Indian Markets Face Steep Losses
Indian equity benchmarks, the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty, experienced a significant selloff for the fourth consecutive trading session on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The Sensex plunged 1456.04 points, or 1.92 percent, to settle at 74,559.24. Meanwhile, the Nifty slumped 436.30 points, or 1.83 percent, closing at 23,379.55.
Rs 15.47 Lakh Crore Investor Wealth Erased
The prolonged downturn has resulted in a staggering erosion of investor wealth. Across the past four sessions, approximately Rs 15.47 lakh crore was wiped off the market capitalization. The BSE's total market cap plummeted to Rs 456.99 lakh crore, a sharp decline from Rs 472.46 lakh crore recorded just days prior on May 6, when markets had closed positively.
Key Factors Behind the Downturn
Several factors contributed to the widespread panic and selling pressure. A record-low Indian rupee, coupled with elevated crude oil prices, fueled investor anxiety. Lingering uncertainty surrounding the fragile US-Iran ceasefire agreement further exacerbated the market's negative sentiment, as global geopolitical tensions weighed heavily on investor confidence.
Top Performers and Laggards
Five prominent stocks significantly contributed to the Sensex's fall: ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Infosys, and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Among the Sensex constituents, Tech Mahindra emerged as the top loser, declining 4.40 percent. Adani Ports followed with a 4.02 percent drop, while HCL Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Titan, and Infosys also saw substantial declines of 4.01 percent, 3.67 percent, 3.53 percent, and 3.10 percent, respectively. In contrast, NTPC, State Bank of India (SBI), and Bharti Airtel were among the few gainers on the 30-pack index, rising up to 0.34 percent.
Sectoral Impact
The broad market decline was also evident across sectoral indices. The BSE IT index experienced a sharp drop of 3.54 percent, closing at 27,524.44. Similarly, the BSE Consumer Durables index plunged 3.19 percent, settling at 56,420.09, reflecting widespread selling pressure across various segments.
Disclaimer: This report provides stock market news for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.