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Sensex, Nifty 50 join global rally after Trump delays Iran grid bombing
The 30-share S&P BSE Sensex rose as much as 2.08%, or 1,516.08 points, to an intraday-high of 74,212.47 points even as the wider NSE Nifty 50 surged 1.71%.
Indian shares joined a global rally, after US President Donald Trump postponed the bombing of Iran's power grid amid conflicting signals about talks between the two sides, with a rebound in heavyweight HDFC Bank lifting the benchmarks. The Nifty 50 rose 1.78% to 22,912.40 points, while the BSE Sensex added 1.89% to 74,068.45. Other Asian markets gained 1.9%, while Brent crude traded near $102 per barrel. All 16 major sectors logged gains. The broader small-caps and mid-caps added 2.6% each....Read More
“This seems to be a first step towards de-escalation, although there are contradictory comments from the US and Iran,” Anita Gandhi, head of institutional business at Arihant Capital Markets, told Reuters. “A drop in oil prices below $90-100 per barrel is crucial for a sustained recovery.”
Stocks in Focus
- HDFC Bank rose 2.8% after it appointed external law firms to review the resignation letter of former part-time chairman Atanu Chakraborty.
- Financials and banks rose about 2.2% each. Auto stocks gained 2.4%, while tourism-linked shares jumped 3.9%.
- Asian Paints advanced 4.7% after the company hiked prices across its decorative portfolio to offset higher crude oil costs.
Indian benchmarks have fallen about 9% each this month, as elevated crude and energy supply woes intensify foreign outflows and hurt the growth outlook.
After Zomato, Swiggy hikes platform fee as well
After Zomato, Swiggy Ltd. has raised its platform fee to ₹17.58 from ₹14.99 earlier. The platform controlled by Eternal Ltd. had last week raised its platform fee to ₹14.90.
India's private-sector shows effects of Iran war
India's private sector expanded at its weakest pace in over three years in March as price shocks from the Iran war dampened demand, yet international orders hit a record high, a survey showed on Tuesday.
HSBC's flash India Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by S&P Global, slumped to 56.5 in March versus February's final reading of 58.9. While a reading above 50 signals expansion, the downturn was the sharpest in 18 months, pointing to a notable loss of momentum.
Suzlon wins sixth order from GAIL India in PSU overdrive
Shares of Suzlon Energy Ltd. rose as much as 3.75% to ₹41.44 apiece after the wind turbine maker won its sixth wind energy project of 100 MW from GAIL India Ltd. This is also Suzlon’s fourth PSU order of FY26.
The firm will install 47 wind turbines rated at 2.1 MW each for GAIL India as a full-stack developer of the project—from installation to maintenance.
“Two years ago, we re-entered the PSU segment, starting with a 1.1 GW order from NTPC Ltd. Today, PSU and C&I constitute of over 64% of our order book and we are working with all the leading PSUs and C&Is in the country,” Suzlon Group CEO Ajay Kapur said in the exchange filing.
HDFC Bank gains 3.2%, snaps four-day losing streak
Shares of HDFC Bank Ltd. rose as much as 3.2% to ₹767.75, snapping a four-day losing streak, after India's largest private lender announced it has appointed external law firms to look into the resignation of part-time chairman Atanu Chakraborty.
Chakraborty had resigned last week, citing ethical concerns. That led to a rout in the stock of the “systemically important bank”.
