Sensex Gains 2,000 Points Amid Middle East Tensions as Oil Prices Ease
March 18, 2026, 1:28 AM EDT. The Sensex surged over 2,000 points this week, rebounding roughly 2.7% despite ongoing Iran conflict and geopolitical risks. Key support came as crude oil prices cooled, easing inflation concerns and stabilizing markets. The S&P BSE Sensex rose 492.29 points to 76,563.13, led by IT and auto sectors. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth Rs 88,345.38 crore, offsetting foreign institutional investors' (FIIs) Rs 70,989.96 crore in sales. Bargain hunting after last week's sharp decline and select sector buying, especially in telecom, pharmaceuticals, and defense, also helped sustain the rally. Market strategists note investors are rotating away from expensive IT and FMCG stocks toward more resilient segments, navigating uncertainty with cautious optimism.
Royal Bank of Canada Shares Seen Undervalued Despite Strong Gains
March 18, 2026, 1:15 AM EDT. Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY) shares trade around C$224.89, showing a 44.4% gain over the past year and 133.5% over five years. Despite these gains, an Excess Returns valuation model indicates the stock is about 32.4% undervalued, with an intrinsic value estimate near C$332.63 per share. The model compares the bank's return on equity against its cost of equity, suggesting management efficiently generates capital returns. While the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio also offers insight into valuation, the current stock price may not fully reflect the bank's earnings potential and growth prospects. Investors should weigh regulatory impacts and sector trends when assessing Royal Bank's fair value.
Sensex, Nifty Gain Early Amid Oil Price Dip and IT Stock Rally
March 18, 2026, 1:13 AM EDT. Sensex rose 518.84 points to 76,589.68, and Nifty jumped 157.75 points to 23,738.90 in early trade Wednesday, extending recent gains. The rally was led by IT firms such as Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys, supported by a 1.46% drop in Brent crude to $101.9 a barrel. Analysts noted crude stabilisation around $102 helped market confidence despite geopolitical uncertainties. South Korea's Kospi surged nearly 4% and Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed over 2%, while Chinese and Hong Kong markets were mixed. Foreign investors sold equities worth Rs 4,741 crore Tuesday, but domestic investors bought Rs 5,225 crore, providing market stability, said Enrich Money CEO Ponmudi R.
Apsis Aerocom Share Price Lists 39% Above IPO on NSE SME
March 18, 2026, 1:12 AM EDT. Apsis Aerocom shares debuted on the NSE SME platform at ₹153, a 39% premium to its ₹110 IPO price. The precision engineering firm's IPO, valued at ₹35.77 crore, saw robust demand with a 129.33 times subscription. Non-institutional investors notably oversubscribed their quota by 236.61 times. Post-listing, the stock surged 5% further to ₹160.65 within the morning session. The company aims to use ₹27.02 crore from the IPO to purchase machinery, expanding its Bengaluru manufacturing facility and establishing a new unit to meet aerospace and defence sector demands.
Can Cash-Rich SGX Stocks HRnetGroup, VICOM, and Valuetronics Sustain Dividend Growth?
March 18, 2026, 12:59 AM EDT. Three SGX-listed companies-HRnetGroup, VICOM, and Valuetronics-boast strong balance sheets with zero debt and cash reserves exceeding their dividend obligations. HRnetGroup reported S$262.9 million in cash and a 5.3% rise in free cash flow to S$52.0 million for FY2025, enabling a 5% dividend increase to 4.2 Singapore cents per share. VICOM's free cash flow fell 16.8% to S$19.2 million due to elevated capital expenditure for a one-off Electronic Road Pricing 2.0 project but posted a 40.1% surge in revenue and declared a higher dividend of 8.4 Singapore cents per share. Capital expenditure is expected to normalize in 2026 with new revenue streams adding further cash flow support, underpinning potential dividend sustainability for both firms.
