Market Bizzz

Five Nifty 200 stocks, including BSE and SBI, closed over 1% below their VWAP on March 27, signalling potential bearish momentum. A drop below VWAP indicates increased selling pressure, as prices settle below the day’s volume-weighted average, often seen as a key technical indicator for short-term market direction.

Oil prices surged Monday as Yemeni Houthis attacked Israel, escalating the Middle East conflict. Brent crude neared record monthly gains, driven by fears of disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. Saudi exports are rerouting, with potential disruptions impacting global supply. Ceasefire talks are underway amidst rising tensions.

The Indian rupee is expected to rally as the Reserve Bank of India imposed curbs on onshore position limits, requiring banks to cap net open rupee positions at $100 million. This move will prompt dollar selling by banks to unwind arbitrage trades, which had exploited the spread between onshore and NDF markets.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded domestic equities worth Rs 1,13,810 crore in March, extending their selling trends amid the Iran-Israel war. So far, this year, they have offloaded Indian shares worth Rs 1,27,157 crore.

Info Edge is set to invest up to Rs 250 crore in an alternative investment fund. This fund will back early-stage deep-tech companies in India. In a separate move, Info Edge is exiting its associate company Shopkirana. This exit is through a share-swap agreement with Singapore-based Trustroot Internet. These transactions are expected to be completed by June 30, 2026.

Indian markets experienced a significant downturn this week, with the Nifty losing over 1.28% and breaching key support levels. Volatility surged as the India VIX climbed, indicating heightened investor caution. While Indian equities showed resilience against global peers, the near-term trend appears weak, suggesting a cautious approach and focus on capital preservation for the upcoming trading sessions.

U.S. stocks plunged Friday, with major indexes hitting seven-month lows as a Middle East war continued to suppress risk appetite. The Dow entered correction territory, down over 10% from its record high. Rising oil prices fueled inflation fears, dampening hopes for Fed rate cuts.

India’s Nifty index shows resilience against potential oil price surges from the Gulf conflict. Companies within the Nifty that supply energy like coal and electricity stand to gain. Demand for these energy sources is expected to rise as alternatives to oil and gas. Conversely, smaller companies face greater impact from rising fuel costs.

Specialised equipment maker Kay Bouvet Engineering’s Rs 1,000 crore debt is poised for takeover by NARCL. Banks will see a 13% recovery through NARCL’s Rs 130 crore offer, which faced no competition in a Swiss challenge auction. This marks a potential final acquisition for the bad loan aggregator this fiscal year.

Oil prices dipped as President Trump indicated progress in Iran talks and paused strikes on energy infrastructure. This follows a sharp rally amid escalation fears. Despite diplomatic efforts, the US is deploying troops. Iran demands a complete halt to attacks and guarantees for peace. Disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz are severe, with analysts predicting continued price volatility.