21/03/26, A LOOK BACK

 Nifty and Sensex have declined nearly 8% to 9% since the beginning of US-Israel war on Iran on February 28. While benchmark indices ended this week on a flat note, they had witnessed a sharp 3%-4% drop in the previous week.

The prevailing bearish sentiment in Indian markets is driven by rising tensions in West Asia, a surge in crude oil prices, and concerns over potential energy supply disruptions.

India VIX, known as 'fear gauge' to reflect market volatility, surged nearly 52%-62% over two sessions post US-Israel strikes on Iran. As per Brickworks rating report, this was the sharpest rise in India VIX since early COVID. The sharp surge indicates heightened investors anxiety and market volatility.

While investor caution during periods of global conflict is expected, past trends in Nifty indicate that the Indian stock market tends to recover from downturns and deliver resilient long-term gains.

Nifty 50 Performance During Russia-Ukraine War, Iraq War, Libya Civil War, etc

Nifty 50 saw its biggest fall in two years of 4.7% when Russia began its Ukraine invasion in February, 2022. The Russia-Ukraine war had also sent oil prices soaring and raised fear of inflation. However, the key benchmark index not only recovered from the fall, but also gained around 5%-6% in next one month.

Indian Stock Market During Libya Civil War

The 2011 Libya Civil War also triggered volatility in the Indian stock market, with indices falling by around 1% in the following month. While markets remained unstable for nearly a year after the conflict began, they eventually recovered over the long term.

Nifty 50 During Iraq War in 2003

The Iraq war, which began in 2003, lasted for nearly seven to eight years and had also impacted the global crude oil supply at that time. The combined force of troops from the United States and Great Britain invaded Iraq and also defeated Iraqi military and paramilitary forces. Nifty 50 declined nearly 8% in the first month after the beginning of the Iraq war, but rebounded sharply in the next six months.

According to experts, panic-driven selling often creates opportunities for investors, as even high-quality stocks become available at attractive valuations. The ongoing sell-off in Indian equities has brought broader market valuations closer to their long-term averages.

"With continuing sell-off in local equities, valuation across broader markets have moderated and are nearing long-term averages. However, valuation of mid and small caps continues to trade marginally above 10Y average readings," said Naval Kagalwala, COO & Head of Products, Shriram Wealth Ltd.

Report by Sharmila Bhadoria of  foodreturns.in

20/03/26, the MINT report on Brain Bees Solutions

Shares of Brainbees Solutions, the company that operates baby and mother care products retailer FirstCry, saw a sharp spike in demand during Friday's session, March 20, as they were locked in the 20% upper circuit at ₹ 252 apiece.

Today's rally came as a big relief for shareholders, as the stock has been struggling to gain traction on the Indian stock market. It had closed each of the last five months in the red, losing a cumulative 43%.

Although there were no fundamental triggers behind the sharp rise in Brainbees Solutions' share price, trading volumes surged significantly, with nearly 65 million shares changing hands on both the NSE and BSE as of 2:45 PM, 26 times higher than the average weekly volumes, according to Trendlyne data.

The company last updated exchanges on March 13, announcing the expansion of its 'Qwik' delivery service across select pincodes in Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad.

Following this rollout, FirstCry plans to expand the Qwik service to more pincodes in these three cities, as well as to Delhi NCR, Ahmedabad, and Chennai in the next phase. The company expects to deliver around 60,000 orders via the Qwik network in March 2026 alone.

"Our goal is to meet all parents' requirements, whether planned or immediate, across both physical and online channels," said Vivek Goel, Chief Business Officer of FirstCry.

In terms of financial performance, the company's net losses widened in Q3FY26, coming in at ₹39 crore compared to a net loss of ₹15 crore in the year-ago quarter, impacted by higher operating costs, increased discounting, and single-digit revenue growth in its key India multi-channel business segment.

Revenue from operations during the reporting quarter stood at ₹2,424 crore, up from ₹2,172 crore in the year-ago period, marking a growth of 12%.

Brainbees Solutions still trades 46% below IPO price

Despite the recent rebound, the stock continues to trade at a sharp discount to its issue price. The company made its stock market debut in August 2024, and since listing, it has not recorded positive returns for two consecutive months, indicating persistent weakness in the counter.

Since listing, the stock has closed only six months in positive territory, and among those, it delivered double-digit gains in just one month. At current levels, the stock trades 46% below its IPO price of ₹465 and 65.66% lower than its record peak of ₹734.

The decline has also dragged the company's market capitalisation below ₹13,500 crore, down from ₹38,344 crore at its peak.

The sustained fall has deepened losses for retail investors, who collectively held 67% of the company's stake as of the December quarter (Q3FY26), according to Trendlyne data.

source:Dailyhunt

Disclaimer: We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

20/03/26, market's early hours news

The Indian stock market staged a strong rebound on Friday, March 20, with across-the-board buying, a day after witnessing a massive selloff that drowned key indices- the Sensex, Nifty 50, and Bank Nifty- more than 3% each.

