Market Bizzz

The Indian bond market remains steady amid expectations of a potential rate cut by the RBI in April, driven by anticipated sub-4% CPI print. Puneet Pal of PGIM India Mutual Fund predicts steepening of the yield curve and a liquidity surplus in the banking system. Investors are advised to focus on Short-Term/Corporate Bond Funds.

Bond traders are increasingly concerned about U.S. economic growth due to President Trump’s tariff policies and federal workforce cuts. Expectations for economic expansion are fading, leading to lower two-year Treasury yields and speculation of possible Federal Reserve interest rate cuts to prevent a downturn.

Shares of ONGC will be in focus after its subsidiary OPaL shifts from export focus to the domestic market by exiting SEZ status. Effective from March 8, 2025, OPaL aims to boost profit margins by operating as a Domestic Tariff Area unit, enabling it to leverage India’s lower corporate tax structure and enhance profitability.

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to develop renewable energy projects valued at Rs 49,000 crore. This collaboration aims to establish up to 7,000 MW of solar, wind, and hybrid energy projects, supporting the state’s vision for a sustainable green energy future.

Devina Mehra, Founder of First Global, highlights that the market’s recent fall coincided with FII withdrawals, but over time, FIIs’ actions don’t always dictate market movements. She emphasizes the nearing end of US outperformance, and First Global’s overweight on IT, pharma, auto components, with selective additions in FMCG and chemical stocks, indicating emerging opportunities outside US equities.

The market ended on a positive note in 2 of those five sessions. ETMarkets highlighted seven stocks from the BSE 100 index that consistently saw price gains during this period.

FPIs have been selling off Indian equities in March, with outflows totalling Rs 24,753 crore as of March 7. The trend has slowed slightly, but cumulative outflows for 2025 have reached over Rs 1.30 lakh crore. Chinese equities’ strong performance and global uncertainties are key factors influencing the FPI movement.

Devina Mehra believes that this is the time to be invested in equity as part of a well-diversified portfolio.

The benchmark S&P 500 finished with its biggest weekly loss since September. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also registered their third straight week of declines, the longest losing streak since mid-July and early August last year.