30.09.202611:12:56UTC+00Sensex Closes Lower, Posts Steep Monthly Loss

India’s BSE Sensex surrendered early gains to finish slightly lower at 72,480 on Wednesday after a volatile session, extending its losing streak to a third consecutive day. Firm crude oil prices, elevated global bond yields, and persistent foreign fund outflows continued to dampen investor sentiment. Overall market mood remains cautious amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and expectations that interest rates will stay higher for longer.

Among individual stocks, Eternal, Sun Pharma, Titan, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, and HDFC Bank were the major laggards, declining between 1.4% and 2.3%. On the positive side, Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 2.9%), ICICI Bank (2.3%), InterGlobe Aviation (2.1%), and Axis Bank (1.4%) logged the strongest gains. For the month of September, the benchmark index dropped 5.8%, marking its sharpest monthly fall since March, and ended the third quarter with a loss of 5.2%.