Market News

West Asia tensions threaten India’s ₹50,000 crore basmati trade, with 45% payments pending and over 83% of the 6.5 million tonne export target already shipped.

Foreign investors pulled $751 million from Indian equities after February’s strong inflows. What triggered the sudden reversal? Read more to find out.

Markets are likely to see another bout of volatility with the widening conflict in the Middle East. Oil and energy sector stocks are likely to remain under strain in today’s trading session.

Flipkart has begun early discussions with investment banks for a potential India IPO. The move follows its Singapore-to-India domicile shift and leadership changes, while CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy says the company is focused on long-term readiness before going public.

Petronet LNG shares fell after the company declared force majeure due to tanker disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz amid Middle East tensions. Read more here.

Government sources say 60% of India’s crude imports now avoid the Strait of Hormuz, backed by diversified suppliers and 100 million barrels in stocks, easing immediate shortage concerns amid regional tensions.

India’s white-collar hiring rose 12% YoY in February 2026, with the Naukri JobSpeak Index at 3,233. AI/ML roles surged by 49%, IT roles grew by 6%, and overall Indian MNC hiring jumped by 24%.

Russia has offered to increase oil supplies to India and China as Strait of Hormuz tensions intensify. India imports nearly 2.5–2.7 mbd of crude through the key Gulf shipping route.

The recent escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict has pushed investors to buy safe-haven commodities like gold and silver. Markets are debating whether continued tensions could lift silver above its $121 record and gold past its $5,595 high. But a lot of that depends on how long the conflict lasts, what happens in oil markets, and how much investors will avoid other assets.

The Defence Ministry signed contracts worth ₹5,083 crore for advanced helicopters and surface-to-air missile systems. This is strengthening India’s aerial and air-defence capabilities with modern platforms to address evolving security needs.

Citi warns India’s gas supply chain faces greater risk than oil as Qatar supplies 40–50% of LNG imports, with prices potentially rising from $14–$18 to $30 per MMBtu if disruptions persist.

Most Indian stock market indices opened lower on 2 March 2026 amid rising Middle East tensions. Adani Ports, BEL, Tata Motors, Airtel and GAIL were among the key stocks in focus.