Stock Market Highlights: Sensex ends up 900 pts, Nifty settles with 1.2% gain as metals, infra stocks lead rally

The Indian rupee strengthened in Thursday’s session, ending at 91.60 per dollar, compared with 92.15 per dollar in the previous close on Wednesday. The move marked a notable recovery for the domestic currency after recent pressure linked to geopolitical tensions and concerns over crude oil supply.

Broader markets ended firmly higher alongside benchmark indices. The Nifty Midcap 100 rose 1.52 percent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 1.58 percent. Volatility cooled significantly during the session, with India VIX falling 15.56 percent to 17.85.

Most sectoral indices ended in the green, led by infrastructure and metals. The Nifty Infra index rose 2.21 percent and Nifty Metal gained 2.29 percent. Nifty Consumer Durables advanced 2.10 percent, while Nifty Auto climbed 1.86 percent. Energy, oil & gas, pharma and media indices also posted gains, while the Nifty IT index was the only sector to close in the red, down 0.59 percent.

Tech Mahindra was the biggest loser on the Nifty, falling 1.32 percent to Rs 1,333.30. HCL Tech declined 0.73 percent, while ICICI Bank slipped 0.57 percent and SBI fell 0.43 percent. TCS lost 0.35 percent and Hindustan Unilever declined 0.28 percent. Eternal, ONGC, Axis Bank and ITC also closed marginally lower.

Adani Ports emerged as the top gainer on the Nifty, rising 4.52 percent to Rs 1,499.30. Larsen & Toubro gained 4.02 percent to Rs 4,038.70, while Hindalco Industries climbed 3.60 percent. NTPC rose 3.35 percent and Reliance Industries added 3.30 percent. Coal India also gained 3.27 percent, while Bharat Electronics, Shriram Finance, JSW Steel and InterGlobe Aviation advanced between about 2.7 percent and 2.9 percent.

Nifty 50, Sensex off highs, up around 1% each vs 1.4-1.5% earlier. At 3:28 pm, the Sensex was up 786.04 points or 0.99% at 79,902.23, and the Nifty was up 258.60 points or 1.06% at 24,739.10. About 2,543 shares advanced, 1,368 shares declined, and 120 shares were unchanged.

Reliance Industries led trading volumes on the NSE with over 1.93 crore shares traded. SBI and Tejas Networks also saw heavy activity, while Nippon India Silver ETF recorded strong trading volumes. On the BSE, Tejas Networks topped the activity chart, followed by Bharti Airtel and Lloyds Metals.

On the losing side, Aegis Vopak declined nearly 6 percent, while Gujarat Gas fell close to 5 percent. Oil India, Coromandel International and KPIT Tech were also among the notable midcap losers during the session.

Among BSE midcaps, SJVN jumped over 6 percent to lead the gainers. Blue Star rose nearly 6 percent, while JSW Infrastructure and NALCO gained more than 5 percent each. Hindustan Petroleum, Petronet LNG and Bandhan Bank also featured among the major midcap gainers.

Broader markets strengthened alongside the benchmarks. The Nifty Midcap 100 rose about 1.7 percent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained around 1.6 percent. Volatility eased further, with India VIX falling more than 17 percent.

Sectoral indices traded mostly higher, led by infrastructure and metals. The Nifty Infra index rose over 2.5 percent, while the Nifty Auto and Nifty Consumer Durables indices gained more than 2 percent each. The Nifty Energy and Oil & Gas indices also advanced strongly, while the Nifty IT index remained the only sector in the red.

IT stocks continued to underperform the broader market. Tech Mahindra declined about 1.1 percent to emerge as the top Nifty loser, while HCL Tech also traded lower. Financial heavyweights such as ICICI Bank and SBI slipped marginally.

Larsen & Toubro topped the Nifty gainers, rising about 4.7 percent, followed by Adani Ports which climbed over 4.4 percent. Coal India and Reliance Industries also gained about 4 percent each, while NTPC, Shriram Finance and InterGlobe Aviation rose over 3 percent.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister said the country has made a conditional offer to the United States and is prepared to abandon its nuclear programme. Iran and the US have been engaged in intermittent negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear activities amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.

