Business
ETMarkets Smart Talk | History shows markets rebound after crises; avoid panic selling: Avinash Satwalekar of Franklin Templeton
Avinash Satwalekar, President at Franklin Templeton – India, emphasizes that markets have consistently rebounded strongly after major crises, rewarding those who stay invested rather than react impulsively.
While recent tensions and rising crude oil prices have triggered volatility and valuation corrections, Satwalekar believes India’s underlying economic fundamentals remain robust.
He advises investors to avoid panic selling, maintain a disciplined asset allocation strategy, and use periods of market weakness as opportunities to rebalance and build long-term positions. Edited Excerpts –
Q) Geopolitical tensions seem to be escalating across regions. How should global investors interpret these developments from a macro and market perspective?
A) Since the beginning of the conflict on Feb 28, 2026, domestic indices have witnessed a broad based decline. Nifty 50 Index declined 7%, Nifty Midcap 150 declined 8% while the Nifty Smallcap 250 declined 7%. Valuations across market caps have declined from peak.
Crude oil prices have exceeded USD 100 per barrel, briefly touching USD 108 which is generally inflationary. While India imports 88% of its oil requirements, its dependence on oil for GDP growth has been declining. Petroleum products which accounted for ~37% of total imports in 2014 have reduced to ~26% in 2025.
We assign a moderate probability for the conflict to prolong. We expect markets to recover post temporary impact of geo-political tensions. India’s economic fundamentals remain robust despite external shocks. Fiscal and monetary policy measures have helped India’s economic resilience and GDP growth is expected to exceed 7% in FY26. We expect corporate earnings recovery in FY27, which should attract FPI buying, a reversal of recent trends.
Q) Historically, markets tend to react sharply to geopolitical shocks but recover quickly. Is it time to diversify globally and which markets are looking attractive?
A) India’s equity market has witnessed several phases of geo-political crisis but has consistently recovered. For example, during the Iraq war in 2003, the Nifty 500 index declined 11% till the end of June 2003.
Thereafter, the index delivered positive 44% over the next 1 year. The global financial crisis of 2008 led to the Nifty 500 index decline about 58% till the end of 2008. Over the next 1 year, the index delivered 91% returns. Thus, history tells us that periods of crisis are temporary and investors should not panic during volatile times.
Investors usually have a home country bias when investing. However, diversifying globally allows investors to participate in opportunities which may not be available in domestic markets. Developed markets like US provide opportunities in areas of innovation and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.Emerging markets overall outperformed developed markets in 2025, and we still see a strong case for investing in them.
Emerging markets remain undervalued, underappreciated, and under-owned by many investors. Investors should diversify across geographies to participate in global growth opportunities while reducing downside risks.
Q) How could rising crude oil prices and commodity volatility reshape the global investment landscape?
A) Brent crude which was trading at around USD 67 per barrel in mid-February 2026 has risen about 50% to USD 100 per barrel, briefly touching USD 108 per barrel. According to RBI, a 10% jump in global crude oil prices could push India’s retail inflation up by 20 basis points and reduce GDP growth by 20 to 25 basis points.
India’s dependence on oil for growth has been declining. Oil required to generate a unit of GDP has declined by 27% over a decade. So, India is in a better place compared to many of the previous price spikes owing to which the impact from a moderate rise in energy prices can be absorbed.
The challenge this time, has been less on the price of oil and more on the actual availability of oil due to supply disruptions.
This has caused cuts to industrial production and operation of restaurants. Recent developments like US allowing India to purchase Russian crude oil for the next 30 days and Iran allowing Indian ships to transit through the Strait of Hormuz would help mitigate energy supply disruptions.
The disruption to physical supplies should also push India to pursue ways to sustainably reduce dependence on imported crude oil and gas as well as diversify supply sources. The current situation is likely to accelerate such efforts and provide possible opportunities.
Further, sectors like healthcare, financial services and technology present opportunities for global investors amid the present volatility. More importantly, having a well-diversified portfolio both geographically and based on asset classes is the better approach during volatile periods.
Q) What role does rebalancing play during volatile periods when asset prices move sharply due to geopolitical shocks?
A) Rebalancing plays a critical role especially during volatile times. It is during bull and bear phases of the market that asset allocations get skewed. During market corrections like we are now witnessing, the share of equity in an investor’s portfolio declines while the share of other asset classes like debt rises.
Rebalancing the portfolio during such phases helps restore the prescribed asset allocation. In the long run, this helps the investor maintain the asset allocation of the portfolio aligned to her risk appetite and potentially earn optimal risk adjusted returns.
Q) How can investors achieve better asset allocation across equities, debt, gold, and international markets?
A) Diversification is a fundamental tenet in investing. Diversifying one’s investment across various asset classes helps reduce downside risks and allows investors to benefit from low correlation between multiple asset classes across market cycles. Predicting market cycles is a dangerous proposition.
