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Sensex, Nifty 50 | Stock Market Crash LIVE: The benchmark Indian equity indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, were off day's low but still down around 1% on Monday, tracking subdued global cues after U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations broke down and crude oil prices surged, heightening concerns that the Middle East conflict could drag on longer than anticipated.

U.S.-Iran talks held over the weekend in Islamabad failed to produce a breakthrough, casting doubt on the fragile two-week ceasefire. The U.S. Central Command said American forces would begin enforcing a blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports from 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) on Monday.

In intra-day deals, Sensex dropped 1,682 points or 2.1% to day's low of 75,868.32, while Nifty declined 495 points or 2% to its intra-day low of 23,555.60. Among broader markets, Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 were down less than 0.5% each.

Among sectors, Nifty Bank, Nifty Financial Services, Nifty Auto, and Nifty IT fell between 1-2% each.

Oil and dollar gains while Asian markets crack

Global markets witnessed a sharp risk-off move on Monday as oil prices surged, the dollar strengthened, and equities and bonds declined following fresh geopolitical tensions.

Crude oil rallied after the U.S. moved to impose a blockade on Iranian shipping in the wake of failed weekend peace talks, putting pressure on Tehran and leaving the fragile ceasefire hanging in balance. Brent crude futures jumped 7.3% to around $102 per barrel, extending gains to over 40% since the conflict disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The dollar, which has been the haven of choice since the Middle East conflict began, strengthened against all its Group-of-10 peers.

The spike in oil prices weighed on global equities, with S&P 500 futures falling 0.7% during Asian trading hours and remaining down 0.7% as of 6:51 a.m. London time. Nasdaq 100 futures declined 0.8%, while European markets also came under pressure, with Euro Stoxx 50 futures dropping 1.5%.

Across Asia, sentiment remained weak. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.9%, Japan’s Topix declined 0.5%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.5%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.1%, while the Shanghai Composite remained largely flat.

In commodities, gold slipped 0.5% to around $4,720 per ounce, as rising oil prices strengthened expectations that interest rates could remain elevated, reducing the appeal of non-yielding assets. Meanwhile, Bitcoin edged lower to approximately $71,000, mirroring the broader risk-off sentiment across global markets.

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Gold prices touched a near one-week low on Monday, pressured by a stronger dollar, while a surge in oil prices following failed U.S.-Iran peace talks fuelled inflation worries and dampened expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $4,726.64 per ounce, as of 0620 GMT, after hitting its lowest since April 7 earlier in the day at $4,643. U.S. gold futures for June delivery fell 0.8% to $4,748.70.

The dollar strengthened 0.3%, while oil prices bounced back above $100 a barrel, as the U.S. Navy prepared a blockade nL1N40U07M of the Strait of Hormuz that could restrict Iranian oil shipments, following the U.S. and Iran's failure to reach a deal to end the war. (Reuters)

The price hikes implemented by cigarette makers such as ITC and Godfrey Phillips to mitigate the impact of higher taxes by the government have started to show up in the companies' sales figures.

A recent report from Informist suggests that cigarette sales have fallen up to 5% in March and are down further in April, with the impact expected to show up in the March quarter numbers. Analysts expect a hit on the companies' margins as they see the price hike to be insufficient to offset the tax impact.

Darekar highlighted that for ITC, cigarettes still contribute over 80% of operating profit, so the earnings hit will be meaningful. However, he expects the company's diversification into FMCG (brands like Sunfeast, Bingo, and Savlon approaching Rs. 25,000 crore in combined revenue), agribusiness, and paperboards —which account for over 60% of topline — to provide a structural cushion that most tobacco peers lack.

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have pulled out around ₹1.8 lakh crore from Indian equities in 2026 to date, exceeding the ₹1.66 lakh crore exit recorded in 2025.

This trend is largely driven by rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia (including the US-Iran conflict that began in late February), increasing crude oil prices, depreciation of the rupee, and a global aversion to risk, as per experts.

Although recent reports do not provide a complete breakdown of the destinations for these inflows, it seems that FPIs are shifting their investments to markets that present lower valuations and specific sectoral advantages, particularly in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and select European countries. Additionally, there is evidence of profit-taking from previous gains in India being reinvested on a global scale, as noted by experts.

At a time when increased geopolitical risks stemming from the US-Iran war are keeping not only Asian but also other major global markets under pressure, the Singapore stock market is exhibiting remarkable resilience.

The Straits Times Index (STI), the benchmark stock market index of Singapore, is near its all-time high levels. The index is flat since the US-Iran war started on February 28, compared to an over 6% fall in the Indian stock market benchmark Nifty 50 and a 1% fall in the S&P 500 for the same period.