Gold’s sharp rally this year is unlikely to collapse, but the pace of gains may moderate as markets transition into a more sustainable uptrend, according to Ross Maxwell, Global Strategy Operations Lead at VT Markets. Maxwell said gold’s rise has been driven by persistent inflation uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and expectations of looser monetary policy in major economies. If global central banks gradually move toward rate cuts while inflation remains sticky, the opportunity cost of holding gold would decline, allowing prices to consolidate at higher levels rather than trigger a sharp correction.

He added that safe-haven demand remains strong, with institutional allocations to gold increasing, though still below levels seen during previous crises. Central bank purchases across emerging markets and steady retail and jewellery demand in countries such as India are also expected to support prices, even as the rally shifts toward a more gradual and volatile upward trend.

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have put significant pressure on the Indian rupee, with concerns over crude supply disruptions and rising oil prices weighing on the currency, according to Sameer Karyatt, Executive Director and Head of Trading at DBS Bank India. Karyatt said the rupee has depreciated about 1.4 percent this week as investors moved toward safe-haven assets amid heightened uncertainty.

He added that the currency could remain under pressure in line with other Asian currencies facing similar macroeconomic headwinds. The Reserve Bank of India is expected to intervene in the foreign exchange market to curb excessive volatility, while sterilising such actions to maintain adequate rupee liquidity in the system, he said.

Broader markets traded higher alongside the benchmarks. The Nifty Midcap 100 index rose about 0.6 percent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained around 0.65 percent. Volatility cooled, with India VIX falling nearly 11 percent, indicating easing risk sentiment after the sharp spike seen earlier.

Reliance Industries led trading volumes on the NSE with over 1.44 crore shares changing hands, while Nippon India Silver ETF saw heavy activity with over 8 crore units traded. Tejas Networks and Mazagon Dock also witnessed strong volumes. On the BSE, Tejas Networks topped the activity chart, followed by Bharti Airtel and Lloyds Metals.

On the losing side, Aegis Vopak and Gujarat Gas fell sharply, each declining over 6 percent. Coromandel International dropped more than 4 percent, while Mphasis, Muthoot Finance and Coforge were also among the notable midcap laggards during the session.

Among midcap stocks, NALCO surged over 7 percent to top the BSE Midcap gainers. Blue Star jumped nearly 5 percent, while Cochin Shipyard and JSW Infrastructure gained around 4 percent each. GE Vernova T&D, Clean Science and Bandhan Bank also featured among the top advancing midcap stocks.

Sectorally, metals and capital goods stocks led the rally. The S&P BSE Metals index rose about 2.3 percent, while the capital goods index gained nearly 1.8 percent. Energy, power and utilities indices also traded higher. In contrast, IT stocks lagged, with the BSE IT index falling around 1.2 percent.

IT counters remained under pressure during the session. Tech Mahindra declined about 2 percent to emerge as the top Sensex loser, while HCL Tech and TCS also traded lower. Financial stocks such as SBI and ICICI Bank slipped modestly, alongside consumption names including Asian Paints and Hindustan Unilever.

Bharat Electronics led the Sensex gainers, rising about 4.5 percent. NTPC climbed nearly 3 percent, while Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro gained around 2.5-2.7 percent each. Sun Pharma, Power Grid and Adani Ports also traded firmly higher, reflecting strength in energy, infrastructure and pharma stocks.

The United States is well positioned to support India as it diversifies its energy sources, according to US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. He said the US, as an energy-rich country, is keen to deepen cooperation with India and is ready to work with the country to ensure its energy needs are met in both the short and long term. Landau added that energy remains a key area where the two nations can significantly expand cooperation.

Christopher Landau, US Deputy Secretary of State, said a trade deal between the United States and India is close to the finish line and could unlock significant economic potential for both countries. Speaking on the evolving bilateral relationship, Landau said the next few years could lay the foundation for decades of stronger cooperation between the two nations, particularly as they share key strategic and security interests ranging from counter-terrorism to ensuring freedom of navigation.

Tejas Networks emerged as the most actively traded stock on the NSE, with volumes exceeding 3.78 crore shares, while Nippon India Silver ETF also saw heavy activity with over 7.16 crore units traded. Reliance Industries and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders were among other stocks witnessing strong trading volumes on the exchange. On the BSE as well, Tejas Networks led the activity chart with more than 50 lakh shares changing hands. ONGC, Jindal Drilling, Bharti Airtel and Mazagon Dock were also among the most actively traded counters during the session.