Asian Shares Rise on Export Data as Oil Prices Fall Despite Iran Attacks
March 18, 2026, 12:56 AM EDT. Asian stock markets climbed Wednesday, driven by strong export numbers from Japan and South Korea and a pullback in oil prices despite Iran's missile attacks on Gulf neighbors. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 2.6% while South Korea's Kospi surged 3.8%. Brent crude oil prices dropped 2.3% to about $101 per barrel amid concerns over supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. The Federal Reserve's anticipated decision to hold rates steady added to measured market optimism. U.S. stock futures rose 0.4%, with shares of Delta Air Lines up 6.6% on robust revenue forecasts, offsetting rising fuel costs. Market participants appear unfazed by geopolitical tensions so far, focusing on economic data and central bank signals.
Sensex and Nifty Open Higher Despite FPI Outflows and Geopolitical Tensions
March 18, 2026, 12:41 AM EDT. Indian stock markets started Wednesday on a positive note with the Sensex climbing 296.71 points to 76,367.55 and the Nifty 50 rising 51.75 points to 23,632.90. This resilience comes amid ongoing foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows exceeding Rs 70,000 crore and geopolitical uncertainty from the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Sectoral indices showed broad strength: Nifty IT surged over 2.3%, Autos gained 1.38%, and Midcap and Smallcap indices rose firmly. Market experts highlighted the influence of deepening oil market disruptions and an upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve meeting expected to maintain interest rates. Global cues were mixed but mostly positive, with key Asian indexes climbing, except for Hong Kong's Hang Seng. Elevated crude oil at around $103 per barrel and weak gold and silver prices added complexity to the market environment.
Nifty50 Surges Past 23,650; BSE Sensex Advances Over 300 Points on March 18, 2026
March 18, 2026, 12:26 AM EDT. On March 18, 2026, Nifty50 climbed above 23,650, up 102 points or 0.43%, while the BSE Sensex gained over 300 points, trading at 76,389.62. Markets extended a three-day rally, driven by stable crude oil prices around $102, easing fears of spikes above $120, and selective buying by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in sectors like telecom. Domestic institutional investors also supported the rally with net purchases worth Rs 5,225 crore. Global markets, including the US and Asia, saw gains as investors looked past Middle East tensions and awaited the US Federal Reserve's policy decision. Oil prices softened slightly following an increase in US crude inventories, while gold prices remained steady amid cautious sentiment.
ASX Defence Stocks Rise Amid Geopolitical Tensions and Drone Industry Growth
March 18, 2026, 12:25 AM EDT.ASX defence stocks climbed as geopolitical tensions fuel demand for advanced military technology. Bell Potter tagged 2026 as the 'year of the drone,' anticipating a surge in spending on drone detection and defeat solutions worldwide. Despite a sharp drop in Bell Potter-related share prices after insider selling news in November 2025, including CEO Oleg Vornik's sale, the company reported a record revenue in FY2025. Vornik expressed continued confidence in the firm's growth potential, highlighting a pivotal moment for the global defence sector driven by increasing drone-related investments.
Sugar Prices Rise as Crude Oil Strength Boosts Ethanol Demand
March 18, 2026, 12:10 AM EDT.Sugar prices climbed Thursday, with July New York world sugar rising 2.16% and August London white sugar up 1.96%, driven by a 3% rally in WTI crude oil. Higher crude boosts ethanol's competitiveness, encouraging mills to shift cane crushing from sugar to ethanol, tightening sugar supply. Meanwhile, abundant global production forecasts weigh on prices. Brazil's sugar output is expected to grow 4% to 45.875 million metric tons (MMT) in 2025/26, while India's crop is forecast to jump 26% to 35 MMT, due to strong monsoon rains. Analysts foresee a global sugar surplus in 2025/26, contrasting with a current deficit. India's eased export restrictions may add pressure. Despite short-term price gains linked to oil, surplus production and export policies present bearish headwinds for sugar.
