Sensex, Nifty End Lower for Third Straight Session Amid Crude Oil, Bond Yield Concerns

Indian benchmark equity indices closed lower for the third consecutive session on Wednesday as concerns over elevated crude oil prices, global bond yields and continued foreign fund outflows weighed on investor sentiment. The Sensex declined 48.78 points, or 0.07 per cent, to finish at 72,480.29, while the Nifty fell 95.75 points, or 0.42 per cent, to settle at 22,620.45. The market remained volatile during the session, with the Sensex briefly gaining more than 500 points before giving up most of its gains towards the close.

Rising crude oil prices remained a key concern for investors. Brent crude was trading around $103.10 a barrel, raising concerns over inflationary pressures and higher input costs for companies. India, being a major importer of crude oil, remains particularly sensitive to movements in international oil prices.

Global bond yields also continued to influence market sentiment. Higher yields can reduce the attractiveness of emerging-market assets and encourage investors to shift funds towards relatively safer fixed-income investments.

Foreign institutional investors continued to sell Indian equities, adding to the pressure on domestic markets. According to exchange data, foreign investors sold shares worth Rs 9,980.22 crore on Tuesday. Analysts said persistent foreign outflows and uncertainty in global markets were limiting risk appetite among investors.

Among the Sensex constituents, Eternal, Sun Pharma, Titan, Adani Ports, Tata Steel and HDFC Bank were among the major stocks that declined during the session. On the other hand, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, InterGlobe Aviation and Axis Bank ended higher. Asian markets delivered a mixed performance, with South Korea’s Kospi closing lower, while benchmark indices in Shanghai, Japan and Hong Kong ended the session in positive territory.