West Asia conflict triggers sharp sell-off in Indian markets, with realty, banking and auto stocks leading losses amid energy shock fears.
Bajaj Auto reported a significant increase in its consolidated Q4FY26 performance, with profit after tax more than doubling to approximately 3,662 crore, a 103 per cent year-on-year rise, primarily driven by record volumes, an improved product mix, and the strategic consolidation of Bajaj Auto International Holdings AG (BAIHAG).
'Every year we import approximately $70 billion worth of gold -- closer to $72 billion in 2025-2026, an all-time record.' 'There is no parallel for this anywhere in the world. And this love for gold will not disappear overnight.'
Despite geopolitical tensions and FII outflows, Indian small and midcap stocks have not only recovered losses but are also outperforming largecap indices, driven by attractive valuations, domestic institutional support, and a rebound in earnings.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 2.362 billion to reach USD 703.308 billion for the week ending April 17, as reported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Indian equity markets experienced a volatile trading day, with the Sensex and Nifty closing almost flat. Market sentiment was influenced by global cues, US-Iran talks, and profit-booking activities.
Tata Steel reported a significant 124.9 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to 2,925.74 crore for the fourth quarter of FY26, driven by higher volumes and an improved product mix in India, alongside planned cost reductions across its global operations.
India's wheat and rice reserves in Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns have surged to 604.02 lakh tonnes as of April 1, nearly three times the mandatory buffer requirement, according to official data.
SBI General Insurance aims to achieve a 10 per cent market share among private and standalone health insurers within approximately five years, up from its current 7.17 per cent, said Naveen Chandra Jha, managing director and chief executive officer, SBI General Insurance.
Indian equities trading activity saw a moderation in FY26, with cash market turnover declining and derivatives growth remaining subdued due to regulatory tightening and weak market performance. Further impacts are expected from new RBI norms and a hike in Securities Transaction Tax (STT).
Eight of India's top-10 most valued firms saw their combined market valuation increase by Rs 1,87,497.45 crore last week, with Bharti Airtel emerging as the largest gainer, reflecting a positive trend in the equities market.
Increased input costs due to geopolitical conflict in West Asia and unseasonal rain in March negatively impacted volumes of consumer durables makers, particularly air conditioners, in Q4FY26, leading to projected declines in EBITDA and APAT despite revenue growth.
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The measures announced by it risk backfiring, disrupting the foreign exchange market, and intensifying the very pressures they seek to contain, with broader consequences for the economy points out Rajeswari Sengupta.
India's banking system is grappling with a persistent liquidity surplus exceeding Rs 5 trillion, driven by significant government spending and bond redemptions, leading market participants to anticipate the Reserve Bank of India will step up Variable Rate Reserve Repo operations to manage the excess funds.
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Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have withdrawn Rs 19,837 crore from Indian equities in the first two trading sessions of April, extending a significant selling trend from March, driven by geopolitical uncertainty, rising crude oil prices, and a depreciating rupee.
CRISIL Ratings predicts that the share of bank loans in NBFCs' overall borrowings will increase to 44-45 per cent by FY27, driven by elevated bond yields and softening bank lending rates.
Info Edge (India) shares fell 2.9 per cent after the company reported muted growth in recruitment billings for Q4 FY26, leading brokerages to expect impacted operating performance and potential margin contraction.
Indian equities declined on Friday, with the benchmark Nifty posting its worst weekly fall since September, as foreign investor sentiment remained weak amid tepid earnings growth and little progress on the India-US trade front.
Aviation stocks experienced a significant surge following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, which led to a sharp decline in crude oil prices. This development has positively impacted stock markets and the broader economic outlook for India.
India's merchandise exports to the US contracted 21.77 per cent to $6.6 billion in January due to high tariffs imposed by America, according to the Commerce Ministry data. Exports contracted in September, October and December last year also. However, it rose 22.61 per cent in November.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries' acquisition of US-based Organon & Co. for $11.75 billion, the largest overseas acquisition by an Indian pharma company, has been met with mixed reactions from brokerages, who see strategic entry into women's health and biosimilars but also flag potential integration challenges and debt concerns.
Shares of Indian life insurance companies, particularly SBI Life Insurance and Canara HSBC Life Insurance, saw significant declines after the Department of Financial Services (DFS) secretary, M Nagaraju, stated that banks are being asked to avoid exclusive tie-ups with their own insurance subsidiaries and instead remain neutral.
Indian refiners are recalibrating their crude sourcing strategy due to supply disruptions in West Asia, leading to Venezuela and Brazil emerging as top five suppliers in April, replacing traditional sources like Iraq and the United States.
Despite the ongoing West Asia conflict causing global trade route disruptions, Mercedes-Benz India reports resilient customer demand, particularly for its new electric CLA sedan, though it faces challenges with component supply delays and escalating shipping costs.
The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the automobile sector has created market distortions, excluded innovation-led electric two-wheeler (e2w) makers, and failed to convert cost advantages into export competitiveness, with 77 per cent of export volumes driven by non-PLI models, said a report released by the Centre for Domestic Economy Policy Research (C-DEP) on Friday.
'As re-industrialisation gathers pace across regions like Asia, Europe and the US, a wide range of products and inputs will see demand.'
'LIC will reduce but not fully exit its stake in IDBI Bank, which remains an important bancassurance partner,' says LIC of India' MD and CEO R Doraiswamy.
'Oil is still well below its all-time highs, and the world is gradually running out of known reserves.'
Inflation data, trading activity of foreign investors and global trends would dictate sentiment in the stock market this week, according to analysts.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected that crude oil prices will average USD 85 per barrel and the rupee will weaken to 94 against the dollar by FY27, according to its bi-annual Monetary Policy report.
The Supreme Court has appointed former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna as the sole mediator to resolve a dispute involving businessman Ashokbhai Haribhai Gajera and others in a case linked to textile market projects in Surat. The case involves allegations of siphoning off Rs 1,900 crore and forging documents.
Wipro reported Q4FY26 IT services revenue of $2.6 billion, a modest 0.2 per cent Q-o-Q constant currency growth, with adjusted operating profit margin beating estimates at 17.2 per cent. The company announced a significant share buyback of ~15,000 crore, but faces near-term growth challenges, particularly in the BFSI segment, and has issued a soft Q1FY27 revenue guidance.
Net inflows into equity mutual fund schemes moderated in FY26, falling by 27 per cent to about 3 trillion till February, as choppy markets and global uncertainties prompted investors to shift towards safer options like hybrid funds and gold ETFs.
Reliance Industries is expected to report largely flat performance for its fourth quarter (January-March, Q4) of FY26, with weakness in the oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business and muted retail growth likely to offset steady gains in the telecommunications segment.
Trent reported a 20 per cent revenue rebound in Q4FY26, driven by a recovery in like-for-like growth and significant store additions. The company's board has approved raising up to 2,500 crore in equity to fund investments in store network upgrades, new brands, supply chain automation, and Star Bazaar expansion, alongside a 1:2 bonus issue and a 6 dividend.
India's foreign exchange reserves decreased by USD 10.288 billion to USD 688.058 billion during the week ending March 27, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This decline follows a previous decrease and comes after the reserves reached an all-time high in February.
'FPIs are unlikely to return unless there is equilibrium between valuation premium and earnings growth.'
HDFC Bank reported an 8.04 per cent increase in its March quarter consolidated net profit to Rs 20,350.76 crore, but highlighted potential near-term risks for small-business borrowers due to the West Asia conflict. The bank's CEO also addressed the recent resignation of its non-executive chairman and hinted at a potential top-level reorganisation.
