Mumbai, Aug 24: Indian stock markets ended lower on Monday as continuing uncertainty over the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz weighed on investor sentiment.
The Sensex fell around 172 points to 77,369.11, while the Nifty 50 declined 0.14 per cent to close at 24,219.05. The market remained cautious throughout the session as investors assessed the possible impact of fresh US sanctions on Iran and developments in the Middle East.
The market opened on a stronger note but lost momentum as the session progressed. Concerns over energy supplies and crude oil prices remained an important factor for investors, given India’s dependence on imported oil.
The ongoing situation around the Strait of Hormuz has added to uncertainty in global markets. Any prolonged disruption to energy supplies could push crude prices higher and increase inflationary pressures.
The broader market remained mixed. Financial stocks faced some pressure, while information technology shares showed relative strength. Companies linked to gold also attracted investor interest as gold prices moved higher.
Investors are now closely watching developments in the Middle East along with upcoming US economic data and signals from the Federal Reserve on interest rates. These factors are expected to influence global investment flows and market sentiment in the coming sessions.
Despite the decline, the fall in the benchmark indices remained moderate. Market participants continued to assess domestic economic prospects against the backdrop of global geopolitical uncertainty.
The Indian market is likely to remain sensitive to crude oil prices, developments around the Strait of Hormuz, foreign investment flows and global interest rate expectations. For investors, the focus remains on how quickly geopolitical tensions ease and whether global energy markets remain stable.