Fed Meet: Pause on rates; duration of oil and gas shock to dictate next move
Oil shock uncertainty clouds Fed’s outlook as West Asia conflict reshapes inflation risks
Chart of the Day: What is driving Indian pharmaceutical market growth?
The pharma market grew by more than 10 percent for the third consecutive month in February 2026, with chronic therapies taking the lead
Oil War Escalates? Iran Threatens Gulf | Fed Holds Rates | HDFC Bank Shocker
Global markets are under pressure as rising geopolitical tensions and key policy signals shake investor sentiment. Israel’s strike on Iran’s largest gas facility and Tehran’s threat to target oil infrastructure across the Gulf have pushed Brent crude above $111, raising fresh supply concerns. Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve has held rates steady at 3.5–3.75%, citing uncertainty from ongoing conflicts, while signaling a gradual path to rate cuts starting 2026. Wall Street saw sharp declines with the Dow plunging over 750 points, and Asian markets are tracking the weakness. Back home, HDFC Bank remains in focus following the Chairman’s resignation. Catch Surabhi Upadhyay with market experts decoding the impact of global cues, oil price surge, and what lies ahead for markets.
HDFC Bank ADR down 7.5% as part-time chairman Chakraborty resigns over ethical differences
Atanu Chakraborty was appointed as part-time chairman in April 2021 for a three-year term, and reappointed in May 2024 for a further term extending through May 4, 2027
Gold, Silver Rate Today (Mar. 19) – Highlights: Gold, silver extend losses; MCX gold tumbles over 5% to 1.45 lakh, silver cracks 9% to 2.25 lakh amid firm dollar, spike in crude oil prices
Gold prices edged lower as persistent tensions involving the US-Israel conflict with Iran pushed energy prices and inflation concerns higher, strengthening the US dollar and bond yields.
OPINION | Ironically, Iran and Israel have the same aims, prolong the war. US is stuck
Ali Larijani’s assassination makes it harder for Iranian leadership to seek negotiations. That’s what Israel wants. Iran too will prefer to prolong the conflict as escalating global economic cost gives them leverage. Where does that leave the US
Retail, NII interest weakens in recent IPOs as selectivity rises
Retail and non-institutional investors are turning selective in recent IPOs, with multiple issues since late February witnessing under-subscription in these segments despite overall demand being supported by institutional investors
HUF explained: How this unique tax tool can help families save more tax
An HUF gets its own basic exemption limit and can claim deductions under sections like 80C, 80D and others just like an individual.
Oil-driven inflation fears are reshaping Asian bond yield curves
The faster rise in medium-term yields compared with long-term ones has squeezed the gap between them this month, bear-flattening the bond curve.
HSBC mulls deep job cuts from multiyear AI-fueled overhaul
The changes could ultimately impact around 20,000 roles, or about 10% of its total workforce
Deepening oil supply shock could push economies toward stagflation, worry policymakers
If oil prices remain elevated for an extended period, inflation expectations become a focal point. This makes a difficult environment for central bank policymakers even trickier, at a time when many are still attempting to bring inflation under control following the post-pandemic surge in prices.
Daily Voice: No Fed rate cuts soon? Sandeep Bagla says next move may be a hike, not a cut
Sandeep Bagla of TRUST Mutual Fund believes West Asia war will be a long-drawn war between US and Iran. Hence, FY27 is likely to be a muted return generator from equity markets perspective, he said.
Is oil reaching a tipping point? Oil markets signal deeper supply shock as physical prices diverge from futures
Dislocations between paper and physical markets point to tightening supply and the risk of a sharp repricing
Trading Plan: Will Nifty 50, Bank Nifty decisively break three-day rally amid spiking oil prices, fears of prolonged Fed pause?
If the Nifty 50 decisively breaks the 23,600–23,500 zone, bears may regain control and drag the index toward the current week's low of around 23,000–22,950.
New GST structure for TER could impact SEBI-regulated small MF distributors as new rules take effect April 1
Distributors often work with multiple asset management companies, and the revised framework requires tracking GST-related cash flows across each relationship, maintaining documentation, and ensuring timely compliance. For smaller firms with limited back-office capacity, this could prove challenging.
Trade Spotlight: How should you trade PFC, GE Vernova, Bharat Forge, APL Apollo Tubes, DLF, and others on March 19?
The market is expected to be negatively impacted by rising oil prices and concerns over a prolonged pause in the Fed funds rate amid inflation worries. Below are some short-term trading ideas to consider.
Stocks to Watch Today: Rajputana Stainless, Cosmic CRF, Gaudium IVF, Ahluwalia Contracts, Manappuram, Nazara Tech, GR Infraprojects, Belrise in focus on 19 March
Stocks to Warch, 19 March: Stocks like Gaudium IVF and Women Health, Ahluwalia Contracts, Manappuram Finance, Nazara Technologies, G R Infraprojects, Belrise Industries, Puravankara, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Natco Pharma, United Breweries, and Vedanta will be in focus on March 19.
Gold tumbles as Jerome Powell’s inflation concerns dash easing bets
While bullion has been weighed down in recent weeks over concerns that rates will stay steady, gold is still up more than 10% this year.
US Fed holds rates, flags uncertainty from Iran war and rising inflation outlook
Inflation, as measured by the PCE index, which was earlier expected to ease to 2.4 per cent by year-end, is now seen at 2.7 per cent based on median estimates. The Fed’s long-term inflation target remains 2 per cent.
EU moves to ban AI that creates nonconsensual sexual images
The ban wouldn’t apply if a company has imposed measures restricting the creation of such deepfakes.
Trade setup for March 19: Top 15 things to know before the opening bell as hot inflation dims Fed rate cut hopes for 2026, oil spikes
If the Nifty breaks 23,600 (Wednesday's low), a decline toward the 23,500–23,350 zone is possible in the coming sessions. However, a further rally toward 24,000 is likely only if the index closes above and sustains the 23,800 resistance level, according to experts.
Coal India arm CMPDI raises Rs 470 crore via anchor book ahead of March 20 IPO; LIC, Nippon Life top buyers
Central Mine Planning & Design Institute IPO | The company approached capital markets to raise Rs 1,837.8 crore via initial public offering of 10.71 crore equity shares which is entirely an offer-for-sale by Coal India.
Net direct tax collections till March 17 at Rs 22.80 lakh crore, up 7.2% YoY
As compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year, the net direct tax collections were up 7.19 percent on year.
US govt says Anthropic AI an 'unacceptable risk' to military
Anthropic's Claude AI model has been in the spotlight in recent weeks both for its alleged use in identifying targets for US bombing in Iran and the company's refusal that its systems be used to power mass surveillance in the United States or lethal fully autonomous weapons systems.
SEBI settles cases against 111 brokers in algo platform violations, closes proceedings under 2025 scheme
According to SEBI, 111 entities opted for the scheme within the stipulated timeline.
