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Sensex plunged 963 points to an intraday low of 75,070. At the same time, Nifty dropped 333 points to 23,305, wiping out nearly Rs. 6.5 lakh crore in investor wealth.
Rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran pushed crude oil prices near the $100 level. In turn, increasing inflation fears and a broader selloff.
Heavy foreign institutional investor (FII) selling also pressured the market. FIIs dumped more than Rs. 7,050 crore worth of shares in one day despite strong buying support from domestic investors.
The stock market today, on Friday, March 13, 2026, took a heavy blow. Sensex crashed to an intra-day low of 75,070.66, down 963.75 points or 1.26%. Meanwhile, Nifty shed 333.4 points or 1.4% to hit 23,305.75 at its lowest. The selloff wiped out Rs. 6.5 lakh crore in investor wealth. It pulled BSE's total market cap down to Rs. 433.77 lakh crore from Rs. 440 lakh crore. The trigger? A toxic mix of a raging US-Iran war, crude oil crossing the $100 per barrel mark, FII selling, and a rupee that just hit a fresh all-time low.
Here is everything you need to know about the stock market today, based on Moneycontrol live updates.
The root cause of today's market crash is the ongoing US-Iran war. Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed on March 12 that the country will keep fighting. He also stated that the Strait of Hormuz blockade will continue as leverage against the US and Israel. This Strait is a waterway that carries roughly a quarter of the world's seaborne oil. Nineteen tankers and cargo ships have already been attacked in the region.
This news caused inflation and fuel shortage fears. However, Brent crude oil price went down 0.47% to $99.99 per barrel today. Meanwhile, WTI crude fell 0.67% to $95.09 per barrel, offering some relief. The slight dip came after the US Treasury issued a 30-day waiver allowing all countries to buy Russian oil stranded at sea. Some analysts warn that oil prices could surge to $150 a barrel if disruptions last longer.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net sold Rs. 7,050 crore worth of Indian equities on March 12. Year-to-date, FIIs have net sold Rs. 96,858 crore. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have been absorbing the pressure, net buying Rs. 7,450 crore on the same day and Rs. 1,58,988 crore so far in 2026.
The share market news today was broadly negative. Metals were the biggest losers. The Nifty Metal index fell by over 3%. At the same time, Nifty Bank index fell 1.75%, led by HDFC Bank share price hitting a 52-week low of Rs. 824.15. Nifty PSU Bank index also extended losses for a third straight session, with Bank of Maharashtra down 3.35% and Union Bank off 2.77%.
Auto stocks fell over 2% on Nifty Auto index. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles fell over 3.77%, Maruti Suzuki declined 2.1%, and Mahindra & Mahindra was down over 1%. IT stocks also fell, with BSE IT index down 1.22%.
FMCG stocks were the only gainers in the stock market today. Nifty FMCG index rose 0.7%. Power stocks also held up well for a third straight day. Adani Power stock gained 2.98%, NHPC rose 1.64%, and Power Grid Corp was up 1.19%.
Here is a table showing the most active stocks, top gainers and losers on Nifty 50 based on Moneycontrol data.
India imports 60% of its LPG from Gulf countries. These include Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The ongoing Middle East conflict has resulted in zero supply from these nations. It has led to Quick-service restaurant (QSR) stocks dropping to their 52-week lows. The dip came after the government announced it would restrict commercial LPG allocation to 20% of average monthly needs to prevent hoarding.
Westlife Foodworld (McDonald's), Sapphire Foods, and Devyani International (KFC, Pizza Hut) are all facing operational challenges. Sapphire Foods fell nearly 6% and touched a 52-week low of Rs. 159.18. Balaji Amines disclosed that its plants are currently non-operational due to an ammonia shortage caused by disrupted LNG supplies from the Middle East. The company stated it cannot yet estimate the full financial impact.
Gold and silver on MCX slipped early but recovered through the session. MCX gold price was down 0.3% at Rs. 1,59,764 per 10 grams, while MCX silver declined 0.7% to Rs. 2,66,001 per kg. Globally, spot gold rose 0.8% to $5,118.75 per ounce and silver gained 1.4% to $84.96 per ounce.
On the corporate front, ACME Solar jumped over 9% after commissioning 142.67 MW/481.49 MWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems in Rajasthan. HFCL bagged a five-year optical fibre cable supply order worth Rs. 10,159 crore (approximately USD 1.10 billion).
JK Lakshmi Cement stock rose nearly 3% after winning preferred bidder status for a limestone block in Assam and approving the acquisition of a 77.96% stake in NECEM Cements. ABB India gained 0.60% after UBS upgraded it to 'buy' with a target price of Rs. 8,030.
India's retail inflation rose to 3.21% in February from 2.75% in January, driven by food prices, gold and silver jewellery costs, and housing. Core inflation is near 3.4%, keeping the RBI in a patient mode, though rising oil prices are a clear upside risk to that stance.
Indian rupee fell to a fresh all-time low of 92.44 against the US dollar today, compared to March 12’s close of 92.19. The currency was weighed down by surging crude import costs, heavy FII outflows, and a stronger dollar. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been intervening to prevent sharper declines, but crude oil prices are the dominant pressure point. The dollar index hit its highest level since November, gaining 0.8% this week on its safe-haven appeal.
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Bears are firmly in control of the stock market today. Nifty's immediate support sits at 23,400-23,500; a break below risks a slide toward 23,200-23,000. Resistance is strong at 23,850-24,100. Kotak Securities flags 23,850-76,700 as the key trend-decider levels for intraday traders. Until crude oil prices cool and the Strait of Hormuz blockade ceases, markets are likely to stay volatile and range-bound. Investors should try to stay calm and keep a close eye on global cues.
Also Read: US Stock Market Today: Wall Street Slips as Oil Prices Spike and Hormuz Closure Threat Rattles Markets
The stock market fell today mainly because of global geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices. The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran raised concerns about disruptions in oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, foreign institutional investors sold large amounts of Indian stocks. These factors increased fear among investors and triggered heavy selling across sectors like metals, banks, and auto stocks.
On March 13, 2026, the Sensex fell sharply and touched an intraday low of around 75,070 after losing nearly 963 points. Meanwhile, the Nifty dropped about 333 points and reached 23,305. These declines reflect strong selling pressure in the market. The fall was driven by rising oil prices, global tensions, and heavy selling by foreign investors.
India imports a large portion of its crude oil needs from other countries. When oil prices rise sharply, it increases costs for businesses and the government. Higher oil prices can push inflation higher and reduce company profits. This often makes investors nervous, leading to selling in stock markets. That is why rising oil prices frequently cause volatility in Indian equities.
The rupee weakened to a record low of 92.44 against the US dollar mainly because of higher crude oil prices and strong demand for dollars globally. When oil becomes expensive, India needs to spend more dollars to import it. At the same time, foreign investors selling Indian stocks also increases demand for dollars, which puts additional pressure on the rupee.
Metal stocks saw the biggest losses today, with companies like Hindalco, NALCO, and Tata Steel falling sharply. Banking stocks were also under pressure as investors sold financial shares during the market decline. Auto stocks dropped as well because rising oil prices increase manufacturing and logistics costs. Only a few defensive sectors like FMCG and power managed to show gains.
