19/03/26, Top Gainers and Losers today

The Indian equity benchmarks ended sharply lower today (Thursday, March 19), with SENSEX staging its worst single-day performance since May 18, 2020. Markets came under pressure as crude oil prices surged in international market after Iran accused Israel of striking its facilities in the huge South Pars gas field on Wednesday in a major escalation in the US-Israeli war and retaliated by vowing attacks on oil and gas targets throughout ‌the Gulf, firing missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia, news agency Reuters reported.

SENSEX fell as much as 2,753 points at the day's lowest level and NIFTY50 index touched an intraday low of 22,930 dragged down by losses in index heavyweights like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Infosys and Reliance Industries.

The SENSEX ended 2,497 points or 3.3% lower at 74,207 and NIFTY50 index dropped 776 points or 3.26% to close at 23,002.

NIFTY50 top gainers and losers

HDFC Bank was among the top losers in the NIFTY50 index, the stock fell 5.11% to close at ₹800 after Atanu Chakraborty, the company's part-time chairman and independent director, resigned from his role with immediate effect.

In a late exchange filing on March 18, HDFC Bank disclosed that Part-time Chairman and Independent Director, Atanu Chakraborty, has resigned from the board of the lender.

In his resignation letter, Chakraborty said that there are "certain happenings and practices within the bank" over the last two years, which do not align with his personal values and ethics and are the sole reason behind his resignation.

Shriram Finance (-6.71%), Eternal (-5.38%), Bajaj Finance (-4.93%) and Mahindra & Mahindra (-4.82%) were also among the top losers in the NIFTY50 index.

On the flip side, ONGC with 1.5% gain, was the only gainer in the NIFTY50 index.

NIFTY Midcap 100 top gainers and losers

NIFTY Midcap 100 index fell 3.2% or 1,798 points to close at 54,492. As many as 97 shares ended lower while three stocks managed to close higher.

Hindustan Petroleum was top loser in the NIFTY Midcap 100 index, the stock declined 6.3% to settle at ₹327 as surging crude prices led to decline in the stock.

Voltas (-4.96%), Ashok Leyland (-4.95%), Bharat Forge (-4.95%) and Mankind Pharma (-4.9%) were also among the top losers in the NIFTY Midcap 100 index.

On the other hand, Adani Total Gas (8.7%), Oil India (1.01%) and NTPC Green (0.78%) were notable gainers in the NIFTY Midcap 100 index.

NIFTY Smallcap 100 top gainers and losers

NIFTY Smallcap 100 index plunged 2.94% or 475 points to settle at 15,704. A total of 95 shares ended lower while five managed to end higher.

Swan Corp was top loser in the NIFTY Smallcap 100 index, the stock declined 6% to close at ₹326. Aegis Vopak Terminals (-5.6%), Ola Electric (-5.27%), JBM Auto (-5.26%) and PG Electroplast (-5.19%) were also among the top losers in the NIFTY Midcap 100 index.

On the contrary, GE Shipping (0.83%), Kalpataru Projects International (0.61%), KEC International (0.11%), Himadri Speciality Chemical (0.06%) and Mahanagar Gas (0.06%) were notable gainers in the NIFTY Smallcap 100 index.

Report by Upstox

Disclaimer: This article is purely for informational purposes and should not be considered investment advice. Please consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

19/03/26, VIBHOR STEEL TUBES

Shares of Vibhor Steel Tubes are expected to attract investor interest in Friday's trade, March 20, as the company today announced a fresh order win.

The company, in its regulatory filing post-market hours today, informed investors that it has received a new work order from Agrawal Infracab Pvt Ltd for the supply of transmission towers, valued at ₹16.87 crore.

Vibhor Steel also stated that neither the promoter nor the promoter group companies have any interest in the entity that awarded the order. It further clarified that the order does not fall under related-party transactions.

For the December-ending quarter (Q3FY26), the company reported a 23% increase in revenue at ₹304 crore, compared with ₹247.43 crore in the same period last year.

EBITDA stood at ₹11.39 crore, while earnings per share (EPS) came in at ₹0.87 during the quarter. On the bottom line, the net profit stood at ₹1.66 crore, lower than ₹3.43 crore in the corresponding period last year.

Vibhor Steel Tubes manufactures steel products such as electric resistance welded (ERW) pipes, hot-dipped galvanized pipes, hollow section pipes, primer-painted pipes, metal beam barriers, transmission towers, high mast lighting poles, octagonal poles, and monopoles, among others.

The company has recently commenced the supply of crash barriers, power transmission line towers, ERW pipes, octagonal poles, and galvanized (GI) pipes produced at its greenfield plant located in Sundargarh, Odisha.

Vibhor Steel Tubes share price trend

The stock has remained under pressure on Dalal Street, hitting record lows amid consistent declines in recent months. It touched a fresh low of ₹100.80 earlier this month and has fallen 28% over the past seven months.

The sustained decline has brought the company's market capitalisation to ₹212 crore as of today.

The company's shares debuted on the Indian stock market in February 2024, listing at ₹425 per share compared to the issue price of ₹151. The stock extended this momentum in the following sessions, reaching ₹446 a piece, before entering a prolonged correction. At current levels, the stock is trading 25.6% below its IPO price.

Report by Mint

Disclaimer: We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

19/03/26, Attack on Nuclear Plant in Iran

 Tehran: The conflict in the Middle East intensified after Israel struck Iran's Pars natural gas field and Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. As per the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the projectile hit almost 350 metres away from the main reactor of the nuclear power plant, reported The Times of India .. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, in a statement posted on X, said that the reactor was not damaged.

