Stock Market Crash Today: Sensex Tanks Over 1,700 Points, Nifty Slumps 2.3% as Global Tensions Rattle Markets

Indian equity markets opened sharply lower on Monday, tracking weakness in global markets amid escalating geopolitical tensions after an ultimatum issued by US President Donald Trump to Iran. Investor sentiment remained fragile as fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East triggered a broad sell-off across equities. At around 10:20 AM, benchmark indices were deep in the red. The Nifty 50 was trading at 22,565.05, down 549.45 points or 2.38%, while the BSE Sensex plunged 1,761.28 points, or 2.36%, to 72,771.68. The sharp decline reflected strong risk-off sentiment among investors reacting to global developments.

Broader markets also came under pressure, mirroring the weakness in frontline indices. The Nifty Midcap and Nifty Smallcap indices declined 1.90% and 2.18%, respectively, indicating widespread selling across segments of the market. On the sectoral front, PSU banking stocks were among the biggest losers. The Nifty PSU Bank index dropped nearly 3%, emerging as the worst-performing sector during the session. Banking and metal stocks also faced selling pressure, with Nifty Bank and Nifty Metal indices trading lower as investors moved away from riskier assets. Weakness was also visible across global markets. In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 3.3%, while South Korea’s KOSPI tumbled 4.6% as investors reacted to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

US markets had already ended lower in the previous session. The S&P 500 fell 1.51%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.96%, reflecting cautious sentiment among global investors. Meanwhile, crude oil prices moved higher after Donald Trump warned of potential action against Iran’s nuclear facilities if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours. Iran responded by threatening strikes on energy infrastructure across the Middle East, raising concerns over possible disruptions to global energy supplies. As a result, Brent Crude for May delivery rose 0.66% to $107.11 per barrel. Gold prices, however, moved lower despite the geopolitical tensions. Gold Futures fell 3.34%, as the ongoing developments weighed on inflation expectations and the outlook for global borrowing costs.