Markets open lower as US-Iran tensions spook investors; Sensex drops nearly 500 points, IT stocks hit hard

Mumbai: Indian equity markets opened on a shaky note Monday as investors reacted nervously to rising geopolitical tensions following the United States’ surprise airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade, reflecting global concerns over a potential escalation in the Middle East.

The BSE Sensex slid 487 points to 81,920, while the NSE Nifty dropped 150 points to 24,914.95, with technology and consumer-facing companies bearing the brunt of the selloff.

Major IT stocks led the decline, with Infosys slipping 2.05%, HCL Technologies down by 1.31%, TCS falling 1.08%, and Coforge shedding 0.47%. Bajaj Finance and Hindustan Unilever also posted notable losses as cautious sentiment prevailed across sectors.

Meanwhile, Bharat Electronics and Bharti Airtel emerged as rare gainers in early trade, managing to hold on to modest gains amid the broader market weakness.

The market jitters follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Sunday of targeted strikes on Iran’s Fordow uranium enrichment facility, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz. The offensive, seen as a dramatic escalation, has fueled fears of regional instability and sparked warnings of retaliation, particularly involving Israel.

Analysts suggest the volatile geopolitical climate may weigh on market sentiment in the short term. “Investors are likely to remain risk-averse until there is more clarity on the consequences of the US action in Iran. Oil prices, currency movement, and global cues will play a critical role this week,” said a Mumbai-based market strategist.