India, March 6 -- India's stock market tumbled on Friday joining a global retreat as an escalating military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran sent shockwaves through energy markets and dismantled investor appetite for risk.

The benchmark BSE Sensex dropped 0.45% to 79,658.99 in early Mumbai trading, retreating from the psychologically significant 80,000 level. The Nifty 50 Index saw a similar decline, falling 0.44% to 24,656.4. The selloff was broad-based, with 13 of the 16 major sectoral indices logging losses at the open.

The primary catalyst for the decline is the escalating Iran war. Following direct involvement by the United States alongside Israel against Iranian targets, global markets are bracing for a protr...