US–Iran Conflict Jolts Indian Markets; Sensex Falls Over 1,000 Points

Mumbai: Escalating military tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have rattled global financial markets, with the impact clearly visible on Indian equities. Rising geopolitical uncertainty triggered panic among investors, leading to a sharp sell-off on Monday (March 2).

The benchmark BSE Sensex plunged 1,123.92 points (1.38%) to trade at 80,163.27, while the Nifty 50 declined 331.60 points (1.32%) to 24,847.05. Market breadth remained negative, with around 363 stocks advancing, 2,551 declining, and 154 remaining unchanged.

The weakness follows Friday’s downturn, when the Sensex had dropped 961 points and the Nifty slipped 1.25%, indicating sustained pressure on equities.

Asian markets also mirrored the cautious sentiment. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell nearly 1.5%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined over 2%. The broader MSCI Asia Pacific Index was down more than 1%, and U.S. equity-index futures traded under pressure.

According to market experts, escalating tensions in the Middle East have led to a spike in crude oil prices. Brent Crude climbed to around $76 per barrel, reviving concerns over inflation and global economic growth. Amid these uncertainties, investors adopted a cautious stance, intensifying selling pressure across sectors.

Analysts suggest that market volatility may persist in the near term as global developments continue to influence investor sentiment.