Sensex plunges 2,200 points, investors lose ₹14 lakh crore
The Iran-Israel war and crude oil prices crossing $117 have caused panic in the stock market. The Sensex plummeted by 2,200 points and the Nifty by more than 700 points, wiping out millions of crores of rupees for investors.
The deepening war in West Asia and skyrocketing crude oil prices have created chaos on Dalal Street. The tension between Iran and the US-Israel has now taken a dangerous turn, directly impacting the global economy as well as our pockets. The situation is such that the Sensex and Nifty have collapsed, and heavy selling pressure is being witnessed everywhere.
On March 6, 2026, the total market cap of all companies listed on the BSE was ₹4,49,68,260.81 crore. But as soon as the market opened on March 9, 2026, it fell to ₹4,35,70,085.27 crore. This means that investors' total wealth declined by approximately ₹13,98,175.54 crore just with the market opening.
Panic in Sensex-Nifty
When the market opened on Monday morning, signs of a massive decline began to appear on the screen. By 9:21 am, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)'s main index, the Sensex, plunged 2,272 points (about 2.87 percent) to 76,621. The National Stock Exchange (NSE)'s Nifty also fared poorly. The Nifty fell by approximately 706 points (2.89 percent) to trade at 23,743, at one point trading more than 500 points lower.
This is not a sudden decline. Earlier on Friday, the market was in a bad mood, with the Sensex falling nearly 1,097 points to 78,918 and the Nifty slipping 315 points to 24,450. This continuous decline is causing deep concern among investors.
Why is the market panicking?
The primary reason for this massive market devastation is the intense geopolitical tensions raging across the seven seas. The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has now reached a point where the energy supply crisis has deepened. Iran has targeted some of the most critical infrastructure in the Persian Gulf. In response, Israel has also taken an aggressive stance, attacking Tehran's major oil depots.
Summary
This military conflict has created panic in markets worldwide. This fear has led to a sharp surge in crude oil prices (Brent crude) and crossed the dangerous level of $117 per barrel. This surge in crude oil prices directly invites inflation. Fear is looming not only in India but also in Asian markets, which have seen a massive decline of up to 7 percent.