01 October,2026 05:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational Image. File pic.
The domestic equity benchmark indices slumped for the fourth straight day on Thursday amid geopolitical uncertainties, elevated crude oil prices and sustained FII outflows that dampened investor sentiment.
The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 570.59 points or 0.79 per cent to settle at 71,909.70. The 50-share NSE Nifty tanked 198.50 points or 0.88 per cent to end at 22,421.95.
"The market sell-off has been driven largely by external factors, with bond yields reaching multi-year highs and crude oil prices remaining elevated, raising concerns about the economic outlook for 2026-27. Domestically, investors are also cautious ahead of Q2 results and the upcoming RBI policy next week," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments said.
"Q2 earnings are expected to be softer than Q1, which benefited from the lagged impact of operating costs, which may not be as available this time. While the RBI, which was more open-minded, last policy would consider a shift in its stance in response to global inflationary pressures and the need to support the INR (rupee)," he added.
Among the 30 Sensex constituents, only six ended higher, with IT stocks leading. Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Tech, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Tech Mahindra were the major gainers. Shares of Infosys rose 4.02 per cent, while the stocks of TCS, HCL Tech and HDFC Bank gained over 1.35 per cent. Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel, Adani Ports, ITC, Power Grid, Hindustan Unilever and Eternal were the major laggards.
On Wednesday, the benchmark indices pared their intraday gains, as the Sensex slipped 48.78 points, or 0.07 per cent, to settle at 72,480.29, while the Nifty dropped 95.75 points, or 0.42 per cent, to end at 22,620.45.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 2.77 per cent to USD 100.8 per barrel, according to news agency PTI.
"Indian equities are likely to stay under pressure in the near term as a record global bond rout, renewed strength in crude and the heaviest foreign selling in six months weigh on sentiment. The US 10-year Treasury yield has broken past its 2007 peak to 5.3 per cent, the highest since April 2002, with the 30-year at 5.6 per cent," Siddhartha Khemka Head of Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services said.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were the net sellers as they offloaded equities worth Rs 10,148.41
crore, while domestic institutional investors were net buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 11,271.73 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.
In Asian markets, South Korea's KOSPI and Japan's Nikkei 225 index ended higher. The stock exchanges in China and Hong Kong were closed for a holiday.
(With inputs from PTI)
