equity market

The Indian Rupee saw a welcome rebound, gaining 61 paise to trade at 96.25 against the US dollar, driven by easing oil prices. Despite this recovery, the currency remains under pressure, marking a nine-session losing streak. The Reserve Bank of India announced a $5 billion dollar-rupee swap auction to bolster banking system liquidity amidst global uncertainties and foreign investor outflows.

Indian equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, extended their losses for a fourth consecutive session, plunging nearly 2% on Tuesday. Rising crude oil prices, sustained foreign fund outflows, and escalating West Asia conflict uncertainty contributed to the broad-based selloff, impacting IT, realty, and consumer durable stocks.

US stocks advanced on Friday, nearing all-time highs as easing bond market pressure boosted investor sentiment. Strong retail and tech earnings, with companies like Ross Stores and Zoom exceeding expectations, fueled the gains. Global markets also saw positive movement, with Japan's Nikkei reaching a record.

Foreign investors have continued their withdrawal from Indian equities, with net outflows reaching Rs 27,048 crore this month. This selling spree, totaling Rs 2.2 lakh crore in 2026, is driven by global macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and a stronger US dollar making developed markets more attractive.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon expressed concern over market exuberance, warning investors may be overlooking geopolitical and economic risks like US-Europe trade issues and Middle East tensions. Despite strong trading volumes benefiting Wall Street, Dimon cautioned that broader market optimism might be unjustified.

Rupee hit a fresh record low of 96.07 against the US dollar on Friday, extending its losing streak over three straight sessions amid soaring crude oil prices and escalating tensions in West Asia. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.86 against the US dollar and slipped further to 95.94, down 30 paise from its previous close.

The Sensex tumbled over 1,000 points to slip below the 74,300 mark, while the Nifty 50 dropped more than 300 points to trade under 23,350. The steep decline erased nearly Rs 7 lakh crore from the total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies, reducing it to around Rs 454 lakh crore.

Despite the bullish undertone in equities, several risk factors continue to keep investors on edge. The rupee touched a fresh record low after breaching the 95.8 mark against the US dollar for the first time.

Persistent foreign fund outflows and the rupee sliding to record lows have further dampened sentiment, prompting investors to stay cautious and intensify selling across equity markets.

Indian markets brace for volatility this week, driven by US-Iran tensions and crude oil price swings. Investors will also scrutinize crucial inflation data from India and the US for interest rate clues. Key corporate earnings are also on the radar, alongside foreign investor activity, shaping market sentiment.

Billionaire investors Bill Ackman and Sir Christopher Hohn are at odds over Microsoft's future, specifically concerning AI's impact. While Hohn sees AI as a threat to Microsoft's core products, Ackman views the company as central to the AI revolution and has initiated a significant investment, believing its current valuation is attractive for long-term growth.

One of the key triggers behind the market decline was renewed uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran conflict. US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was “on life support” after Tehran rejected Washington’s latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict. Trump described Iran’s demands as “garbage.”

State Bank of India saw a 5.8% profit jump to Rs 19,684 crore in Q4FY26, though margins tightened. Bank of Baroda achieved a record Rs 5,616 crore profit, while Bank of India's net profit climbed 18.7%. Despite credit growth, SBI's share dipped due to investor concerns about core income.