Business

ICICI Prudential AMC, a key player in the asset management sector, is poised for significant growth. The AMC is projected to post over 18 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth in its topline revenue for the quarter ending March 2026. This robust performance is attributed to strong inflows and consistent gains in market share.Despite the encouraging topline picture, the company faces challenges. Analysts point out that yields may come under pressure due to the sharp market correction experienced during March.Topline Growth and AUM Momentum Revenue from operations in Q4FY26 is expected to grow by more than 18 percent YoY during the quarter. However, this growth is anticipated to fall nearly a percent compared to the previous quarter on a...

Sensex & Nifty Brace for Gap-Down Amid US-Iran Tensions and Global Dip Fears Indian equity markets are set to face a cautious start today, April 13. The outlook is subdued, tracking recent losses visible in the GIFT Nifty index, which was trading around the 23,763 level. Traders are closely monitoring global cues as instability from the Middle East continues to weigh heavily on Asian indices.Just days ago, Indian benchmarks had shown strong momentum. The Sensex had rallied by 918.60 points or 1.20 percent at 77,550.25, while the Nifty appreciated by 275.50 points or 1.16 percent at 24,050.60. Today, however, global uncertainty is dampening that positive momentum.Geopolitical Tensions Fuel Global Market Weakness The primary catalyst...

Australian markets fell sharply on Monday as investor risk appetite weakened following the collapse of peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. The turmoil was exacerbated by reports that the U.S. Navy was preparing to blockade the critical Strait of Hormuz, deepening global uncertainty.The S&P/ASX 200 index declined 0.4% to 8,925.60 by 0038 GMT, marking a significant retreat after recording a strong 4.4% gain just last week. Market participants remained highly cautious as clarity on the Middle East conflict remained elusive.Geopolitical Turmoil Drives Market Decline The decline underscores the market's acute sensitivity to geopolitical instability. Weekend talks between the U.S. and Iran failed to produce a breakthrough, keeping...

Crisis Hits Asia: Nikkei, Kospi Plunge Amid US Blockade Warning, Oil Soars Past $103 Asian financial markets plummeted on Monday, fueled by escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran. Global optimism surrounding peace in the Gulf dissolved after US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of the critical Strait of Hormuz. This move, coupled with Iran adopting a defiant tone following the collapse of weekend peace talks, sent shockwaves across global equity indices.The sheer uncertainty surrounding energy supply continues to drain market confidence worldwide. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index dropped 0.7% immediately after the market opened, signaling widespread investor panic.Geopolitical Tensions Fuel Global Market Panic...

Sensex, Nifty Brace for Sharp Dip as US-Iran Tensions Trigger Global Market Jitters The Bearish Outlook: Geopolitical Tensions Drive Monday Dip The Indian stock market is bracing for a potentially negative start on Monday, April 13, 2026. Global sentiment remains weak as investors assess the fallout from failed US-Iran ceasefire talks. Concerns are heightened by reports of a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, intensifying geopolitical uncertainty.Market data suggests a subdued opening for domestic equities. Gift Nifty is indicating a notable gap-down, positioning the index near the 23,700 zone. This reflects deteriorating global sentiment following fresh escalations in the Middle East conflict.Weekly Market Performance Recap: Rally...

Despite sharp volatility and supply fears in global energy markets, petrol and diesel prices in several major Indian metropolitan areas held steady on April 13. This stability comes amid heightened global tensions following reports of a potential blockade targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The oil price freeze and differential rates across states continue to dominate the domestic narrative.Current Fuel Prices Across India's Major Cities At the retail level, petrol rates in Delhi were reported at ₹94.77 per litre, while diesel remained at ₹87.67 per litre. Mumbai witnessed higher pricing, with petrol selling at ₹103.54 per litre and diesel at ₹90.03 per litre.Other key metros also showed distinct rates. Kolkata recorded...

Asian Markets Plunge as US-Iran Talks Fail, Sending Crude Oil Prices Soaring Asian equity markets plunged sharply on Monday, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions. The failure of the US-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan has reignited deep concerns over the global energy supply, causing crude oil prices to surge.The uncertainty has rattled major indices across the continent, as fears that the Middle East conflict will prolong have put immense pressure on financial assets.Regional Markets Reel After Ceasefire Talk Failure Asian trading saw dramatic declines across the board following the failed diplomatic efforts. The talks, intended to conclude the Middle East war, failed to reach any resolution or agreement.The immediate...