Broader markets traded higher alongside the benchmarks. The Nifty Midcap 100 rose nearly 0.9 percent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained close to 1 percent. Volatility cooled, with India VIX dropping nearly 12 percent, indicating easing risk aversion after the sharp spike seen in the previous session.

Sectorally, metals and energy stocks led the rally. The Nifty Metal index climbed over 2 percent, while the Nifty Energy index rose around 2.2 percent. Infrastructure and oil & gas indices also posted firm gains. In contrast, the Nifty IT index remained in the red, falling about 1 percent.

IT counters remained under pressure even as the broader market traded higher. HCL Tech and Tech Mahindra were among the top Nifty losers, each declining about 1.5 percent. Financial and consumption names such as SBI, HDFC Life and Asian Paints also traded lower, while TCS and Hindustan Unilever slipped modestly.

Metal and PSU stocks dominated the gainers’ list. Hindalco surged nearly 6 percent to emerge as the top Nifty gainer, while Coal India jumped over 5 percent. Bharat Electronics climbed more than 4 percent, and NTPC gained over 3 percent. Larsen & Toubro, ONGC and Reliance Industries were also among the key contributors to the benchmark rally.

Benchmark indices strengthened further in afternoon trade, with the Sensex rising more than 500 points and the Nifty trading comfortably above the 24,650 mark. The broader market also participated in the upmove, with advances outpacing declines across the exchanges.

Cera Sanitaryware said Sabarmati Gas will restrict supply to 50 percent of the company’s daily contracted quantity starting March 6, citing temporary disruption linked to the West Asian crisis. The company said it continues operations with alternate gas supply sourced from GAIL (India) and does not expect any material impact on business operations at present. Cera Sanitaryware shares were trading slightly lower in Thursday’s session, down about 0.5 percent at Rs 4,760.

Granules India shares rose about 3 percent after the company said its US subsidiary, Granules Consumer Health, received an Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from the US Food and Drug Administration with a “No Action Indicated” status. The EIR indicates that the inspection concluded without any regulatory action required. Granules India stock was trading around Rs 571, up nearly 3 percent, with gains of about Rs 16.65 in Thursday’s session.

GAIL (India) said LNG supply from QatarEnergy has been reduced to zero starting March 4, following a force majeure declared by the supplier. The company said it is currently assessing the situation with respect to supply curtailment to customers, adding that the impact of the ongoing force majeure cannot be quantified at this stage. Despite the development, GAIL shares were trading higher in Thursday’s session. The stock was up about 1.5 percent at Rs 156.97.

Vodafone Idea shares edged into the green after sources told CNBC Awaaz that the reassessment of the telecom operator’s licence fee has been completed. The stock was trading around Rs 10.06, up about 0.7 percent.

According to the report, the Controller of Communication Accounts has completed the reassessment of licence fees, while the review of spectrum usage charges is likely to be completed by March 31. Sources added that the reassessment could lead to a 60-65 percent reduction in the licence fee. As per the Supreme Court order, the Department of Telecommunications’ committee will take the final call. The adjusted gross revenue (AGR) component includes both licence fees and spectrum usage charges.

At 10:53 am, the Sensex was up 431.46 points or 0.55 percent at 79,547.65, and the Nifty was up 157.00 points or 0.64 percent at 24,637.50. About 2241 shares advanced, 1310 shares declined, and 133 shares unchanged.

Retail vehicle sales jumped 25.6% in February, as last year's tax cuts and a pick-up in weddings drove demand for two-wheelers and passenger vehicles, the auto dealers' body said on Thursday.

Two-wheeler sales jumped 25% from a year ago in February, while passenger vehicle sales climbed 26.1%, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations said, adding that demand was supported by weddings with enquiries rising across rural and urban markets.

Shares of Gujarat Gas plunged as much as 7% to Rs 389 apiece on March 5 after the company issued force majeure notices to its industrial customers under the provisions of its Gas Supply Agreements, restricting the Daily Contracted Quantity, effective March 6, 2026.

"While markets may stage a partial rebound after the recent sharp drop, it is not a trend reversal as the overhang from higher crude prices remains," said Avinash Gorakshakar, director of research at Profitmart Securities.