Meanwhile, he stated that the attack on the nuclear facility violated key safety principles.

"Although there was no damage to the reactor itself nor injuries to staff, any attack at or near nuclear power plants violates the seven indispensable pillars related to ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict and should never take place," Grossi posted on X. The IAEA did not reveal details about the nature of the projectile.

Iran and Russia alleged that a missile struck the premises of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The development marked a major escalation in the ongoing Iran war, involving the United States and Israel.

The Bushehr plant is located on Iran's Persian Gulf coast. At present, only one unit is operational, while two Russian units are under construction, reported The Times of India.

In retaliation to the attack on its Pars natural gas field, Iran intensified its attacks on its Gulf Arab nations' energy sites. Iranian drones reportedly struck a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea, setting Qatari liquefied natural gas facilities and two Kuwaiti oil refineries on fire.

Brent crude oil, the international standard, spiked to USD 114 a barrel as global fears of an energy crisis rose, reported The Associated Press. It is up by more than 57 per cent since the beginning of the conflict on February 28, following the United States and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran.

A ship was also set ablaze off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and another was damaged off Qatar. Notably, Saudi Arabia had begun sending large volumes of oil west to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently being blocked by Iranian forces, from the Red Sea. However, Iran's drone hit Saudi's SAMREF refinery in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, raising questions regarding the safety of this route.

source:Dailyhunt

19/03/26, PostMarket REPORT

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty plummeted by over 3 per cent on Thursday as a sharp jump in crude oil prices and weak global trends, amid escalating strikes on energy infrastructure in West Asia, unnerved investors.

The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 2,496.89 points or 3.26 per cent - its biggest single-day plunge since June 2024 -- to settle at 74,207.24. During the day, it dived 2,753.18 points or 3.58 per cent to 73,950.95.

The 50-share NSE Nifty tumbled 775.65 points or 3.26 per cent to end at 23,002.15.

From the 30-Sensex firms, Eternal, Bajaj Finance, Mahindra & Mahindra, HDFC Bank, Larsen & Toubro and Bajaj Finserv were among the major laggards.

HDFC Bank dropped 5.13 per cent after its chairman, Atanu Chakraborty, resigned, citing ethical concerns.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, soared 6.75 per cent to USD 114.8 per barrel after Iran attacked a key natural gas facility in Qatar as well as two oil refineries in Kuwait.

Iran intensified its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbours' energy sites on Thursday, hitting a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea and setting Qatari LNG facilities and two Kuwaiti oil refineries ablaze as it struck back following an Israeli attack on its main natural gas field.

In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended significantly lower.

Markets in Europe were trading with deep losses. The US market ended sharply lower on Wednesday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,714.35 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), however, bought stocks worth Rs 3,253.03 crore.

On Wednesday, the Sensex jumped 633.29 points or 0.83 per cent to settle at 76,704.13. The Nifty surged 196.65 points or 0.83 per cent to end at 23,777.80.

source: The Telegraph 

19/03/26, market in the opening

 The benchmark equity indices snapped 3-day gains and traded sharply lower on Thursday as Brent ​crude surged above $110 a barrel following ‌a fresh escalation in the Iran war.

At around 9:30 am, the Sensex was down 1,518.91 points or 1.98 percent at 75,185.23, while the broader Nifty was at 23,321.70, down 456.10 points or 1.92 percent.

Key factors behind market decline

1) Crude prices surge: Brent ​crude surged above $110 a barrel following ‌a fresh escalation in the Iran war

2) Geopolitical concerns: Iran attacked several energy facilities across the Middle East on Wednesday, following a strike on its South Pars gas ​field, marking ​a major escalation ⁠in its war with the U.S. and Israel.

By Prashant of MoneyControl 

19/03/26, Stocks to Watch Today, March 19

Markets are set for an active session as several companies feature in Stocks to Watch Today, driven by key corporate developments and regulatory updates.

JSW Steel, Axis Bank, and Nazara Technologies lead the news flow with expansion, funding, and acquisition announcements, while Delta Corp and PhysicsWallah face tax-related developments.

Investors will track these triggers closely for cues on Indian stock market direction, NSE, BSE movements, and sectoral momentum. Here's the full list of stocks to watch in today's trading session:

Company Name	Why in Focus
JSW Steel	Andhra Pradesh approves land for steel plant
PhysicsWallah	Income Tax raises Rs 263 crore demand notice
Nazara Technologies	UK subsidiary acquires Spanish gaming firm's stake
Zydus Lifesciences	Partners with Torrent Pharma to market diabetes drug
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders	Signs USD 39 million contract for new vessel
Axis Bank	Approves Rs 1,500 crore capital infusion proposal
Amara Raja Energy & Mobility	Develops naval sonar Power Conditioning Cabinet
Delhivery	Expands international air parcel services globally
Godrej Properties	Acquires 20 acres for Bengaluru housing project
Delta Corp	Receives Rs 1,752 crore tax demand notice

Axis Bank

Rs 1,500 Cr Capital Infusion into NBFC Arm Approved

Axis Bank has approved a proposal to infuse Rs 1,500 crore into Axis Finance Ltd via a rights issue over the next year to support business growth.

Godrej Properties

Acquires 20 Acres in Bengaluru for Rs 1,350 Cr Project

Godrej Properties has acquired 20 acres of land in Bengaluru to develop a housing project with estimated revenue of Rs 1,350 crore.

