Sensex, Nifty Trade Flat as Hormuz Tensions Persist; Brent Crude Near $90

Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded largely flat as geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz kept investor sentiment cautious. Asian markets showed a mixed trend, offering little directional cue to domestic equities. Crude oil prices extended their rally for a sixth consecutive session, with Brent crude approaching the $90 per barrel mark. Rising oil prices are a concern for India, which is a major crude importer, as they can widen the trade deficit and fuel inflation. Traders remained on the sidelines, awaiting clearer signals on the geopolitical and macroeconomic fronts.