Hello and welcome to NDTV Profit's live market coverage!
India's benchmark equity indices fell at the opening bell, tracking weaker global cues. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank were the top drags on the Nifty.
Elsewherte, US and European index futures ticked higher. Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 2% while the broad-based Topix fell 1.4%. South Korea's blue chip Kospi slumped almost 3%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.7%.
Brent oil traded near $100 and the WTI near $96 a barrel following one of the most volatile trading weeks ever, with investors bracing for more upheaval as Iran pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut.
Gold was headed for a second weekly decline as the dollar strengthened and the ongoing war in the Middle East forced oil prices higher. Spot gold edged up 0.4% to $5,099.98 an ounce in Singapore. Silver rose 0.4% to $84.18.
Nifty Bank Today: All Bank Stocks Down
>>
Adani Total Gas Share Price Update
>>
Nifty Today Live: Index Slips Below Immediate Support
The Nifty 50 slipped below the immediate support level of 23,500.
"Going ahead, 23,550–23,500 will act as a key support zone for the index. A sustained move below 23,500 could trigger further downside towards the 23,350 level," according to Sudeep Shah, head of technical and derivatives research at SBI Securities.
On the upside, 23,800–23,850 remains an immediate resistance zone, while a decisive breakout above 23,850 may lead to pullback rally towards the 23,970–24,000 zone.
Stock Market News Live Updates: Jefferies Picks 23 Stocks To Buy — SBI, Eternal and More
The markets have been in a nosedive and amidst this turmoil Jefferies has come out with a report on 23 stocks they are bullish on. Their India Strategy report for March 2026 curates bottom-up ideas when the Nifty has fallen 8% in one month, courtesy the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Jefferies' latest portfolio restructuring features 23 top 'buy' recommendations and eight "underperform" calls, with the brokerage firm injecting fresh momentum into its buy category by adding seven new companies.
State Bank of India (SBI), Star Health, Groww, Bharat Forge, JSW Steel, Eternal, and Max Healthcare.
Stock Market News Live Updates: Lupin and Zydus Life In Focus
- Delaware Federal Court blocked Ascent Pharmaceuticals from launching its generic version of Mirabegron
- The ruling would block Ascent’s proposed generic till the patent expiry
- This delays the launch till 2030
- This benefits Lupin and Zydus Life
- Zydus Life and Lupin have 30%/21% market share in Mirabegron
- Mirabegron expected to contribute $200 million to FY27 revenue to Zydus Life, as per IIFL
- Mirabegron expected to contribute $120 million to FY27 revenue to Lupin, as per IIFL
Stock Market News Live Updates: Nifty, Sensex Fall At Open
India's benchmark equity indices fell at the opening bell, tracking weaker global cues. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank were the top drags on the Nifty.
_13_March_26.png)
_13_March_26.png)
_13_March_26.png)
_13_March_26.png)
_13_March_26.png)
Stock Market News Live Updates: US Pulls Another Pressure Tactic On India
The United States on Friday initiated a fresh probe into 60 trading partners including India for alleged use of "forced labour" for production of goods, as the Trump administration intensify steps to create trade barriers after legal setback on tariffs.
The US Trade Representative has invoked Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, to determine whether acts, policies, and practices of each of these economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce, according to statement. Section 301 is designed to address unfair foreign practices affecting US commerce.
Rupee Vs Dollar: INR Weakens
>>
Nifty Today Live: Index Down In Pre-Open
The Nifty and Sensex fell nearly 1% in the pre-open session.
Share Market Live Updates: Nifty Levels From CLSA
CLSA Price Action – Laurence Balanco
- Continued market weakness leaves indices vulnerable to further downside
- Next major support seen at February/April 2025 lows around 21,777–21,800
- A decline to those levels would negate the cup-and-handle formation
- Suggests the consolidation pattern has evolved into a more complex structure needing more time to develop
- The 24,300–24,500 zone now acting as resistance
- 50-day and 200-day moving averages around 25,341–25,382 add further resistance before the 26,277–26,373 highs.
Share Market Live Updates: ABB India Target Price Hike
UBS has upgraded ABB India from 'neutral' to 'buy' while hiking the target price from Rs 5,310 to Rs 8,030. The new target implies a 25% upside from current levels. Moreover, UBS has also added ABB India to the APAC Key Call list.
Overall, the brokerage firm sees favourable risk-reward in ABB India, with both structural and cyclical growth levers aligning together, potentially paving the way for growth going forward.
Share Market Live Updates: Coal India Target Price Hike
HSBC on Coal India
- Maintain Hold; Hike TP to Rs 420 from Rs 380
- Higher e-auction premiums supportive in the near term
- Structural oversupply of domestic coal remains a concern
- Higher gas prices and regional coal prices boosting e-auction premiums and volumes
- FY28 earnings estimates unchanged as oversupply and weak thermal demand could pressure premiums longer term
- Near-term outperformance driven by Middle East situation but gains may fade once gas supplies normalise
Share Market Live Updates: Reliance Industries Target Price Cut
Jefferies on Reliance Industries
- Maintain Buy; Cut TP to Rs 1,740 from Rs 1,820
- Defensive play amid current market volatility
- O2C segment benefiting from Middle East supply disruptions which have lifted refining and petrochemical spreads
- Expect elevated spreads to sustain through the conflict and boost margins in H1FY27
- Lowered Jio FY27 and FY28 EBITDA estimates by 10% and 6% respectively as tariff hike expectations shift to Dec-2026
- Raised consolidated FY27 EBITDA estimates by 2% driven by stronger O2C performance
- Stock trading below long-term averages suggesting limited downside
Oil Prices Today: Check Brent, WTI Levels
Global oil markets remain on edge after one of the most turbulent trading weeks in years, with Brent crude hovering near the $100-per-barrel mark as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensify. The international benchmark eased slightly after surging more than 9% in the previous session, while US crude benchmark West Texas Intermediate traded close to $96. The sharp moves reflect growing concerns about supply disruptions as geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East.
Asian Markets Today Live: Check Nikkei, Hang Seng Movements
Asia-Pacific markets opened lower Friday as oil prices soared on renewed fears that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could further crimp energy supplies, stoking fears of a global economic downturn. A gauge of Asian shares dropped 0.5% in early trading. Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 2% while the broad-based Topix fell 1.4%. South Korea's blue chip Kospi slumped almost 3%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.7%.
GIFT Nifty Today Live: Index Ticks Higher
The GIFT Nifty, a futures contract based on the Nifty 50, was up 0.3% at 23,555, indicating a higher open for the benchmark index. US and European index futures ticked higher.
India Market Recap
India's benchmark equity indices closed lower for a second consecutive session on Thursday, tracking bearish sentiments across the world. The Nifty 50 ended 227 points or 0.95% lower at 23,639.15. The BSE Sensex shed 1.08% to close at 76,034.42 on weekly expiry day. Intraday, both benchmarks dropped 1.3%. Auto and FMCG were the top sectoral losers on the NSE.
The broader market outperformed the blue-chip indices, with the Nifty Midcap 150 and Nifty Smallcap 250 falling 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively.