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Informist, Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026

 

By Arya S. Biju

 

MUMBAI – Benchmark equity indices closed sharply lower Wednesday as oil prices rose again after easing in the previous session. After remaining choppy in early trading, the May Brent crude futures contract rose sharply towards the close of the trading session, amid concerns over escalating tensions in West Asia and the resulting disruption to global energy flows.

 

Even though US President Donald Trump signalled that the conflict in West Asia might end soon, the US and Israel continued to launch fresh strikes on Iran, and the latter continued its retaliation. Further, the US military "eliminated" 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing the US Central Command. President Trump had earlier warned that any mines laid in the Strait by Iran must be removed immediately.

 

Market participants now await the International Energy Agency's decision on the proposal to release emergency oil reserves. The agency has proposed releasing 400 million barrels, the largest release of oil reserves in its history, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The agency's 32 member countries are set to decide on the plan Wednesday.

 

After opening largely flat, both the Nifty 50 and Sensex rose briefly before falling to negative territory. The indices fell sharply towards the end of the session as crude oil prices started rising after remaining choppy for most of the session. Wednesday, the Nifty 50 closed at 23866.85 points, down 394.75 points or 1.6%. The BSE Sensex ended at 76863.71, down 1,342.27 points or 1.7%. Both indices had risen around 1% in the previous session. 

 

The Nifty 50 closed below the 24000 points level for the first time since April 2025. The index was dragged down by a sharp fall in automobile, financial services and banking stocks. "Concerns over rising inflation stemming from potential energy supply disruptions and rationing prompted investors to book profits, while continued FII (foreign institutional investors) outflows further added to market pressure," Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Investments, said. The India Volatility Index rose more than 11% to 21.0625 points, signalling heightened market nervousness. Analysts expect market volatility to remain in the near-term amid heightened geopolitical tensions. 

 

Since the beginning of the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel combine on Feb. 28, the Nifty 50 and Sensex have shed over 5?ch. The indices are currently 10-11?low their respective all-time highs.  

 

In the broader market, small-cap indices fell 0.4-0.6%, lower than the 1.1-1.7?ll in their mid-cap peers. This was also lower than the 1.6-1.7?ll in the benchmark indices. Most sectoral indices closed lower with Nifty Auto, Nifty PSU Bank, Nifty Bank, Nifty Financial Services, and Nifty Private Bank being the worst hit, down 1.8–3.2%. 

 

Shares of automobile and auto ancillary companies remained under pressure Wednesday amid concerns over higher raw material costs and persistent supply chain challenges, particularly semiconductor shortages affecting production, Siddhartha Khemka, head of research wealth management at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said in a note. Banking and financial services stocks were also under selling pressure amid growing concerns about a slowdown in demand and weaker credit growth. In contrast, healthcare stocks attracted defensive interest, while gas distributors gained after the government prioritised gas allocation, Nair said. 

 

Shares of city gas distribution and gas infrastructure companies rose Wednesday, with Adani Total Gas Ltd. hitting the 20% upper circuit at INR 566.90. "I think that could be just a technical pullback move. But overall, we have not seen any kind of trended up moves in the gas distribution companies in the last three-four months," Ruchit Jain, head of technical research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said. Earlier in the day, Adani Total Gas said that it had cut gas supplies to industrial customers after some of its suppliers curtailed gas supplies to the company due to the ongoing military conflict in West Asia.

 

The government on Tuesday directed natural gas producers, marketers, and pipeline operators to prioritise supply to four sectors amid disruptions to liquefied natural gas shipments due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia. To ensure optimal availability of fuel for domestic use, Reliance Industries, late Tuesday, said it will increase liquefied petroleum gas production at its Jamnagar refining and petrochemicals complex and divert natural gas from the KG-D6 basin to priority sectors.

 

Shares of air conditioner stocks rallied after reports of above-normal heatwave days between March and May. Shares of Voltas, Blue Star, Havells India, and LG Electronics India gained 0.6-2.8% Wednesday. 

 

Shares of SEDEMAC Mechatronics closed over 7% higher on debut. Shares of the electronic control units supplier were listed at INR 1,535 on the National Stock Exchange, a 13% premium to the issue price of INR 1352. In BSE, the shares were listed at INR 1,510, around 12% premium to their issue price.   

