Buy or sell stocks, March 13 -- Amid the persistent US-Iran war and renewed volatility in the crude oil price, the Indian stock market witnessed sharp selling for the second straight session on Thursday. The Nifty 50 index ended 227 points lower at 23,639, the BSE Sensex crashed 829 points and closed at 76,034, and the Bank Nifty index nosedived 634 points and closed at 55,100.

A key trigger for the weakness remains crude oil's renewed surge above $100 per barrel, which poses a direct challenge for India given its heavy dependence on energy imports. Rising oil prices increase input costs across sectors, raise inflation risks, and often dampen investor confidence in equities.

The impact was visible in sectoral performance, with the Nifty...