Indian shares rebounded slightly on Friday, curbing steep weekly losses as investors sought undervalued stocks amid concerns over the Iran war and a sharp decline in HDFC Bank. The Nifty 50 index rose 0.49% to 23,114.50, while the BSE Sensex gained 0.44% to 74,532.96, marking a partial recovery after a dismal week. The rupee fell to an all-time low of 93 per dollar, reflecting heightened market volatility. The Nifty 50 and Sensex had dropped 3.3% each on Thursday, their worst single-day performance since June 4, 2024. However, the indices ended the week with minimal losses, down 0.16% and 0.04%, respectively, due to value buying activity and a rebound on Friday. Analysts noted that the recent correction created opportunities for investors to enter the market at more attractive valuations, mitigating further declines. Global energy prices also influenced sentiment, with Brent crude trading at $111 per barrel on Friday. European nations and Japan had pledged to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears of supply disruptions. However, experts warned that even if the Iran war were resolved immediately, energy markets would take months to stabilize. HDFC Bank, the largest financial institution in India, led the market downturn, losing 4.5% this week after its part-time chairman abruptly resigned. The bank’s stock dragged down the financial sector index by 1.4% and private banks by 1%. Meanwhile, the auto sector rebounded 2.2% as it recovered from its worst weekly performance in six years. The IT sector also saw gains of 2.2% following better-than-expected earnings from U.S. peer Accenture, boosting investor confidence. Ten of the 16 major sectors recorded weekly losses, with small-cap stocks falling 1.1% and mid-cap stocks rising 0.2%.#india #strait_of_hormuz #nifty_50 #bsesensex #hdfc_bank
Stock Market Plummets as Geopolitical Tensions and Oil Prices Drive Investor Fears The Indian stock market experienced a sharp decline on March 11, 2026, with the Nifty50 index falling below the 24,000 mark and the BSE Sensex dropping over 1,000 points. At 12:14 PM, the Nifty50 was trading at 24,012.00, down 250 points or 1.03%, while the BSE Sensex fell to 77,299.07, a decline of 907 points or 1.16%. The downturn was attributed to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have unsettled investor sentiment. Among the Sensex constituents, shares of Axis Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, and Bajaj Finserv were the biggest losers, declining between 2% and 4% each. Conversely, Adani Ports, NTPC, Sun Pharma, and Tech Mahindra saw gains. The Nifty Auto index emerged as the worst performer, dropping nearly 2%, while the Nifty Private Bank index fell over 1.8%. The Nifty Pharma index, however, managed to trade higher, rising more than 1%. The market's decline was closely tied to escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Despite earlier hopes that the conflict might ease, the situation remains volatile. U.S. and Israeli forces launched what analysts described as the heaviest strikes of the war on Iran, even after President Donald Trump had suggested the conflict could be "over soon." The ongoing violence has raised concerns about the potential for broader regional instability, prompting investors to sell off equities. The impact of the conflict extended beyond the stock market, affecting global oil prices and fuel costs. Crude oil prices fell to $88 per barrel following a proposal by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to release 182 million barrels from its reserves.#nifty50 #bsesensex #axis_bank #mahindra_mahindra #bajaj_finserv