JSW Steel

AP Govt Clears 424 Acres for Kadapa Steel Plant

The Andhra Pradesh government approved allocation of over 424 acres in Kadapa district for JSW Steel's integrated plant project.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders

USD 39 Million Vessel Contract Secured from SCI

The company has signed a contract with Shipping Corporation of India to build a 3,000 DWT methanol dual-fuel platform supply vessel.

Nazara Technologies

UK Arm to Acquire 50 per cent Stake in Spanish Gaming Firms

Nazara's UK subsidiary will acquire a controlling stake in Bluetile Games and BestPlay Systems for USD 100.3 million.

Delhivery

Expands International Air Parcel Service to 3 Countries

Delhivery has extended its economy air parcel service to the UK, Canada, and Australia.

Zydus Lifesciences, Torrent Pharma

Partner to Co-Market Diabetes Drug in India

The companies have entered a licensing and supply agreement for Semaglutide Injection in the Indian market.

Amara Raja Energy & Mobility

Enters Defence Electronics with Indigenous Naval Tech

Its R&D arm has developed a Power Conditioning Cabinet for naval sonar systems, marking entry into defence electronics.

Delta Corp

Faces Rs 1,752 Cr Tax Demand Notice from Goa Authorities

Delta Corp and its subsidiary received tax notices citing alleged shortfall for FY2022-23, including penalties and interest.

PhysicsWallah

Rs 263 Cr Tax Demand Raised by IT Department

The Income Tax Department has issued a demand notice treating certain investments as taxable income for AY 2023-24.

Exclusive Report by The Economic Times 

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. We suggest  readers, investors  to consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.)

19/03/26, Sensex, Nifty Updates: by The Financial Express

 Markets are bracing for yet another painful session with sharp downward swing.

Early trend suggest deep losses with GIFT Nifty trading near 23,218, down about 582 points or 2.48%.

5 big concerns for market no

Crude Oil

Crude oil prices zoomed up 4% on growing tension across West Asia. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up about 3.1%, trading near $99.31 per barrel. Meanwhile, Brent crude rose around 4.1% and was hovering close to $111.59 per barrel.

West Asia conflict escalates

Tension in West Asia continue to stay elevated as the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran moves into its third week. Recent attacks and counterattacks across the region have increased uncertainty, with risks to oil and gas supply also rising. Investors are closely watching the situation, as any further escalation could push crude oil prices higher and impact overall market sentiment.

Asian markets

Asian markets are deep in red on on Thursday, with losses seen across major indices. Japan's Nikkei fell around 2.5% and the Topix dropped about 1.8%. In South Korea, the Kospi declined nearly 2.6%, while the Kosdaq slipped around 1.7%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also opened weak, down about 1.5%.

FOMC meeting 2026

The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rates unchanged at 3.5% to 3.75%. Its Chair, Jerome Powell, said that inflation is not cooling as much as expected. He also indicated that rate cuts may not happen anytime soon.

US Market

US markets ended on a weak note, with all major indices closing lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply by 768.11 points, or 1.63%, to settle at 46,225.15. The S&P 500 also declined by 1.36%, ending at 6,624.70. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.46% to close at 22,152.42.

19/03/26, Strait of Hormuz update

  In a big development days after India-flagged ships, namely Shivalik, Nanda Devi and Jag Laadki passed through the Strait of Hormuz, currently controlled by Iran, carrying thousands of metric tonnes of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) to India amid the supply crunch, the Islamic Republic of Iran led by new Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, has proposed new regulations which should govern the movement of vessels through the narrow passage of Strait of Hormuz.

Here are all the details you need to know about the new rules and regulations that Iran is planning to place on the movement around Strait of Hormuz.

What is the new rule around Strait of Hormuz?

Iran has indicated that it plans to introduce new regulations governing ship traffic through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz after the current war comes to an end, suggesting a possible long-term change in how one of the world's most important energy routes is managed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country's recent decision to block vessels connected to nations allied with the United States and Israel from passing through the narrow waterway was taken due to wartime conditions. He defended the move as a necessary step during the conflict, emphasizing that security concerns and ongoing hostilities required stricter control over maritime traffic in the region.

How is Iran planning to govern Strait of Hormuz?

"From our perspective, this is a waterway located next to Iran. Naturally, we will not allow our enemies to use this waterway," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said about .

The Iranian Foreign Minister also added that the conflict and security risks have already deterred many ships from transiting the route and Iran would push for a "new protocol" to govern future navigation in the region.

"We need to design new arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz,   and the way ships pass through it after the war, so that peaceful navigation can be permanently maintained under clear regulations, while taking into account Iran's interests and those of the region," he added in his statement.

Indian-flagged tanker 'Jag Laadki' reaches India

Indian-flagged tanker 'Jag Laadki', carrying around 80,886 metric tonnes (MT) of crude oil, arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat on Wednesday amid the West Asia conflict, a report by PTI said.

A day earlier, LPG carrier 'Nanda Devi' arrived at Vadinar port in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district, carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, another vessel - 'Shivalik' - carrying LPG docked at Mundra Port.

source: Dailyhunt 

19/03/26, Iran has executed Kourosh Kivani, a man who was found guilty of spying for Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. This happened on March 18, in Tehran.

 Iran and Israel are not getting along. This execution shows that Iran is taking a tough stance against people who hurt their country's security.

The Iranian government said Kivani was talking to Mossad agents and giving them secrets about Iran's security. He was accused of taking pictures of military and nuclear places without permission. He also sent information to Israel. The court said Kivanis' actions were treason and hurt Iran's security.