"While we expect volatility and downside pressure to stay elevated until the Middle East conflict eases, domestic-facing sectors may see selective buying as the pullback has created more attractive entry points," Gorakshakar said.

#1 Company acquires minority stake in RAS Beauty for around Rs 60 crore

#2 RAS beauty posts 75 percent CAGR over three years, ARR at Rs 100 crore

#3 Unilever Ventures & Amazon hold stakes

#4 Rs 440 crore remains for further D2C investments

The Sensex was up 426.28 points or 0.54 percent at 79,542.47, and the Nifty was up 151.90 points or 0.62 percent at 24,632.40. About 2347 shares advanced, 994 shares declined, and 130 shares unchanged.

#1 Initiates overweight call on Adani Ports, target price at Rs 1,944

#2 Initiates overweight call on JSW Infra, target price at Rs 310

#3 India ports & logistics sector offers structural growth

#4 Capacity expansion, rising trade & efficiency gains act as key growth catalysts

#5 Adani Ports/JSW Infra outperform Nifty50 by 70 percent/68 percent over three years

#6 Sector strength remains underappreciated

#7 Adani Ports targets 17 percent/15 percent/16 percent revenue/EBITDA/PAT CAGR over FY25–28

#8 JSW Infra targets 38 percent/30 percent/21 percent revenue/EBITDA/PAT CAGR over FY25–28, capacity to reach 400 mtpa by FY30

#9 Both companies expand logistics & warehousing, margin profile improves

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone was quoting at Rs 1,461.45, up Rs 27.20, or 1.90 percent and JSW Infrastructure was quoting at Rs 251.15, up Rs 4.35, or 1.76 percent.

#1 Fin-AI strategy shifts from experimentation to measurable outcomes

#2 Market focus on near-term credit metrics misses structural transformation

#3 High growth & RoE sustainability expected despite large balance sheet

Bajaj Finance was quoting at Rs 956.20, up Rs 11.20, or 1.19 percent.

It has touched an intraday high of Rs 964.65 and an intraday low of Rs 952.45.

It was trading with volumes of 59,577 shares, compared to its five day average of 570,308 shares, a decrease of -89.55 percent.

Sammaan Capital was quoting at Rs 142.95, up Rs 0.70, or 0.49 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 144.15 and an intraday low of Rs 142.05. It was trading with volumes of 39,386 shares, compared to its five day average of 447,264 shares, a decrease of -91.19 percent.

Steel Authority of India was quoting at Rs 156.85, up Rs 1.25, or 0.80 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 157.85 and an intraday low of Rs 155.60. It was trading with volumes of 183,794 shares, compared to its five day average of 3,909,904 shares, a decrease of -95.30 percent.

Nexome Capital Markets was quoting at Rs 84.25, down Rs 2.26, or 2.61 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 90.90 and an intraday low of Rs 82.15.

The share touched a 52-week high of Rs 157.47 and a 52-week low of Rs 57.18 on 05 September, 2025 and 06 March, 2025, respectively.

Currently, the stock is trading 46.5 percent below its 52-week high and 47.34 percent above its 52-week low.

Market capitalisation stands at Rs 49.51 crore.

Aqylon Nexus was quoting at Rs 114.05, up Rs 5.42, or 4.99 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 114.05 and an intraday low of Rs 110.

There were pending buy orders of 9,836 shares, with no sellers available. It was trading with volumes of 3,689 shares, compared to its five day average of 26,345 shares, a decrease of -86 percent.

The company has received a tax demand order worth Rs 327.5 crore from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai.

The assessment order pertains to Assessment Year 2024–25, relevant to Financial Year 2023–24.

Polycab India was quoting at Rs 8,306.60, up Rs 22.65, or 0.27 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 8,361.10 and an intraday low of Rs 8,284.90. It was trading with volumes of 2,030 shares, compared to its five day average of 22,602 shares, a decrease of -91.02 percent.

Great Eastern Shipping Company was quoting at Rs 1,420, up Rs 65.20, or 4.81 percent.

It has touched a 52-week high of Rs 1,421.

It has touched an intraday high of Rs 1,421 and an intraday low of Rs 1,361.70.

It was trading with volumes of 31,339 shares, compared to its five day average of 28,082 shares, an increase of 11.60 percent.