The Sensex jumped more than 1,000 points, or over 1%. The Nifty 50 reclaimed the 23,300 mark, jumping more than 1%, and Nifty Bank also rose by more than 1% during the session.

The mid- and small-cap segments jumped by up to 2% during the session, reflecting broad-based buying rather than just in large-cap stocks.

The overall market capitalisation (m-cap) of BSE-listed firms rose back to ₹432 lakh crore, making investors richer by about ₹6 lakh crore within the first hour of trade. In the previous session, the m-cap of BSE-listed firms dropped to ₹426 lakh crore.

The sharp market rebound raises two key questions: Why is the stock market rising, and has the Indian market bottomed out after Thursday's fall?

Why is the stock market rising?

The Indian stock market is witnessing a relief rally after Thursday's massive fall. The main drivers of this relief rally are a slight decline in crude oil prices, hopes that the worst of the US-Iran war may be over, and valuations coming to fair levels, especially in large-cap segments.

Brent crude prices declined more than 3% after the US hinted that sanctions on Iranian oil could be eased. News flows surrounding global powers coming together to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz also eased concerns, weighing on oil prices.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the worst of the Middle East war may be over, and an end is near.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war with Iran might end sooner than expected. Notably, US President Donald Trump has also expressed similar views about the ongoing war.

Trump, meanwhile, has asked Israel not to attack Iranian natural gas infrastructure again, with Israeli Prime Minister agreeing to refrain from further attacks on Iran's natural gas field, according to media reports.

Till Thursday, the Nifty 50 was down about 9% in March. A steep fall has brought most stock prices to lower levels, prompting investors to accumulate them at current levels.

Has the Indian stock market bottomed out?

While predicting a bottom of the market is challenging and even futile, experts say the market is discounting an end to the war.

"Unlike prolonged conflicts such as the Ukraine war, this situation is unlikely to drag on for months. A sustained disruption would severely impact the global economy. Apart from a few exceptions, most countries would suffer through higher oil import bills, weaker trade, and broader economic stress," G Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics Research, explained.

"Given these factors, global pressure to de-escalate is likely to build quickly. In my view, the worst may be behind us, and the situation could stabilise within days or weeks," said Chokkalingam.

Chokkalingam believes the market has bottomed out.

"I believe so. Several indicators support this view. The market-cap-to-nominal-GDP ratio, which had risen to around 154%, has now corrected to nearly 115%, bringing valuations into a more comfortable zone," said Chokkalingam.

The head of research at Equinomics Research pointed out that in absolute terms, total market capitalisation peaked at about ₹485 lakh crore in September 2025. Since then, there have been multiple corrections and recoveries. Currently, the market is down roughly ₹65 lakh crore from its peak, even after accounting for additional listings through IPOs.

Moreover, many small- and mid-cap stocks have corrected sharply-by 20% to 50%-which reflects a significant reset in valuations.

Rohit Srivastava, the founder and market strategist at Indiacharts.com, also believes the market may be near the bottom, pricing in the worst-case scenario based on current information.

"I see it as a recovery. Yesterday's fall appeared to mark the point of maximum panic. The market has priced in the worst based on currently available information. Of course, new developments can always change the outlook, but as things stand, known risks appear to be largely discounted," said Srivastava.

"There's a strong possibility that we have formed a near-term bottom. Yesterday's low becomes the critical turning point. On the upside, the index could move towards 24,000 or slightly higher. For Bank Nifty, the downside support is around 53,000, while the upside resistance is near 57,200," Srivastava said.

Ajit Mishra, SVP of Research at Religare Broking, believes 22,800 is the next support for the Nifty 50, and if it fails to hold this level, 22,500 is on the cards.

On the upside, 23,800 is the resistance. Once we break this, this short-term negativity would be over, Mishra said.

But the risks remain

The market is experiencing heightened volatility amid persistent risks. The war continues, crude oil prices remain elevated above $100 per barrel, and the Indian rupee breached the 93 mark for the first time.

According to Bloomberg data, the rupee dropped 64 paise from its previous close of 92.6375 to a fresh low of 93.2813 against the US dollar during the session on March 20.

"Crude oil prices remain a key risk. It is still at $105-odd levels, which is not a very great picture for India. Until we see crude slipping below the $100 mark and sustaining at those levels, the negatives are not over, and the market may remain volatile," said Mishra.

Mishra noted that global markets, especially the US, have also begun to correct. While the correlation may not be perfect, sustained weakness in US markets is likely to spill over into Indian equities.

The sharp decline we saw yesterday-when a single session wiped out gains from the previous three trading days-clearly indicates a lack of underlying market strength.

The volatility index India VIX also remains above 22 despite the rebound and decline in crude, indicating the risk meter is still high, Mishra said.

"Even sectors such as banking and auto, which had been relatively resilient, may find it difficult to maintain their positive momentum amid this corrective bias. The broader narrative, once again, appears to be shifting towards concerns around inflation and other macro factors," said Mishra.

