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Benchmarks slide as crude climbs, Sensex sheds 583 pts, Nifty below 24K
Equity benchmark indices tumbled on Thursday as surging crude oil prices, weak Asian cues and relentless foreign fund outflows battered investor sentiment. The Nifty slipped below the 24,000 mark, weighed down by banking stocks. Most sectoral indices ended in the red, with the Nifty IT index bucking the trend. Brent crude climbed to around $120 per barrel amid rising fears of supply disruptions linked to potential curbs on Irans ports, fuelling inflation concerns in India. Global markets offered little support, pressured by elevated energy prices and uncertainty over the Federal Reserves policy stance. Meanwhile, a sharp slide in the rupee to a record low added to the strain on domestic equities.
PPFAS Portfolio Churn: Rajeev Thakkar-led fund house laps up large-cap banks, sells these two RIL group stocks in March
PPFAS Mutual Fund increased its holdings in HDFC Bank amid market volatility, while offloading Reliance Group stocks worth ₹730 crore. Check key portfolio changes in March.
Indian fund outperforming 98% of peers bets on defense stocks
A $3 billion fund at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. is backing Indian defense stocks, wagering that geopolitical tensions will boost local arms production and support the government’s efforts to lower reliance on imports.
Too early to call market bottom; prefer gradual investing via SIPs and funds: Anand Shah
Anand Shah of ICICI Prudential AMC, which manages funds worth ₹28,318 crore as of February 28, 2026, advises investors to avoid deploying cash aggressively as markets may not have bottomed yet. He recommends gradual allocation through SIPs or staggered investments, using a mix of ETFs and mutual funds rather than direct stock picking. Amid inflation, rising energy prices, and global shifts, Shah prefers value over growth and asset-heavy businesses. Commodity producers may benefit, while consumers like autos could face pressure.
US-Iran war, high crude oil prices could shave off as much as 4% from Nifty earnings: Somil Mehta, Mirae Asset Sharekhan
Expert view: Higher energy costs increase input expenses for several sectors, which could pressure margins and reduce overall earnings growth across companies in the Nifty index, said Somil Mehta, Mirae Asset Sharekhan.
Market correction a chance to rebalance portfolios, India may outperform from April: Quant MF
Sandeep Tandon, Founder & CIO of Quant Mutual Fund, says crude’s sharp spike may peak near $120–130 and remain elevated in the near term but is unlikely to sustain beyond a few months. He expects global markets to stay weak through 2026, while India could outperform from April after recent underperformance. Tandon advises investors to stay calm and use volatility to rebalance portfolios, adding selectively to sectors such aspharma, power, telecom, and select PSUs.
Watch | Sanjay Parekh on where he sees value in banks, IT, cement and telecom stocks
Sohum Asset Managers’ Founder & CIO, Sanjay Parekh, says markets look sluggish despite improving macro conditions, with Q3 Nifty earnings near 8–9%. He sees recovery in CVs (Ashok Leyland), credit growth at ICICI Bank and gradual picka a up in cement and steel. Portfolio stays domestic-focused: overweight telecom, NBFCs, industrials, cement, utilities, ports and logistics; underweight oil & gas and banks, zero FMCG. Watching IT names like Infosys and TCS, mid-cap tech (Persistent, Coforge, Mastek), defence HAL, quick commerce Zomato and Swiggy, and capital goods L&T, JSW Energy.
This mutual fund expert sees strong growth potential in midcap stocks
Sandeep Bagla of TRUST Mutual Fund sees strong growth potential in Indian midcap equities, driven by economic expansion, policy support, and sectors like technology, consumption, and energy.