Last Updated on May 14, 2026 12:04 am by BIZNAMA NEWS
Markets Snap Four-Day Losing Streak Amid Value Buying; Crude, Inflation Concerns Keep Sentiment Fragile
By Our Business Correspondent
Domestic equity benchmarks recovered on Wednesday after four straight sessions of losses, supported by value buying in battered blue-chip stocks and gains in metal, energy and consumer durable shares. However, persistent concerns over soaring crude oil prices, rupee weakness, foreign fund outflows and rising global inflation continued to weigh on investor sentiment.
After witnessing sharp volatility and profit booking in early trade, markets rebounded strongly from intraday lows, helping the benchmark indices close marginally higher. The NSE Nifty ended above the crucial 23,400 level.
The BSE Sensex rose 49.74 points, or 0.07 per cent, to close at 74,608.98, while the NSE Nifty 50 gained 33.05 points, or 0.14 per cent, to settle at 23,412.60. The recovery came after a steep four-session decline during which the Sensex had fallen 4.43 per cent and the Nifty nearly 4 per cent.
Buying in heavyweight stocks such as Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel and Larsen & Toubro helped lift the indices. Metal and energy counters attracted strong interest amid expectations of sustained infrastructure spending and higher commodity prices.
Broader markets outperformed frontline indices, with the BSE MidCap index rising 0.71 per cent and the SmallCap index adding 0.27 per cent. Market breadth remained positive as gainers outnumbered losers on the BSE.
Despite the rebound, investors remained cautious amid mounting macroeconomic pressures. The Indian rupee touched a fresh intraday record low of 95.80 against the US dollar before trimming some losses. Elevated global crude oil prices, driven by tensions in the Middle East, continued to raise concerns over imported inflation and India’s fiscal outlook.
Brent crude edged higher to around $108 a barrel, while gold prices surged sharply as investors sought safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty. Analysts said the spike in energy prices could further complicate inflation management for central banks worldwide.
Global sentiment remained fragile after US inflation accelerated to 3.8 per cent in April, the highest level since May 2023 and above market expectations. The rise was largely attributed to a sharp increase in energy costs following the continuing Iran-related tensions.
On Wall Street, technology stocks remained under pressure overnight, dragging the Nasdaq lower, while investors closely tracked developments surrounding the US-Iran conflict and possible trade discussions between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Among individual stocks, MTAR Technologies surged nearly 8 per cent after reporting strong quarterly earnings growth, while Berger Paints India, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Texmaco Rail & Engineering also posted solid gains following their earnings announcements.
Shares of Tata Power, however, declined more than 3 per cent after the company reported a fall in quarterly profit and revenue.
Market experts said volatility is likely to remain elevated in the near term due to global inflation risks, uncertain oil prices, geopolitical tensions and sustained foreign institutional investor selling.