Share Market Today: Sensex Crashes Over 700 Points, India VIX Jumps Nearly 10%; 5 Key Factors Behind the Fall

The share market today opened deep in the red on Monday, 13 July 2026, with the Sensex crashing over 700 points from its previous close of 77,569.39 to an intraday low of 76,857.43. The Nifty 50 slipped from 24,206.90 to test the psychological 24,000 mark, touching a low of 24,000.20, while India VIX, the fear gauge, jumped nearly 10 percent to a high of 13.52.

Selling in the share market today was broad-based, with the Nifty 50 down around 0.75 percent in the first hour and the midcap and next-50 indices falling even harder. The weakness is driven by a combination of global geopolitics, surging commodities, and currency stress rather than any single domestic trigger.

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Share Market Today: Snapshot of the Damage

The opening hour data captures the extent of the fall across benchmarks and the volatility index, even as the IT pack managed to outperform on defensive buying in the share market today.

Index	Level	Change
Sensex	76,966 (low 76,857.43)	-603 points (over -700 at low)
Nifty 50	24,030 (low 24,000.20)	-177 points (-0.73%)
India VIX	13.35 (high 13.52)	+8.98% (nearly +10% at high)
Nifty Next 50	71,798	-0.82%
Nifty Midcap 50	17,968	-0.51%

With that snapshot in place, here are the five key factors that together explain the sharp fall in the share market today.

5 Key Factors Behind the Fall in Share Market Today

1. Fresh US-Iran Conflict Escalation

Renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran over the weekend, including Iranian strikes on Gulf targets and threats around the Strait of Hormuz, have revived fears of a wider regional war. The share market today opened with a gap down as global risk appetite evaporated, reversing the strong rally seen on Friday.

2. Crude Oil Surges Past 78 Dollars

Brent crude jumped over 3 percent to around 78.35 dollars per barrel, with intraday spikes taking the rise closer to 4 percent. India imports more than 85 percent of its crude requirement, so every sustained rise in oil prices worsens the trade deficit, stokes imported inflation, and pressures corporate margins.

3. Rupee Slips to 95.70 Against the Dollar

The rupee slipped 37 paise to open at 95.70 against the US dollar, hurt by the crude spike and a stronger dollar index at 101.07. A weakening currency raises the risk of foreign portfolio outflows and adds to inflation through costlier imports, both of which are weighing on the share market today.

4. Inflation and Rate Hike Fears Return

The combination of costlier oil and a weaker rupee has revived fears that inflation could re-accelerate, complicating the interest rate outlook. Even precious metals fell, with MCX gold down about 1 percent and silver down over 2 percent, as traders priced in the possibility that central banks stay hawkish for longer.

5. India VIX Spikes Nearly 10 Percent

India VIX jumped nearly 10 percent to a high of 13.52 before settling around 13.35. A rising VIX reflects demand for protective options and typically accompanies sharp index declines, signalling that traders in the share market today expect volatility to persist in the near term.

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What Should Investors Do in the Share Market Today

For long-term investors, sharp geopolitics-driven corrections in the share market today have historically been buying opportunities in quality stocks, provided the escalation does not turn into a prolonged oil shock. Staggered buying through the fall is a more sensible approach than lump-sum bottom fishing, since headline-driven markets can overshoot in both directions.

Traders should respect the elevated VIX and reduce position sizes in the share market today. The 24,000 level on the Nifty and the 76,850 zone on the Sensex are the immediate supports to watch, while defensive pockets such as IT, which outperformed on Monday morning, may continue to attract rotation if the rupee stays weak.

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Conclusion

The crash in the share market today is explained by five interlocking factors: the US-Iran conflict, surging crude oil, a rupee at 95.70, returning inflation and rate hike fears, and a near 10 percent spike in India VIX. With the Sensex down over 700 points at its low and the Nifty testing 24,000, volatility is likely to stay elevated until geopolitical clarity emerges. Investors should stay selective, avoid aggressive borrowed positions, and consult a SEBI-registered advisor before making major portfolio moves.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Why is the share market today falling on 13 July 2026?

Ans. The share market today is falling due to five factors: fresh US-Iran conflict escalation, crude oil surging past 78 dollars, the rupee slipping to 95.70, returning inflation and rate hike fears, and a near 10 percent spike in India VIX.

How much did the Sensex fall today?

Ans. The Sensex crashed over 700 points from its previous close of 77,569.39 to an intraday low of 76,857.43 before recovering slightly.

What level did the Nifty 50 test today?

Ans. The Nifty 50 tested the psychological 24,000 mark, touching an intraday low of 24,000.20 against its previous close of 24,206.90.

What is India VIX and why did it jump today?

Ans. India VIX is the market volatility or fear index. It jumped nearly 10 percent to a high of 13.52 as traders bought protective options amid the geopolitical sell-off.

How does rising crude oil affect the Indian stock market?

Ans. India imports over 85 percent of its crude needs, so higher oil prices widen the trade deficit, push up inflation, weaken the rupee, and squeeze corporate margins, all of which hurt equities.

Should investors buy this market dip?

Ans. Geopolitics-driven corrections have often rewarded staggered buying in quality stocks, but with VIX elevated, investors should avoid aggressive positions and consult a SEBI-registered investment advisor first.