Tata Steel Ends With Heaviest Losses Among Nifty 50 as Iran War, Crude Surge Batter Rate-Sensitive Stocks 

Mumbai, May 18: Tata Steel was Monday’s top loser on the Nifty 50, tumbling 3.15% as a toxic combination of surging crude oil prices, a record-weak rupee, and intensifying fears of a broader US-Iran military escalation drove aggressive selling in metal, energy, PSU, and rate-sensitive stocks, leaving only a handful of IT and pharma names standing in positive territory on an otherwise deeply bruising session for Dalal Street. Power Grid Corporation, NTPC, State Bank of India, Bajaj Auto, and Eicher Motors also featured among the top six index losers, with stocks declining between 1.71% and 3.15% as investors dumped cyclical, infrastructure, and PSU names in favour of defensive export-oriented plays.

Tata Steel: Top Loser

Tata Steel (TATASTEEL) was the biggest Nifty 50 decliner on Monday, falling 3.15% to trade at Rs 210.01, down sharply from its previous close of Rs 216.84 on the NSE. The stock opened at Rs 211, touched a brief intraday high of Rs 211.82 before sellers overwhelmed buyers and drove it to a session low of Rs 205.05. Around 7.38 crore shares worth approximately Rs 1,542 crore were traded during the session. Tata Steel’s sharp decline reflected a double blow — fears that sustained high crude oil prices will raise energy and logistics costs at its steelmaking operations, while a weak global demand environment linked to the Iran war-induced macro slowdown clouds near-term volume and realisations outlook for the company’s India and European businesses alike.

Power Grid Corporation

Power Grid Corporation (POWERGRID) was the second-biggest Nifty 50 loser on Monday, falling 2.93% to trade at Rs 296.90, down from its previous close of Rs 305.85. The state-owned transmission utility opened at Rs 296.30, touched an intraday high of Rs 298.45 before retreating to a session low of Rs 290.20. Around 1.60 crore shares worth approximately Rs 472 crore were traded. Power Grid’s decline reflected the broad-based selling in PSU and rate-sensitive infrastructure names, with rising US Treasury yields and domestic inflation concerns linked to elevated crude prices keeping investors wary of long-duration regulated utility stocks that are particularly sensitive to interest rate expectations.

NTPC

NTPC (NTPC) was the third-biggest loser, declining 2.62% to Rs 384.90 from its previous close of Rs 395.25. The power major opened at Rs 393, touched a high of Rs 393.85 and a session low of Rs 384.90. Around 76.31 lakh shares worth approximately Rs 297 crore were traded. NTPC’s weakness mirrored the selling pressure across the state-owned energy complex, with investors concerned about the sustained rise in fuel costs and the broader risk that elevated crude prices will keep inflationary pressures elevated, delaying any prospect of rate relief for capital-intensive power companies.

State Bank of India

State Bank of India (SBIN) was the fourth-biggest Nifty 50 loser, sliding 2.53% to Rs 938.80 from its previous close of Rs 963.20. India’s largest public sector lender opened at Rs 952, hit a high of Rs 954.90 and a low of Rs 933.90. Around 1.66 crore shares worth approximately Rs 1,556 crore changed hands. SBI’s decline encapsulated the PSU bank sector’s distress on the day — a weaker rupee, tightening systemic liquidity, and growing concerns about the macro trajectory of a crude-price-scarred economy all weighing on sentiment toward state-owned lenders with large sovereign bond portfolios.

Bajaj Auto

Bajaj Auto (BAJAJ-AUTO) fell 1.83% to Rs 10,188 from its previous close of Rs 10,377.50, opening at Rs 10,325, touching a high of Rs 10,326 and a low of Rs 10,144.50. Around 2.96 lakh shares worth approximately Rs 302 crore were traded, as the two-wheeler major came under pressure amid concerns over input cost inflation and softening export demand linked to global macro headwinds from the protracted Middle East conflict.

Eicher Motors

Eicher Motors (EICHERMOT) rounded out the top six Nifty 50 losers on Monday, declining 1.71% to Rs 6,894.50 from its previous close of Rs 7,014.50. The Royal Enfield maker opened at Rs 6,970, touched a high of Rs 6,974.50 and a low of Rs 6,813. Around 3.16 lakh shares worth approximately Rs 218 crore were traded, with the stock reflecting the broader auto sector’s vulnerability to rising fuel prices and weakening consumer sentiment.

Nifty Stocks That End With Losses on Monday, May 18

Source:

• NSE · Nifty 50 Losers · 18 May 2026
• https://www.nseindia.com/market-data/top-gainers-losers
• https://www.nseindia.com/get-quote/equity/EICHERMOT/Eicher-Motors-Limited