Stock Market Today: Sensex tumbles, Nifty trades below 23,450 amid heavy selling

Indian stock markets opened sharply lower on Friday, with the Sensex falling over 650 points and the Nifty slipping below the 23,450 mark in early trade. Heavy selling in major stocks like L&T and HDFC Bank dragged the indices down.

Post Published By: Sona Saini

Updated : 13 March 2026, 9:35 AM IST

Stock Market Today: Sensex Tumbles, Nifty Trades Below 23,450 Amid Heavy Selling

Mumbai: The Indian stock market opened weak on Friday. The Sensex fell more than 650 points in early trading, while the Nifty slipped below 23,450. Investors were cautious as soon as the market opened, and selling pressure persisted in several major stocks.

The Sensex opened with a decline of about 550 points in the early morning session, while the Nifty fell below the 23,500 level. This decline was primarily due to weakness in banking and infrastructure stocks.

These stocks pulled the market down

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and HDFC Bank, major stocks, exerted pressure on the market during today's trading. The decline in the shares of these two companies played a significant role in dragging the Sensex and Nifty down.

Analysts say that weak signals from global markets and caution among foreign investors also contributed to the decline in the Indian market.

Block Deal in Tata Motors Shares

A block deal involving approximately 1.6 million shares of Tata Motors was executed in the pre-market session before the market opened. However, despite this significant deal, the overall market trend remained weak.

Signs of a decline were visible in the market during the pre-opening session itself, and selling pressure intensified as trading began.

Weakness in the Rupee

Along with the decline in the stock market, the rupee also came under pressure in the foreign exchange market. The Indian rupee fell by about 9 paise to 92.34 against the US dollar in early trading.

The rupee had closed at 92.19 per dollar in the previous trading session. With the current decline, the rupee has reached near its record low, which may increase concerns about rising import prices.

How the Market May Be in the Future

Market experts believe that global economic signals, crude oil prices, and foreign investor activity will determine the market direction in the coming days.

If global markets stabilize, the Indian market may also see a recovery. At present, investors are being advised to invest with caution.