Indian shares finished unevenly on Thursday amid higher crude oil prices and renewed geopolitical unrest, with late buying helping the Sensex close slightly higher while the Nifty extended its recent losses, reflecting investor caution driven by energy costs and international tensions.
Indian shares finished unevenly on Thursday as investors weighed firmer crude oil prices and renewed geopolitical unease, with late buying lifting the Sensex into positive territory even as the Nifty slipped for a third straight session. The mixed close suggested that traders were still reluctant to chase riskier assets while energy costs and overseas tensions clouded the outlook.
The 30-share Sensex ended 113.61 points, or 0.15%, higher at 78,079.96 after moving between 77,665.89 and 78,119.39 during the session. The 50-share Nifty closed 40.10 points, or 0.16%, lower at 24,395.85, remaining below the 24,400 mark and extending its recent run of losses.
The cautious tone reflected a pattern seen repeatedly this year, when markets have swung sharply on shifts in Middle East tensions and oil prices. HSBC Asset Management said in March that surging crude and US-Iran friction helped drive a sell-off of more than 2,000 points in the Sensex, while another March note pointed to broader weakness across large-, mid- and small-cap stocks as the rupee also came under pressure.
More recently, SMIFS said tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and shipping disruption in July triggered another steep fall in Indian equities, again showing how sensitive domestic markets remain to developments that threaten energy supplies. By contrast, HDFC Securities noted in June that equities rebounded when an easing in the conflict sent crude sharply lower, underscoring the link between oil prices and investor sentiment in India.
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