Indian stock market falls amid Middle East  

The Indian stock market fell amid Middle East tensions as rising oil prices and concerns over the Iran conflict triggered heavy selling in early trade on September 2. The Sensex dropped more than 700 points within minutes of the opening, while the Nifty slipped below the 23,850 level as investors reacted to renewed uncertainty in global markets. 

The BSE Sensex opened at 76,471.32 before extending its losses. By 9:25 am, the index was at 76,225.80, down 718.48 points, or 0.93%, from the previous close. The sharp decline put the focus on the Sensex today as selling pressure spread across most stocks. 

The Nifty’s decline reflected broader weakness in Indian equities. Rising crude oil prices remained a key concern as the Iran conflict added uncertainty around global energy supplies. Higher oil prices could put additional pressure on inflation and economic growth, while also affecting interest-rate expectations and investor sentiment. 

Asian markets mostly followed the trend, showing that concerns were not limited to India. The impact of Middle East tensions on markets became evident through the mix of rising oil prices, weak regional mood and growing worries about the global economy. 

Still, not all stocks were down. A few managed to stay positive. Adani Ports was one of the Sensex gainers, climbing 0.90% at one point. Sun Pharma also added to the gains, rising 0.29%. By 11:19 am, Adani Ports remained the top Sensex gainer at 0.75%, followed by Power Grid and ITC. In the Nifty, Coal India led the early gainers with a 4% rise to Rs 417.65. Adani Ports, Adani Enterprises, NTPC and ONGC also traded higher.