Indian stock markets saw a sharp selloff on Friday as Sensex and Nifty fell more than 1 percent. The decline was driven by passive fund flows tied to MSCI index reshuffles.
Markets lost Rs 6 lakh crore in capitalization during the session. Volatility increased as traders reacted to the moves with limited directional momentum.
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Crude oil prices surpassing $100 have erased Rs 20 lakh crore from Indian equity markets this week, amid escalating Iran conflict. The rupee hit a record low as foreign institutional investors continued selling, intensifying the downturn. Experts suggest the panic could present long-term buying opportunities.
Indian equity benchmarks Nifty 50 and Sensex crashed more than 3% on Thursday, their steepest single-day decline since June 2024, closing at 23,002.15 and 74,207.24 respectively. Escalating West Asia conflicts drove crude above $110 a barrel, stoking inflation fears, while HDFC Bank shares tumbled over 5% following chairman Atanu Chakraborty's resignation.
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Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed nearly 6% higher for the week, snapping a six-week losing streak after a ceasefire between the US and Iran. Both indices rose 1.2% on Friday. Investors adopted a risk-on approach amid reduced volatility.
Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty posted their strongest single-day gains in years on Wednesday, driven by a US-Iran ceasefire that eased oil prices and inflation fears. The market capitalization of BSE-listed companies rose by ₹16.1 lakh crore. However, Asian stocks turned cautious as the ceasefire showed signs of fragility.
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Foreign institutional investors have sold Indian shares worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore so far in 2026, marking their third straight month as net sellers amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Global investors cut their holdings in India's financial services sector during the second half of May, though at a slower pace than earlier in the month. They sold shares worth ₹5,181 crore in the period. FPIs stayed net sellers overall despite inflows into other areas.
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India has regained its position as the sixth largest economy by market capitalization following a sharp decline in South Korea's stock market. The shift came after major South Korean companies saw steep losses in value. Indian markets showed relative stability amid the changes.