After a rebound the previous session, Indian stock indices traded again in the red on Friday, ending the week on a weak note amid tensions in West Asia.
The cost of a home-cooked vegetarian (veg) thali was flat year-on-year in February 2026, while a non-vegetarian (non-veg) thali declined 3 per cent, according to the 'Roti Rice Rate' report of Crisil Intelligence.
Escalating tensions in West Asia, particularly around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, could pose near-term risks to global markets through higher energy prices, though India's underlying economic momentum remains relatively resilient, according to a report by Jefferies.
The bearish dominance returned to the Indian stock markets on Friday's opening session as both benchmark indices opened in the red, with rising crude oil prices continuing to influence investor sentiment.
Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful warned that the Middle East crisis has become a regional conflict impacting food and energy security. Speaking to ANI, he lauded India's maritime leadership in the Indian Ocean and reaffirmed Mauritius' legal sovereignty over the Chagos Islands
Every USD 10 per barrel increase in global crude oil prices could reduce India's GDP growth by about 0.5 per cent and add pressure on economic activity, inflation and currency stability, given the country's heavy reliance on imported crude, Vandana Bharti, Research Head - Commodity, SMC Glob
The IT services sector is facing challenges due to Artificial Intelligence (AI), with investors expressing concerns about job losses and the transition period. However, other sectors like real estate, autos, and domestic pharma companies showed more positive outlooks, with some showing stead
India's external sector outlook remains broadly manageable but faces rising risks from geopolitical developments in West Asia that could push up crude oil prices and widen the current account deficit (CAD), according to a recent research note by Yes Bank. The report noted that India recorded
Crude-linked sectors such as downstream oil refiners, tyres, paints, speciality chemicals, flexible packaging and synthetic textiles may also be affected if energy prices remain elevated.
India imports around 85 per cent of its crude oil and half of its LNG requirement, with about 40-50 per
Passengers arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport from Dubai on Thursday described contrasting situations in the UAE, with one reporting a situation of panic while another said everything is normal, though both noted that flight prices have increased significantly.
The Indian rupee recovered on Thursday after hitting an all-time low of 92.31 against USD, though currency experts believe the domestic currency is likely to remain under pressure due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and elevated crude oil prices.