2026.03.1204:23:40UTC+00Sensex Opens at 11-Month Lows

India’s BSE Sensex fell about 1.2% to 75,967 on Thursday, extending the previous session’s losses and hitting its lowest level since April 2025. The decline followed Iran’s attacks on oil tankers and other vessels in the Persian Gulf, which drove up crude prices and heightened market anxiety. In response, a coordinated strategic petroleum reserve release by the International Energy Agency is aimed at easing supply concerns and capping further price increases, offering some relief to markets highly sensitive to energy import costs. India has also secured additional crude shipments, including Russian barrels, to help stabilize domestic supply. Most sectors traded lower, led by financials, technology, and consumer stocks, while utilities were the only sector in positive territory. Notable early decliners included Eternal Limited (-4.3%), Mahindra & Mahindra (-3.1%), ICICI Bank (-2%), Larsen & Toubro (-1.8%), and State Bank of India (-1.5%).