Market Bizzz

Asian stock markets experienced a sharp decline early Monday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index dropped over 6%. South Korea’s Kospi also sank significantly. Shares in Australia and New Zealand saw notable falls. This market reaction follows a surge in oil prices. Brent crude prices rose to over $100 a barrel.

The 200 DMA is used as a key indicator by traders for determining the overall trend in a particular stock.

Indian markets experienced a sharp downturn this week, with the Nifty closing significantly lower and testing a crucial 100-week moving average support. Rising volatility and weakening market breadth signal caution for investors. While some sectors like Infrastructure and Pharma show relative strength, others are under pressure, suggesting a defensive approach is advised.

BlackRock shares fell sharply after the asset manager restricted withdrawals from its flagship private credit fund, HLEND, following a surge in redemption requests. The move has intensified concerns about liquidity risks in the fast-growing private credit industry, even as investors shift towards safer assets amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

Women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership roles at India’s listed companies despite improvements in boardroom diversity. A Primeinfobase report shows women hold only 5% of CEO or MD positions and just 10% of executive directorships, highlighting persistent structural barriers and a widening gender gap in senior corporate leadership and pay.

Vedanta Ltd is set to raise approximately ₹3,000 crore through a domestic bond issuance early next week to refinance upcoming obligations and bolster liquidity. The three-year and five-year non-convertible debentures are expected to offer coupons around 8.75% and 9% respectively.

The Securities Appellate Tribunal has upheld market regulator Sebi’s penalties against Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company. This ruling concerns investments made by its fixed maturity plans in Essel Group-linked entities. The tribunal found Kotak AMC failed to exercise due diligence and violated mutual fund rules.

India’s foreign exchange reserves surged to a record $728.5 billion in the week ending February 27, boosted significantly by a $4 billion increase in gold reserves. Foreign currency assets and SDRs also contributed to the rise, despite the rupee facing pressure from forward contract maturities.

Crypto legislation faces an impasse as banks reject a White House compromise, casting doubt on its passage this year. President Trump criticized lenders for attempting to undermine the bill, which aims to clarify crypto regulations but is stalled by disagreements over stablecoin rewards and deposit flight concerns.