However, despite the persisting risks, experts say this could be the perfect time to buy stocks for the long term.

"Over the past 18 months, markets have faced multiple headwinds-FII selling, heavy IPO supply, promoter stake sales, concerns around AI disruption, and now geopolitical tensions. Given the magnitude of these pressures, markets have already absorbed substantial headwinds. As a result, valuations have become attractive, and I have a strong conviction in the long-term opportunity," said Chokkalingam.

Report by MINT

Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations expressed are those of individual analysts or broking firms, not of us. We advise investors to consult with certified experts before making any investment decisions, as market conditions can change rapidly and circumstances may vary.

20/03/26, About BSE Stocks

 Indian equities are witnessing a broad-based erosion in long-term returns as persistent geopolitical tensions, elevated oil prices, and sustained foreign investor outflows weigh on markets, with a majority of stocks across large caps, midcaps and small caps turning negative on three- and five-year CAGR bases.

In the BSE 1000 Index, about 65 percent of stocks have turned negative on a three-year CAGR basis, while nearly half have erased returns over five years. Among these, 258 stocks delivered negative returns of 1–10 percent on a three-year CAGR basis, 168 stocks declined between 10–20 percent and 119 stocks fell in the 20–50 percent range. In addition, 119 stocks delivered flat returns over the three years.

On a five-year CAGR basis, 205 stocks posted negative returns of 1–10 percent, 95 stocks declined between 10–20 percent and 57 stocks saw declines in the 20–50 percent range.

Similarly, within the Nifty 100 Index, around 50 percent of stocks have turned negative on a three-year CAGR basis, while about 30 percent have declined on a five-year CAGR basis. In this segment, 17 stocks delivered flat returns over three years, while 34 stocks posted negative returns in the 1–20 percent range. On a five-year basis, 13 stocks delivered flat returns, while 16 stocks declined in the 1–20 percent range.

Selling pressure is more pronounced in broader markets. In the BSE 150 MidCap Index, about 50 percent of stocks have turned negative on both three- and five-year CAGR bases, while the BSE 250 SmallCap Index has seen about 65 percent of stocks turn negative on a three-year basis and around 50 percent decline on a five-year basis.

The pressure on equities has intensified amid a sharp rise in oil prices, with Brent crude crossing $110 per barrel, marking a 55 percent increase since the start of the conflict following attacks on key energy facilities in the Middle East. The escalation in the Iran conflict has weighed on global stock, bond and metals markets, with concerns intensifying that central banks may be forced to tighten policy to keep inflation in check.

Oil's surge has raised concerns among global policymakers. The Bank of England and the Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged, citing increased uncertainty due to the conflict. The Bank of England held rates steady in a unanimous decision for the first time in four and a half years, while traders have increased expectations of two rate hikes by the European Central Bank and fully priced in three rate increases by the Bank of England. The US Federal Reserve also maintained a cautious stance, keeping rates unchanged while flagging upside risks to inflation amid rising energy prices and geopolitical tensions.

The disruption in energy supplies is seen posing risks to India's projected economic growth of over 7 percent, keeping market sentiment under pressure. Global funds have pulled about $7.8 billion from Indian equities so far this month and about $939 million from bonds. Global brokerages have also turned cautious, with Morgan Stanley downgrading India to equal-weight from overweight and Citigroup flagging risks to earnings for the financial year ending March 2027 due to the Middle East crisis.

Experts said markets are entering a phase of heightened fragility, with sentiment driven by rapidly evolving geopolitical developments and the sharp rise in crude prices, and expect volatility to persist in the near term.

Report by Network18

20/03/26, Stock Market Expectations

 

The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open higher on Friday amid mixed cues from global markets, and as investors may opt for short-covering after a sharp slump in the previous session.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a positive start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 23,250 level, a premium of nearly 195 points from the Nifty futures' previous close.

On Thursday, the Indian stock market crashed, snapping its three-day streak of impressive gains, with the benchmark Nifty 50 slipping near 23,000 level.

The Sensex tanked 2,496.89 points, or 3.26%, to close at 74,207.24, while the Nifty 50 settled 775.65 points, or 3.26%, lower at 23,002.15.

Here's what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50, and Bank Nifty today:

Sensex Prediction

Sensex is trading near lower levels after recent weakness, indicating a cautious undertone with potential for intermittent pullbacks.

"The 73,700 - 73,800 zone stands as a crucial demand area where some stabilisation or short-covering may emerge. On the upside, the 74,700 - 74,800 range acts as the immediate resistance hurdle for Sensex, where any recovery attempt is likely to face supply pressure and profit booking," said Hitesh Tailor, Technical Research Analyst at Choice Equity Broking.

With a decisive breakdown and close near the lower end of the range, the near-term outlook remains strongly bearish, and any pullback towards resistance levels is likely to be sold into unless sentiment improves materially, he added.