Investing in different asset classes separately could be expensive and inefficient from a tax perspective for most investors. Mutual funds provide avenues which invest across equity, debt and commodities in a single portfolio in the most tax efficient manner.
These are hybrid funds, such as Balanced Advantage Funds or Multi Asset Allocation Funds, which are managed by professional fund managers where the asset allocations are dynamically managed based on changing market conditions.
Another important layer of diversification is geographic diversification. Mutual funds investing in global markets provide an avenue to diversify globally. This allows investors to take global exposures with low investment amounts.
Q) Which global themes—such as technology, semiconductors, or global indices—do you believe investors should track in the current environment?
A) Technology and semiconductors are long term global themes broadly associated with artificial intelligence and energy transition. Healthcare and financial services are relatively less impacted by current geopolitical events and provide long term global opportunities for investors as well.
Q) Ideally what percentage of capital should be diversified globally for someone who is 30-40 years? And if someone wants to deploy fresh capital what would you advise?
A) Global investments are not just diversifiers but also help investors meet their future foreign currency goals like child’s education or travel. An investor may allocate 10 to 20% of her portfolio to global funds depending on the type of goal. Taking a SIP or STP route to investing would help stagger her investments.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
Business
Oil Futures Retreat On Middle East Conflict Seen Easing
1518 ET – Oil futures fall with Brent settling under $100 a barrel as President Trump postpones threatened attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, citing positive dialogue with Iran. Iran’s denial it’s in talks with the U.S. tempered early losses. “The markets continue to interpret the conflicting headlines as an indication that we are closer to an end than we were on Friday, but apprehension remains high,” Arlan Suderman of StoneX says in a note. Parties to the conflict are operating on both the battleground front and the public opinion front, he says. “This is all part of what we call the ‘fog of war’ when one has to take everything one hears with a grain of salt, focusing on actual developments.” WTI settles down 10% at $88.13 a barrel and Brent falls 11% to $99.94, their lowest closes since March 11. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
Oil Futures Stem Decline As Supply Issues Remain
Oil futures are lower but with Brent holding above $100 a barrel as initial optimism about President Trump’s postponement of threatened attacks on Iranian energy facilities wanes. “It appears that the possibility of a strong Iranian response to the U.S. threats was enough to prompt Trump’s latest decision,” Ritterbusch & Associates says in a note. “A prompt reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains questionable as will the volume of tanker traffic capable of proceeding through the strait in the coming weeks.” WTI is down 7.1% at $91.25 a barrel and Brent is down 7.8% at $103.41.
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Business
JetBlue flight returns to Rhode Island airport after hitting coyote on runway
JetBlue passenger Desiree Salter posted video of her blessing a plane with oil to social media on Feb. 15, and the video has gone viral following recent flight incidents. Credit: @desireesalter /TMX
A JetBlue flight was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff Tuesday after reportedly striking a coyote on the runway at a Rhode Island airport.
JetBlue Flight 1129, bound for New York’s JFK Airport, struck the animal while taking off from T.F. Green Airport Tuesday morning, according to WPRI-TV. Although the aircraft initially continued its climb, it returned to Rhode Island about 15 minutes later.
Erin Drozda, a passenger on the flight, said she heard “a thud” during takeoff.
“We were up in the air for 10 to 15 minutes, and then all of a sudden the captain came on and said, ‘This is the flight crew. If anyone heard that thud, we hit a coyote, and we are now on our way back to Providence,’” she told the station.
FATAL LAGUARDIA COLLISION RENEWS FOCUS ON RUNWAY INCURSION RISKS ACROSS US

A JetBlue flight returned to a Rhode Island airport after a reported wildlife strike during takeoff on March 24. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)
“We thought it was a joke at first,” she added. “You don’t ever hear that.”
Drozda said emergency crews were waiting on the runway when the plane returned.
She said crews inspected the nose of the aircraft for damage before asking passengers to deplane so a full inspection could be completed.
UNITED AIRLINES SLASHES FLIGHTS AS IRAN WAR SENDS FUEL PRICES SOARING

JetBlue planes at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in the Queens borough of New York on Dec. 26, 2025. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“We got off the plane and stayed inside for about another half hour or so, and then they told us that everything was OK, and we were able to get back on the plane,” she told the station.
According to FlightAware data, the plane departed Rhode Island around 6:16 a.m. and returned to T.F. Green at 6:40 a.m. It took off again just after 8:30 a.m. and landed at JFK at 9:06 a.m.
Drozda said the delay caused her and her wife to miss a connecting flight to Costa Rica, though they were able to rebook for Wednesday.
A spokesperson for T.F. Green Airport told CBS News the incident did not impact other flights.
