The benchmark equity indices started the week on a lower note on Monday, mirroring a broad risk-off move across Asia as escalating U.S.-Iran tensions kept oil prices elevated and deepened concerns over growth and earnings outlook.
At 10:01 am, the Sensex was down 1,612.87 points or 2.16 percent at 72,920.09, and the Nifty was down 513.65 points or 2.22 percent at 22,600.85. About 592 shares advanced, 2,990 shares declined, and 153 shares were unchangedKey factors behind market decline
1) Elevated crude prices: Oil prices were little moved on Monday but stayed above $110-mark as investors weighed how US and Iranian threats to target energy facilities that could escalate the war stack up against the release of millions of barrels of seaborne Iranian oil to global markets after Washington temporarily removed sanctions.Brent crude hovering near $113 a barrel poses a particular challenge for India, one of the world's largest oil importers. Persistently high oil prices fuel inflation, widen external imbalances, weaken the rupee, and extend foreign capital outflows.Brent crude futures fell 1 cent to $112.18 a barrel by 0202 GMT after settling on Friday at their highest since July 2022. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $98.75 a barrel, up 52 cents, after the previous session's gain of 2.27%.The spread of more than $13 a barrel between Brent and WTI is the widest in years.The crisis in the Middle East is "very severe" and worse than the two oil shocks of the 1970s put together, Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, said on Monday.2) Persistent FII Selling: Selling by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) intensified amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. FPIs remained net sellers on all trading days in March. Total outflows through exchanges stood at Rs 90,152 crore till March 20.VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, said weakness in global equities following the West Asia conflict, rupee depreciation and concerns over elevated crude prices impacting growth and earnings have weighed on FPI sentiment. He added that relatively lower returns from Indian markets compared to other global markets over the past 18 months have also contributed to FPI outflows.3) India Vix rises: The fear gauge of the volatility index rose nearly 15 percent to 26 level.4) Geopolitical concerns: Iran says it will completely shut the Strait of Hormuz and launch retaliatory attacks on regional energy and water infrastructure if the US attacks its power plants.5) Weak global cues: Asian markets fell 3.1 percent as tensions in the West Asia intensified, undermining hopes of a near-term de-escalation in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, now in its fourth week.
Report by Paras Bist
source: Network18


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