Post-Market 30 March 2026: Sensex And Nifty End Down By Over 2%

Indian stock markets ended the last trading day of FY26 on a weak note. Many factors contributed to the fall. At close:

• Nifty 50 declined 2.14% to 22,331.40

• Sensex fell 2.22% to 71,947.55

The fall followed rising tensions, with investors keeping a close watch on how it could affect global growth and inflation. The selling pressure was not limited to large-cap stocks. Broader indices also ended deep in the red with the:

• Nifty MidCap 100 down 2.68%

• Nifty SmallCap 100 down 2.66%

What Triggered The Fall?

The key reasons behind today’s fall included:

US-Iran War

Tensions escalated after reports of a larger US military presence in the Middle East. The administration led by Donald Trump is preparing for extended ground operations in Iran, according to the Washington Post.

US Central Command said on X that around 3,500 marines and sailors have been deployed aboard the USS Tripoli. This marks one of the largest US military build-ups in the region in nearly two decades.

Surge In Oil Prices

Oil prices moved higher as the conflict raised supply concerns. At around 16:07 pm, Brent crude was trading at around $108.23 per barrel. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) during the same time gained over 2% to trade at $101.94 per barrel. The rise reflects fears of supply disruption from the Middle East.

Bank Stocks Tumble After RBI Move

Banking stocks saw sharp selling after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tightened rules on foreign exchange exposure. The RBI has asked banks to cap their net open rupee positions in the forex market at $100 million by the end of each day. The directive must be followed by 10 April.

The move is expected to trigger dollar selling by banks as they unwind existing arbitrage positions in the domestic market.

Rupee Breaches 95 Mark

The Indian rupee extended its losses during the session. It crossed the 95 level against the US dollar for the first time. The fall comes amid strong dollar demand and global uncertainty.

Also, the sharp market move coincided with the monthly expiry of Nifty 50 futures and options contracts.

Also Read - Banks Urge RBI To Relax New Foreign Exchange Rules

Commodities Show Mixed Trend

In the commodities market, prices moved in different directions at the start of trade. Gold futures for June delivery on the Multi-Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) opened 0.27% lower at ₹1,46,850 per 10 grams, compared to the previous close of ₹1,47,255. Silver futures, however, edged up 0.06% to open at ₹2,28,106 per kg.

At 15:50 pm, gold June futures at MCX stood at ₹148,591 per 10 grams, while silver May futures stood at ₹230,800 per kg.

The last trading session of the fiscal year saw investors trim positions, with global cues dictating the direction of domestic equities.

Sources:

Moneycontrol

Livemint

The Economic Times