Kourosh Kivani was arrested by counter-intelligence forces. He went through the court system, which included a lower court and the Supreme Court. The lower court said he was guilty of espionage and "corruption on earth" and gave him the death penalty. Kivani appealed. The Supreme Court agreed with the lower court's decision. They said he caused damage to Iran's national security.

Kourosh Kivanis' execution is part of an effort by Iran to stop foreign spy networks. Iran often uses the death penalty for people who work with countries they do not like, such as Israel. This is happening at a time when Iranian intelligence agencies are trying to prevent people from being killed and important places from being sabotaged.

The execution of Kourosh Kivani shows that Iran is serious about stopping people who spy for countries. Iran and Israel have been having problems for a time and this execution is a sign that things are not getting better. Iran is watching its security closely, and they will punish people who hurt their country. The case of Kourosh Kivani is an example of what happens when someone is found guilty of spying for Mossad in Iran.

source:social media 

19/03/26, The Rupee depreciated to a fresh low against the dollar on Wednesday as crude oil prices remained above the $100 /barrel mark fuelled by the war in West Asia.

The domestic currency ended the session at 92.63 against the dollar, down 24 paise or 0.27 % over the previous close, according to Bloomberg data. Dealers said the central bank stayed away from the markets for the most part.

The rupee has continued to drift down since the outbreak of the hostilities in West Asia and has fallen 1.8%, taking the depreciation in FY26 so far to 8.4%.

RBI Steps Aside

"The rupee was resisting the 92.50 level for the past 2-3 days due to intervention in the market by Reserve Bank of India. Liquidity remained thin ahead of Thursday's holiday, triggering stop-losses after the level was breached," Dilip Parmer, research analyst at HDFC Securities, told FE.

High Oil and FPI Exodus

Persistent dollar outflows resulting from the sale of stocks by foreign portfolio investors (FPI) also continue to weigh on the currency. "FPIs continue to sell in the equity market and together with oil importers are driving up demand for dollars, "Ritesh Bhansali, deputy CEO at Mecklai Financial Services said. He added that importers are increasingly hedging their exposures though exporters were leaving their exposures unhedged.

In general, the currency is expected to be under pressure as long as prices of crude oil remain elevated. The RBI is expected to intervene to limit excessive depreciation. According to Parmer the market will closely watch the 93 level. ENDS

Report by The FinancialExpress

18/03/26, PSU BANK STOCKS

PSU bank stocks have witnessed a strong correction in the recent market decline. The benchmark NIFTY PSU Bank index has declined in 8 out of the 12 trading sessions so far this month and is witnessing its worst monthly fall since September 2020.

The NIFTY PSU Bank index has fallen nearly 15% this month but recovered some ground in the last few trading sessions amid gains in broader markets. Amid this fall, three PSU banks, Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and UCO Bank also hit their 52-week low.

Index name	Fall in March 2026
NIFTY PSU Bank	▼ 12.6%
NIFTY Financial Services	▼ 7.4%
NIFTY Bank	▼ 9.1%
NIFTY50	▼ 8.8%

As seen from the above table, the NIFTY PSU Bank index has seen a strong decline compared to other banking indices. In the past few years, PSU banks have given consistent returns to investors, rising over 188% in the last five years, driven by strong loan book growth, improved asset quality and dividends. However, PSU banks are witnessing a major meltdown in recent weeks due to rising bond yields.

The yield on India's 10-year benchmark bond rose to around 6.72%, extending gains for the fourth consecutive session due to surge in oil prices following the Middle East crisis and rising conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Besides this, weak Indian rupee and sustained foreign portfolio outflows has also impacted the bond yields.

How does rising bond yield impact PSU Banks?

Fundamentally, there is an inverse relationship between bond prices and yields. So when the yield on a 10-year government bond rises, the prices of existing bonds fall as they move in opposite directions. This happens because older bonds are being offered at a fixed interest rate, and new bonds are offering higher yields. As a result, investors mostly prefer new bonds because of higher interest components. But at the same time, prices of older bonds (lower-yield) drop to attract buyers and stay competitive.

For example, if an old bond pays 7% interest and new bonds offer 7.5%, the old bond becomes less attractive, so its market price declines to make it more attractive.

This situation negatively impacts the banking sectors, especially PSU Banks like State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank and others because they hold a large portion of their assets in government bonds in Available For Sale (AFS) form. When bond prices fall, the value of their holdings decreases, leading to mark-to-market (MTM) losses for the banks, which affects their treasury income and impacts their profitability.

Returns of leading PSU banks

Stock name	Fall in March 2026	YTD return
State Bank of India	▼ 11.4%	▲ 8.2%
Union Bank of India	▼ 12.1%	▲ 15.6%
Bank of India	▼ 13.6%	▲ 5.8%
Bank of Maharashtra	▼ 15.1%	▲ 3.2%
Bank of Baroda	▼ 12.1%	▼ 4.3%
Punjab National Bank	▼ 12.4%	▼ 8.3%
Canara Bank	▼ 12.5%	▼ 11.1%

Major PSU bank stocks saw a sharp correction in March 2026, with all major banks falling between 11% and 15.1%. Shares of State Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra has given positive return on year-to-date (YTD) basis but have fallen significantly so far this month indicating continued selling pressure because of rising bond yield, fall in broader markets.

