Stock Market, Mid-Day report, July 14, 2026: Sensex, Nifty Extend Losses on Escalation in US-Iran Tensions, Oil Rally

Mumbai, July 14: Indian equity benchmarks declined at midday on Tuesday following another escalation in tensions between the US and Iran after Tehran claimed Washington violated terms of the ceasefire agreement reached last month. The recent spike in crude oil prices also remained in focus for traders as prices surged to a one-month high on worries about a complete shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. 

At 12:10 pm, Sensex traded lower by 412.25 points or 0.53 per cent at 77,204.15, while Nifty was down 116.95 points or 0.48 per cent at 24,094.05. Both benchmark indices extended their losses into the noon session with traders selling into rebound rallies as the geopolitical risk stayed on investors’ radar through the session. 

Hindalco was the top performer among Nifty50 stocks, rising 2.21 per cent to Rs 988.25 LTP from its previous close of Rs 966.85, followed by Bharti Airtel that advanced 1.8 per cent to Rs 1,936 from Rs 1,901.80. Cipla was higher by 1.56 per cent at Rs 1,448.90 from Rs 1,426.70, Tata Steel jumped 1.29 per cent to Rs 189.52 against Rs 187.11 and Adani Ports climbed 0.98 per cent to Rs 1,828 from Rs 1810.30. 

On the flip side, HCL Technologies dropped the most by 3.12 per cent to Rs 1,183.10 from Rs 1,221.20, followed by InterGlobe Aviation declining 2.78 per cent to Rs 5,084 against Rs 5,229.50. Shriram Finance fell 2.16 per cent to Rs 1,025.50 from Rs 1,048.10, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles dropped 2.09 per cent to Rs 335.10 versus Rs 342.25 and Jio Financial Services slipped 1.94 per cent to Rs 236.73 from Rs 241.41. 

Weakness was pervasive across broad market indices too, with Nifty Bank declining by 1.01 per cent, Nifty Smallcap 250 shedding 0.83 per cent and the benchmark Nifty 50 falling 0.44 per cent. Among sectoral indices, Nifty Realty was the top loser, tumbling 1.84 per cent, followed by Nifty PSU Bank that declined 1.54 per cent and Nifty Auto shedding 1.41 per cent. In contrast, Nifty Pharma advanced by 1.04 per cent, Nifty Metal gained 1.02 per cent and Nifty Healthcare rose 0.95 per cent. 

Iran and US further escalated their conflict in the Gulf region on Monday and continued into Tuesday after the US military launched strikes against Iran for a third night in a row. President Trump reinstated the naval blockade on Iranian shipping traffic and ordered a 20 per cent charge on all goods passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said its airspace had been breached as US renewed strikes overnight, violating the terms of ceasefire agreement agreed upon last month, and its foreign minister said Iran was the protector of the Strait regardless of US wishes. 

Two oil tankers flagged off from the UAE were attacked by Iranian cruise missiles in the waters off Oman, killing at least one Indian national on board and injuring several others. Iran also claimed it had targeted a US ship in the Strait and shot down an unmanned American drone. Geopolitical tensions escalated further in West Asia on fears that the missile attacks could lead to a broader regional conflict and increase pressure on energy markets even further. 

Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday tracking geopolitical jitters between Iran and US and a spike in crude oil prices. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.74 per cent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up 0.72 per cent, while Pakistan’s KSE 100 declined 1.27 per cent and Vietnam’s VN30 shed 2 per cent. Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index and Malaysia’s FBM KLCI advanced on mixed trade even as investors weighed the developments in the Strait of Hormuz. US markets ended lower on Monday with the Nasdaq Composite tumbling 1.55 per cent and the S& P 500 slipping 0.79 per cent as surging crude oil prices pressured investor sentiment ahead of Indian markets. 

Oil prices traded higher by about 2 per cent on Tuesday after surging more than 10 per cent in the previous session. Brent crude futures rose 2 per cent to $84.98 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate crude was trading up by a similar margin at $79.79 a barrel, their highest levels since early June. The spike in crude prices came after Trump reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz while Iran and US continued striking each other’s vessels. 

US attacked Iran for the third consecutive night and Iran retaliated by attacking US vessels again in the Strait of Hormuz through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas trade passes through daily. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, raising fears that disruptions to shipments passing through the Strait may increase further. 

India benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened lower on Tuesday, gradually extending losses into the opening hour of trade. The Indian equity benchmarks opened lower by 265 points and 71 points, respectively. Asian cues were mixed and Wall Street ended weak on geopolitical tensions between US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and rising crude oil prices weighed on investors’ sentiment. India’s core market moved lower modestly on its opening side tracking external cues and rising geopolitical tensions which dominated headlines. SPI for Nifty declined by 44 points to 24,076. 

Source

•  nseindia.com
• bseindia
• https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-escalates-attacks-us-bases-gulf-states-warns-more-incidents-strait-2026-07-13/