L&T shares zoom 8% as Donald Trump announces two-week ceasefire with Iran. Why does it matter for construction major? Larsen & Toubro (L&T) shares surged 8.11% to Rs 4,025 on the BSE on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, linked to the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The critical oil route, which handles about one-fifth of global oil flows, is expected to resume operations without disruption. This development has sparked optimism for L&T, a major player in the Middle East, where the company has significant business operations and a large workforce. The ceasefire announcement has had an immediate positive impact on L&T’s stock, reversing recent declines. Over the past month, the company’s shares had corrected nearly 15% due to escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Since the start of the year, the stock has fallen 10%, reflecting investor concerns about regional instability. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire, however, signals a potential easing of hostilities, which could stabilize L&T’s operations in the region. L&T’s exposure to the Middle East is substantial. As of December 2025, the region accounted for nearly 40% of the company’s total order book, according to Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Within its international portfolio, West Asia contributes approximately 75% of the order book. The company operates over 100 sites across key markets such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. These operations employ 8,000 full-time staff, along with 2,000 family members and 20,000 contractual workers. The strategic importance of the Middle East to L&T is underscored by its extensive infrastructure projects, including power plants, industrial facilities, and transportation networks.#donald_trump #strait_of_hormuz #saudi_arabia #motilal_oswal_financial_services #larsen_toubro
Stock markets up 1.7% as investor optimism crawls back Indian benchmark stock indices rose 1.7% on March 25, 2026, driven by renewed investor confidence following clarity on the Iran-U.S. conflict. The Nifty 50 and Sensex opened at 23,064 and 74,652 points, respectively, and gradually climbed to intraday highs of 23,434.75 and 75,735.6 points before closing at 23,306.45 and 75,273.45 points. The recovery was attributed to easing geopolitical tensions and a decline in global oil prices, which had previously spiked due to concerns over the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 5.07% to $99.19 per barrel, marking a significant reversal from earlier levels that had surged to $114 amid fears of a prolonged U.S.-Iran standoff. Analysts noted that the drop in oil prices contributed to the market’s rebound, with Brent futures closing at $96 a barrel. The improved sentiment was further bolstered by signs of potential de-escalation in the conflict, as both sides signaled a willingness to engage in diplomatic talks. Sectoral indices across the BSE ended higher, with the SmallCap Select index rising 3.05% and the MidCap Select index climbing 2.50%. Key performers included PSU banks (up 2.61%), realty (2.53%), metals (2.51%), and commodities (2.75%). A total of 2,959 stocks advanced, while 1,357 declined, with 156 remaining unchanged. Tech Mahindra, Power Grid, Tata Consultancy Services, and Bharat Electronics were among the underperformers. The rupee closed at a record low of 94.05 against the U.S. dollar, reflecting ongoing pressure from global economic uncertainties. Asian markets, including South Korea’s Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei 225, and China’s SSE Composite, ended higher, while European markets traded in positive territory. The U.S. market, however, closed lower on March 24, 2026.#us #iran #brent_crude #motilal_oswal_financial_services #siddhartha_khemka
Indian equity markets show 'structural resilience' amid FII outflows The Indian stock market faced sustained selling pressure due to escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, yet the Sensex and Nifty indices closed higher on the final trading day of the week. The Nifty ended at 23,114, gaining 0.49 per cent, while the Sensex rose 324 points or 0.44 per cent to 74,532. Despite a decline of 0.04 per cent during the week, the indices showed resilience amid ongoing market volatility. Sectoral performance varied, with Nifty IT and PSU Banks leading gains. Metal stocks also attracted strong buying interest, as the Nifty Metal index surged over 2 per cent. Analysts attributed this to positive brokerage commentary and improved demand outlooks. Broader indices, however, diverged from the benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap100 rising 0.06 per cent while the Nifty Smallcap100 fell 1.11 per cent. The Indian rupee hit a record low of Rs 93.49 against the US dollar, driven by high dollar demand, sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, and global currency pressures. Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, noted that the near-term outlook remains cautious, citing elevated crude oil prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. FIIs recorded cumulative outflows of Rs 81,263 crore over the past 13 sessions, further weighing on sentiment. Analysts highlighted key resistance and support levels for the Nifty, with 23,850 as the immediate resistance followed by 24,000 and 24,150. On the downside, 22,950 and 22,700 were identified as crucial support levels. The index has declined nearly 13 per cent from its all-time high, signaling a significant corrective phase in the broader market.#sensex #indian_stock_market #motilal_oswal_financial_services #nifty_indices #rbi
