Markets fall in early trade amid rising crude oil prices

The expiry of the temporary 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire without any meaningful diplomatic breakthrough has renewed concerns over a prolonged disruption to energy supplies, driving crude oil prices higher. Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) as elevated crude oil prices and persistent geopolitical uncertainties dented investors' sentiment. The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 166.19 points to 77,070.93. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 59 points to 24,096.75. From the Sensex pack, Tata Steel, Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Finance, Bharat Electronics, Power Grid, and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the major laggards. HCL Tech, Infosys, Eternal, Sun Pharma, and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the winners. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 0.67% higher at $91.63 per barrel. Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, noted that rising crude prices and prolonged supply disruptions pushed long-term U.S. Treasury yields to multi-year highs, triggering a broad risk-off mood across global financial markets. In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi tanked 5.59%. Japan's Nikkei 225 and Shanghai's SSE Composite index were also trading lower, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index quoted marginally higher. U.S. markets ended lower on Tuesday (August 18, 2026). V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments Limited, explained that rising crude prices and appreciating bond yields globally are driving market weakness. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹1,651.53 crore on Tuesday (August 18, 2026). The Sensex was down 492.70 points, or 0.63%, to settle at 77,235.46, marking its third day of decline. The Nifty declined for the sixth day, sliding 132.75 points, or 0.55%, to end at 24,154.90.