LSE:CMCX 2 February 2026

March 22, 2026, 11:29 PM EDT. Indian equities are expected to open sharply lower Monday, with Nifty futures signaling a 1.4% decline amid a 2.7% drop across Asian markets. Rising U.S.-Iran tensions have driven Brent crude to around $112 a barrel, exacerbating concerns for India, a major oil importer. The surge in oil prices threatens to fuel inflation, weaken the rupee, and widen external deficits. Foreign investors have pulled $9.57 billion from Indian stocks in March, the largest outflow since October 2024. The rupee slipped past 93 per dollar last week in its steepest weekly decline in over three years. Key stocks like HDFC Bank fell after the resignation of its part-time chairman. The government's move to ramp up coal power plants and a new microfinance credit guarantee scheme reflect efforts to stabilize the economy amid these pressures.