The Economic Times

Highness Microelectronics' Rs 21.67 crore IPO opened on Tuesday, aiming to list on the BSE SME platform. With a grey market premium of Rs 20, the estimated listing price suggests a potential 16.67% gain. The company plans to use the proceeds for capital expenditure, working capital, and debt repayment.

Mutual funds are reportedly trimming their stock holdings, with over 10 schemes reducing exposure to nine specific stocks in February 2026 compared to January. This cautious shift comes as most of these stocks have experienced negative returns year-to-date, with five plunging 20-30% in under three months.

DSP Mutual Fund has shifted to an optimistic 'buy' stance on equities after two years of caution, citing nine signals indicating a compelling opportunity. Valuations have eased, particularly in large caps, with key sectors trading below historical averages. The fund advises a gradual increase in equity exposure, especially through SIPs for SMIDs.

Despite near-term pain from the West Asia war and oil shock, high-quality Indian stocks are now offering genuine value after six years of a bull market. CIO Pankaj Murarka believes the market has corrected to its long-term average valuation, presenting a significant opportunity for investors looking beyond the next few quarters.

European shares edged higher from multi-month lows on Tuesday as investors digested conflicting signals from the ongoing war in the Middle East, while concerns over the fallout from an energy shock kept gains in check.

Suspicious trades worth billions in S&P 500 and oil futures placed minutes before Trumps Iran talks announcement have sparked insider trading concerns. While markets rallied post the news, analysts flagged unusual activity. The White House denied allegations, even as similar past incidents continue to raise questions around market transparency.

Gold prices are trading with significant volatility. The precious metal has seen sharp corrections from its peak. Geopolitical tensions and de-escalation talks are creating a mixed market sentiment. Analysts suggest a range-bound trading strategy. Traders are advised to focus on support and resistance levels. Risk management is crucial in this environment.

President Trump's delay of air strikes against Iran's energy assets triggered a market rebound, with equities jumping and oil sliding. However, many investors remain cautious, maintaining defensive strategies and hedges due to ongoing unpredictability. Fund managers are sticking to reduced risk exposure, awaiting clearer signs of de-escalation or a significant market dip.

Australian shares closed higher on Tuesday, underpinned by miners, but trimmed early gains after Iran denied reports of any negotiations with Washington, while investors remained cautious ahead of a key domestic inflation reading this week.

The Reserve Bank of India faces a complex policy challenge amid rising energy prices, with trade-offs between inflation, growth, liquidity and currency stability, according to an Emkay Global Financial Services report.

Japanese shares pared gains on Tuesday as investors remained unconvinced that U.S. President Donald Trump's comments about holding off on targeting Iran's energy infrastructure would lead to a breakthrough in the Middle East conflict.

Ray Dalio shared insights on building an all-weather portfolio amid global market volatility triggered by rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions. He emphasised diversification and risk parity to balance returns and minimise risk. The guidance comes as Indian markets face sharp corrections and continued foreign investor selling pressure.

Indian equity markets showed early gains on Tuesday, climbing around 250 points, but experts advise caution, suggesting the rally may not signal a complete turnaround. Market sentiment remains subdued, with only 10-15% of stocks trading above key moving averages, indicating a potential bottoming phase.

Market expert Vijay Kedia backed Mohandas Pais call for open-market buybacks to stabilise equities, saying retail investors quietly held markets together amid relentless FII selling. With benchmarks sliding nearly 10% in a month, sentiment improved slightly after Donald Trump signalled progress in U.S.Iran talks.

Indian markets are down, presenting a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Vikas Khemani of Carnelian Asset Management sees potential in banking, aviation, and pharma sectors. He believes geopolitical fears are fading, which could lead to a market bounce. Investors with a two to three year outlook can find good prices on desired stocks.

