## Market Crash Erases Investor Wealth
The Indian stock market witnessed a three-day crash, wiping out investor wealth worth a staggering Rs 7.93 lakh crore. This downturn was primarily driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East and weak global trends.
The benchmark BSE Sensex plunged 456.10 points, or 0.62%, to settle at 72,943.68 on Tuesday. During the day, it even dipped further, losing 714.75 points or 0.97%, reaching 72,685.03.
This decline resulted in a total erosion of Rs 7,93,529.61 crore in market capitalization of BSE-listed companies over the three days. The total market cap now stands at Rs 3,94,25,823.46 crore (USD 4.75 trillion).
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has raised concerns about a potential surge in crude oil prices, which could fuel inflation and impact economic growth. This has led investors to adopt a cautious approach and resort to profit-taking.
While most Sensex stocks faced losses, a few managed to gain ground. These included Titan Company, Hindustan Unilever, HDFC Bank, Maruti, Power Grid, Reliance Industries, and ITC.
The negative sentiment also impacted European markets, which were trading in the red. Wall Street had also closed in negative territory on Monday.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have been net sellers in the Indian market, offloading equities worth Rs 3,268 crore on Monday. This further contributed to the market decline.
The current market situation highlights the impact of geopolitical tensions and global cues on investor sentiment and market performance. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds in the coming days and its further impact on the Indian stock market.