Indian equity markets plunged sharply on March 30, 2026, with the Sensex dropping 1,191 points to 72,391.98 and Nifty50 falling to 22,470.15. Escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia and surging crude oil prices drove the significant market decline. Foreign Institutional Investors continued their withdrawal from Indian equities, offloading Rs 4,367.30 crore on Friday alone. Rising Brent crude to $115.3 per barrel heightened concerns about inflation and economic growth impact. Banking stocks including Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and ICICI Bank led the losses. The broader Asian markets reflected similar weakness, with regional indices declining sharply. Foreign investors have now pulled out Rs 1.14 lakh crore from domestic equities in March, marking the worst month for outflows.