Nifty 50 Prediction

Nifty 50 formed a large bearish candle with an unfilled gap on the daily chart, reflecting a sharp rejection from higher levels.

"A reasonable bearish candle was formed on the daily chart with upper and lower shadow and the opening huge downside gap remains partially filled. The new swing low has formed near the previous opening up gap support (15th April 2025) of around 22,900 levels and that led to minor recovery," said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.

According to him, the overall chart pattern of Nifty 50 remains weak and Wednesday's high of 23862 could now be considered as a new lower top of the pattern.

"As per this bearish pattern, one may expect further weakness in Nifty 50 in the near term. A slide below 22,900 could open the next downside target of 22,500 levels in the near term. Immediate resistance is placed at 23,350 levels," said Shetti.

Vishnu Kant Upadhyay, AVP - Research Advisory, Master Capital Services said that the outlook remains cautious in the near term, and as long as the Nifty 50 index trades below its 21-day EMA, any pullback is likely to attract selling pressure. On the downside, the index may drift towards 22,800 - 22,600.

Bank Nifty Prediction

Bank Nifty index plummeted 1,875.05 points, or 3.39%, to close at 53,451.00 on Thursday, forming a Gravestone Doji candlestick pattern on the daily chart, highlighting strong selling pressure from higher levels.

"From a technical perspective, the structure remains weak, and the recent price action indicates that bears continue to dominate. The Gravestone Doji signalling the possibility of further downside if follow-through selling persists. Looking ahead, the 53,900 - 54,000 zone is expected to act as an immediate resistance area for the Bank Nifty index," said Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities.

As long as Bank Nifty trades below the 54,000 level, the downward bias is likely to continue. In the near term, the Bank Nifty index may test the 53,400 level, and a breach below this could open the doors for a further decline towards the 52,800 mark, Shah added.

Bajaj Broking Research noted that a sustained move below Thursday's low of 53,240 could trigger further downside in Bank Nifty, with potential targets at 52,500 and 51,800 in the coming sessions.

"These levels correspond to the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the rally from the January 2025 lows and coincide with the low of the breakout candle formed in April 2025. On the upside, the Thursday gap zone between 54,689 and 54,150 is expected to act as immediate resistance. The overall bias remains bearish as long as the Bank Nifty index stays below this zone," said the brokerage firm.

Report by Mint

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

19/03/26, Top Gainers and Losers today

The Indian equity benchmarks ended sharply lower today (Thursday, March 19), with SENSEX staging its worst single-day performance since May 18, 2020. Markets came under pressure as crude oil prices surged in international market after Iran accused Israel of striking its facilities in the huge South Pars gas field on Wednesday in a major escalation in the US-Israeli war and retaliated by vowing attacks on oil and gas targets throughout ‌the Gulf, firing missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia, news agency Reuters reported.

SENSEX fell as much as 2,753 points at the day's lowest level and NIFTY50 index touched an intraday low of 22,930 dragged down by losses in index heavyweights like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Infosys and Reliance Industries.

The SENSEX ended 2,497 points or 3.3% lower at 74,207 and NIFTY50 index dropped 776 points or 3.26% to close at 23,002.

NIFTY50 top gainers and losers

HDFC Bank was among the top losers in the NIFTY50 index, the stock fell 5.11% to close at ₹800 after Atanu Chakraborty, the company's part-time chairman and independent director, resigned from his role with immediate effect.

In a late exchange filing on March 18, HDFC Bank disclosed that Part-time Chairman and Independent Director, Atanu Chakraborty, has resigned from the board of the lender.

In his resignation letter, Chakraborty said that there are "certain happenings and practices within the bank" over the last two years, which do not align with his personal values and ethics and are the sole reason behind his resignation.

Shriram Finance (-6.71%), Eternal (-5.38%), Bajaj Finance (-4.93%) and Mahindra & Mahindra (-4.82%) were also among the top losers in the NIFTY50 index.

On the flip side, ONGC with 1.5% gain, was the only gainer in the NIFTY50 index.

NIFTY Midcap 100 top gainers and losers

NIFTY Midcap 100 index fell 3.2% or 1,798 points to close at 54,492. As many as 97 shares ended lower while three stocks managed to close higher.

Hindustan Petroleum was top loser in the NIFTY Midcap 100 index, the stock declined 6.3% to settle at ₹327 as surging crude prices led to decline in the stock.

Voltas (-4.96%), Ashok Leyland (-4.95%), Bharat Forge (-4.95%) and Mankind Pharma (-4.9%) were also among the top losers in the NIFTY Midcap 100 index.

On the other hand, Adani Total Gas (8.7%), Oil India (1.01%) and NTPC Green (0.78%) were notable gainers in the NIFTY Midcap 100 index.

NIFTY Smallcap 100 top gainers and losers

NIFTY Smallcap 100 index plunged 2.94% or 475 points to settle at 15,704. A total of 95 shares ended lower while five managed to end higher.

