Stock Market Today: Sensex Falls 695 Pts, Nifty at 23,143 | 5 Reasons

Sensex 73,548, down 695 pts (0.94%). Nifty 50 at 23,143, down 223 pts (0.96%). Nifty IT worst hit at -1.85%. Brent crude +3.29% at $96.15/bbl. Rupee down 38 paise to 95.32.

The stock market today, Monday 8 June 2026, opened to a sharp crash as Sensex fell over 800 points and Nifty 50 slipped below 23,100 at the opening bell. Iran’s surprise overnight missile strikes on Israel shattered the fragile hope of a US-Iran peace deal, sending crude oil prices surging, Asian markets into freefall, and triggering heavy selling across all sectors in India.

The stock market today is witnessing broad-based losses with no sectoral exception. Nifty IT has taken the sharpest hit at 1.85 per cent, tracking Nasdaq’s 4.18 per cent crash on Friday. Nifty Bank has shown relative resilience at just -0.31 per cent, but MidCap and SmallCap indices are both down over 1.5 per cent, pointing to depth in today’s selling.

Here are the 5 key reasons the stock market today is falling, with verified live data for each driver.

Stock Market Today: Live Index Data as of 8 June 2026

Stock Market Today: 5 Key Reasons Behind the Sensex-Nifty Crash

Reason 1: Iran Fires Fresh Missiles at Israel, Derailing Ceasefire Hopes

The single biggest trigger for the stock market today crash is Iran’s surprise missile attack on Israel late Sunday night. The strikes shattered any remaining hope of a Washington-Tehran peace deal and raised fears of a widening conflict in West Asia. Reports indicate Iran fired several rounds of ballistic missiles at Israeli targets, prompting immediate condemnation from the United States.

Investors fear that escalating conflict could threaten oil supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which a significant share of global crude passes. This geopolitical shock set off a mass risk-off wave in global markets that has cascaded directly into the Indian stock market today.

Reason 2: Brent Crude Surges 3.29% to $96.15 per Barrel

Brent crude jumped 3.29 per cent to $96.15 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange following Iran’s attack. India imports approximately 87 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making the stock market today extremely sensitive to any sharp oil price spike. A sustained crude price above $95 would widen India’s current account deficit, inflate subsidy obligations for oil marketing companies, and stoke domestic inflation.

Oil-consuming sectors such as aviation, paints, tyres, and chemicals are under the most direct margin pressure in the stock market today. Upstream producers such as ONGC and Oil India may see a partial offset from higher realisations.

Reason 3: Global Markets in Freefall – Kospi Crashes 9%, Nikkei Drops 4%

The stock market today in India is tracking a collapse across Asia-Pacific. South Korea’s Kospi plunged 9 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 4.14 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 1.50 per cent in early trade. The panic was preceded by a steep Wall Street close on Friday: Dow Jones -1.35%, S&P 500 -2.64%, and Nasdaq Composite -4.18 per cent.

The GIFT Nifty signalled a gap-down of 273 points before markets opened, confirming that the stock market today was heading for a sharply negative session. The pre-opening Sensex settled at 73,421, down 822 points, validating the worst fears of a deep open.

Reason 4: FII Outflows Sustain Selling Pressure

Foreign institutional investors net sold Rs 4,475.76 crore worth of Indian equities on June 4 (latest available data), reflecting a sustained risk-off posture ahead of the current escalation. FII selling has been a persistent drag on the stock market today and in recent sessions, even as domestic institutional investors partially offset pressure with net purchases of Rs 3,986.44 crore on the same day.

When geopolitical risk spikes sharply, FII outflows into safe-haven assets such as US Treasuries and gold tend to accelerate well beyond recent averages. The stock market today may see FII selling at a pace that tests the DII cushion significantly.

Reason 5: Rupee Weakens 38 Paise to 95.32 Against the Dollar

The Indian rupee slumped 38 paise to 95.32 against the US dollar in early trade today, against Friday’s close of 94.94. A sharp rupee depreciation adds a compounding layer of pressure to the stock market today. For FIIs, a weaker rupee erodes the dollar value of their Indian holdings, creating an additional incentive to sell and creating a feedback loop of currency weakness and equity outflows.

A rupee at 95.32 also amplifies the cost of crude imports, widens the trade deficit, and limits the RBI’s room for further rate cuts that markets had been expecting following the June 5 dovish policy hold at 5.25 per cent.