Emkay Global Financial Services expects the Nifty to rebound 5% as geopolitical tensions ease, with markets pricing in a peace-led recovery. Nifty 50 weakness, driven by FPI outflows, may reverse, while Donald Trumps pause on Iran strikes boosts sentiment and supports risk appetite returning.

Manipal Health Enterprises, backed by Temasek, is launching its IPO, aiming to raise approximately 80 billion rupees. This move signals confidence in India's growing need for specialized healthcare services. The hospital chain's draft prospectus reveals plans for a fresh share issuance and a sale by existing investors, positioning it for expansion in the burgeoning medical sector.

Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Lok Sabha that government initiatives have doubled farmers' income. Production has increased with measures like Minimum Support Price and fertiliser subsidies. The minister asserted that farmers' income has doubled, and in some cases, tripled or quadrupled. The government is also developing the cooperatives sector, disbursing Rs 5 lakh crore in five years.

Urban Company shares rose around 3% after Motilal Oswal initiated coverage with a Neutral rating, citing balanced risk-reward at current valuations. While strong growth prospects and market leadership support the outlook, concerns around valuation, competition and gradual consumer adoption limit upside potential, with a target price of Rs 125.

Market expert Sameer Dalal views HDFC Bank as a 'screaming buy' despite current market jitters and governance concerns. He believes the bank's current valuation offers a significant discount, and anticipates growth acceleration as India's economy recovers, making it a long-term opportunity.

Geopolitical developments are causing market volatility. Traders are reacting to political signals, influencing price discovery. Supply disruptions could impact Asia and India for weeks. Future oil prices depend on de-escalation or further conflict. A peace deal could lower prices, while escalation might push them higher.

Suzlon Energy shares rose over 3% after the company secured its sixth repeat 100 MW wind energy order from GAIL. The project, located in Maharashtra, will support decarbonisation efforts. Despite recent stock weakness, the order strengthens Suzlons PSU presence and highlights its growing renewable energy execution capabilities.

Bitcoin reached $70,000 on Tuesday after a temporary pause in military strikes against Iran boosted market sentiment. Cryptocurrencies saw gains, with Bitcoin outperforming traditional assets. Despite a sharp rebound and short squeezes, investor caution persists. The crypto market capitalization increased significantly. Near-term price action for Bitcoin remains dependent on geopolitical stability and Federal Reserve policy.

Indian markets posted a muted 1% rebound on Tuesday as conflicting signals from the US and Iran kept investors on edge. While President Donald Trump hinted at progress in talks and delayed military action, Tehran denied any negotiations. With the Strait of Hormuz still disrupted, uncertainty over oil supply and the wars trajectory continues to cloud market sentiment.

Larsen & Toubro shares saw a significant jump on Tuesday. This rise followed positive statements from US President Donald Trump regarding Iran. The company has substantial operations in the Middle East. Despite geopolitical concerns, L&T's projects are largely unaffected. The firm's recent financial results showed a slight dip in net profit but revenue growth.

Goldman Sachs has lowered its growth forecast for India in 2026 to 5.9 percent. The firm anticipates a 50 basis points increase in policy rates. This adjustment stems from the Indian economy facing significant currency depreciation and the impact of elevated oil prices. Inflation is also expected to rise. The current account deficit may widen.

Global investors are buying Chinese green energy stocks. They believe the Iran war's oil shock will boost demand for renewable power. China leads in solar, wind, and electric vehicles. This trend contrasts with the US focus on oil and gas. Experts see China's renewables benefiting from state support and export growth.

India's private sector saw its slowest growth in three years in March. Price increases from the Middle East conflict impacted domestic demand. However, international orders reached a record high. Manufacturing and services sectors experienced a slowdown. Despite cost pressures, business optimism and job creation increased. This data signals a shift in economic activity.

Global markets reacted sharply to President Donald Trump's changing statements on the Middle East conflict. Oil prices plunged, and stock markets surged briefly. However, optimism faded as Iran denied negotiation talks. This highlights market sensitivity to geopolitical events and policy communication. Underlying risks to energy supply and inflation persist, suggesting continued market volatility.