ABB India Shares Hit 52-Week High Amid Market Volatility ABB India Ltd reached a new 52-week high of Rs. 6,322 on March 11, 2026, despite broader market declines. The stock’s performance stood in contrast to the BSE Sensex, which fell 0.82% to 77,561.21 during the same period. Analysts noted the company’s resilience in the heavy electrical equipment sector, where it holds nearly 30% market share. The stock’s upward trend has been supported by strong fundamentals, including a zero debt-to-equity ratio and a high return on capital employed (ROCE) of 88.60%. Technical indicators suggest continued bullish momentum, with the stock trading above key moving averages such as the 50-day and 200-day lines. Derivatives data highlighted increased call option activity at the Rs. 6,300 strike price, indicating investor confidence in the stock’s potential. Trading volumes on March 11 showed significant interest in call options for the March 30, 2026, expiry, with over 4,000 contracts changing hands. Analysts at Motilal Oswal Financial Services recommended buying the stock, citing its recent upmove and robust trading volumes. Ruchit Jain, head of equity technical research at the firm, set a target price of Rs. 6,730 while advising investors to use a stop-loss at Rs. 6,030 to manage risk amid market volatility. The company’s ability to sustain its premium valuation, despite a reported 19.18% decline in quarterly profit before tax, underscores investor focus on its long-term market dominance and capital efficiency. The stock’s resilience comes amid global uncertainties, including fluctuations in crude oil prices and instability in the Middle East. While major indices have faced losses due to regional conflicts, the heavy electrical equipment sector has shown relative stability.#middle_east #bse_sensex #motilal_oswal_financial_services #abb_india #ruchit_jain
Maruti Suzuki Share Price Live Updates: Maruti Suzuki's Monthly Performance Shows a Sharp Drop Maruti Suzuki's stock has experienced a significant decline in its monthly performance, with a return of -12.43% over the past month. This sharp drop reflects broader market challenges and has raised concerns among investors. The stock closed at Rs 13,867.00 on the previous trading day, marking a 2.67% decrease from the prior session. The trading volume for the day was 353,715 shares, indicating reduced investor activity. The weekly performance further highlights the stock's struggles, as it recorded a weekly return of -4.67%. This decline has pushed the stock below its second support level (S2), with the current price at Rs 13,112.00 compared to the S2 level of Rs 14,135.67. Analysts and market observers are closely monitoring the stock's movement, as it continues to trade at a discount relative to its technical indicators. Motilal Oswal Financial Services has recently issued a new recommendation for Maruti Suzuki, suggesting a potential upside of approximately 31.85%. The brokerage has set a target price of Rs 17,406.00, while the stock was priced at Rs 13,497.00 at the time of the recommendation. The current trading price stands at Rs 13,201.50, indicating a gap between the target and the current valuation. The stock's market capitalization is listed at Rs 409,069.19, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.4 and an earnings per share (EPS) of Rs 474.92. These metrics provide insight into the company's financial health and investor sentiment. However, the recent decline in share price has sparked discussions about the factors influencing the stock's performance, including macroeconomic conditions and sector-specific challenges.#stock_market #market_capitalization #maruti_suzuki #motilal_oswal_financial_services #automotive_sector
Bajaj Finance Share Price Live Updates Bajaj Finance’s stock price has experienced a decline on March 9, 2026, with the latest trading data showing a drop of 2.3% to Rs 928.35. The three-month return for the stock is negative at 9.03%, reflecting a downward trend in recent weeks. Earlier in the day, the stock traded at Rs 924.05, marking a daily decline of 2.76%, and fell further to Rs 916.85 by mid-morning, a 3.51% decrease from the previous day’s close. The stock’s volume has also seen a significant drop, with 1.44 million shares traded in the latest session, far below the 7-day average of 7.55 million shares. This low volume suggests reduced investor activity or uncertainty about the stock’s future performance. Analysts note that the stock is currently trading below its 100-day simple moving average (SMA) of Rs 932.85 and the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) of Rs 932.48, indicating potential weakness in the short-term trend. Brokerage Motilal Oswal Financial Services has set a new target price for Bajaj Finance at Rs 1075.0, implying a potential upside of 16.13% from its current price of Rs 925.65. However, the stock has faced a weekly setback, with a return of -4.59% over the past week, and a monthly decline of -3.21%, signaling continued pressure on its valuation. Technical indicators highlight the stock’s struggle to maintain momentum, as it has broken below key support levels. The third support level (S3) at Rs 922.97 has been breached, with the stock trading at Rs 909.05, a 4.33% decline from the previous day’s close. Analysts suggest that the stock may face further downward pressure unless there is a reversal in sentiment or positive news to stabilize its price. The stock’s market capitalization stands at Rs 583,699.91, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 32.#stock_price #market_capitalization #bajaj_finance #motilal_oswal_financial_services #p_e_ratio
