Crude oil prices reached a new record high in futures trade, both domestically and internationally, as escalating military tensions between the US and Iran in West Asia continue to fuel market volatility. Diplomatic efforts concerning the Strait of Hormuz are being closely watched for potential price stabilisation.
A new report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd (MOFSL) indicates that inflation, interest rates, and monetary policy have become more significant drivers of gold prices than traditional geopolitical conflicts, with markets increasingly focusing on these economic factors.
Moody's Analytics predicts India will remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2026 and 2027, but its pace will moderate due to a global slowdown, geopolitical risks, and financial market volatility, despite the boost from AI demand.
Shares of brokerage-related companies nosedived 18 per cent on Sunday after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed raising securities transaction tax on commodity futures to 0.05 per cent from 0.02 per cent in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Bharti Airtel added 7.64 trillion in value over the past five years, making it the biggest wealth creator in India's private sector, while the IT sector, including TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, collectively lost 8.5 trillion in value, according to the latest Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 report.
The Indian commodity market has experienced significant growth over the past decade, allowing Indian traders to capitalise on price fluctuations in commodities such as gold, crude oil, and natural gas. Earlier, commodity trading required substantial capital as these contracts were only available in bulk quantities. But to make the commodity market more accessible, exchanges such as the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) have launched smaller and more flexible commodities contracts, including mini and micro contracts. These changes in the commodity lot size have changed the way small traders trade in commodity markets.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has urged the Indian government to swiftly conclude the proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), while ensuring India's interests are protected, recommending complete exemption for key export products like generic medicines and smartphones from future US tariff increases.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has introduced a comprehensive new code of conduct for its board members, significantly tightening rules on conflict of interest, disclosures, recusals, and non-permitted investments, moving from broad ethical guidelines to a more prescriptive, compliance-driven regime.
Crude oil prices surged over 3% in futures trade after US President Donald Trump expressed doubts about the Iran ceasefire, reigniting fears of supply disruptions from West Asia and pushing Brent crude above USD 107 per barrel.
Gold prices are expected to remain volatile next week as investors track geopolitical developments in the Middle East and key macroeconomic data releases that could shape the sentiment in the domestic market, analysts said.
State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has approved the development of a 1.75 million tonnes (mt) strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) in Mangaluru, a project deemed of national importance, with plans for broad commercial utilisation.
The Reserve Bank of India's Financial Stability Report indicates that the interim peace deal between the US and Iran has favourably shifted the balance of risks, reducing headwinds from the West Asia conflict. However, it cautions that exchange rate volatility could increase if crude oil prices spike due to delayed normalisation of supply chain disruptions.
Days after an outage at MCX, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Tuesday expressed his displeasure over "repeated" instances of breakdowns at exchanges.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reduced India's growth forecast for FY27 to 6.4 per cent, citing the potential impact of higher energy prices offsetting the country's economic resilience. Despite this, India remains among the fastest-growing major economies.
Foreign investors have largely been exiting one part of the market while domestic investors have been enthusiastically accumulating another, points out Debashis Basu.
The Multi-Commodity Exchange faced disruptions to operations due to a technical issue on Tuesday, forcing it to commence trading over 4 hours late and shift operations to its disaster recovery site. The commodities bourse said that all its trading systems are now functioning normally and an investigation into the issue has been initiated on priority.
Silver prices surged on Monday to breach the record Rs 3 lakh-per-kg mark in futures trade for the first time, riding on strong investor demand and positive global trends.
Odisha Police seized nearly 3,500 litres of diesel and arrested one person for illegally procuring materials from ships anchored in deep sea areas near Paradeep. The operation uncovered a network involved in unauthorised exchanges of fuel and other suspicious commodities.
Crude oil prices have surged to record highs due to escalating tensions between the US and Iran, raising concerns about supply disruptions and market volatility.
Live updates on the US-Israel-Iran war: Trump escalates threats, Iran retaliates, and oil prices surge as the Strait of Hormuz crisis disrupts global markets.
Gold prices experienced a significant drop in futures trading due to global selloff, inflation concerns, and a strong US dollar. Analysts predict a continued downward trend amid geopolitical tensions and potential rate hikes.
The case for long-term investment in gold, however, remains intact.
'With inflationary pressures now at elevated levels and the adverse cost environment persisting, the company has to pass on a portion of the increased costs to the market, while continuing to ensure that the impact on customers is kept to the minimum extent possible.'
Insights from behavioural economics suggest that an ambitious nudge can be effective if three conditions are met, points out Ram Singh Insights from behavioural economics suggest that an ambitious nudge can be effective if three conditions are met, points out Ram Singh, director, Delhi School of Economics.
Gold prices surged in futures trading due to escalating US-Iran tensions, driving demand for the safe-haven asset.
Analysts predict a surge in gold and silver prices as investors seek safe-haven assets due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The impact on domestic prices will depend on the conflict's duration, with geopolitical factors and macroeconomic data also playing a role.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed a new framework to manage strike prices for options contracts, aiming to ensure continuous availability of suitable contracts even during sharp intraday market swings. This move addresses concerns that extreme price movements can leave traders without appropriate options for hedging or positioning.
Following through announcements with enforcement of measures is key, as a run through recent Indian economic history shows, points out A K Bhattacharya.
Life cycle funds may suit people who are starting their investing journey. They may suit those who do not want to monitor their investments frequently. Busy professionals, beginners and delegators, who lack the time, information or interest to manage asset allocation actively, may find these funds useful.
Most active traders prefer mobile applications that provide real-time alerts, including price targets -- functions that dealers once delivered through client calls.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) will launch Dated Brent Crude Oil (Platts) futures on April 13, offering a new hedging tool for market participants.
Indian equity benchmark indices experienced a significant drop in early trade, with the BSE Sensex falling over 525 points and the NSE Nifty down more than 164 points, primarily due to rising crude oil prices and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran conflict.
Precious metal prices surged in futures trading, with silver hitting Rs 2.93 lakh per kg and gold nearing Rs 1.68 lakh per 10 grams, driven by safe-haven demand following US-Israel strikes in Iran and retaliatory attacks.
Crude oil prices experienced a sharp decline after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to military strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure, easing geopolitical tensions and supply disruption fears.
Earlier, most investors counted on traditional options like fixed deposits, gold, or property. But in 2026, you will have access to a much wider range of opportunities across different markets and sectors.
The Indian rupee depreciated 16 paise to settle at a fresh lifetime low of 96.86 against the US dollar, marking its ninth consecutive session of decline, driven by elevated global crude prices and a strong dollar.
The Indian rupee plummeted to an all-time low of 95.80 against the US dollar, settling at 95.66, driven by elevated crude oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, despite potential RBI intervention and import curbs on gold.
Gold prices experienced a significant decline in futures trading due to uncertainty surrounding geopolitical tensions in West Asia and conflicting statements regarding the conflict. Investors are also awaiting key macroeconomic data for further direction on interest rate cuts.
'Market momentum and investor interest are at unprecedented levels, making this the opportune moment.'
Silver prices on Thursday breached the record Rs 4 lakh per kilogram mark in futures trade, while gold touched a lifetime high of Rs 1.8 lakh per 10 grams, riding on strong investor demand and record gains in the international markets.
