Markets Crash: Investors Lose Rs 10 Lakh Crore in One Hour
A sharp markets crash early Thursday erased around Rs 10 lakh crore of investor wealth in under an hour. At Wednesday’s close, total market capitalisation of BSE Sensex companies stood at Rs 4,22,01,433.48 crore. By 10:03 am on Thursday it had fallen to Rs 4,11,94,176 crore.
Indices and sectoral impact
BSE Sensex plunged more than 1,400 points in early trade. Nifty 50 slipped nearly 2% and moved below 22,300.
All 16 major sectoral indices were trading in the red. Financials and banks fell about 1.6%.
Broader market trends
- Mid-cap stocks declined roughly 1.2%.
- Small-cap stocks dropped about 1.5%.
- Industrial and infrastructure names saw sharp cuts.
- Pharma and aviation sectors faced heavy pressure.
Notable losers and movers
- State Bank of India down more than 3%.
- HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank fell 1.5–2.5%.
- Larsen & Toubro slipped over 3%.
- Adani Ports & SEZ and Adani Enterprises fell over 3%.
- InterGlobe Aviation declined more than 4%.
- Sun Pharmaceutical Industries dropped nearly 5%.
IT sector note
IT stocks showed some resilience. HCL Technologies registered marginal gains.
Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services fell, but less than the broader market.
What triggered the selling?
Geopolitical comments pushed oil prices higher. US President Donald Trump warned the US would hit Iran “extremely hard” in the next two to three weeks. Brent crude rose nearly 5% to about $105 per barrel.
Industrial metals such as copper also weakened. Elevated commodity prices added to investor concern.
Foreign flows and domestic activity
Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth Rs 8,331 crore on April 1. Domestic institutions bought Rs 7,172 crore the same day.
Net foreign selling, along with pressure on the rupee, weighed on sentiment.
Technical and volatility factors
Nifty failed to hold above 22,770 after Wednesday’s gap-up opening. Immediate support was seen near 21,900.
Some buyers could appear around 22,330. The index needs to trade above 22,630 to regain strength.
India VIX rose about 5% on Thursday after a 10% drop a day earlier. Traders now expect larger short-term swings.
Banking sector pressure
The Reserve Bank of India tightened rules to curb speculative activity in the rupee market. Banks must close certain contracts in the open market.
Analysts warned this could raise potential losses for lenders. Nifty Bank fell around 2.6%, steeper than the broader market.
Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor market developments and report fresh updates as trading progresses.
