Kamal Ghorui
Stock market crash today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex continued their downward streak on Friday, dropping on negative global cues and weak sentiment in IT stocks. The stock market is under pressure for a third straight session, with both the BSE Sensex and the NIFTY 50 losing about 1 per cent amid mounting concerns over rising tensions between the United States and Iran. The geopolitical uncertainty has fuelled a fresh rally in oil prices, weighing heavily on investor sentiment, even as the broader market showed relative resilience.The sell-off erased nearly Rs 6 lakh crore in investor wealth, with the total market capitalisation of all companies listed on the BSE falling to around Rs 460 lakh crore, according to an ET report.Technology stocks bore the brunt of the selling. Shares of Infosys, HCLTech, Tech Mahindra and Tata Consultancy Services fell between 2 per cent and 4 per cent after Infosys’ fourth-quarter results failed to meet market expectations.
Why is stock market down today? Top reasons
US-Iran warA key driver behind today’s downturn was the worsening standoff between Iran and the United States. Hopes of easing tensions through a second round of negotiations have faded, particularly as the US continues its blockade around the Strait of Hormuz. Adding to concerns, Iran has reportedly deployed swarms of small, fast vessels to seize at least two container ships near the strategic waterway, casting doubt on claims that Tehran’s naval capabilities had been effectively neutralised.US President Donald Trump acknowledged that while Iran’s conventional naval fleet had been largely weakened, its fast-attack boats remain a concern. He warned that any such vessels approaching the US blockade would be dealt with immediately using the same tactics employed in anti-smuggling operations in the Caribbean and Pacific.Oil prices continue to climbCrude oil prices moved higher as concerns intensified over potential supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude was trading close to $106 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate hovered around $96 per barrel.After briefly slipping below the $100 mark earlier this month, crude has once again regained upward momentum and crossed that psychologically significant threshold. Oil had first moved above $100 per barrel in March following the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran, the United States and Israel, reaching that level for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Rupee remains under pressureThe Indian rupee weakened further on Friday, declining by 24 paise to 94.25 against the US dollar. The domestic currency has now fallen every day this week, with no immediate signs of stabilisation.Foreign investors continue to sellForeign institutional investors remained net sellers in Indian equities on Thursday, offloading shares worth Rs 3,255 crore, according to provisional data from the National Stock Exchange of India.Global markets deliver a mixed pictureEquity markets traded on an uneven note. KOSPI in South Korea fell by about 1 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced roughly 0.4 per cent. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.6 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also traded lower, though losses remained modest.Overnight, NASDAQ Composite led the decline on Wall Street, ending nearly 0.9 per cent lower. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were also in negative territory, suggesting a cautious start for US markets later in the day.Bond yields move higherRenewed market concerns also pushed bond yields upward. The yield on the benchmark US 10-year Treasury note climbed to 4.33 per cent.The 30-year Treasury yield rose to 4.92 per cent, while the yield on the 2-year note—often viewed as a key indicator of expectations around future Federal Reserve interest rate decisions—jumped to 3.84 per cent.Infosys earnings weigh on sentimentInvestor sentiment on Dalal Street was also affected by disappointing market reaction to Infosys’ latest quarterly results.For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 8,501 crore, marking a 21 per cent increase from Rs 7,033 crore in the same period a year earlier.Despite the rise in profit, the results fell short of market expectations. Following the earnings announcement, brokerages including Jefferies and Morgan Stanley lowered their target prices for the stock, citing weaker-than-anticipated performance and a subdued revenue growth outlook.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
