Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty edged lower in early deals on Thursday (July 23, 2026) due to surging crude oil prices amid escalating tensions in the West Asia. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 230.95 points to 76,521.02 during initial trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 57.15 points to 23,937.

From the Sensex pack, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, NTPC and Reliance Industries were among the laggards. Trent and Eternal were the only winners from the pack. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, quoted 2.27% higher at $96.20 per barrel. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth ₹819.20 crore on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) after a day's breather, according to exchange data.

“Investor sentiment remain fragile as escalating tensions in the Middle East (West Asia) fuel a fresh surge in global oil prices and weigh on risk appetite,” R. Ponmudi, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth-tech firm, said. "Markets were rattled after Yemen's Houthi rebels reportedly attacked two Saudi oil tankers, opening a new front in the regional conflict and raising fears of further disruptions to crude supplies," Mr. Ponmudi added.

In Asian markets, South Korea's KOSPI jumped 3.15%. Japan's Nikkei 225 index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were also trading higher, while Shanghai's SSE Composite index quoted lower. U.S. markets ended in negative territory on Wednesday (July 22, 2026).

On Wednesday (July 22, 2026), the Sensex tanked 715.06 points, or 0.92%, to settle at 76,755.05. The Nifty declined 191.45 points, or 0.79%, to end at 23,996.25.