The company has completed the sale of its entire 19.8 percent shareholding in Nutritionalab for Rs 307 crore.

HUL had earlier, on February 12, intimated about the proposed sale of its entire 19.8 percent stake in Nutritionalab.

Hindustan Unilever was quoting at Rs 2,249.35, down Rs 13.30, or 0.59 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 2,275.00 and an intraday low of Rs 2,248. It was trading with volumes of 10,812 shares, compared to its five day average of 89,971 shares, a decrease of -87.98 percent.

Indian Energy Exchange achieved monthly electricity traded volume of 12,550 MU in February’26, marking a 30.4% increase on year-on-year basis.

A total of 18.86 lakh Renewable Energy Certificates were traded during the month, marking a 15.2% year on year increase.

The infrastructure company has entered into an agreement with Maharashtra Industrial Township (MITL) for EPC-based infrastructure works within the Dighi Port Industrial Area (DPIA) Phase 1 under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). The total contract value stands at Rs 1,401.84 crore.

The project is scheduled to be completed within 930 days from the appointed date.

mky Infrastructure was quoting at Rs 470, up Rs 39.70, or 9.23 percent.

It has touched an intraday high of Rs 476 and an intraday low of Rs 449.55.

It was trading with volumes of 36,341 shares, compared to its five day average of 1,263 shares, an increase of 2,777.81 percent.

In light of the ongoing war in the Middle East impacting the gas supply scenario, the availability of R-LNG has become severely constrained.

The company has issued Force Majeure notices to its industrial customers, in accordance with the provisions of the Gas Supply Agreements, restricting the daily contracted quantity effective March 6.

Acts of war are not covered under the insurance policy taken by Gujarat Gas. The likely impact of the Force Majeure event, which is currently ongoing, cannot be estimated at this point. The company is closely monitoring developments.

Gujarat Gas was quoting at Rs 393.95, down Rs 24.65, or 5.89 percent.

The Board has approved the raising of funds up to Rs 800 crore through an unsecured rupee term loan.

Bharat Forge was quoting at Rs 1,904.30, up Rs 62.60, or 3.40 percent.

It has touched an intraday high of Rs 1,914.85 and an intraday low of Rs 1,885.00.

It was trading with volumes of 35,096 shares, compared to its five day average of 70,176 shares, a decrease of -49.99 percent.

The exchange has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch derivative contracts on the BSE Sensex Next 30 index.

The index tracks the next largest and most liquid companies within the BSE 100 that are part of the derivatives segment but are not constituents of the BSE Sensex 30 index.

BSE Limited was quoting at Rs 2,681.40, up Rs 54.50, or 2.07 percent.

It has touched an intraday high of Rs 2,710.00 and an intraday low of Rs 2,668.20.

It was trading with volumes of 399,332 shares, compared to its five day average of 4,217,795 shares, a decrease of -90.53 percent.

Indian benchmark indices opened higher on March 5 amid supportive global cues, with the Nifty trading above 24,600.

The Sensex was up 313.30 points or 0.40 percent at 79,429.49, and the Nifty was up 93.90 points or 0.38 percent at 24,574.40. About 1126 shares advanced, 401 shares declined, and 118 shares unchanged.

Shriram Finance, Bajaj Finance, L&T, Coal India, Reliance Industries were among major gainers on the Nifty, while losers were Max Healthcare, ICICI Bank, Interglobe Aviation, Axis Bank, Grasim Industries.

Asian shares rallied on Thursday with a decline in U.S. Treasuries pointing to a tentative recovery in risk appetite that has been hammered by the escalating war in the Middle East.

From the market perspective, the problem with an ongoing war is that sudden developments like attacks on oil facilities, can impact the market. If crude spikes, the market will be impacted. On the other hand, couple of days of smooth oil trade can trigger a risk- on facilitating a market rebound.

It is important to note that India outperformed yesterday with only a 1.5% cut in the Nifty compared to the 12.1% crash in South Korean Kospi. Markets which did well this year like the South Korean market are facing huge volatility triggered by profit booking.

Going forward, high volatility in response to news/events will keep the market volatile. This will give opportunities to investors to slowly accumulate high quality stocks and wait with lots of patience. Perhaps emotional intelligence is more important now than financial acumen.

