Nifty, Sensex Stock Market Today Live Updates: Indian equities are set for a gap-down start on Monday as escalating conflict in the Middle East shakes global markets and drives investors toward safe-haven assets such as gold and bonds.
GIFT Nifty was lower by 170 points at around 25,200 as of 7:15 a.m., signalling a weak opening for the Nifty 50. The rupee is also likely to remain under pressure amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and elevated crude prices.
Asian markets declined about 1.2%, while US equity-index futures slipped 0.6%, though they recovered from steeper losses seen earlier in the session.
Brent crude jumped as much as 13% before trimming gains, as tensions and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz roiled global oil markets. Meanwhile, gold climbed 0.9% to trade near $5,325 an ounce, easing from intraday highs but still reflecting strong safe-haven demand.
The Middle East crisis worsened following the killing of Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint operation of US-Israel forces on Saturday.