The Singapore dollar has also outperformed several Southeast Asian peers lately, offering safe-haven appeal to investors. The resilience of the Singaporean stock market is due to the Southeast Asian country's healthy economic growth. Last year, Singapore’s economy expanded by 4.8%, beating estimates.

Another key factor is a S$5 billion equity market development programme, announced in February 2025. The programme is aimed at strengthening local asset management and research ecosystem and increasing investor interest in Singapore’s stock market.

Small-cap stock Enviro Infra surged almost 15% in intraday trade on the BSE on Monday, April 13, defying weak stock market sentiment. Enviro Infra Engineers' share price opened at ₹185.05 against its previous close of ₹173.35 and surged as much as 14.9% to an intraday high of ₹199.15. On the other hand, equity benchmark Sensex crashed more than 2% during the session.

The stock saw strong gains after it announced receiving a letter of empanelment for the execution of two projects in Maharashtra.

In an exchange filing on April 11, Enviro Infra said it had received Letter of Empanelments (LoEs) on April 10 for the execution of two projects worth ₹587.208 crore from the Swachh Maharashtra Mission Directorate. The projects, located in Pune and Nashik, are for the development of sewage treatment plants (STP) under categories I and II, covering Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). All work will be executed on an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) basis under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0. The contracts are to be executed in 24 months.

Shares of Ola Electric Mobility fell sharply on Monday, April 13, declining around 8% amid profit booking, with weakness in the broader Indian equity markets further weighing on sentiment.

The stock dropped as much as 7.7% to hit an intraday low of ₹37.75 on the BSE. The decline comes after a sharp rally, with the stock gaining 61% so far in April. However, it remains under pressure over a longer horizon, slipping more than 3% over the past three months and falling 25% over the last one year.

The stock has corrected 47% from its 52-week high of ₹71.24 touched in September 2025, while it had hit a 52-week low of ₹21.21 in March 2026.

IT stocks traded lower on Monday, following a sharp sell-off in the Indian stock market. The Nifty IT index declined more than 2%, with most of its constituents slipping in the red.

HCL Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Persistent Systems, Infosys and Wipro were the top losers in the Nifty IT index, falling over 1% each. On the contrary, Coforge and Mphasis were the only gainers in the index.

The fall in IT stocks came as the Indian stock market crashed amid weak global market cues. The frontline indices, Sensex and Nifty 50 dropped over 1.5% each.

Power stocks witnessed strong buying interest on Monday, April 13, even as Indian stock markets came under sharp pressure, with investors betting on rising electricity demand ahead of the peak summer season and stable fuel availability in the country.

Shares across the power and energy space moved higher on the back of strong volumes. Adani Power led the gains, rising 3.7%, followed by JP Power, which climbed 3.4%. Siemens Energy India advanced 3.1%, while Reliance Power gained 3%. Tata Power moved up 2.7% and Torrent Power added 2%. Among other key names, GE Vernova T&D rose 2%, JSW Energy gained 1.7%, SJVN was up 1.6%, while NTPC and Suzlon Energy advanced 1.3% each.

Shares of ACME Solar Holdings Ltd surged nearly 7% on Monday, April 13, outperforming weak market trends after global brokerage HSBC initiated coverage with a ‘Buy’ rating and a target price of ₹350, implying an upside of 30%.

HSBC highlighted that ACME currently operates around 3 GW of generation capacity, with an additional ~3.3 GW tied up under long-term, 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs). These contracted projects are expected to drive a 2.7x increase in overall capacity over the next two to three years.

Beyond this, according to the brokerage, the company has a further 1.8 GW of awarded projects that are yet to be converted into PPAs, providing additional growth visibility. Strategically, ACME is transitioning from a pure-play solar developer to a diversified renewable energy player, focusing on firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) solutions that integrate solar, wind, and battery storage.

Jyoti CNC Automation share price dropped more than 14% on Monday, April 13, following news that French authorities are probing its subsidiary, Huron Graffenstaden SAS, for purported breaches of EU export control regulations concerning dual-use technology machinery.

The inquiry has led to substantial interim actions, including the freezing of EUR 4.00 million in bank accounts, limitations on the director general's responsibilities, and the attachment of two residential properties.

Although the subsidiary denies the charges and continues its operations, the company asserts that the investigation will not negatively affect its standalone business activities, as the parent company accounts for over 85% of group revenues.

Avenue Supermarts share price declined over 2% on Monday after Emkay Global initiated its coverage on the stock with a bearish view. Avenue Supermarts shares dropped as much as 2.69% to ₹4,281.65 apiece on the BSE.

The fall in Avenue Supermarts share price also comes amid a broader Indian stock market crash. The benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50 traded over 1.5% lower each on weak global market cues.

