Sensex, Nifty Fall for 3rd Day as Geopolitical Tensions Spook Investors

Indian benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty, closed lower for the third consecutive session, dragged down by investor caution over escalating geopolitical tensions. Selling pressure was notable in heavyweight stocks and key sectors like chemicals and consumer durables, while metals and oil & gas provided some support. The broader midcap and smallcap indices also declined, and the rupee traded weaker against the dollar. Analysts note the market action reflects consolidation, with further downside possible if key technical levels are breached.

Key Points: Sensex, Nifty Extend Losses Amid Geopolitical Tensions

  • Third straight session of losses
  • Geopolitical tensions weigh on sentiment
  • Chemical and banking sectors top losers
  • Rupee weakens amid global concerns
2 min read

Sensex, Nifty extend losses for 3rd straight session amid geopolitical tensions

Indian markets fell for a third session as rising geopolitical worries and a weak rupee pressured indices. Key sectors like chemicals and banking declined.

"A sustained break below 25,130 could reopen downside toward 24,920-24,900 - market expert"

Mumbai, Jan 21

Indian equity benchmark indices ended lower on Wednesday for the third straight session, weighed down by rising geopolitical tensions that kept investors cautious.

The Sensex closed at 81,909.63, slipping 270.84 points or 0.33 per cent. Meanwhile, the Nifty settled at 25,157.5, down 75 points or 0.3 per cent.

"A sustained break below 25,130 could reopen downside toward 24,920-24,900," a market expert said.

"At this stage, price action reflects consolidation after exhaustion, not a confirmed trend reversal, with the index posting its fourth consecutive weak close," the analyst mentioned.

Selling pressure was seen in several heavyweight stocks on the BSE. Shares of ICICI Bank, Trent, BEL, Axis Bank and L&T emerged as the top drags on the index.

On the other hand, buying interest was visible in stocks such as Eternal, UltraTech Cement, Adani Ports and IndiGo, which helped limit deeper losses.

Sector-wise, the chemical space saw the sharpest decline, with the Nifty Chemical index falling 2.12 per cent.

This was followed by losses in Nifty Consumer Durables, which slipped 1.66 per cent, and Nifty Bank, which ended 1.02 per cent lower.

In contrast, metal and oil and gas stocks showed some resilience, with the Nifty Metal index rising 0.57 per cent and the oil and gas index gaining 0.27 per cent.

The broader market also remained under pressure. The Nifty MidCap 100 index declined 1.14 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index ended the session 0.9 per cent lower.

Meanwhile, Rupee traded weak below 91.60, down nearly 0.70 per cent, as rising geopolitical tensions involving Europe and Greenland, along with fresh concerns over US tariff actions and the lack of a confirmed India-US trade deal, continued to weigh on sentiment.

"A sharp rally in bullion prices has further pressured the rupee by inflating the import bill. The currency is likely to remain volatile in a broad range of 90.90-92 in the near term," an expert stated.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priyanka N
Good to see some resilience in metal and oil & gas. Maybe a chance to average down in those sectors? But the overall sentiment is very cautious. The expert saying it's consolidation, not a reversal, gives some hope. 🤞
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Aman W
The fall in Bank Nifty and heavyweights like ICICI and Axis is a big red flag. These are the pillars of the market. When they crack, it shakes confidence. Need to see strong support at 25,130 for Nifty.
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Sarah B
As an NRI investor, the weak rupee is a double-edged sword. My remittances fetch more rupees, but the underlying asset value is falling. The global factors mentioned – US tariffs, Europe tensions – are indeed creating this perfect storm.
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Karthik V
Mid and small caps falling more than the benchmarks is typical in such nervous markets. Retail money often flees these first. Time to be very selective and look for quality stocks with strong fundamentals, not just momentum plays.
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Michael C
With respect, the article focuses heavily on short-term technicals and global noise. What about the domestic story? Where is the analysis on monsoon progress, GST collections, or corporate earnings season? That's what will drive the market in the long run.
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Shreya B

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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