India’s BSE Sensex fell about 0.2% to 77,234 on Tuesday, extending the previous session’s losses as Middle East tensions, rising crude prices and caution ahead of the Nifty 50’s monthly derivatives expiry weighed on equities. The Nifty 50 also slipped, with 14 of 16 major sectors lower. GIFT Nifty futures had signaled a weaker opening at 24,146.5 points at 7:45 a.m. IST, compared with the Nifty 50’s Monday close of 24,219.05. Markets expected greater volatility because the expiry was the first monthly Nifty derivatives expiry under a new closing-auction system. Global sentiment was subdued ahead of Nvidia’s earnings and amid renewed tensions between the United States and Iran. Foreign portfolio investors bought more than $2.5 billion of Indian equities in August, while provisional data showed purchases worth 11.82 billion rupees ($123.52 million) on Monday. India’s monsoon was expected to finish around 15% below its long-term average, potentially affecting crops, food prices and rural incomes. Hindustan led losses with a 6.7% decline, followed by IIFL Finance at 3.1%, Netweb at 3.0% and Tata Consultancy Services at 0.8%.