Indian stock markets finished Friday’s session on a subdued note, as elevated crude oil prices and a rebound in global bond yields kept investor sentiment fragile. Expectations of a diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East also faded, with the U.S. preparing sweeping economic penalties against Iran, adding another layer of uncertainty to markets.
Both the Nifty 50 and the Sensex ended the session largely unchanged from the previous day, extending their weekly losing streak to a second consecutive week. Stocks witnessed sharp fluctuations throughout the week as investors reacted to developments in the Middle East, even as June-quarter corporate earnings came in above analysts’ expectations.
The broader markets ended mixed, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 0.55%, while the Nifty Midcap 100 slipped 0.04%. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Iran conflict showed no signs of easing, with the two sides remaining locked in a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. is moving to isolate Iran’s economy in what President Donald Trump described as an “economic D-day”, with details of the initiative expected on Monday. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Iran would face the “greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world”.
Tracking these developments, traders increasingly expect supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz to persist, pushing Brent crude above $94 per barrel.
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