Indian benchmark indices ended lower on Friday, weighed down by escalating geopolitical tensions after Israel launched strikes on key Iranian nuclear and military sites.
The BSE Sensex fell 573.38 points to close at 81,118.60, while the NSE Nifty 50 dropped 169.60 points to end at 24,718.60, both down 0.7% from the previous day.
Investor sentiment soured after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that strikes targeted Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, missile factories, and senior nuclear scientists. Netanyahu said the offensive would continue "for as many days as necessary," sparking fears of broader conflict in the Middle East, Livemint reported.
The fresh hostilities come amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine tensions, compounding geopolitical risks for global markets.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (NSE:ADANIPORTS, BOM:532921), State Bank of India (NSE:SBIN, BOM:500112), and ITC (NSE:ITC, BOM:500875) were the top losers.
On the flip side, Bharat Electronics (NSE:BEL, BOM:500049), Oil and Natural Gas Corp (NSE:ONGC, BOM:500312), and Tech Mahindra (NSE:TECHM, BOM:532755) led the gainers.
In economic data, India's headline inflation eased to 2.82% in May, down from 4.80% a year earlier, marking the lowest annual inflation since February 2019, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Statistics, issued late on Thursday.
In corporate updates, ACME Solar Holdings (NSE:ACMESOLAR, BOM:544283) said it commissioned an additional 19.8 MW at its 50 MW wind power project in Shapar, Gujarat, through its unit ACME Pokhran Solar.
Separately, Generic Engineering Construction and Projects (NSE:GENCON, BOM:539407) appointed Shital Laxmikant Lokhande as its chief financial officer and key managerial personnel, effective Friday.