Besides rising bond yields, fear of lower growth in loan book is also taking investors away from the PSU bank stocks. The US, Israel and Iran conflict could led to higher domestic inflation due to surge in oil prices, which could hit India's growing consumption economy and indirectly lower demand for new loans. Hence, investors will be closely monitoring the upcoming Q4 quarterly business updates of PSU banks to get idea about future growth prospects.

Report by Upstox 

18/03/26, Gaudium IVF and Women Health share price

Shares of fertility services provider Gaudium IVF and Women Health hit all-time high levels on Monday, March 18, ahead of earnings announcement for the third quarter of the financial year 2024-25.

The stock rose as much as 17.35% to ₹99.75 apiece, its record high, on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The scrip settled 10.65% higher at ₹94.05 per share, with a market capitalisation of ₹684.56 crore.

"A meeting of the Board of Directors of Gaudium IVF and Women Health Limited is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to inter-alia, consider and approve the Unaudited Standalone and Consolidated Financial Results of the Company for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025," the company said.

How Gaudium IVF and Women Health is performing vs IPO issue price

The company's shares debuted at ₹83 apiece, a premium of 5.06% over the IPO issue price of ₹79 per share, on the NSE and the BSE on February 27. Currently, it is up 13.79% from the issue at the intra-day high level.

The initial share sale sought to raise ₹165 crore via a fresh issuance of ₹90 crore and an offer for sale of ₹75 crore by promoter Dr Manika Khanna.

The funds raised are intended to set up 19 new In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) centres across the country, repay certain borrowings and corporate general 

The initial public offering was subscribed 7.27 times.

Category	Reserved	No of Shares Bid For	No of Times
Qualified Institutional Buyers	41,77,240	67,85,478	1.62
Non-Institutional Investors	31,32,930	4,40,22,069	14.05
Retail Individual Investors	73,10,170	5,55,42,942	7.60
Total	1,46,20,340	10,63,50,489	7.27

Before the IPO, the company had mobilised ₹49.5 crore in the anchor round from investors such as Carnelian India Multi Strategy Fund, Sanshi Fund I, MERU Investment Fund PCC-CELL and Hornbill Orchid India Fund.

Gaudium IVF and Women Health provides IVF treatments in India and operates through a hub-and-spoke model. It has seven hubs and 28 spokes across multiple states.

18/03/26, PostMarket REPORT

The benchmark Indian stock market indices NIFTY50 and BSE SENSEX opened higher, fueled by the index heavyweight stocks on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, as crude oil prices held their ground amid the volatile geopolitical dynamics in West Asia.

The NIFTY50 index was trading 0.87% higher at 23,786.35 points as of 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, compared to 23,581.15 points at the previous market close, according to NSE data. BSE SENSEX was up 0.94% to 76,784.92 points as of 11:21 a.m. on Wednesday, compared to 76,070 points at the previous market close, according to the exchange data.

NIFTYAUTO (+2.2%); NIFTYMEDIA (+2.78%); and NIFTYREALTY (+1.16%) were among the top sectoral gainers on March 18 as of the afternoon trading session, according to NSE data.

Top gainers on NIFTY50 today

HCL Tech was trading 3.85% higher; Tech Mahindra was up 3.90%; Infosys was up 3.82%; Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was up 3.25%; Zomato-parent Eternal was up 3.17%; Wipro was up 3.15%; Tata Motors PV was up 3.02%; Jio Financial Services was up 2.90%; Mahindra & Mahindra was up 2.70%; Trent was up 1.96%; Bharti Airtel was up 1.89%; Eicher Motors was up 1.74%; Adani Enterprises was up 1.54%; IndiGo was up 1.51%; Axis Bank was up 1.39%; Power Grid Corp was up 1.37%; Larsen & Toubro was up 1.36%; Maruti Suzuki was up 1.33%; Adani Ports was up 1.3%; SBI Life was up 1.27%; BEL was up 1.25%; Bajaj Auto was up 1.20%; and Dr Reddy was trading 1.10% higher.

Other gainers like Ultratech Cements were up 1%; Shriram Finance was up 0.95%; Grasim Industries was up 0.94%; Apollo Hospital was up 0.90%; Reliance was up 0.89%; Titan was up 0.52%; Tata Consumer was up 0.47%; Sun Pharma was up 0.46%; Nestle India was up 0.27%; Asian Paints was up 0.26%; Bajaj Finserv was up 0.17%; HDFC Life was up 0.12%; Max Health was up 0.10%; Hindustan Unilever was up 0.08%; and Cipla was up 0.05%.

Out of the total 50 stocks listed under the NIFTY50 index, 38 of them were trading in the green zone, while 12 stocks were in the red. Coal India, Hindalco, and HDFC Bank were among the top losers as of mid-trading day.

Top gainers on SENSEX today

HCL Tech up 4.09%; Infosys up 3.88%; Tech Mahindra up 3.87%; TCS up 3.5%; M&M up 2.73%; Eternal up 2.51%; Bharti Airtel up 1.95%; Trent up 1.91%; Power Grid Corp. up 1.51%; Adani Ports up 1.46%; L&T up 1.43%; Adani Ports up 1.51%; BEL up 1.29%; Axis bank up 1.26%; IndiGo up 1.22%; and Maruti Suzuki was trading 1.15% higher.

Others like Reliance, Ultratech Cements, Titian, Sun Pharma, ITC, Bajaj Finserv, and Asian Paints were among the gainers on Wednesday. While others like ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, Hindustan Unilever, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NTPC, Bajaj Finance, and HDFC Bank were among the losers.

Out of the total 30 constituents of the BSE SENSEX index, 23 were trading in the positive, while seven stocks were in the negative zone on Wednesday's mid market.

