Sensex, Nifty End 0.4% Lower on Geopolitical Concerns
Aug 31, 2026
Benchmark domestic equity indices ended 0.4% lower on Monday, weighed down by escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia and rising crude oil prices.
The Sensex declined 307 points to close at 76,957, while the Nifty fell 95 points to settle at 24,800. In the broader market, the trend was mixed, with the Nifty Midcap 100 gaining 0.2%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 0.7%.
The markets opened on a weak note and remained under pressure throughout the session as investors remained cautious amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and concerns over higher crude oil prices. Selling was witnessed across most sectors.
Among Sensex constituents, 20 of the 30 stocks ended in the red. Adani Ports was the biggest laggard, falling 4.1%, followed by ITC, which declined around 3.7%, and Bharti Airtel, which lost nearly 2.8%.
On the other hand, Sun Pharma gained 1.9%, while ICICI Bank rose 1.7% and Axis Bank advanced 1.5%.
Sectoral indices also reflected the cautious mood, with 21 of the 28 BSE sectoral indices ending lower. Utilities declined 2.6%, Metals fell 2.4%, and Services dropped 1.9%. In contrast, MidSmall Private Banks Quality Tilt and MidSmall Private Banks gained more than 1.2% each, while the Bankex advanced over 0.3%.
Market breadth remained negative. On the BSE, shares of 2,572 companies declined, while 1,858 advanced and 250 remained unchanged.
The overall market sentiment remained subdued as investors weighed geopolitical risks and the potential impact of elevated crude oil prices on inflation and corporate earnings.
