent, Adani Ports, ICICI Bank and Bharat Electronics were among the notable gainers.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.35 percent to USD 92.49 a barrel, keeping pressure on equity sentiment.

Ponmudi R, CEO of online trading and wealth-tech firm Enrich Money, said the US had launched what it termed an “Economic D-Day” against Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing a sweeping new sanctions campaign to intensify economic pressure on Tehran.

The latest escalation follows the expiry of the 60-day ceasefire window, with no further talks currently planned, Ponmudi said.

Asian markets were largely subdued. South Korea’s Kospi, Shanghai’s SSE Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng were trading lower, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 was in positive territory. US markets ended mostly lower on Monday.

Hariselvan Radhakrishnan, Founder and CEO of HST Wealth, said Indian markets could see heightened volatility as weakness in global equities coincides with renewed US-Iran tensions and positioning ahead of the monthly expiry.

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He added that these factors could trigger sharper-than-usual price swings, particularly during the final hour of trading.

Foreign Institutional Investors bought equities worth Rs 1,181.66 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.

In the previous session, the Sensex declined 171.72 points, or 0.22 percent, to close at 77,369.11, while the Nifty fell 32.95 points, or 0.14 percent, to settle at 24,219.05.

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