Stock Market News Today Live Updates: GIFT Nifty Falls Over 1% Renewed US-Iran Tensions, Brent Crude Surges Near $97 A Barrel

• Stocks with positive triggers include Aurobindo Pharma after USFDA approval for a cough suppressant drug, TVS Supply Chain after a dispute settlement, and Trent with a board meeting on April 22 for bonus and fund raise.
• Bharat Wire Ropes, Gujarat Gas, Sundaram Finance, NTPC Green, ACME Solar, EMS, Lemon Tree Hotels and Onix Solar Energy are also on the watchlist after corporate updates including stake sale, approvals, project wins, commissioning, hotel expansion and a rights issue.
• Cipla and Lupin remain in focus after USFDA observations. Shyam Metalics is on watch after enforcement action linked to a PMLA case. Hyundai, Canara HSBC Life and Amagi Media Labs also remain in focus due to share lock-in expiry.
• Among earnings, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Yes Bank and Jio Financial reported strong numbers, while Mastek delivered mixed results.

• Asian Paints announced a second round of price increases of 3-5%, effective May 5, 2026.
• The latest revision follows an earlier 6-8% increase implemented in April. This takes the cumulative price rise to high single digits to double digits.

• Markets may remain volatile as oil prices surge after fresh escalation around the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over the Iran-US ceasefire. Brent crude moved above $95 a barrel, while risk-off sentiment returned.
• Asian markets opened mixed and US futures declined. Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the cash market for a third straight day, while short positions stood at 79% versus 80% earlier.
• Strong Q4 results from ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank may support stock-specific moves. Gold fell 1% amid renewed tensions around Hormuz.

Jio Financial Services (Q4)

• Total income up 96.9% at Rs 1,020 crore versus Rs 518 crore.

• Net profit down 13.9% at Rs 272 crore versus Rs 316 crore.

YES Bank (Standalone Q4)

• NII up 15.9% at Rs 2,638 crore versus Rs 2,276 crore.

• Op profit up 23.1% at Rs 1,618 crore versus Rs 1,314 crore.

• Net profit up 44.7% at Rs 1,068 crore versus Rs 738 crore.

• Provisions down 41% at Rs 188 crore versus Rs 318 crore.

• Gross NPA improved to 1.3% versus 1.5% QoQ.

HDFC Bank (Standalone Q4)

• NII up 3.2% at Rs 33,082 crore versus Rs 32,066 crore.

• Op profit up 4.8% at Rs 27,801 crore versus Rs 26,537 crore.

• Net profit up 9.1% at Rs 19,221 crore versus Rs 17,616 crore.

• Provisions down 18.3% at Rs 2,610 crore versus Rs 3,193 crore.

• Gross NPA reported at 1.15%.

• Note: The board recommended a final dividend of Rs 13 per share and approved raising up to Rs 60,000 crore via debt.

ICICI Bank (Standalone Q4)

• NII up 8.4% at Rs 22,979 crore versus Rs 21,193 crore.

• Op profit up 3% at Rs 18,199 crore versus Rs 17,664 crore.

• Net profit up 8.5% at Rs 13,702 crore versus Rs 12,630 crore.

• Provisions down 89.2% at Rs 96.2 crore versus Rs 891 crore.

• Gross NPA improved to 1.4% versus 1.5% QoQ.

• Note: The board declared an interim dividend of Rs 12 per share and renewed its fundraise limit of Rs 25,000 crore via debt.

• Nearly 106 BSE-listed companies are set to list on NSE today. Key names include Grauer & Weil, Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Kirloskar Ferrous and Z F Steering Gear.
• The list also includes Praveg, Novartis, Mafatlal Industries, John Cockerill, Timex Group and Deccan Gold Mines.

• HPCL said the Petroleum Ministry approved an increase in HRRL project cost to Rs 79,459 crore from Rs 43,129 crore. The company will retain a 74% stake with total investment of Rs 19,600 crore.
• Lupin and Cipla received Form 483 observations from the US FDA after inspections at their manufacturing facilities. Lupin received three observations for its US plant, while Cipla received two observations for its Goa unit.
• BHEL withdrew its acceptance of a Letter of Intent for the Anuppur Thermal Power Project and filed a Rs 143 crore recovery suit linked to a supply contract. Zee Entertainment plans to invest Rs 116 crore in Phantom Digital Effects. Dredging Corp signed an MoU worth Rs 2,157 crore with IOCL, while Hathway Cable named Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as COO and CEO-designate.

• Markets will track South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to India for any business or policy developments.
• Share lock-in expiry is due for Hyundai, Canara HSBC Life and Amagi Media Labs. A total of 106 BSE-listed companies are also set to list on NSE.
• Q4 earnings due today include Groww, Bank of Maharashtra, PNB Housing, E2E Network and SML Mahindra.

• Macquarie has a bearish pair trade view on Hindalco Industries, saying the company is in a favourable phase but upside may be limited.
• The brokerage said a 25% rise in aluminium prices this year is already reflected in the stock price. It added that the company’s hedge policy partly limits gains from higher prices.
• Macquarie said current valuations of about 6.7 times September 2027 estimated EV/EBITDA also cap further upside.

• Jefferies maintained its Buy rating on Larsen & Toubro with a target price of Rs 4,500.
• The brokerage said the stock has recovered most of its recent losses linked to the Middle East conflict. It added that stronger ordering activity in the region and oil prices below $90 a barrel support the outlook.
• Jefferies said conservative guidance could support the stock, while margins have built-in protection.

• ICICI Bank reported Q4FY26 profit of Rs 13,702 crore, up 8% year-on-year and 21% quarter-on-quarter. Net interest income increased 8% to Rs 22,979 crore, while operating profit rose 3% to Rs 18,199 crore.
• Asset quality improved in the quarter. Gross NPA ratio declined to 1.4% from 1.53%, while net NPA ratio fell to 0.33% from 0.37%. Advances grew 16% year-on-year to Rs 15.54 lakh crore and deposits rose 11% to Rs 17.95 lakh crore.
• The bank declared a dividend of Rs 12 per share. Management said margins are expected to remain range-bound and deposit growth remains healthy.

• Mainland China’s CSI 300 index traded marginally lower.
• Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.22%.

• The Strait of Hormuz has been closed again after the US and Iran accused each other of breaking a ceasefire following attacks on ships over the weekend.
• The US said its military seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to cross its blockade. Iran said it will not join a second round of peace talks after a warning of renewed airstrikes.
• The US continues its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has reimposed restrictions on the Strait, a key route for global oil flows before the conflict began.

• West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 8.11% to $90.65 a barrel.
• Brent crude increased 7.21% to $96.90 a barrel.

• Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.76%, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.98% in early trade.
• Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.18%.

• IFT Nifty declined 1% to 24,470, indicating a weaker start for Indian equities. It is tracked as an early signal for the Nifty 50.
• On Friday, the Nifty 50 closed 156.8 points, or 0.65%, higher at 24,353.55.