17.08.202604:43:31UTC+00Sensex Starts Week Lower on Rising Oil Prices

India’s BSE Sensex slipped about 0.5% to 77,643 on Monday, extending losses from the previous session amid persistent worries over elevated crude oil prices and ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude hovered near $89 a barrel after gaining 4.6% last week, as uncertainty surrounding efforts to end the Iran war fueled concerns about global oil supplies.

In corporate news, Reliance Industries was in focus after announcing a partnership with Britain’s Rolls-Royce to develop and manufacture an engine for India’s fighter aircraft program, though its shares opened 0.4% lower. Voltas declined 2.6% despite reporting a sharp increase in first-quarter earnings, supported by strong air-conditioner demand.

Edtech firm PhysicsWallah also drew investor attention after narrowing its first-quarter consolidated loss to 775.7 million rupees from 1.2 billion rupees a year earlier, while revenue rose 24.4%; its shares advanced 6.8%. Other notable decliners included BSE Ltd (-4.2%), Embassy (-2.9%), and Cupid (-2.2%).