30 April,2026 11:35 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
While the global uncertainties continue to grow, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty slumped in early trade on Thursday. The sudden surge is also because of a sharp spike in crude oil prices, weak global trends and foreign fund outflows.
During the early hours of Thursday, the 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 821.79 points to 76,674.57 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dived 287.3 points to 23,890.35.
From the 30-Sensex firms, InterGlobe Aviation, Eternal, UltraTech Cement, Mahindra & Mahindra, Axis Bank and Adani Ports were among the biggest laggards. On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Tech Mahindra, Infosys and Power Grid were among the top gainers.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 4.08 per cent higher at USD 122.8 per barrel.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,468.42 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
Along with Indian indices, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were also quoting lower. However, the Shanghai SSE Composite index traded marginally higher.
Hariprasad K, Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth, said, "The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed lower as crude oil extended its rally... At the same time, the Federal Reserve maintained the status quo on interest rates, offering limited support to risk assets," as per PTI.
The persistence of geopolitical tensions, particularly around supply disruptions, is keeping risk appetite subdued and markets highly sensitive to headlines, he added.
Nifty traded with high volatility as it started the session on a positive note and moved above the previous session's high of 24,181 in the opening trade and moved to an intraday high of 24,334 in the mid-session. However, fear of rising geopolitical tension between the US and Iran kept crude oil prices elevated above USD 113, and it led to selling pressure at higher levels; the index gave up some of its gains and closed the session above 24,150 levels.
At the close, the Sensex gained 609.45 points (0.79 per cent) to settle at 77,496.36, while the Nifty advanced 181.95 points (0.76 per cent) to end at 24,177.65. On the sectoral front, most indices closed in the green, with major support coming from FMCG, Realty, Auto, and IT stocks.
(With inputs from PTI)
