Indian Markets Open Lower as Crude Oil Nears Six-Month High

Indian equity benchmarks opened lower on Tuesday as elevated crude oil prices and uncertainty ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision weighed on sentiment. At around 9:15 a.m. IST, the Sensex slipped 0.17% to 73,484.38, while the Nifty 50 fell 0.2% to 22,708.8.

Brent crude was trading near US$115 per barrel, with Middle East tensions adding to concerns over India’s import bill, inflation and corporate costs. Investors are also monitoring the Fed’s upcoming decision for clues on the global interest-rate outlook.