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What Should Investors Do During Today’s Market Crash?

Geopolitical-driven crashes tend to be sharper and shorter than earnings-driven corrections. Avoid panic selling quality positions. Review your portfolio for stocks with heavy crude cost dependence, high FII ownership, or leveraged balance sheets – these are most vulnerable when the stock market today is led lower by oil shocks and currency pressure.

Defensive sectors such as FMCG, pharma, and private banks with limited oil exposure may offer relative stability when the stock market today is dominated by geopolitical fear. Screen for low-debt companies with strong promoter holding above 50 per cent and consistent earnings track records on the Univest Screener. These stocks typically bounce back faster once geopolitical clarity returns.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to stay updated on the stock market today with real-time research and expert alerts.

Conclusion

The stock market today, 8 June 2026, has been hit by a perfect storm: Iran’s missile strikes on Israel, a 3.29 per cent surge in Brent crude to $96.15, a 9 per cent crash in Kospi, sustained FII outflows, and a 38-paise fall in the rupee to 95.32. Sensex is down 695 points at 73,548 and Nifty 50 is down 223 points at 23,143, with Nifty IT bearing the heaviest sectoral losses at 1.85 per cent.

The stock market today’s direction for the rest of the session depends on how global risk sentiment evolves and whether Iran signals any willingness to de-escalate. Monitor crude oil, the rupee, and FII flow data closely as these remain the three primary drivers of today’s selloff.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the stock market today on 8 June 2026?

Ans. The stock market today, 8 June 2026, is seeing a sharp crash. Sensex is down 695 points at 73,548 and Nifty 50 has fallen 223 points to 23,143 after Iran fired missiles at Israel overnight. Brent crude surged 3.29 per cent and global markets collapsed, triggering broad-based selling across all sectors.

Why did Sensex and Nifty crash in the stock market today?

Ans. The stock market crash today was triggered by Iran launching fresh missile strikes on Israel, shattering hopes of a US-Iran peace deal. Brent crude surged to $96.15 per barrel, the rupee weakened 38 paise to 95.32, Kospi plunged 9 per cent, and FII outflows accelerated, pulling Sensex and Nifty sharply lower.

Which sector is hit hardest in the stock market today?

Ans. Nifty IT is the worst hit sector in the stock market today, down 1.85 per cent to 28,474.75, tracking Nasdaq’s 4.18 per cent fall on Friday. Nifty Auto is down 1.26 per cent. Nifty Bank has shown relative resilience at just -0.31 per cent despite the broader selloff.

What is the Nifty 50 level in the stock market today?

Ans. Nifty 50 is trading at 23,143.25 in the stock market today on 8 June 2026, down 223.45 points or 0.96 per cent from its Friday close of 23,366.70. The index had briefly dipped below 23,100 at the open but has partially recovered during the session.

How did global markets perform due to Iran-Israel tensions in the stock market today?

Ans. Global markets fell sharply in the stock market today due to Iran-Israel tensions. South Korea’s Kospi plunged 9 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 4.14 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.50 per cent. US markets closed steeply in the red on Friday: Dow -1.35%, S&P 500 -2.64%, and Nasdaq -4.18 per cent.

How does Brent crude at $96 affect the stock market today?

Ans. Brent crude jumping 3.29 per cent to $96.15 hurts the stock market today because India imports around 87 per cent of its crude needs. Higher oil widens the current account deficit, stokes inflation, and weakens the rupee, all compounding selling pressure on Sensex and Nifty. Oil-consuming sectors like aviation and paints are under additional margin pressure.

What should investors do during today’s stock market crash?

Ans. Investors should avoid panic selling during the stock market today crash. Geopolitical corrections are often sharp but temporary. Focus on low-debt, high-promoter-holding stocks with limited crude oil exposure. Use the Univest Screener to filter fundamentally strong picks. Always consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before making decisions based on the stock market today.

What is the rupee vs dollar rate in the stock market today?

Ans. The Indian rupee fell 38 paise to 95.32 against the US dollar in the stock market today, compared to Friday’s close of 94.94. A weaker rupee amplifies import costs, widens the current account deficit, and incentivises FII outflows as dollar returns on Indian assets erode, adding pressure to Sensex and Nifty in today’s session.