After brokerage firm Emkay Global Financial Services initiated coverage on the stock with a ‘Sell’ rating. The brokerage firm has Avenue Supermarts share price target of ₹3,700 apiece, implying a downside potential of nearly 16% from Friday’s closing price.

Shares of oil marketing companies (OMCs) faced selling pressure on Monday, April 13, following a sharp surge in crude oil prices, which rose above $100 amid fresh developments in the war in the Middle East after the failure of US-Iran truce talks in Islamabad over the weekend.

Crude oil forms a major input cost for the oil PSU stocks like Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). Any spike in crude prices weighs on these OMCs' margins, making investor cautios.

Safety Controls & Devices share price made a strong debut today, April 13, in an otherwise weak market. The stock was listed at ₹83 apiece on BSE SME, a premium of 3.75% over its initial public offering (IPO) price of ₹80.

The listing outperformed Street expectations, as seen from the grey market premium (GMP). Safety Controls & Devices IPO GMP stood at ₹0 per share, which indicated a likely listing price of ₹80, the same as the offer price.

After the record ₹122182 crore selling in March FPIs continued selling in April, too. Up to 11th April total FPI selling through the exchanges stand at ₹48905 crores taking the total FPI selling for 2026, till now, to ₹190046 crores.

According to VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments, the energy crisis triggered by the conflict in West Asia, the potential impact of the crisis on Indian economy and sustained depreciation of the rupee kept the FPIs on sell mode.

He further noted that other markets like South Korea and Taiwan are considered more attractive from the FPI perspective since these markets are expected to deliver much superior earnings growth when compared to the modest earnings growth expected in India in FY27.

"The sharp correction in the market after the war began has made the valuations fair; but not compelling buys, yet. However, FPIs turning buyers in the market will depend on the situation in West Asia and crude prices. If there is de-escalation in the conflict and crude declines significantly, India’s macros will not be impacted materially. If the conflict prolongs India’s macros will be impacted. It would be unrealistic expect FPIs to turn buyers in such a scenario," said the expert

According to Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Investments, "We had gone in last week with an objective of 24400. But with three days of close above super trend, an extension to 24900 is on the cards. Volatility expectations would be key for this set up, but for now, the 7% decline in VIX on Friday, dragging it well below 19, points to let up in panic-relief driven seesawing moves that dominated the month so far. This augurs well for directional upsides.

That said, present VIX levels do allow for large trading ranges. We will hence retain volatility expectations, with 23693 critical for upside hopes. Slippage past the same could expose 23465 or set off a gap filling drop aiming 23130."

VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said:

"With the failure of US-Iran peace talks and Trump’s declaration of US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, uncertainty and along with it crude price have spiked. Brent at $103 is emerging as yet another threat to the economy and markets.

How this naval blockade, which in effect will be a US blockade of Iran’s blockade, will play out remains to be seen. There can be dramatic developments on the geopolitical front and consequently on markets also. The ideal strategy in this ultra-uncertain situation is to wait and watch.

The rupee might come under renewed pressure in the new unfavourable scenario. The mild FPI buying witnessed last Friday is again likely to reverse, further impacting sentiments."

Nifty Midcap 100 fell 1.8% while Nifty Smallcap 100 shed 2% in early deals.

Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 opened on a weak note on Monday, as escalating geopolitical tensions and negative global cues weigh on investor sentiment. The breakdown of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks over the weekend, coupled with a sharp surge in crude oil prices, has raised concerns that the Middle East conflict could persist longer than expected.

The spike in oil is fuelling fresh inflation worries, while a stronger dollar and rising bond yields are adding to market pressure. With global equities under strain, domestic markets are likely to remain cautious amid growing uncertainty around growth and interest rate outlook.

Sensex opened 1,613 points or 2% lower at 75,937.16 while Nifty started the day 461 points or 1.9% lower at 23,589.60.

Gold and Silver rates today declined sharply on Monday, April 13, weighed down by a stronger dollar and a surge in oil prices after U.S.-Iran peace talks failed. This led to concerns regarding persistent inflation, which could delay Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.

On MCX, Silver price fell 2.5% to ₹2,37,190 per kg while Gold price lost 0.8% to ₹1,51,457 per 10 grams.

Rupee weakens 55 paise to open at 93.28 against US dollar as crude oil prices spike. Brent crude rallied 6.8% to trade just below $102 per barrel, amid concerns that the blockade could disrupt energy flows through the critical shipping route.

Sensex fell 3059 points or 4% to 74,491, while Nifty shed 630 points or 2.6% to 23,420

Nifty 50 jumped 5.89% last week and decisively snapped a six-week losing streak. Nifty 50 index formed a strong bullish candlestick pattern on the weekly chart with a higher high and a higher low for the first time in the last eight weeks.