Top gainers on NIFTYMIDCAP100

Tata Technologies up 6.77%; Coforge up 5.75%; KPI Tech up 5.55%; OFSS up 5.36%; Persistent Systems up 5.09%; Tata Elxsi up 4.66%; Mphasis up 4.51%; Sona BLW Precision Forgings up 3.57% were among the top mid-cap gainers on the NIFTY MIDCAP 100 index as of mid-market trading on Wednesday.

While stocks like National Aluminium Co., Aurobindo Pharma, and Oil India were among the top losers on Wednesday.

The NIFTYMIDCAP100 index was trading 1.54% higher at 56,021.45 points as of 11:04 a.m. on Wednesday, compared to the previous market close level of 55,174.40 points, according to NSE data.

Top gainers on NIFTYSMALLCAP100

JBM Auto up 13.94%; Jupiter Wagons up 5.14%; Aditya Birla Real Estate up 5.32%; Ola Electric up 5.22%; Five-Star Business Finance up 5.22%, Swan Corp. up 5.08%, Angel One up 4.72%, New Gen up 4.67%, and FSL up 4.39% were among the top gainers on the index.

While others like Hindustan Copper, MRPL, Jindal Saw, MGL, and Data Patterns were among the losers on Wednesday.

NIFTYSMALLCAP100 index was trading 1.46% higher at 16,145 points as of 11:11 a.m. on Wednesday, compared to 15,912.90 points at the previous stock market close, according to NSE data.

Report by Upstox, 

source:Dailyhunt

Disclaimer: This article is purely for informational purposes and should not be considered investment advice from us.  Please consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

18/03/26, Precious Metals

Gold rates in Delhi slipped again on Wednesday, marking the third trading day of the week, after rising in the previous session as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement.

The price of 24 Karat (24K) gold declined to Rs 15,790 per gram on March 18, 2026, down Rs 33 from the previous day, while 22 Karat gold eased to Rs 14,475 per gram, falling Rs 30.

With the Fed widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, market participants are closely watching the central bank's guidance on rising energy costs and signs of a cooling labour market, which could influence inflation expectations and the outlook for bullion prices globally.

Gold Rate Today: Check Latest 22K, 24K & 18K Gold Prices on 18 March 2026 Ahead of Fed Policy Announcement

24 Karat Gold Rate Today in Delhi

On Wednesday, the rate of 24 Karat gold in Delhi stood at Rs 15,790 per gram, down by Rs 33 from Tuesday's price of Rs 15,823 per gram. 8 grams of 24K gold were priced at Rs 1,26,320, while 10 grams cost Rs 1,57,900. The price for 100 grams was recorded at Rs 15,79,000, reflecting a drop of Rs 3,300 from the previous session.

22 Karat Gold Rate Today in Delhi

Similarly, 22 Karat gold also edged lower in the national capital on Wednesday. The price was recorded at Rs 14,475 per gram, down Rs 30 from the previous day's Rs 14,505 per gram. For bulk purchases, 8 grams were priced at Rs 1,15,800 and 10 grams at Rs 1,44,750, while 100 grams cost Rs 14,47,500 - showing a decline of Rs 3,000 compared with Tuesday's rates.

18 Karat Gold Rate Today in Delhi

The price of 18 Karat (18K) gold followed the same trend, slipping modestly during the mid-week session. On Wednesday, 18K gold was trading at Rs 11,846 per gram, lower by Rs 25 from the previous day. Prices for 8 grams stood at Rs 94,768, while 10 grams were valued at Rs 1,18,460. The rate for 100 grams was recorded at Rs 11,84,600, down by Rs 2,500 from Tuesday's level.

Silver Rate Today: Check Latest Silver Prices Per Kg on 18 March 2026

On Wednesday, silver prices in Delhi recorded a noticeable decline compared to the previous day. The rate of silver stood at Rs 265 per gram, down by Rs 10 from Tuesday's price of Rs 275 per gram.

8 grams of silver were priced at Rs 2,120, compared with Rs 2,200 a day earlier, marking a fall of Rs 80. The price of 10 grams slipped to Rs 2,650, down Rs 100 from the previous session.

In bulk terms, 100 grams of silver cost Rs 26,500, showing a decline of Rs 1,000 from Tuesday's Rs 27,500. Meanwhile, the price of 1 kilogram of silver dropped sharply to Rs 2,65,000, down by Rs 10,000 from the previous day's Rs 2,75,000.

"Expectations that central banks, especially the U.S. Federal Reserve, may hold interest rates steady have further boosted the appeal of non-yielding assets like gold and silver," said Kaveri More, Commodity Analyst at Choice Broking.

Report by Hatshika Yadav of Goodreturns 

Source:Dailyhunt

18/03/26, Urban Company share price:

Shares of Urban Company rallied as much as 15.43% to ₹127.10 apiece on the NSE in the early trade on Wednesday, March 18.

The stock drew buying interest after SBI Mutual Fund bought additional shares in the company in bulk deals on Tuesday.

Data show that the fund house on Tuesday bought 3,50,63,090 shares of Urban Company at an average price of ₹109.85 apiece on the NSE.

On the BSE, SBI MF has bought 2,24,93,959 shares at ₹109.83 apiece on the BSE.

This suggests that SBI Mutual Fund has bought an additional 4% stake in the company for ₹632 crore.

Urban Company's shareholding pattern on the BSE for the December quarter shows that SBI MF held 1.89% in the company as of Q3 FY26.