Indian equity markets are set to begin the March 5 session on a firm footing, as GIFT Nifty trades around 24,666, higher by nearly 81.3 points, signaling a positive opening for domestic benchmarks.

Given ongoing global uncertainties and heightened volatility, investors are advised to remain disciplined and adopt a selective strategy, focusing on fundamentally sound stocks during market corrections. Fresh long positions should preferably be initiated only after a clear and sustained breakout above the 25,000 level on the Nifty, which would indicate strengthening sentiment and confirm the formation of a more robust bullish structure.

Benchmark indices are trading firm in the pre-opening session.

The Sensex was up 380.08 points or 0.48 percent at 79,496.27, and the Nifty was up 219.05 points or 0.89 percent at 24,699.55.

Indian rupee opened 57 paise higher at 91.57 per dollar on Thursday versus previous close of 92.14.

China set its most modest growth target in more than three decades, in a tacit acknowledgment that the model powering the country’s rapid rise for four decades is showing strains.

The goal — a range of 4.5% to 5% — is the first formal downgrade since 2023 and the least ambitious expansion goal since 1991. While widely anticipated by economists, it carries symbolic weight in a country where growth figures function as political statements as much as economic forecasts.

HDFC Mutual Fund sold 20.5 lakh shares in Sundram Fasteners at Rs 831.97 per share and 22.48 lakh shares at Rs 832.36 per share, amounting to 2.04 percent of the paid-up equity, valued at Rs 357.66 crore.

As of December 2025, HDFC Mutual Fund, through the HDFC NIFTY500 Multicap 50:25:25 Index Fund, held a 7.62 percent equity stake in the TVS Group company.

In the previous trading session, the share closed down 1.35 percent or Rs 11.45 at Rs 836.00.

The share touched a 52-week high of Rs 1,076.90 and a 52-week low of Rs 819.75 on 07 July, 2025 and 04 March, 2026, respectively.

Currently, the stock is trading 22.37 percent below its 52-week high and 1.98 percent above its 52-week low.

Market capitalisation stands at Rs 17,566.73 crore.

US stocks closed higher on Wednesday after a news report indicating that Iran had signalled openness to diplomatic talks, combined with President Donald Trump's pledge to stabilise oil markets, easing investor anxiety over the escalating Middle East conflict.

Investors rotated back into technology shares, lifting the Nasdaq 1.29% and keeping the index in positive territory since the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran that ignited the conflict. The S&P 500 held close to its all-time closing high set in January, further supported by encouraging U.S. economic data.

On the economic front, payroll processor ADP reported that private-sector employment rose by more than expected in February, with 63,000 jobs added — a sharp rebound from the downwardly revised gain of 11,000 jobs in January.

In currency markets, the People's Bank of China set its official yuan midpoint at 6.9007 against the dollar on Thursday — 117 pips, or 0.07%, stronger than the previous fixing and the firmest level in 34 months — a move markets interpreted as an effort to stabilise the currency. Separately, Beijing set its economic growth target for 2026 at 4.5%–5%, a modest step down from last year's 5% pace, leaving room to address industrial overcapacity and rebalance the economy without committing to sweeping reform.

Gold rose on Thursday as widening Middle East tensions drove demand for safe-haven assets, with a softer dollar providing additional support to bullion. The metal traded around $ 5150, holding near record levels, as the U.S.-Iran standoff kept investor caution elevated.

The dollar, after its recent sharp rally, paused on Thursday — offering temporary relief to a battered euro, as investors held to tentative hopes that the conflict may prove shorter-lived than initially feared.

Crude oil surged 2.80% to $76.75, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed and disrupting roughly 20% of global oil supply.

Broader Asian equities tracked U.S. gains as sentiment steadied following the initial shock of the Iran conflict. South Korea's Kospi Index rebounded more than 10% after its worst-ever single-session crash, in which it shed over 12% the prior day.

Indian equity markets are poised to open on a positive note today on the back of conducive global cues. On any rebound, the 24,600–24,800 range stands as a formidable overhead barrier.

The exchange has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch derivative contracts on the BSE Sensex Next 30 index.

The index tracks the next largest and most liquid companies within the BSE 100 that are part of the derivatives segment but are not constituents of the BSE Sensex 30 index.

In the previous trading session, the share closed down 0.63 percent or Rs 16.70 at Rs 2,626.90.