Swan Corp was top loser in the NIFTY Smallcap 100 index, the stock declined 6% to close at ₹326. Aegis Vopak Terminals (-5.6%), Ola Electric (-5.27%), JBM Auto (-5.26%) and PG Electroplast (-5.19%) were also among the top losers in the NIFTY Midcap 100 index.

On the contrary, GE Shipping (0.83%), Kalpataru Projects International (0.61%), KEC International (0.11%), Himadri Speciality Chemical (0.06%) and Mahanagar Gas (0.06%) were notable gainers in the NIFTY Smallcap 100 index.

Report by Upstox

Disclaimer: This article is purely for informational purposes and should not be considered investment advice. Please consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

19/03/26, VIBHOR STEEL TUBES

Shares of Vibhor Steel Tubes are expected to attract investor interest in Friday's trade, March 20, as the company today announced a fresh order win.

The company, in its regulatory filing post-market hours today, informed investors that it has received a new work order from Agrawal Infracab Pvt Ltd for the supply of transmission towers, valued at ₹16.87 crore.

Vibhor Steel also stated that neither the promoter nor the promoter group companies have any interest in the entity that awarded the order. It further clarified that the order does not fall under related-party transactions.

For the December-ending quarter (Q3FY26), the company reported a 23% increase in revenue at ₹304 crore, compared with ₹247.43 crore in the same period last year.

EBITDA stood at ₹11.39 crore, while earnings per share (EPS) came in at ₹0.87 during the quarter. On the bottom line, the net profit stood at ₹1.66 crore, lower than ₹3.43 crore in the corresponding period last year.

Vibhor Steel Tubes manufactures steel products such as electric resistance welded (ERW) pipes, hot-dipped galvanized pipes, hollow section pipes, primer-painted pipes, metal beam barriers, transmission towers, high mast lighting poles, octagonal poles, and monopoles, among others.

The company has recently commenced the supply of crash barriers, power transmission line towers, ERW pipes, octagonal poles, and galvanized (GI) pipes produced at its greenfield plant located in Sundargarh, Odisha.

Vibhor Steel Tubes share price trend

The stock has remained under pressure on Dalal Street, hitting record lows amid consistent declines in recent months. It touched a fresh low of ₹100.80 earlier this month and has fallen 28% over the past seven months.

The sustained decline has brought the company's market capitalisation to ₹212 crore as of today.

The company's shares debuted on the Indian stock market in February 2024, listing at ₹425 per share compared to the issue price of ₹151. The stock extended this momentum in the following sessions, reaching ₹446 a piece, before entering a prolonged correction. At current levels, the stock is trading 25.6% below its IPO price.

Report by Mint

Disclaimer: We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

19/03/26, Attack on Nuclear Plant in Iran

 Tehran: The conflict in the Middle East intensified after Israel struck Iran's Pars natural gas field and Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. As per the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the projectile hit almost 350 metres away from the main reactor of the nuclear power plant, reported The Times of India .. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, in a statement posted on X, said that the reactor was not damaged.

Meanwhile, he stated that the attack on the nuclear facility violated key safety principles.

"Although there was no damage to the reactor itself nor injuries to staff, any attack at or near nuclear power plants violates the seven indispensable pillars related to ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict and should never take place," Grossi posted on X. The IAEA did not reveal details about the nature of the projectile.

Iran and Russia alleged that a missile struck the premises of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The development marked a major escalation in the ongoing Iran war, involving the United States and Israel.

The Bushehr plant is located on Iran's Persian Gulf coast. At present, only one unit is operational, while two Russian units are under construction, reported The Times of India.

In retaliation to the attack on its Pars natural gas field, Iran intensified its attacks on its Gulf Arab nations' energy sites. Iranian drones reportedly struck a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea, setting Qatari liquefied natural gas facilities and two Kuwaiti oil refineries on fire.

Brent crude oil, the international standard, spiked to USD 114 a barrel as global fears of an energy crisis rose, reported The Associated Press. It is up by more than 57 per cent since the beginning of the conflict on February 28, following the United States and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran.

A ship was also set ablaze off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and another was damaged off Qatar. Notably, Saudi Arabia had begun sending large volumes of oil west to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently being blocked by Iranian forces, from the Red Sea. However, Iran's drone hit Saudi's SAMREF refinery in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, raising questions regarding the safety of this route.

source:Dailyhunt

19/03/26, PostMarket REPORT

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty plummeted by over 3 per cent on Thursday as a sharp jump in crude oil prices and weak global trends, amid escalating strikes on energy infrastructure in West Asia, unnerved investors.

The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 2,496.89 points or 3.26 per cent - its biggest single-day plunge since June 2024 -- to settle at 74,207.24. During the day, it dived 2,753.18 points or 3.58 per cent to 73,950.95.

The 50-share NSE Nifty tumbled 775.65 points or 3.26 per cent to end at 23,002.15.

