Sensex and Nifty fell for an eighth straight week, marking their longest losing streak in 25 years, with around ₹20 lakh crore in market
MUMBAI: Indian equities suffered another bruising session on Thursday, October 1, as benchmark indices completed their longest weekly losing streak in 25 years amid sustained foreign fund outflows and growing global economic pressures.
The BSE Sensex fell 570.59 points, or 0.79%, to close at 71,909.70, while the NSE Nifty 50 dropped 198.50 points, or 0.88%, to settle at 22,421.95. The Nifty declined around 3% during the holiday-shortened week, while the Sensex lost about 2.7%. Over eight consecutive losing weeks, the indices have fallen approximately 8.7% and 8.4%, respectively.
₹20 lakh crore erased in a week
The broader sell-off has inflicted far heavier damage on investor wealth. The combined market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies fell by roughly ₹20 lakh crore during the week as weakness spread through large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap shares.
Foreign portfolio investors remain a major source of pressure. Overseas investors have withdrawn billions of dollars from Indian equities during 2026, while rising US Treasury yields have made emerging-market assets comparatively less attractive.
Oil and rupee add to concerns
Crude oil prices hovering close to $100 a barrel have intensified worries for India, which depends heavily on imported oil. Higher energy costs can increase inflation, hurt corporate margins and put further pressure on the currency.
The rupee also weakened against the US dollar on Thursday as oil prices and global bond yields climbed.
Auto and consumer-related shares were among the biggest losers, while IT stocks provided some support. The Nifty also settled below its 200-week moving average for the first time since the COVID-19 market crash, highlighting the depth of the current correction.
Impact to expect
Investors may continue to face volatility if foreign selling, elevated crude prices and high global bond yields persist. A weaker rupee could add pressure on import costs and inflation, while any easing in oil prices or improvement in foreign fund flows could help stabilise sentiment.