“The broader market structure remains positive, and a further short-covering rally could push the Nifty 50 index towards the 24,300 – 24,500 zone in the near term. The base continues to shift higher, with immediate support now placed around 23,800 levels. Momentum indicators and oscillators are also signaling strength, as the RSI has moved above the 50 mark,” said Nilesh Jain, Head – Technical and Derivatives Research Analyst (Equity Research), Centrum Broking Ltd.

Sensex has shown a strong rebound from lower levels, reinforcing the ongoing recovery trend with an improving price structure.

“Key technical levels indicate that support is placed in the 77,000 – 77,100 zone for Sensex, which is likely to act as a demand area on declines, while resistance is seen around 78,000 – 78,200, where upside may face supply pressure,” said Hitesh Tailor, Technical Research Analyst at Choice Equity Broking.

The near-term outlook remains cautiously positive, supported by recovery momentum; however, geopolitical uncertainties may keep volatility elevated, and the index could see consolidation near resistance zones, he added.

The safe-haven dollar advanced broadly. The US dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, held steady at 99.056, near its highest level since April 7. The euro fell 0.3% to $1.1684, while the British pound declined 0.5% to $1.3398. Against the yen, the US dollar was up 0.4% at 159.83.

Gold prices fell to a near one-week low on Monday, pressured by a stronger dollar. Spot gold price fell 1.1% to $4,694.30 per ounce, its lowest level since April 7. US gold futures for June delivery fell 1.4% to $4,717.80. Spot silver fell 1.9% to $74.45 per ounce.

Yields on Japan’s benchmark government bonds (JGBs) hit a 29-year high. The benchmark 10-year JGB yield rose 5.5 basis points (bps) to 2.490%, the highest since early June 1997, while the five-year yield rose 4 bps to a record high of 1.900%, Reuters reported.

US consumer prices increased by the most in nearly four years in March. US Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped 0.9% last month. In the 12 months through March, the CPI advanced 3.3% after rising 2.4% in February.

Crude oil prices jumped as the US Navy prepared to block ships from reaching Iran via the Strait of Hormuz, after the US-Iran ceasefire talks failed to reach a deal to end the war. Brent crude futures jumped 7.05% to $101.91 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate was at $104.16 a barrel, up 7.86%.

US forces will begin implementing the blockade, which applies only to vessels entering or departing Iranian ports, from 10 a.m. New York time Monday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The measure would be applied impartially to ships from all countries, while still permitting vessels traveling between non-Iranian ports to pass through the Strait, CENTCOM added.

The US-Iran talks in Pakistan ended without a deal due to “excessive demands” made by the American side, a top Iranian official said. US President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with Iran after talks failed to resolve disputes over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Asian markets traded lower on Monday amid a surge in crude oil prices. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.84%, while the Topix fell 0.42%. South Korea’s Kospi plunged 1.83%, while the Kosdaq dropped 1.43%. Hong Kong Hang Seng index futures indicated a lower opening.

Gift Nifty was trading around the 23,741 level, a discount of 358 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close, indicating a gap-down start for the Indian stock market indices.

The benchmark Indian equity indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a weak note on Monday, tracking subdued global cues after U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations broke down and crude oil prices surged, heightening concerns that the Middle East conflict could drag on longer than anticipated.Pranati Deva is a seasoned financial journalist with over a decade of experience in high-pressure newsroom environments, currently working as a Senior Sub Editor at LiveMint. Over the years, she has developed a reputation for sharp editorial judgement, a strong grasp of market dynamics, and the ability to translate complex financial developments into clear, engaging stories for a wide audience.

Her core areas of coverage include stock markets, leading listed companies, currencies, and commodities, with a particular strength in fast-paced, real-time market reporting. She is known for handling breaking market news, earnings-driven stock movements, and macroeconomic developments with speed, accuracy, and context—qualities that are essential in financial journalism.

Pranati has built a diverse and credible professional track record across some of India’s most respected news organisations, including MintGenie, CNBC-TV18, Business Standard and EconomicTimes.com. During her stints at these platforms, she produced data-driven market stories, curated and steered live blogs during volatile trading sessions, and conducted interviews with market veterans, fund managers, economists, and industry experts. Her work often combines on-ground reporting with analytical depth, helping readers make sense of daily market fluctuations and longer-term trends.

An alumnus of the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communications and Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Pranati brings a strong academic foundation to her journalism. She specialises in real-time financial reporting, with a keen focus on precision, balance, and insight, aiming to decode market movements in a way that is both informative and accessible to readers across experience levels.

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