Geopolitical Instability Triggers Commodity Spikes Global agricultural markets saw sharp upward movements in key grains on Monday. The surge was predominantly fueled by escalating tensions in the Middle East. Specifically, fears surrounding a potential U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz proved to be the key catalyst.The instability was heightened by the collapse of U.S.-Iran talks, leaving a fragile two-week ceasefire hanging in the balance. This renewed geopolitical friction immediately raised significant concerns over both global fuel availability and essential fertilizer supplies.Key Grains React to Oil Shock and Supply Jitters Commodity futures reflected the heightened risk premium. Chicago wheat futures climbed by nearly 2%...

Gold Plummets, Silver Slips Amid US-Iran Tensions and Oil Price Surge Gold and Silver Prices Tumble as Geopolitical Fears Spark Energy Crisis Jitters Precious metals experienced significant pressure on Monday, driven by deteriorating diplomatic talks and escalating concerns over global energy supply. Gold and silver rates reportedly tumbled by as much as 3% amid heightened fears stemming from the breakdown of US-Iran ceasefire negotiations.COMEX gold rates dropped by up to 2.2%, falling below the $4,650 mark an ounce, wiping out gains seen over the preceding week. Simultaneously, COMEX silver prices slid 3.29% during Asian trading hours, reaching $74 per ounce.These sharp movements were fueled by the failure of weekend talks, which...

Japan's 10-year government bond yield climbed to its highest level since 1997. The sharp rise followed escalating tensions in the Middle East after President Donald Trump announced the US would begin a full naval blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.The benchmark rate rose 5.5 basis points to 2.49% in Tokyo on Monday. Ten-year bond futures saw a drop of up to 55 ticks, settling at 129.27. Meanwhile, the five-year yield gained 4 basis points, reaching 1.9%.Weekend diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran failed to secure a deal to end the conflict in Iran. This setback dashed hopes that a fragile ceasefire could hold through the previous week.Middle East Tensions Fuel Inflationary Pressure in Japan The renewed...

The Indian primary market shows signs of building momentum, following a sharp recovery in equity markets catalyzed by the recent announcement regarding the Iran ceasefire. While significant overall pick-up remains nascent, investors have several key opportunities lined up this week. Two major Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) are set to debut, with other listed entities also scheduled for market debuts.Major IPO Activity Scheduled for April Week Citius Transnet Investment Trust is poised to hit the market with a substantial listing. This infrastructure investment trust, managed by EAAA TransInfra Managers, will open its Rs 1,105 crore IPO for subscription on April 17. The pricing for this opportunity has been fixed at a range of Rs...

Mutual Fund Flows Slow: AUM Rises 12.2% Amid Market Jitters, Signaling Investor Caution MF Industry AUM Growth Decelerates to Slowest Pace in Three Years The mutual fund industry saw its assets under management (AUM) grow by 12.2 percent in FY26. This expansion added ₹ 8 lakh crore to the total asset base, bringing the overall AUM to ₹ 73.73 lakh crore.This growth rate marks a noticeable slowdown compared to preceding years. Notably, the expansion was significantly lower than the near 23 percent growth seen in FY25 and the robust 36 percent surge recorded in FY24.Volatility Dampens Overall Asset Accumulation The moderation in mutual fund asset growth was attributed to sustained volatility within the Indian equity markets throughout...

Indices Surge on Optimism: MarketSmith Flags Key Buy Picks for 13 April Breakout Indian Equities Rebound Amid Global Sentiment Lift Indian equities staged a solid rebound on Friday, April 10th. Benchmark indices reclaimed recent losses, buoyed by improving global market sentiment. The BSE Sensex demonstrated significant strength, jumping over 900 points to close near 77,500. Similarly, the Nifty 50 recovered above the 24,000 mark, finishing around 24,050.The recovery was notably bolstered by optimism surrounding a potential temporary US-Iran ceasefire. Sectoral leaders, including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank, spearheaded the gains. Beyond banking, sectors like Auto, Realty, and Oil & Gas also saw notable participation, with...

