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Crude-led volatility may be short-lived; Quantum AMC sees opportunities in banks, IT, cement, realty
George Thomas, Fund Manager – Equity at Quantum AMC, believes the recent jump in crude oil prices, triggered by geopolitical tensions, could temporarily push inflation higher and weigh on global macro conditions. He noted that the base case remains that the tensions may not stretch for a long period. The situation could last for a few weeks or possibly a month, but may not drag on for much longer. If that plays out, crude prices could reverse just as quickly as they moved up. Despite the uncertainty, he believes current market levels offer reasonable entry points as the earnings cycle remains supportive. His fund has been adding exposure to a real estate company and increasing weights in select private banks, IT services firms and a cement player.
Live: Brent Hits $95 After US-Iran Escalation | Gold Slides | Nifty Set for Cautious Open| Opening Bell
Wall Street heads into the opening bell under pressure after a sharp selloff on Wednesday, with all three major U.S. indexes falling more than 1%. Technology and semiconductor stocks remained weak, while escalating tensions in the Middle East added another layer of uncertainty for investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 953 points (-1.87%) to 49,918.78, the S&P 500 dropped 119.66 points (-1.62%) to 7,266.99, and the Nasdaq Composite slid 509.32 points (-1.98%) to 25,169.50. Investor sentiment remains cautious as markets assess the implications of fresh U.S. strikes on Iran and Iran's announcement of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The developments have pushed oil prices sharply higher, raising concerns that elevated energy costs could fuel inflation and keep interest rates higher for longer. The U.S. dollar traded cautiously as investors balanced geopolitical risks against the Federal Reserve's rate outlook. Meanwhile, gold extended its decline, hitting a more than six-month low as rising oil prices and inflation fears dampened expectations for near-term monetary easing. Markets are expected to remain highly sensitive to geopolitical headlines, energy price movements, and interest-rate expectations as trading gets underway.