Asian Paints' shares surged over 4% following a planned 6-8% price hike across its portfolio, starting April 10. This rise coincided with a temporary dip in oil prices below $100 per barrel, influenced by US President Trump's hints of a potential ceasefire with Iran. Despite initial optimism, oil prices rebounded as Iran denied talks and geopolitical tensions persisted.

Vedanta shares saw a nearly 3% surge after the board approved a third interim dividend of Rs 11 per equity share, amounting to Rs 4,300 crore. This move comes despite recent stock declines due to a Supreme Court ruling on diesel procurement and a challenge to Adani Group's acquisition bid. The company remains a popular choice for dividend investors.

Indian markets experienced a severe downturn, with over 70% of stocks dropping significantly, a level not seen since the 2020 Covid crash. This selloff is attributed to a lack of exposure to high-growth tech companies and a confluence of pressures including a weakening rupee and rising crude oil prices due to the West Asia conflict.

Global markets are experiencing volatility due to shifting geopolitical developments, particularly concerning the US and Iran. Oil prices have surged, reflecting supply disruption fears, while India faces risks from oil costs and AI's impact on its IT sector. Bond markets are also adjusting to potential US rate hikes.

Silvers massive rally has sharply reversed, turning from a top-performing asset to a laggard in 2026, now down 4% for the year. Prices have plunged 51% in just two months from record highs, triggering heavy losses and prompting investors to cut risk amid the sudden, severe selloff.

Eternal shares gained after Elara Securities projected upside to Rs 415, citing a platform fee hike as a key margin driver. The brokerage believes the increase will boost take rates and EBITDA without impacting demand, while also providing a cushion against cost pressures, supporting long-term growth visibility.

The rupee weakened by 20 paise to 93.73 against the US dollar amid a strengthening greenback and rising global crude oil prices. Despite US President Trump's claims of talks with Iran, the Islamic Republic's denial fueled uncertainty and oil price volatility. Heavy foreign institutional investor outflows also pressured the local currency.

Nomura has upgraded Kotak Mahindra Bank to Buy, making it its top pick among Indian banks, while retaining ICICI Bank as its preferred compounder. The call comes amid tightening liquidity, rising funding costs, and delayed NIM recovery across the sector. Kotak shares rose ~2%, ICICI ~1.5%, with targets of Rs 445 and Rs 1,535, respectively.

Gold and silver prices extended losses as a stronger dollar and fading rate cut expectations weighed on sentiment. Elevated geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity markets added pressure. Analysts expect continued choppiness, advising investors to wait for stability while monitoring key support and resistance levels in both domestic and international markets.

Hedge funds significantly increased selling of emerging Asian equities last week, the heaviest since April 2025, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iran conflict. This risk aversion led to broad-based outflows across global regions, though overall positioning in emerging Asia remains elevated despite strong performance in markets like South Korea and Taiwan.

Dividend-paying stocks are gaining attention in a volatile market. Companies with steady cash flows are returning excess cash to shareholders. Vedanta leads with a 6.3% dividend yield. Coal India offers 5.7%, and REC provides 5.4%. Hindustan Zinc, GAIL, ITC, ONGC, RITES, NMDC, and Oracle Financial Services Software also feature in the top dividend yield list.

Rising margin trading exposure in Indian equities could amplify downside risks amid market volatility. With the MTF book expanding sharply and concentrated in less liquid stocks, any further correction may trigger margin calls and forced selling. Upcoming RBI norms on broker funding add another layer of potential deleveraging pressure.

Indian stock markets opened sharply higher on Tuesday. The Sensex and Nifty gained over 1.5 percent each. This rise followed a brief pause in US bombing of Iran. Positive global cues also boosted investor sentiment. Asian Paints and IndiGo were among the top gainers. The rupee also strengthened against the US dollar.