Indian shares plummet over 2% as oil prices soar on Ukraine crisis

Indian shares plummet over 2% as oil prices soar on Ukraine crisis

Bombay stock exchange building

Indian shares tumbled over 2% on Monday, with investors dumping risky assets as oil prices soared after the United States and European allies were said to be mulling a Russian oil import ban.

The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index was down 2.39% at 15,857 by 0349 GMT and the S&P BSE Sensex dropped 2.52% to 52,963.78. Both the indexes extended losses to a fourth straight session. Last week, they also posted their fourth consecutive weekly loss.

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Oil prices surged on Monday after the United States and European allies explored a Russian oil import ban, while delays in the potential return of Iranian crude to global markets sped up supply fears.

India is the world's third-largest importer of crude oil, and rising prices push up the country's trade and current account deficit while also hurting the rupee and fuelling imported inflation.

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The Nifty's bank index, financial services index, private sector bank index, auto index and IT index were among the top losers, dropping between 2% and 4%.