Mumbai: MArKet The benchmark Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Thursday, extending losses for a fourth consecutive session, as a sharp rise in crude oil prices due to escalating tensions in West Asia weighed on investor sentiment.
The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 363.66 points, or 0.47 percent, to settle at 76,391.39. During the day, it gained 603.07 points, or 0.78 percent, to 76,151.98.
The 50-share NSE Nifty fell 126.65 points, or 0.53 percent, to end at 23,869.60.
Of the Sensex pack, Adani Ports, Bajaj Finance, InterGlobe Aviation, Axis Bank, State Bank of India and Tata Steel were among the top laggards.
Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services, Eternal and Bajaj Finserv were among the package winners.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 4.52 percent to $98.32 a barrel.
“Indian equity markets extended their decline as escalating tensions between the US and Iran, a sharp rise in crude oil prices and renewed concerns over global AI spending weighed on investor sentiment,” said Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online wealth technology and trading firm.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded shares worth Rs 819.20 crore on Wednesday after a breathless day, according to exchange data.
“With crude oil prices nearing $100 a barrel amid concerns of further disruptions in global energy supplies, investor sentiment remained subdued as markets reassessed inflation risks and corporate margins,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited.
In Asian markets, South Korea’s KOSPI rose 4.40 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also finished higher.
Markets in Europe were trading lower. US markets ended in negative territory on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Sensex gained 715.06 points, or 0.92 percent, to settle at 76,755.05. The Nifty fell 191.45 points, or 0.79 percent, to end at 23,996.25.