Urban Company, according to reports, posted a consolidated net loss of ₹21.3 crore in Q3 FY26, compared with a net profit of ₹231.8 crore in the year-ago period.

The company attributed the decline to continued investments in scaling its quick housekeeping vertical, InstaHelp.

Sequentially, losses narrowed by 64% from ₹59.3 crore in Q2FY26.

Revenue from operations rose 33% year-on-year and 1% quarter-on-quarter to ₹382.7 crore in the December quarter. Including other income of ₹36.1 crore, total income stood at ₹418.8 crore, marking a 33% increase from a year ago.

Urban Company IPO and listing details

Shares of app-based beauty and home services platform Urban Company on September 17, 2025, listed with a premium of 57.52% over the issue price of ₹103.

The company's stock started trading at ₹161, a jump of 56.31% from the issue price on the BSE. Later, it zoomed 73.78% to ₹179.

At the NSE, the stock listed with a premium of 57.52% at ₹162.25.

Urban Company IPO details

The initial public offering (IPO) of Urban Company received overwhelming investor participation, with the issue getting a huge 103.63 times subscription on the final day of bidding on Friday last week.

The ₹1,900 crore IPO had a price band of ₹98-₹103 per share.

The company plans to use funds raised through the fresh issuance for new technology development and cloud infrastructure, lease payments for its offices, marketing activities, and general corporate purposes.

Urban Company operates a technology-driven, full-stack online marketplace for quality-driven services and solutions across various home and beauty categories. Apart from India, it has a presence in the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Its platform enables consumers to easily order services, including cleaning, pest control, electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, appliance servicing and repair, painting, skincare, hair grooming, and massage therapy.

Report by Upstox 

18/03/26, Here are the latest updates from across West Asia on March 18:

 

The Iran-Israel war continues to intensify, with fresh strikes, rising tensions in the Gulf, and growing global concerns.

The UAE remained on high alert as missile threats, drone attacks, and security warnings echoed through the night.

• Israel killed Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani in strikes near Tehran; Iran confirmed the deaths, called Larijani a "martyr", and said his son Morteza was also killed.
• Larijani, a close aide of Ali Khamenei, briefly became Iran's de facto leader after Khamenei's death and was seen as a key figure open to talks with the US. Donald Trump said Larijani had "a lot of blood on his hands", defended the war, and criticised NATO, saying, "I'm disappointed in NATO."
• Trump said he is not afraid to send US troops, adding "we're not ready to leave yet" but may exit soon, and dismissed fears of a Vietnam-like situation: "I'm really not afraid of anything.
• Joe Kent resigned over the war, saying, "Iran posed no imminent threat… we started this war due to pressure from Israel," prompting Trump to call him "weak" on security.
• A tanker was hit near the UAE, marking the first such strike in five days; at least 17 vessels have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.
• A US Navy warship, believed to be carrying Marines and sailors, is moving toward the Middle East. According to maritime tracking data, the vessel is currently nearing the Strait of Malacca, off Singapore, as it heads toward the region.
• Report by The Financial Express 

18/03/26, Sugar Stocks

 Shares of sugar manufacturers such as Rajshree Sugars, Gayatri Sugars, Shree Renuka Sugar, Bajaj Hindusthan, EID Parry, Mawana Sugar and Rana Sugars rose between 2% and 7% on Tuesday, March 17, after government approved additional export quota of 87,587 tonnes of sugar for the 2025-26 marketing year (October-September), following requests from sugar mills, the ministry said in a circular on Monday.

These stocks have also been witnessing heightened buying interest on expectations of higher ethanol blending as crude supplies are facing disruptions owing to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, analysts noted.

The government had earlier permitted exports of 1.5 million tonnes for the season, and in February allocated an extra 500,000 tonnes to willing mills on a non-swappable basis, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

Mills had until February to apply for portions of the additional quota. Of the 500,000 tonnes, only 87,587 tonnes were requested and approved, with the remainder lapsing, the ministry stated.

Mills must export the allocated sugar by June 30, 2026. Those exporting at least 70 per cent of their quota by that date will be allowed to ship the balance by September 30, 2026. Failure to meet the 70 per cent threshold will result in the unutilised quantity lapsing, with potential reallocation to higher-performing or willing mills.

No extensions will be granted except in force majeure cases. The quota cannot be swapped between mills.

Mills failing to export the mandated 70 per cent will face deductions from future export quotas equivalent to the shortfall below the threshold.

For instance, a mill allocated 1,000 tonnes exporting only 400 tonnes by June 30 would see a 300-tonne deduction applied to its next allocation.

All grades of sugar may be exported up to the allocated limit. Refineries exporting refined sugar from raw sugar supplied by mills can do so under bi- or tri-partite agreements, provided quantities remain within the original mill's quota.

India has exported 315,000 tonnes of sugar from October to February in the 2025-26 season against a total permitted quota of 1.5 million tonnes, according to recent industry data.

As of 11:00 am, sugar shares were outperforming the benchmark NIFTY50 index which was down 0.1%.

Source:  PTI inputs

17/03/26, PostMarket REPORT

The key domestic indices ended with strong gains on Tuesday, extending their rally for the second consecutive session, tracking gains in global peers.

However, sentiment remained cautious amid persistent concerns over the ongoing US-Iran conflict in the Middle East, elevated crude oil prices, and sustained strength in the US dollar, which continued to weigh on risk appetite. The Nifty ended above the 23,350 mark. Metal, auto, and realty shares advanced, while IT and FMCG shares declined.