From the 30-Sensex firms, Eternal, Bajaj Finance, Mahindra & Mahindra, HDFC Bank, Larsen & Toubro and Bajaj Finserv were among the major laggards.

HDFC Bank dropped 5.13 per cent after its chairman, Atanu Chakraborty, resigned, citing ethical concerns.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, soared 6.75 per cent to USD 114.8 per barrel after Iran attacked a key natural gas facility in Qatar as well as two oil refineries in Kuwait.

Iran intensified its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbours' energy sites on Thursday, hitting a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea and setting Qatari LNG facilities and two Kuwaiti oil refineries ablaze as it struck back following an Israeli attack on its main natural gas field.

In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended significantly lower.

Markets in Europe were trading with deep losses. The US market ended sharply lower on Wednesday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,714.35 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), however, bought stocks worth Rs 3,253.03 crore.

On Wednesday, the Sensex jumped 633.29 points or 0.83 per cent to settle at 76,704.13. The Nifty surged 196.65 points or 0.83 per cent to end at 23,777.80.

source: The Telegraph 

19/03/26, market in the opening

 The benchmark equity indices snapped 3-day gains and traded sharply lower on Thursday as Brent ​crude surged above $110 a barrel following ‌a fresh escalation in the Iran war.

At around 9:30 am, the Sensex was down 1,518.91 points or 1.98 percent at 75,185.23, while the broader Nifty was at 23,321.70, down 456.10 points or 1.92 percent.

Key factors behind market decline

1) Crude prices surge: Brent ​crude surged above $110 a barrel following ‌a fresh escalation in the Iran war

2) Geopolitical concerns: Iran attacked several energy facilities across the Middle East on Wednesday, following a strike on its South Pars gas ​field, marking ​a major escalation ⁠in its war with the U.S. and Israel.

By Prashant of MoneyControl 

19/03/26, Stocks to Watch Today, March 19

Markets are set for an active session as several companies feature in Stocks to Watch Today, driven by key corporate developments and regulatory updates.

JSW Steel, Axis Bank, and Nazara Technologies lead the news flow with expansion, funding, and acquisition announcements, while Delta Corp and PhysicsWallah face tax-related developments.

Investors will track these triggers closely for cues on Indian stock market direction, NSE, BSE movements, and sectoral momentum. Here's the full list of stocks to watch in today's trading session:

Company Name	Why in Focus
JSW Steel	Andhra Pradesh approves land for steel plant
PhysicsWallah	Income Tax raises Rs 263 crore demand notice
Nazara Technologies	UK subsidiary acquires Spanish gaming firm's stake
Zydus Lifesciences	Partners with Torrent Pharma to market diabetes drug
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders	Signs USD 39 million contract for new vessel
Axis Bank	Approves Rs 1,500 crore capital infusion proposal
Amara Raja Energy & Mobility	Develops naval sonar Power Conditioning Cabinet
Delhivery	Expands international air parcel services globally
Godrej Properties	Acquires 20 acres for Bengaluru housing project
Delta Corp	Receives Rs 1,752 crore tax demand notice

Axis Bank

Rs 1,500 Cr Capital Infusion into NBFC Arm Approved

Axis Bank has approved a proposal to infuse Rs 1,500 crore into Axis Finance Ltd via a rights issue over the next year to support business growth.

Godrej Properties

Acquires 20 Acres in Bengaluru for Rs 1,350 Cr Project

Godrej Properties has acquired 20 acres of land in Bengaluru to develop a housing project with estimated revenue of Rs 1,350 crore.

JSW Steel

AP Govt Clears 424 Acres for Kadapa Steel Plant

The Andhra Pradesh government approved allocation of over 424 acres in Kadapa district for JSW Steel's integrated plant project.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders

USD 39 Million Vessel Contract Secured from SCI

The company has signed a contract with Shipping Corporation of India to build a 3,000 DWT methanol dual-fuel platform supply vessel.

Nazara Technologies

UK Arm to Acquire 50 per cent Stake in Spanish Gaming Firms

Nazara's UK subsidiary will acquire a controlling stake in Bluetile Games and BestPlay Systems for USD 100.3 million.

Delhivery

Expands International Air Parcel Service to 3 Countries

Delhivery has extended its economy air parcel service to the UK, Canada, and Australia.

Zydus Lifesciences, Torrent Pharma

Partner to Co-Market Diabetes Drug in India

The companies have entered a licensing and supply agreement for Semaglutide Injection in the Indian market.

Amara Raja Energy & Mobility

Enters Defence Electronics with Indigenous Naval Tech

Its R&D arm has developed a Power Conditioning Cabinet for naval sonar systems, marking entry into defence electronics.

Delta Corp

Faces Rs 1,752 Cr Tax Demand Notice from Goa Authorities

Delta Corp and its subsidiary received tax notices citing alleged shortfall for FY2022-23, including penalties and interest.

