Sensex And Nifty Log Biggest Weekly Drop in Over a Year Amid Global Tensions

Equity benchmark indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty ended the week from March 2 to March 6 significantly lower, marking their sharpest weekly fall in more than a year. Persistent geopolitical tensions in West Asia exerted pressure on investor sentiment, triggering widespread risk aversion.

All major sectoral indices closed in the red, underscoring the broad‑based weakness in domestic equities. The downturn also reflected global cues, with Asian markets showing mixed trends and commodity prices remaining volatile.

Benchmark Indices Register Steep Weekly Declines

The Sensex and Nifty both dropped about 3% over the week, their worst performance since early 2025. Selling pressure was visible across the benchmark index, with 42 Nifty stocks delivering negative returns during the period.

Among these, 21 stocks witnessed declines between 4% and 9%, reflecting the depth of market weakness. Financials emerged as the biggest drag, weighing heavily on index performance due to their substantial sectoral weightage.

Intraday Market Movement on March 6, 2026

On Friday, March 6, markets extended losses as selling intensified across sectors. The Sensex declined 1,097 points to end at 78,919, continuing its downward trajectory from earlier sessions. The Nifty slipped 315 points to settle at 24,450, falling below the key 24,500 level.

Weak global cues and a lack of positive domestic triggers added to the negative sentiment. With investors reducing exposure to risk assets, trading activity remained subdued throughout the day.

Global Market Trends Influence Domestic Sentiment

Asian share markets presented mixed trends on Friday, contributing to cautious domestic market behaviour. South Korea’s Kospi edged up less than 0.1% to 5,584.87 after a volatile week marked by a record 12% slump on Wednesday followed by a nearly 10% rebound on Thursday.

The index had climbed above 6,000 in recent weeks before geopolitical developments unsettled investors. Meanwhile, crude oil prices retreated by more than USD 1 after hitting their highest levels since the summer of 2024, adding uncertainty to global risk sentiment.

Sectoral Performance and Market Breadth

All domestic sectoral indices closed the week with losses, reflecting uniform selling pressure across industries. Financials, metals, realty and IT stocks registered notable declines as investors reassessed risk exposure amid external uncertainties.

Market breadth remained negative, with declines outweighing advances for most of the week. Broader markets tracked the weakness in frontline indices, signalling a shift toward defensive positioning.

Read More: NSE Announces Revised Quantity Freeze Limits for Index Derivatives from March 2, 2026.

Conclusion

The Sensex and Nifty posted their steepest weekly decline in over a year, weighed down by tensions in West Asia and persistent global volatility. Broad‑based selling across sectoral indices and weak global cues reinforced the negative sentiment.

Intraday declines on March 6 added to the pressure, with both benchmarks closing sharply lower. Market participants are expected to monitor geopolitical headlines and global economic indicators closely in the days ahead.

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