{"id":8229,"date":"2026-04-24T10:42:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T05:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakshmishree.com\/news\/?p=8229"},"modified":"2026-04-24T10:42:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T05:12:07","slug":"nifty-slipssensex-falls-700-points","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakshmishree.com\/news\/nifty-slipssensex-falls-700-points\/","title":{"rendered":"Stock Market Today: Sensex Falls 700 Points, Nifty Slips Below 24,000 as Oil Surge and IT Selloff Hit ongoing Sentiment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Indian equity markets opened sharply lower on Friday, with the Sensex falling over 700 points and the Nifty slipping below the key 24,000 level<\/mark><\/a>, as rising crude oil prices, persistent foreign selling and weakness in IT stocks weighed on investor sentiment, April 24, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By around 9:45 a.m., the BSE Sensex was down 730 points, or 0.94%, at 76,934, while the Nifty 50 declined 196 points, or 0.81%, to 23,977. The fall marks a continuation of the recent weakness, with markets now extending losses for a third straight session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a simple level, the reason is clear: rising global risk and money moving out<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the deeper picture shows multiple pressures building at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest trigger remains crude oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brent crude has climbed above $106 per barrel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route. For India, which relies heavily on oil imports, higher crude prices raise concerns around inflation, fiscal balance and corporate profitability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign investors are adding to the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have continued their selling streak, offloading more than \u20b93,200 crore in the previous session. This steady outflow of capital is weighing heavily on large-cap stocks and limiting any short-term recovery in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third major drag is the IT sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shares of major IT companies such as Infosys, TCS and HCL Tech came under pressure after weak earnings outlooks and cautious guidance, particularly due to reduced spending by global clients. The Nifty IT index fell over 2.5%, making it one of the biggest contributors to the decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global cues remain mixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are some signs of easing tensions, including an extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, overall uncertainty around U.S.-Iran negotiations and oil supply disruptions continues to keep investors cautious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volatility is also rising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India VIX, often called the market\u2019s fear gauge, rose nearly 3% to around 19,<\/strong> indicating increased nervousness among traders. Market breadth remained weak, with more than twice as many stocks declining as advancing, pointing to broad-based selling across sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, not all segments are equally weak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Midcap and smallcap stocks showed relatively better resilience compared to large caps, suggesting selective buying even in a falling market. A few stocks like Coal India and Bajaj Auto managed to post gains, but these were exceptions in an otherwise weak session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a technical standpoint, slipping below 24,000 is significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analysts now see immediate support for the Nifty around the 23,800 zone. If this level breaks, further downside cannot be ruled out in the near term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For everyday investors, the takeaway is straightforward:<\/p>\n\n\n\n