admin 
Mumbai, India | March 12, 2026: Indian stock markets opened sharply lower on Thursday as rising West Asia tensions and a surge in global crude oil prices dampened investor sentiment. Benchmark indices Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex witnessed heavy selling pressure during early trading hours.
The Nifty 50 opened at 23,674.85, falling about 192 points (0.80%), while the BSE Sensex opened at 76,369.65, dropping around 494 points (0.64%). As trading progressed, losses deepened with Sensex falling nearly 800 points and Nifty declining around 250 points.
Rising Crude Oil Prices Impact Markets
Market sentiment weakened after reports suggested that Iran’s Navy warned vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz to seek approval or risk being targeted. The warning has increased fears of disruption in global oil supply.
Due to these concerns, WTI crude oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, raising worries about inflation and economic instability worldwide.
Experts believe higher crude prices could increase import costs for India, which heavily depends on oil imports.
Global Uncertainty Triggers Investor Caution
Market expert Ajay Bagga said global risk factors are pushing investors away from emerging markets like India.
According to him, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are increasingly selling on rallies due to multiple global risks such as rising oil prices, a strong US dollar, and trade tensions.
He also warned that the global energy market has entered a high-risk phase due to geopolitical tensions.
Sectoral Indices Trade in Red
Most sectoral indices on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) opened lower.
The biggest losses were seen in:
- Nifty Auto
- Nifty PSU Banks
- Nifty Realty
Each of these sectors declined more than 2% during early trading.
Other sectors also reported losses:
- Nifty FMCG fell about 1.4%
- Nifty IT dropped 0.43%
- Nifty Pharma declined 0.98%
Precious Metals Rise Amid Uncertainty
While equities declined, precious metals gained due to global uncertainty.
- Gold traded near ₹1,61,629 per 10 grams (24K)
- Silver traded around ₹2,67,121 per kilogram
Investors often move toward safe-haven assets like gold during periods of geopolitical tension.
Asian Markets Also Under Pressure
Stock markets across Asia also traded lower amid rising global risks.
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell about 2%
- Singapore’s Straits Times declined 0.80%
- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.49%
- South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 1.34%
- Taiwan Weighted Index fell 1.47%
Mixed Closing in US Markets
On Wednesday, US markets ended with mixed results.
- S&P 500 declined 0.08%
- Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.61%
- Nasdaq gained 0.08%
Analysts say investors will closely monitor oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and global trade developments, as these factors may continue to influence stock market movements.
About The Author
