In a stunning start to the trading session, the Indian stock market witnessed a massive meltdown on Thursday, with the BSE Sensex plunging over 3,000 points and the Nifty 50 slipping below the 21,800 mark. This steep fall led to a staggering ₹19 lakh crore being wiped out from investor wealth in just a few hours of trade.
📉 Market Crash Sparks Panic
The Sensex, which opened sharply lower, continued to slide amid intense selling pressure across sectors. It touched an intraday low of 71,200, down by over 3,000 points. Meanwhile, the Nifty breached the psychological 21,800 level, triggering broader market concerns.
The crash led to a sharp decline in market capitalisation, with key sectors such as banking, IT, energy, and FMCG bearing the brunt.
📊 Key Triggers Behind the Fall
While experts are analyzing the exact causes, some of the immediate triggers include:
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Weak global cues
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Concerns over rising US bond yields
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Anticipation of further interest rate hikes
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Profit-booking ahead of quarterly earnings
Adding to the tension, FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investors) were seen offloading large positions, putting pressure on frontline stocks.
🏦 Banking and IT Hit Hard
The biggest losers in the session included heavyweight banking and IT stocks. Shares of HDFC Bank, Infosys, TCS, Reliance Industries, and ICICI Bank dragged the indices lower. The Bank Nifty alone fell over 4%, compounding investor woes.
🗣️ Expert Reactions
Market analysts warned investors to remain cautious. “This correction, though sharp, was long overdue. Investors should focus on fundamentals and not panic sell,” said a leading Mumbai-based market expert.
🔁 What’s Next?
Market participants will closely watch global developments and the upcoming RBI policy and Q4 earnings for further cues. Volatility is expected to remain high in the coming days.
