Indian equity benchmarks declined sharply on April 13, 2026, following the failure of peace talks between Iran and the United States, with escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia weighing on investor sentiment.
During early trading, the BSE Sensex fell by more than 1,600 points. At around 9:18 am, the index was trading at 75,937.16, down 1,613.09 points or 2.08%. The Nifty 50 also declined by 469.65 points or 1.95% to 23,580.95. In the pre-open session, the Sensex had dropped as much as 4,200 points, reflecting heightened uncertainty in the market.
The decline was primarily driven by a sharp rise in crude oil prices following concerns over potential supply disruptions amid Iran–United States tensions. Brent crude increased by approximately 7–8% to above $102 per barrel.
All major sectoral indices traded in negative territory. The Nifty PSU Bank and Realty indices declined by more than 3%. Auto, banking, financial services, media, and consumer durables sectors fell by more than 2%, while the oil and gas sector also remained under pressure.
Among Sensex constituents, IndiGo, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finance, Maruti Suzuki, and Bajaj Finserv recorded the steepest declines. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries was the only stock to register marginal gains.
The broader market also reflected the sell-off. The Nifty Midcap 100 index declined by 2.28%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index fell by 2.60%.
The Indian rupee weakened by 0.6% against the US dollar, opening at 93.28 compared with the previous close of 92.72. According to experts, the decline is primarily driven by external factors rather than domestic economic weakness. Continued geopolitical tensions in West Asia and elevated crude oil prices may sustain volatility in Indian markets.
