Stock Market Highlights: Indian equity benchmarks closed in deep red on Friday. Earlier. they saw a muted opening. Trading remains volatile due to lack of any progress in US-Iran talks. As of 12 pm, the Nifty50 was trading 1.13 per cent or 274.35 points down at 23,898.85, and the Sensex was trading 1.24 per cent or 966.46 points down at 76,712.12.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 gained as much as 0.9 per cent. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.3 per cent. Brent crude is trading at $105.95 per barrel as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continued to disrupt energy supply.
Meanwhile, the rupee opened 10 paise weaker at 94.215 against the dollar.
Here Are The Highlights of Stock Market, Sensex Today, Nifty, Share Market:-
Share Market News: Sensex, Nifty End The Week In Deep Red
At the close, Sensex fell 999.79 points while Nifty was down 275.10 points.
Stock Market LIVE Updates: Check 2 PM Market Update
As of 2:00 PM, the Nifty50 was trading 1.35 per cent or 327 points down at 23,846.15, and the Sensex was trading 1.49 per cent or 1,159.39 points down at 76,504.61.
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Tips Music Extends Rally On Strong Q4, Up 15% In 2 days; JM Fin Retains Add
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HCC Wins Rs 2,917 Crore CIDCO Contract Through Joint Venture
Hindustan Construction Company won a CIDCO contract worth Rs 2,917 crore in a joint venture. The contract is for constructing a 22.21-kilometre raw water tunnel and a 150 MLD water treatment plant in Raigad.
Global Steel Production Falls 4.2% In March As China Drags Output Lower
Global steel output fell 4.2 per cent in March 2026 as China production dropped, while India rose 9.4% to remain the fastest-growing major steel producer.
Sensex Falls 195 Points At Open; Nifty Flat At Opening
At opening, the BSE Sensex was trading at 77,468.04 levels, down by 196 points or 0.25 per cent. Similarly, the NSE Nifty50 was trading almost flat at 24,135.65 levels, down 37.40 points or 0.15 per cent.
Share Market Today: Check Expert View By InvestorAi
The Thesis
With Brent crossing $103 on a fourth straight session of gains and the US-Iran ceasefire lapsed without clarity, InvestorAi is rotating decisively into defensives. Pharma and FMCG dominate the book against a 24,173 Nifty (-0.84%), VIX sticky at 18.3, and FIIs unloading ₹2,078 cr - domestic flows the only cushion. GIFT Nifty's flat-to-green indication suggests the rotation, not a breakdown, defines today.
Where We're Concentrated
Healthcare and pharma stack the strongest cluster - eight conviction names point to a defensive rotation premised on dollar-revenue resilience and immunity from crude pass-through. FMCG and a single large energy beneficiary round out the book. The thesis breaks on a sharp Brent reversal off an Iran de-escalation - that ignites a violent rotation back into IT and rate-sensitives.
Conviction Picks
HIGHEST CONVICTION
Marico
Strongest model agreement in the book; rural-led FMCG recovery insulated from the margin compression hitting input-heavy sectors.
CRUDE BENEFICIARY
Reliance Industries
Direct leverage to Brent at $103; oil-to-chemicals arm carries the book if Iran-driven energy stress persists.
FINANCIALS DECOUPLE
Max Financial Services
Insurance positioning that decouples from the FII outflow pressure weighing on banks.
PHARMA ANCHOR
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
Anchors the pharma cluster - dollar revenue and defensive earnings into a risk-off tape with elevated VIX.
COMMODITY TAILWIND
Vedanta
Metals exposure to the same commodity surge driving crude; FII-selling-resistant resource leverage.
One Thing to Watch
Brent at $103.
A break above $105 cements the defensives-plus-commodities trade. A sharp reversal below $98 on any Iran de-escalation flips the entire book toward IT and rate-sensitives.
Stock Market News: Results Expectations
Reliance
EBITDA to grow ~11% YoY; production flat YoY.
Focus on future growth levers: new energy updates, retail expansion, and telecom pricing.
Shriram Finance
Strong AUM growth (~15% YoY) driven by disbursements.
Margins to soften and credit costs to rise QoQ.
Watch: CV loan growth and asset quality (2W & PL).
Hindustan Zinc
Earnings and margins supported by strong commodity prices (LME, silver).
Volume strength to offset cost inflation.
L&T Finance
Healthy retail loan growth (~26% YoY).
Margins to moderate slightly; credit costs improving QoQ.
M&M Financial
Steady AUM growth (~12% YoY) led by disbursements.
Margins under pressure, but asset quality improving (lower credit costs).
Shares In Focus: RIL, Infosys, Hindustan Zinc, Cyient, and Dabur
Stock Market LIVE Updates: Reliance Industries, Adani Energy Solutions, Infosys and others will remain on investors' radar.
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