 

* Of the Nifty 50 stocks, 9 rose and 41 fell

* Of the Sensex stocks, 3 rose and 27 fell

* On the NSE, 1,337 stocks rose, 1,869 fell, and 93 were unchanged

* On the BSE, 1,881 stocks rose, 2,381 fell, and 152 were unchanged

* Nifty Auto: down 3.2%; Nifty Private Bank: down 2.4%; Nifty Pharma: up 0.4%

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BSE                                              NSE

Sensex: 76863.71, down 1,342.27 points or 1.7%    Nifty 50: 23866.85, down 394.75 points or 1.6%

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S&P BSE Sensitive Index	Nifty 50
Lifetime High: 86159.02 (Dec. 1, 2025)	: Lifetime High: 26373.20 (Jan. 5, 2026)
Record Close High: 85836.12 (Sept. 26, 2024)	: Record Close High: 26328.55 (Jan. 2, 2026)
2026 1st day close: 85188.60 (Jan. 1)	: 2026 1st day close: 26146.55 (Jan. 1)
2026 Closing High: 85762.01 (Jan. 2)	: 2026 Closing High: 26328.55 (Jan. 2)
2026 Closing Low: 76863.71 (Mar. 11)	: 2026 Closing Low: 23866.85 (Mar. 11)
2026 High (intraday): 85883.50 (Jan. 5)	: 2026 High (intraday): 26373.20 (Jan. 5)
2026 Low (intraday): 76424.55 (Mar. 9)	: 2026 Low (intraday): 23697.80 (Mar. 9)
2025 1st day close: 78507.41 (Jan. 1)	: 2025 1st day close: 23742.90 (Jan. 1)
2025 Closing High: 85720.38 (Nov. 27)	: 2025 Closing High: 26215.55 (Nov. 27)
2025 Closing Low: 72989.93 (Mar. 4)	: 2025 Closing Low: 22082.65 (Mar. 4)
2025 High (intraday): 86159.02 (Dec. 1)	: 2025 High (intraday): 26325.80 (Dec.1)
2025 Low (intraday): 71425.01 (Apr. 7)	: 2025 Low (intraday): 21743.65 (Apr. 7)
2024 1st day close: 72271.94 (Jan. 1)	: 2024 1st day close: 21741.90 (Jan. 1)
2024 Closing High: 85836.12 (Sept. 26)	: 2024 Closing High: 26216.05 (Sept. 26)
2024 Closing Low: 70370.55 (Jan. 23)	: 2024 Closing Low: 21238.80 (Jan. 23)
2024 High (intraday): 85978.25 (Sep. 27)	: 2024 High (intraday): 26277.35 (Sept. 27)
2024 Low (intraday): 70001.60 (Jan. 24)	: 2024 Low (intraday): 21137.20 (Jan. 24)
2023 1st day close: 61167.79 (Jan. 2)	: 2023 1st day close: 18197.45 (Jan. 2)
2023 Closing High: 72410.38 (Dec. 28)	: 2023 Closing High: 21778.70 (Dec. 28)
2023 Closing Low: 59288.35 (Feb. 27)	: 2023 Closing Low: 17311.80 (Oct. 17)
2023 High (intraday): 72484.34 (Dec. 28)	: 2023 High (intraday): 21801.45 (Dec. 28)
2023 Low (intraday): 58699.20 (Jan. 30)	: 2023 Low (intraday): 17098.55 (Jan. 17)
2022 1st day close: 59183.22 (Jan. 3)	: 2022 1st day close: 17625.70 (Jan. 3)
2022 Closing High: 63284.19 (Dec. 1)	: 2022 Closing High: 18812.50 (Dec. 1)
2022 Closing Low: 51360.42 (Jun. 17)	: 2022 Closing Low: 15293.50 (Jun. 17)
2022 High (intraday): 63583.07 (Dec. 1)	: 2022 High (intraday): 18887.60 (Dec. 1)
2022 Low (intraday): 50921.22 (Jun. 17)	: 2022 Low (intraday): 15183.40 (Jun. 17)
2021 Closing High: 61305.95 (Oct. 14)	: 2021 Closing High: 18338.55 (Oct. 14)
2021 Closing Low: 46285.77 (Jan. 29)	: 2021 Closing Low: 13634.60 (Jan. 29)
2021 High (intraday): 61353.25 (Oct. 14)	: 2021 High (intraday): 18350.75 (Oct. 14)
2021 Low (intraday): 46160.46 (Jan. 29)	: 2021 Low (intraday): 13596.75 (Jan. 29)
2020 Closing High: 47751.33 (Dec. 31)	: 2020 Closing High: 13981.95 (Dec. 30)
2020 Closing Low: 25981.24 (Mar. 23)	: 2020 Closing Low: 7610.25 (Mar. 23)
2020 High (intraday): 47896.97 (Dec. 31)	: 2020 High (intraday): 14024.85 (Dec. 31)
2020 Low (intraday): 25638.90 (Mar. 24)	: 2020 Low (intraday): 7511.10 (Mar. 24)
2019 High (intraday): 41809.96 (Dec. 20)	: 2019 High (intraday): 12293.90 (Dec. 20)
2019 Low (intraday): 35287.16 (Feb. 19)	: 2019 Low (intraday): 10583.65 (Jan. 29)
2018 High (intraday): 38938.91(Aug. 28))	: 2018 High(intraday): 11760.20 (Aug. 28)
2018 Low (intraday): 32483.8 (Mar. 23)	: 2018 Low (intraday): 9951.9 (Mar. 23)
2017 High (intraday): 34005.37 (Dec. 26)	: 2017 High(intraday): 10515.10 (Dec. 26)

 

End

 

US$1 = INR 92.04

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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