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Indian stock markets ended sharply lower on Monday, with both the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex falling to two-month lows as rising crude oil prices, a global equity selloff, and renewed geopolitical tensions weighed heavily on investor sentiment. The Nifty 50 declined 1.04% to close at 23,123, while the Sensex lost 0.97% to settle at 73,524. Both benchmark indices extended recent losses as investors reduced exposure to risk assets following a sharp deterioration in global market sentiment. The weakness mirrored losses across Asia, where investors reacted to escalating tensions in the Middle East and a sharp correction in technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks. Why Did Nifty 50 and Sensex Fall Today? The biggest catalyst behind Monday's selloff was the renewed surge in oil prices. Brent crude rose more than 4% to trade near $97 per barrel after reports of fresh Israeli strikes and continued military activity involving Iran and Lebanon raised fears of a wider regional conflict. Investors are increasingly worried that prolonged instability could disrupt global energy supplies and keep inflation elevated for longer. Higher crude prices are particularly concerning for India because the country imports the majority of its oil requirements. Rising energy costs can increase inflationary pressures, weaken the rupee, and weigh on corporate profitability. The spike in oil prices came at a time when investors were already grappling with concerns over interest rates and slowing global growth. Asian Markets Extend Global Selloff The weakness was not limited to Indian equities. Asian markets witnessed heavy selling throughout the session after a sharp decline on Wall Street last week. South Korea's KOSPI index plunged more than 8%, while Japan's Nikkei dropped nearly 4%. The broader MSCI Asia ex-Japan index fell about 3.5% as investors moved away from high-growth technology and AI-related stocks. Market participants said concerns about stretched valuations in the artificial intelligence sector triggered profit-taking across global technology shares, creating broader risk aversion across equity markets. The Nasdaq Composite had already suffered its steepest decline in months during the previous US session, adding to pressure across global markets. IT and Financial Stocks Lead Market Decline Selling pressure was widespread across Indian equities. Fifteen of the sixteen major sectoral indices finished in negative territory, highlighting the broad-based nature of the decline. Financial stocks, which carry significant weight in benchmark indices, lost around 1%, while information technology shares fell more than 1.2%. The broader market also weakened considerably. Mid-cap stocks fell about 1.4%, while small-cap shares dropped nearly 1.9% as investors moved toward defensive positioning. Among individual stocks, Wipro (NSE: WIPRO) slumped 8.4% to a three-year low, emerging as one of the biggest losers of the session. Jio Financial Services (NSE: JIOFIN) and Hindalco Industries (NSE: HINDALCO) also posted significant declines. On the positive side, Power Grid Corporation of India (NSE: POWERGRID), Bharti Airtel (NSE: BHARTIARTL), and Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM) managed to finish in positive territory. Rising Rate-Hike Fears Add Another Headwind Investor sentiment was also affected by growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve could keep monetary policy tighter for longer. A stronger-than-expected US jobs report released last week reinforced concerns that inflation pressures may remain persistent, reducing the likelihood of near-term interest rate cuts. Higher US rates typically strengthen the dollar and reduce investor appetite for emerging-market assets, creating additional challenges for markets such as India. The uncertainty has also contributed to continued foreign institutional investor outflows, which have remained a major concern for domestic equities in recent weeks. What Investors Are Watching Next Markets will now closely monitor developments in the Middle East, movements in crude oil prices, and upcoming US inflation data for further direction. For Indian equities, stability in oil prices and signs of easing geopolitical tensions could help improve sentiment. However, continued volatility in global markets may keep investors cautious in the near term. Why did Nifty 50 fall today? Nifty 50 fell due to rising crude oil prices, escalating Middle East tensions, weak global markets, and concerns over higher interest rates. Why is Sensex at a two-month low? The Sensex dropped to a two-month low as investors reacted to a global equity selloff, foreign fund outflows, and fears that higher oil prices could hurt economic growth. How do oil prices affect the Indian stock market? Higher oil prices increase inflation risks, pressure the rupee, raise import costs, and can reduce corporate earnings, making them negative for equities. Why are global markets falling? Global markets have come under pressure from rising geopolitical risks, profit-taking in AI and technology stocks, and concerns that interest rates may remain higher for longer.

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