Sensex recovers from over 1,500-point crash to end higher; Nifty rebounds amid Iran tensions

The BSE Sensex, which had opened over 1,400 points lower, recovered to end 185 points higher, while the NSE Nifty 50 closed up 33 points.

The sharp turnaround was led by gains in IT stocks, which provided crucial support to the market. Domestic institutional investors also helped absorb intense selling pressure, aiding the recovery.

The early sell-off was triggered after Trump signalled a potential escalation in the Iran conflict, vowing to ramp up military strikes—raising fears of a wider West Asia crisis.

Global concerns intensified as oil prices surged. Brent crude June futures jumped nearly 5% to $106.15 per barrel, unsettling investors already wary of inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.

Markets, which had rallied just a day earlier on hopes of de-escalation, quickly reversed course as Trump’s latest remarks dampened expectations of any near-term easing of tensions.

In a recent interview with the New York Post, Trump had suggested the US campaign had significantly weakened Iran and hinted at a possible pullback within weeks—fueling optimism across global markets. Thursday’s developments, however, painted a starkly different picture.