Stock markets snap three-day rally on rate hike fears; Sensex drops 318 points

Mumbai Benchmark indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, ended lower on Friday (November 13, 2026), snapping a three-day rally amid expectations of a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy rate hike next month, after retail inflation surged to 6.09% in October. The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 318.56 points, or 0.39%, to settle at 81,592.45. During the day, it tumbled 622.26 points, or 0.75%, to 81,288.75.

The 50-share NSE Nifty closed 155.05 points, or 0.61%, lower at 25,144.30. This is the first major decline for both benchmark indices this month. Among the Sensex firms, Mahindra & Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, Bharat Electronics, NTPC, Trent and HDFC Bank were among the major laggards, while Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries were among the winners.

Retail inflation surged to 6.09% in October, breaching the RBI’s upper tolerance limit for the first time in two years and prompting economists to anticipate a policy rate hike by the central bank next month.