The share touched a 52-week high of Rs 3,227 and a 52-week low of Rs 1,227.33 on 11 February, 2026 and 11 March, 2025, respectively.

Currently, the stock is trading 18.6 percent below its 52-week high and 114.03 percent above its 52-week low.

Market capitalisation stands at Rs 106,686.05 crore.

The Board has approved the raising of funds up to Rs 800 crore through an unsecured rupee term loan.

In the previous trading session, the share closed down 2.05 percent or Rs 38.55 at Rs 1,841.70.

The share touched a 52-week high of Rs 1,928.80 and a 52-week low of Rs 919.10 on 02 March, 2026 and 07 April, 2025, respectively.

Currently, the stock is trading 4.52 percent below its 52-week high and 100.38 percent above its 52-week low.

Market capitalisation stands at Rs 88,049.58 crore.

Gift Nifty is indicating a positive start, with Nifty likely to open around the 24,600 mark, up nearly 100 points. While the early indication is constructive, markets remain sensitive to ongoing geopolitical developments, and volatility is expected to remain elevated.

From a technical perspective, Nifty faces strong resistance in the 24,700–24,800 zone, where selling pressure could emerge on any further recovery. On the downside, the 24,300–24,350 region continues to act as an important support band.

With the war-related uncertainty still influencing global sentiment, traders should be prepared for sharp swings in both directions. Today also marks Sensex weekly expiry, which could further amplify intraday volatility due to positioning adjustments in the derivatives market.

In such conditions, traders should avoid selling low-value options without a well-defined strategy and strict stop-loss discipline.

The dollar halted its blistering rally on Thursday, providing some reprieve to the battered euro, as investors clung on to fragile assumptions that the war in the Middle East might not last as long as initially expected.

Investors were quick to take comfort in a report that Iran intelligence operatives signalled openness to talks with the CIA to end the war despite a subsequent denial from Tehran, underscoring the fraught sentiment towards a conflict that has lashed global markets.

Traders also latched on to hopes for a resumption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after insurance broker Marsh on Wednesday said it met with U.S. officials to explore restoring maritime trade.

The dollar further eased from an over three-month high hit earlier this week and stood at 98.82 against a basket of currencies.

The euro was steady at $1.1628, having slid to a more than three-month low on Tuesday, while sterling was little changed at $1.3368.

The yen similarly found some support on Thursday from a weaker greenback and rose 0.2% to 156.79 per dollar.

The Australian dollar held on to its 0.57% gain from the previous session and last stood at $0.7068, while the New Zealand dollar eased slightly to $0.5939.

The yuan was recently up more than 0.1% in onshore trade at 6.8862 per dollar, with the country also lifting its official yuan midpoint to the strongest level in 34 months on Thursday in what traders interpreted as an attempt to stabilise the currency.

Bitcoin and ether fell close to 1% each, having rallied strongly overnight as risk appetite improved.

Accel, Tiger Global and Apis Partners-backed financial services platform Moneyview has filed Draft Red Herring Prospectus with SEBI on March 3 to raise funds via initial public offering.

The IPO is a combination of fresh issuance of equity shares worth Rs 1,500 crore, and an offer-for-sale of 13.6 crore shares by existing shareholders.  Read More

Yesterday, the benchmark indices corrected sharply. After a sharp decline, the Nifty ended 385 points lower, while the Sensex was down by 1123 points. Among sectors, almost all the major sectoral indices closed in the negative territory, but the Metal Index lost the most, shedding over 4 percent. Technically, after a gap-down open, the market hovered between the 24,300/78500 to 24,600/79500 range.

We are of the view that the short-term outlook is weak but oversold. For traders, 24,300/78500 would act as a key support zone. If the market sustains above this level, the immediate resistance would be at 24,600/79500. Above 24,600/79500, it could move up to 24,800-25,000/80000-80500. Conversely, a decline below 24,300/78500 could change the sentiment. Below this, the market could slip to 24,100-24,000/78000-77800. The current market texture is extremely volatile and is expected to remain volatile in the near future.

State-owned NHAI-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) is gearing up to launch its Rs 6,000-crore initial public offering (IPO).

The InvIT's maiden public offering will open on March 11 and conclude on March 13, while the bidding for anchor investors will take place on March 10, according to a public announcement on Monday. Read More