Rs 12 Trillion Wiped Out Today As Sensex Crashes 2,400 Points
Indian equity benchmarks witnessed a sharp sell-off on Monday, with the BSE Sensex plunging nearly 2,400 points and the Nifty 50 tumbling over 700 points in the opening minutes of trade, erasing more than Rs.12 lakh crore from the combined market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies.
The Sensex hit an intraday low around 76,424, down roughly 3% from the previous close, while the Nifty 50 slipped below the key 23,800 level to around 23,700–23,750. The steep decline dragged the total market valuation down to approximately Rs.437–441 lakh crore within the first 10 minutes of trading. Every constituent of the Sensex turned red, reflecting broad-based panic selling across sectors.
Analysts and reports linked the crash primarily to escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, particularly involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which pushed global crude oil prices above $118 per barrel. Higher oil costs raised inflation fears, weighed on corporate margins, and triggered a risk-off sentiment among investors. The India VIX, a gauge of market volatility, surged sharply, underscoring heightened uncertainty.
Sectoral indices bore the brunt, with PSU banks, private banks, auto, and metals among the worst hit. Midcap and smallcap indices also declined over 3%.
While the benchmarks recovered some ground later in the session, closing with relatively moderated losses in some reports, the early-session wipeout of over Rs.12.39 lakh crore marked one of the sharpest single-day erosion of investor wealth in recent times.
Market participants remain cautious, citing sustained foreign outflows, elevated oil prices, and global risk aversion. Further developments in the Middle East and upcoming global cues, including US Federal Reserve signals, are expected to influence sentiment in the coming days.
