Stock markets tumble nearly 1 pc on rising geopolitical tensions, boiling crude oil prices
Mumbai, Jun 13 (PTI): Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled nearly 1 per cent on Friday as weak global markets and a spike in Brent crude oil prices after Israel attacked Iran's capital weighed on investor sentiment.
Falling for the second day in a row, the 30-share BSE Sensex dived 573.38 points or 0.70 per cent to settle at 81,118.60. During the morning trade, it tanked 1,337.39 points or 1.63 per cent to 80,354.59.
As many as 2,469 stocks declined while 1,516 advanced and 137 remained unchanged on the BSE.
The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 169.60 points or 0.68 per cent to 24,718.60.
On a weekly basis, the BSE benchmark tanked 1,070.39 points or 1.30 per cent, and the Nifty declined 284.45 points or 1.13 per cent.
Investors stayed away from riskier assets amid fears of a full-blown war between Israel and Iran and foreign fund outflows.
"Rising tensions in the Middle East after Israel attacked key Iranian areas drove investors to safe-haven assets like gold as riskier equities continued to face battering. Along with fresh concerns of the US likely to impose unilateral tariffs over next few weeks and higher valuations of domestic equities resulted in consolidation of markets," Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd, said.
Among the Sensex firms, Adani Ports, ITC, State Bank of India, IndusInd Bank, HDFC Bank, Titan, Kotak Mahindra Bank and UltraTech Cement were the major laggards.
On the other hand, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services, Sun Pharma and Maruti were the gainers.
The BSE midcap gauge declined 0.32 per cent and smallcap index dipped 0.30 per cent.
Among BSE sectoral indices, services tumbled 2.06 per cent, bankex (1.01 per cent), FMCG (0.94 per cent), financial services (0.85 per cent), metal (0.81 per cent) and power (0.75 per cent).
Healthcare index and realty were the only winners.
"Indian equity benchmarks experienced downward pressure, driven by weak global cues and foreign institutional outflows. Market sentiment was notably impacted by heightened geopolitical tensions following Israel’s military strike on Iran, which significantly increased risk aversion among investors. Although India’s CPI for May eased below the RBI’s comfort threshold, offering a positive macro signal, this was largely overshadowed by external headwinds.
"Brent crude prices climbed to near USD 76/barrel, their highest this year, raising fears of inflation if tensions persist," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude jumped 7.44 per cent to USD 74.52 a barrel.
In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng settled lower.
European markets were quoting lower.
US markets ended in positive territory on Thursday.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,831.42 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.
Meanwhile, a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed in Ahmedabad minutes after taking off from the airport on Thursday afternoon.
Air India has confirmed the death of 241 people in the plane crash. One passenger miraculously escaped.
On Thursday, the 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 823.16 points or 1 per cent to settle at 81,691.98. The Nifty tumbled 253.20 points or 1.01 per cent to 24,888.20.
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Pak, Afghan forces trade fire along Chaman border: Report
Islamabad (PTI): A heavy exchange of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces was reported from the key Chaman border, according to a media report on Saturday.
Injuries were reported from the district hospital, but no fatalities occurred, the Dawn newspaper reported.
Officials from both sides accused each other of instigating the flare-up late on Friday night across the border in the Balochistan province.
While Pakistani officials said that Afghan forces had fired mortar shells on the Badani area, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed it was Pakistan that launched an attack on Spin Boldak, alleging that their forces were responding.
Pakistan's official sources told Dawn that Pakistani forces retaliated against the Afghan aggression and returned fire.
There were also reports of fighting on the Chaman-Kandahar highway, but these could not be immediately verified.
A senior official in Quetta confirmed on condition of anonymity that the exchange of fire started around 10 pm and continued until late at night.
The medical superintendent of Chaman district hospital said that three injured, including a woman, were brought to the medical facility.
There was neither any official word from the Inter-Services Public Relations -- Pakistan Army's media wing -- nor from the Foreign Office.
The Chaman border crossing, also known as Friendship Gate, connects Balochistan province to Afghanistan’s Kandahar.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated amidst regular allegations by Pakistan regarding the failure of the Afghan regime to deny safe havens to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists.
The two countries had agreed on a ceasefire following tensions last month, but the Foreign Office said last month that technically there was no truce as it was contingent on the Afghan Taliban stopping terrorist attacks in Pakistan, which they had failed to do.