As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex jumped 567.99 points or 0.75% to 76,070.84. The Nifty 50 index rose 172.35 points or 0.74% to 23,581.15.

In the broader market, the BSE 150 MidCap Index added 1.08% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index rose 0.43%.

The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 2,357 shares rose and 1,899 shares fell. A total of 155 shares were unchanged.

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the market's expectation of volatility over the near term, tanked 8.39% to 19.79.

IPO Update:

GSP Crop Science received bids for 70,28,340 shares as against 89,47,367 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 15:30 IST on Tuesday (17 March 2026). The issue was subscribed 0.79 times.

The issue opened for bidding on 16 March 2026 and it will close on 18 March 2026. The price band of the IPO is fixed between Rs 304 and 320 per share.

Innovision received bids for 2,08,85,472 shares as against 63,99,943 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 15:31 IST on Tuesday (17 March 2026). The issue was subscribed 3.26 times.

The issue opened for bidding on 10 March 2026 and will now close on 17 March 2026. Innovision has extended the IPO closing date to March 17 and revised its price band following a tepid response from investors. The new price band has been fixed at Rs 494 to Rs 519 per share, compared with the earlier range of Rs 521 to Rs 548 per share.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index rose 2.82% to 11,637.35. The index jumped 3.05% in two consecutive trading sessions.

Lloyds Metals & Energy (up 7.71%), National Aluminium Company (up 6.22%), Steel Authority of India (up 6.14%), Tata Steel (up 4.4%), APL Apollo Tubes (up 3.93%), Hindustan Copper (up 3.39%), Jindal Stainless (up 2.84%), Hindustan Zinc (up 2.44%), Jindal Steel (up 2.36%) and Welspun Corp (up 2.16%) surged.

Stocks in Spotlight:

NOCIL jumped 6.92% after the company's board approved a capital expenditure of approximately Rs 130 crore for capacity expansion of its rubber chemicals portfolio at its Dahej plant in Gujarat.

NMDC added 2.11% after the company said that it has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) to explore collaboration in the development of rare earth elements (REE) and associated minerals.

Puravankara rose 1.70% after the company said that its subsidiary, Starworth Infrastructure & Construction has secured a construction contract worth Rs 280.35 crore from Vellore Institute of Technology for the development of an academic facility at its Vellore campus.

Oberoi Realty added 2.63% after the company said that it has entered into a development agreement for lands situate at Aram Nagar, Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai.

Prostarm Info Systems advanced 1.57% after the company announced that it has been declared the L1 (lowest) bidder by West Bengal Medical Services Corporation (WBMSC), Kolkata, for a contract valued at Rs 90.44 crore.

Kalpataru Projects International (KPIL) fell 2.77%. The company announced that it, along with its subsidiaries, has secured new orders and notifications of award worth approximately Rs 2,471 crore across multiple business segments.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries rose 0.46%. The company said that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for ILUMYA (tildrakizumab) for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis.

Redington declined 1.80% after the company announced that operatios of its step- down subsidiary, Redington Gulf FZE, in the Gulf region has been impacted due to ongoing geo-political tensions.

Tata Motors rose 0.93%. The company announced a price hike across its commercial vehicle (CV) portfolio, effective from 1 April 2026.

Mastek shed 0.76%. The company said that its wholly owned subsidiary, Mastek UK, has secured a two-year contract with the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), valued at euro 15 million to support the client's Digital Delivery Hub (DDH).

Reliance Industries (RIL) rose 0.10%. The company announced that it has entered into a binding long-term supply and purchase agreement with Samsung C&T Corporation, South Korea, for the supply of green ammonia over a 15-year period starting in the second half of FY2029.

Power Mech Projects rose 0.30%. The company said that it has secured an order worth Rs 709.56 crore from Adani Infrastructure Management Services, a part of the Adani Group, for operations and maintenance services at a thermal power plant in Maharashtra.

Global Markets:

European stocks were trading broadly higher on Tuesday morning despite oil prices rising above $100 per barrel on resurgent supply concerns.

Meanwhile, investor attention is turning to central bank action this week, with the U.S. Federal Reserve opening a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday.

The Fed has come under sustained pressure from Trump to lower interest rates, but the war on Iran means traders are forecasting a hold on interest rates from the central bank when it delivers its monetary policy decision on Wednesday.

Asian markets ended mixed as auto and tech stocks gained after Nvidia announced a robust revenue forecast for its key chips and partnerships with carmakers from the region.

The gains in the sectors were fueled by the latest comments from the Nvidia CEO. Jensen Huang said that he expects purchase orders between Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips to reach $1 trillion through 2027 at Nvidia's annual developer conference on Monday.

Shares of automakers Hyundai Motor, Nissan Motor, and Isuzu, as well as China's BYD and Geely, rose after Nvidia announced it was partnering with these companies for its autonomous vehicle development business.

Investors also assessed Iran war developments, with U.S. President Donald Trump looking to delay his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping by 'a month or so' due to the Middle East conflict. Trump was expected to travel to China at the end of March.

Overnight in the U.S., stocks rose while oil prices pulled back as Wall Street tried to recover from another losing week, with investors monitoring the latest developments of the Iran war.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 387.94 points, or 0.83%, closing at 46,946.41. The S&P 500 rose 1.01% to end at 6,699.38, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.22% and settled at 22,374.18.

Meta shares gained more than 2% on a report-which the company has called "speculative"-that it is planning to lay off more than 20% of its workforce.

Source: CapitalMarket