Markets End Lower: Sensex, Nifty Tumble Amid US-Iran Tensions

Indian equity benchmarks ended decisively lower on Monday as escalating hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran unsettled investors and sparked broad-based selling.

Heightened geopolitical anxiety weighed heavily on sentiment across sectors.

The benchmark NIFTY 50 declined 1.24 per cent, shedding 312.95 points to close at 24,865.70.

The BSE Sensex fell 1.29 per cent, losing 1,048.34 points to settle at 80,238.85, its weakest closing level since September 2025.

Although both indices pared intraday losses, they remained firmly negative at the closing bell.

Technical analysts indicated that immediate support for the Nifty stands at 24,600. A clear breach below this threshold could invite a sharper corrective phase.

On the upside, resistance remains capped at 25,000. Market experts cautioned that unless the index sustains above 25,000, bearish momentum may continue to dominate near-term trade.

Volatility Surges Sharply

On the Sensex constituents, only Bharat Electronics Limited, Sun Pharma and ITC managed to finish in positive territory.

Aviation major IndiGo led the decliners, plunging 6.25 per cent. Other notable laggards included Maruti Suzuki India, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv and Reliance Industries.

Investor unease surfaced clearly in derivatives data. The India VIX surged 25.01 per cent to 17.13, signalling elevated risk perception and heightened market fear.

Broader indices underperformed the frontline gauges. The Nifty MidCap index retreated 1.58 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index dropped 1.75 per cent, reflecting intensified selling pressure beyond large-cap counters.

Sectorally, automobile and oil and gas stocks bore the brunt of the downturn. The Nifty Auto index emerged as the weakest performer, sliding 2.20 per cent.

In contrast, the Nifty Metal index defied the broader weakness and edged up 0.24 per cent, emerging as the lone resilient pocket.

Market participants attributed the decline to mounting geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia.

Analysts observed that persistent tensions have begun translating into tangible economic concerns.

Consequently, investors trimmed exposure and booked profits, adopting a cautious stance amid fragile global cues.

Also Read: Sensex, Nifty Fall Over 1 Pc Amid Escalating West Asia Tensions