Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty fell sharply on Tuesday as a spike in crude oil prices, triggered by renewed geopolitical tensions in West Asia, dampened investor sentiment.
The sharp rise in oil prices raised concerns over inflation and India's import bill, prompting broad-based selling across sectors and dragging the benchmark indices lower in early trade.
The 30-share benchmark index ended at 77054.94 down by -561.46 points or by -0.72 % and then NSE Nifty was at 24052.05 down by -158.95 points or by -0.66 %.
Sensex touched intraday high of 77402.79 and intraday low of 77001.48 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 24157.1 and intraday low of 24023.7
The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Rs. 1932.95,+1.65%), Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (Rs. 2200.95,+0.89%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1940.15,+0.84%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 188.35,+0.64%), Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. (Rs. 1821.05,+0.59%), among others.
The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were HCL Technologies Ltd. (Rs. 1167.00,-4.42%), InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. (Rs. 5110.20,-2.30%), Bajaj Finserv Ltd. (Rs. 1868.25,-2.21%), State Bank of India (Rs. 1014.80,-2.13%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 3092.85,-2.10%), among others.
Metal index was at 40789.42 up by 254.56 points or by 0.63%. National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 364.80,+2.72%), Jindal Stainless Ltd. (Rs. 720.00,+2.29%), Jindal Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1041.60,+1.28%), NMDC Ltd. (Rs. 84.99,+1.06%), JSW Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1247.70,+0.81%),.
Realty index was at 7172.75 down by -139.55 points or by -1.91%. Lodha Developers Ltd. (Rs. 1148.45,-4.14%), Phoenix Mills Ltd. (Rs. 2092.00,-2.84%), Anant Raj Ltd. (Rs. 572.75,-2.82%), Godrej Industries Ltd. (Rs. 2105.00,-2.58%), Brigade Enterprises Ltd. (Rs. 555.45,-2.47%),.
The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4684 , shares advanced were 1607 while 2837 shares declined and 240 were unchanged.