Sensex, Nifty open lower on US-Iran tension, crude near $89

Indian equity benchmarks opened lower on Monday as unresolved US-Iran tensions kept crude oil prices elevated near $89 a barrel. Telangana Today reports that the Nifty 50 opened at 24,343.45, down 22.55 points (0.09 per cent), and the Sensex fell more than 100 points (0.15 per cent) to 77,892.92. IndiaTV News adds that the BSE Midcap Select Index dropped 60.11 points, and the BSE Smallcap Select Index fell 0.17 points.

Sectoral declines were broad-based. Nifty MidSmall Financial Services fell 0.98 per cent, and Nifty PSU Bank and Nifty FMCG slumped up to 0.9 per cent. Realty, cement, IT, energy, and private banking also traded lower. Nifty Chemicals rose 0.48 per cent, and Nifty MidSmall Healthcare gained 0.45 per cent, Telangana Today says.

Market experts cited by Telangana Today expect the Nifty to trade range-bound between 24,000 and 24,600 until fresh triggers emerge. Crude at $89 with no immediate resolution to the crisis may cap any uptrend. Analysts note that midcap and smallcap segments offer stock-specific opportunities, with broader market outperformance likely to continue.