Oil Futures Surge Above $100 After US Implements Strait of Hormuz Blockade Following Iran Talks Failure Global energy markets reacted sharply on Monday, witnessing a dramatic spike in crude oil prices. The surge was triggered by the failure of recent US-Iran peace talks and the subsequent announcement of a US blockade targeting the vital Strait of Hormuz.The escalating geopolitical tensions immediately sent energy commodity prices soaring worldwide. Market participants are now pricing in the potential disruptions to global oil supply routes.Global Energy Markets React to Strait of Hormuz Tensions The primary catalyst for the market volatility was the US decision to enforce a blockade. The US Central Command confirmed that US forces...

Defence Boom Fuels India Investment: Nuvama Stakes ₹200 Cr in Val-Met Engineering to Capture Global Aerospace Surge Nuvama Private Equity has strategically invested ₹200 crore for a minority stake in Val-Met Engineering. This capital infusion targets scaling the Chennai-based firm, a specialized supplier for the aerospace and defence sectors. The investment underscores a belief in India's growing stature as a global manufacturing hub.The move is fueled by the global pivot towards self-reliant production chains. Pranav Parikh, managing partner and head of private equity at Nuvama Asset Management, noted that sectors like aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing are major beneficiaries of this geopolitical shift.Tapping Global...

Indian IPO Giants Pivot to Private Sales as Global Uncertainty Forces Valuation Reassessment The trajectory of India's Initial Public Offering (IPO) market is undergoing a structural shift. Amid flagging investor appetite stemming from global uncertainty, more companies are adopting a 'dual-track' approach. This strategy sees IPO-bound firms preparing regulatory filings while simultaneously exploring private sale avenues for liquidity.Over the past month alone, investment bankers and deal advisors have noted more than 10 active IPO mandates transitioning into this blended model. This activity is most evident for deal sizes ranging between ₹ 500 crore and ₹ 2,000 crore.The Rise of the Dual-Track Mandate in Indian Exits The dual-track...

Groww Suddenly Exits Payments Battleground, Surrenders RBI License After Two Years Stockbroking giant Groww has made a significant strategic pivot, reportedly exiting the highly regulated payment aggregator (PA) business. The fintech firm has surrendered its RBI-approved PA license, just two years after securing the crucial approval.The move, reported by The Head and Tale, signals a definitive withdrawal from operating as a payments intermediary for the Bengaluru-based company. Crucially, Groww has not provided a formal announcement or disclosed the specific reason for abandoning the payments vertical.Strategic Shift: Groww Re-centers on Core Broking Expertise When it initially entered the payments space in 2023, Groww launched a...

Singapore Stocks Surge Towards Record Highs as Geopolitical Tensions Cement Haven Status Equities in the Singapore city-state are approaching record highs, underpinned by global assets being viewed as a safe haven amidst widespread volatility. The market has shown resilience, suffering comparatively less in the region since the Iran war ignited global energy price spikes in late February. The local indices are positioned to be the first major Asian market to reclaim previous highs.This relative strength is bolstered by the outperformance of the Singapore dollar against its peers in Southeast Asia. The Straits Times Index remains broadly unchanged since the start of the war, contrasting sharply with the 4.9% drop observed in MSCI's...

Hormuz Strait Tensions Flare: Blockade Threat to Halt 2 Million Barrels of Iranian Oil Flow Ship transits through the vital Strait of Hormuz are remaining at greatly reduced levels. This constrained activity persists amid geopolitical tension surrounding the world's most critical energy chokepoint. Most vessel owners are reportedly reluctant to navigate the waterway due to its recent status as a war zone.Expert analysis highlights the extreme risk associated with potential escalations. Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy, noted that President Trump's potential blockade aims to curb Iran's influence over the strait. However, he cautioned that the risk of escalation remains very high in the current volatile...

Volatility Alert: US-Iran Talks Collapse as Investors Brace for Inflation and Bank Earnings Jitters Wall Street is bracing for a week marked by significant volatility. Investors are navigating a complex confluence of geopolitical risks, crucial corporate earnings reports, and key inflation data points.The failure of diplomatic talks between the US and Iran is particularly dominating market sentiment. Compounding this is the packed schedule of earnings reports from financial heavyweights.Geopolitical Tensions Fuel Energy Market Uncertainty The energy sector is acutely sensitive following the breakdown of US-Iran negotiations. The dispute centers heavily on the vital Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for 20% of global crude oil...