PhysicsWallah

Rs 263 Cr Tax Demand Raised by IT Department

The Income Tax Department has issued a demand notice treating certain investments as taxable income for AY 2023-24.

Exclusive Report by The Economic Times 

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. We suggest  readers, investors  to consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.)

19/03/26, Sensex, Nifty Updates: by The Financial Express

 Markets are bracing for yet another painful session with sharp downward swing.

Early trend suggest deep losses with GIFT Nifty trading near 23,218, down about 582 points or 2.48%.

5 big concerns for market no

Crude Oil

Crude oil prices zoomed up 4% on growing tension across West Asia. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up about 3.1%, trading near $99.31 per barrel. Meanwhile, Brent crude rose around 4.1% and was hovering close to $111.59 per barrel.

West Asia conflict escalates

Tension in West Asia continue to stay elevated as the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran moves into its third week. Recent attacks and counterattacks across the region have increased uncertainty, with risks to oil and gas supply also rising. Investors are closely watching the situation, as any further escalation could push crude oil prices higher and impact overall market sentiment.

Asian markets

Asian markets are deep in red on on Thursday, with losses seen across major indices. Japan's Nikkei fell around 2.5% and the Topix dropped about 1.8%. In South Korea, the Kospi declined nearly 2.6%, while the Kosdaq slipped around 1.7%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also opened weak, down about 1.5%.

FOMC meeting 2026

The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rates unchanged at 3.5% to 3.75%. Its Chair, Jerome Powell, said that inflation is not cooling as much as expected. He also indicated that rate cuts may not happen anytime soon.

US Market

US markets ended on a weak note, with all major indices closing lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply by 768.11 points, or 1.63%, to settle at 46,225.15. The S&P 500 also declined by 1.36%, ending at 6,624.70. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.46% to close at 22,152.42.

19/03/26, Strait of Hormuz update

  In a big development days after India-flagged ships, namely Shivalik, Nanda Devi and Jag Laadki passed through the Strait of Hormuz, currently controlled by Iran, carrying thousands of metric tonnes of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) to India amid the supply crunch, the Islamic Republic of Iran led by new Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, has proposed new regulations which should govern the movement of vessels through the narrow passage of Strait of Hormuz.

Here are all the details you need to know about the new rules and regulations that Iran is planning to place on the movement around Strait of Hormuz.

What is the new rule around Strait of Hormuz?

Iran has indicated that it plans to introduce new regulations governing ship traffic through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz after the current war comes to an end, suggesting a possible long-term change in how one of the world's most important energy routes is managed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country's recent decision to block vessels connected to nations allied with the United States and Israel from passing through the narrow waterway was taken due to wartime conditions. He defended the move as a necessary step during the conflict, emphasizing that security concerns and ongoing hostilities required stricter control over maritime traffic in the region.

How is Iran planning to govern Strait of Hormuz?

"From our perspective, this is a waterway located next to Iran. Naturally, we will not allow our enemies to use this waterway," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said about .

The Iranian Foreign Minister also added that the conflict and security risks have already deterred many ships from transiting the route and Iran would push for a "new protocol" to govern future navigation in the region.

"We need to design new arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz,   and the way ships pass through it after the war, so that peaceful navigation can be permanently maintained under clear regulations, while taking into account Iran's interests and those of the region," he added in his statement.

Indian-flagged tanker 'Jag Laadki' reaches India

Indian-flagged tanker 'Jag Laadki', carrying around 80,886 metric tonnes (MT) of crude oil, arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat on Wednesday amid the West Asia conflict, a report by PTI said.

A day earlier, LPG carrier 'Nanda Devi' arrived at Vadinar port in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district, carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, another vessel - 'Shivalik' - carrying LPG docked at Mundra Port.

source: Dailyhunt 

19/03/26, Iran has executed Kourosh Kivani, a man who was found guilty of spying for Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. This happened on March 18, in Tehran.

 Iran and Israel are not getting along. This execution shows that Iran is taking a tough stance against people who hurt their country's security.

The Iranian government said Kivani was talking to Mossad agents and giving them secrets about Iran's security. He was accused of taking pictures of military and nuclear places without permission. He also sent information to Israel. The court said Kivanis' actions were treason and hurt Iran's security.

Kourosh Kivani was arrested by counter-intelligence forces. He went through the court system, which included a lower court and the Supreme Court. The lower court said he was guilty of espionage and "corruption on earth" and gave him the death penalty. Kivani appealed. The Supreme Court agreed with the lower court's decision. They said he caused damage to Iran's national security.

Kourosh Kivanis' execution is part of an effort by Iran to stop foreign spy networks. Iran often uses the death penalty for people who work with countries they do not like, such as Israel. This is happening at a time when Iranian intelligence agencies are trying to prevent people from being killed and important places from being sabotaged.

The execution of Kourosh Kivani shows that Iran is serious about stopping people who spy for countries. Iran and Israel have been having problems for a time and this execution is a sign that things are not getting better. Iran is watching its security closely, and they will punish people who hurt their country. The case of Kourosh Kivani is an example of what happens when someone is found guilty of spying for Mossad in Iran.

source:social media 

19/03/26, The Rupee depreciated to a fresh low against the dollar on Wednesday as crude oil prices remained above the $100 /barrel mark fuelled by the war in West Asia.

The domestic currency ended the session at 92.63 against the dollar, down 24 paise or 0.27 % over the previous close, according to Bloomberg data. Dealers said the central bank stayed away from the markets for the most part.

The rupee has continued to drift down since the outbreak of the hostilities in West Asia and has fallen 1.8%, taking the depreciation in FY26 so far to 8.4%.

RBI Steps Aside

"The rupee was resisting the 92.50 level for the past 2-3 days due to intervention in the market by Reserve Bank of India. Liquidity remained thin ahead of Thursday's holiday, triggering stop-losses after the level was breached," Dilip Parmer, research analyst at HDFC Securities, told FE.

High Oil and FPI Exodus

Persistent dollar outflows resulting from the sale of stocks by foreign portfolio investors (FPI) also continue to weigh on the currency. "FPIs continue to sell in the equity market and together with oil importers are driving up demand for dollars, "Ritesh Bhansali, deputy CEO at Mecklai Financial Services said. He added that importers are increasingly hedging their exposures though exporters were leaving their exposures unhedged.

In general, the currency is expected to be under pressure as long as prices of crude oil remain elevated. The RBI is expected to intervene to limit excessive depreciation. According to Parmer the market will closely watch the 93 level. ENDS

Report by The FinancialExpress

18/03/26, PSU BANK STOCKS

PSU bank stocks have witnessed a strong correction in the recent market decline. The benchmark NIFTY PSU Bank index has declined in 8 out of the 12 trading sessions so far this month and is witnessing its worst monthly fall since September 2020.

The NIFTY PSU Bank index has fallen nearly 15% this month but recovered some ground in the last few trading sessions amid gains in broader markets. Amid this fall, three PSU banks, Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and UCO Bank also hit their 52-week low.

Index name	Fall in March 2026
NIFTY PSU Bank	▼ 12.6%
NIFTY Financial Services	▼ 7.4%
NIFTY Bank	▼ 9.1%
NIFTY50	▼ 8.8%

As seen from the above table, the NIFTY PSU Bank index has seen a strong decline compared to other banking indices. In the past few years, PSU banks have given consistent returns to investors, rising over 188% in the last five years, driven by strong loan book growth, improved asset quality and dividends. However, PSU banks are witnessing a major meltdown in recent weeks due to rising bond yields.

The yield on India's 10-year benchmark bond rose to around 6.72%, extending gains for the fourth consecutive session due to surge in oil prices following the Middle East crisis and rising conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Besides this, weak Indian rupee and sustained foreign portfolio outflows has also impacted the bond yields.

How does rising bond yield impact PSU Banks?

Fundamentally, there is an inverse relationship between bond prices and yields. So when the yield on a 10-year government bond rises, the prices of existing bonds fall as they move in opposite directions. This happens because older bonds are being offered at a fixed interest rate, and new bonds are offering higher yields. As a result, investors mostly prefer new bonds because of higher interest components. But at the same time, prices of older bonds (lower-yield) drop to attract buyers and stay competitive.

For example, if an old bond pays 7% interest and new bonds offer 7.5%, the old bond becomes less attractive, so its market price declines to make it more attractive.

This situation negatively impacts the banking sectors, especially PSU Banks like State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank and others because they hold a large portion of their assets in government bonds in Available For Sale (AFS) form. When bond prices fall, the value of their holdings decreases, leading to mark-to-market (MTM) losses for the banks, which affects their treasury income and impacts their profitability.

Returns of leading PSU banks

Stock name	Fall in March 2026	YTD return
State Bank of India	▼ 11.4%	▲ 8.2%
Union Bank of India	▼ 12.1%	▲ 15.6%
Bank of India	▼ 13.6%	▲ 5.8%
Bank of Maharashtra	▼ 15.1%	▲ 3.2%
Bank of Baroda	▼ 12.1%	▼ 4.3%
Punjab National Bank	▼ 12.4%	▼ 8.3%
Canara Bank	▼ 12.5%	▼ 11.1%

Major PSU bank stocks saw a sharp correction in March 2026, with all major banks falling between 11% and 15.1%. Shares of State Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra has given positive return on year-to-date (YTD) basis but have fallen significantly so far this month indicating continued selling pressure because of rising bond yield, fall in broader markets.

Besides rising bond yields, fear of lower growth in loan book is also taking investors away from the PSU bank stocks. The US, Israel and Iran conflict could led to higher domestic inflation due to surge in oil prices, which could hit India's growing consumption economy and indirectly lower demand for new loans. Hence, investors will be closely monitoring the upcoming Q4 quarterly business updates of PSU banks to get idea about future growth prospects.

Report by Upstox