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JetBlue Flight 1129 returned to T.F. Green Airport about 15 minutes after takeoff after reportedly striking a coyote on the runway. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images / Getty Images)
JetBlue said the aircraft returned “out of an abundance of caution” after a report that the landing gear made contact with wildlife during takeoff. The airline added the flight landed safely and no issues or injuries were reported.
FOX Business has reached out to JetBlue and T.F. Green Airport for additional information.
Business
Perth Bears jersey date revealed, Storm eye corporate networking opportunities during August clash against Manly Sea Eagles at HBF Park
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Business
How to Make Sure You Have Enough to Retire, No Matter What
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Gas Prices Soar, Market Loses Over $300 Billion
SYDNEY — Australia is absorbing significant economic losses from the ongoing US-Iran war, with petrol prices hitting record highs near A$2.20 per litre, inflation forecasts revised upward by as much as 1.25 percentage points and more than A$300 billion wiped from the share market since fighting erupted in late February 2026, even as the nation’s role as an energy exporter provides some offsetting gains in commodity revenues.

Pixabay
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on Feb. 28, has disrupted roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies through repeated threats to and partial closures of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have swung wildly, spiking above US$110-120 per barrel at peaks before settling around US$100 or higher in recent days — a roughly 50% jump from pre-war levels near US$70-75.
For Australia, which imports about 90% of its refined transport fuels while exporting crude oil, condensate and LNG, the net effect has been painful for households and businesses despite benefits to resource companies. Petrol prices have climbed 20-70 cents per litre in many areas since the war started, with wholesale diesel reaching A$2.45 per litre in some reports. Motorists and farmers are feeling the pinch, prompting panic buying at service stations and warnings of potential shortages if disruptions persist beyond mid-April.
Treasury analysis released in mid-March projected that if oil averages US$100 per barrel in the first half of 2026 before easing, headline inflation would peak 0.75 percentage points higher than previously expected, while gross domestic product would be about 0.2% lower. In a worse-case scenario with prices hitting US$120 and taking three years to normalize, inflation could rise an extra 1.25 points and GDP take a 0.6% hit by 2027 — equivalent to roughly A$18 billion in lost output.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has signaled it is “very alert” to the risks, with Governor Michele Bullock noting potential second-round effects on inflation expectations. Higher fuel costs feed directly into the consumer price index, where automotive fuel carries significant weight, and indirectly raise prices for goods transported by road, air or sea, as well as energy-intensive products like fertiliser and plastics.
The stock market has borne a visible cost. The S&P/ASX 200 has fallen more than 9% from its early March peak, shedding over A$300 billion in value as investors priced in slower global growth, higher interest rates and uncertainty. Mining and energy stocks have shown mixed performance: some like Woodside and Santos benefited from elevated commodity prices, but broader sentiment dragged the index toward correction territory.
Exporters face additional headaches. War-risk insurance premiums have surged for shipping through or near affected areas, complicating deliveries to the Gulf and Europe. Air freight costs have risen, and some routes have been lengthened to avoid risky airspace. Consumer confidence has also dipped, potentially curbing spending and weighing on retail and tourism sectors.
Australia’s low fuel stockpiles — around 36 days for petrol, 32 for diesel and 29 for jet fuel as of early March — have amplified vulnerability. The government temporarily relaxed fuel quality standards to boost local production by an extra 100 million litres per month and has coordinated with suppliers in Singapore, a key source of refined fuels. Energy Minister Chris Bowen authorized these measures to ease short-term pressure, but officials warn that physical shortages from Asian refineries cutting output could arrive after a supply-chain lag.
Farmers in regional areas are particularly exposed, with diesel shortages threatening autumn planting and higher input costs squeezing margins. Transport operators and airlines, including Qantas, have flagged fare increases or operational adjustments due to elevated jet fuel prices.
On the positive side, higher global energy prices have lifted Australia’s terms of trade. LNG and coal export revenues are rising, boosting corporate profits in the resources sector and supporting government tax receipts. Some analysts note this could partially offset the drag on household disposable income, where the average family may face an extra A$14 per week or A$730 annually in fuel costs.
Still, most economists view the overall impact as negative in the near term. Westpac and CommBank modelling suggest retail petrol could average around A$2.02 per litre and diesel A$2.50 if prices hold, with underlying inflation remaining sticky above the RBA’s target into 2027 and GDP growth shaved by 0.1-0.5 percentage points depending on duration.
The war has also prompted strategic responses. Australia has deployed military assets to the Middle East to support operations, including evacuation and potential escort duties, while participating in international efforts to secure shipping lanes. Critics argue deeper involvement risks complicating trade ties with China, a major buyer of Australian commodities and source of some fuel imports.
Longer-term risks include sustained pressure on the Australian dollar, which has weakened amid risk-off sentiment, and potential RBA rate hikes that could further dampen growth. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described the economic consequences as “very substantial,” noting they will shape the May budget. Calls have grown for a windfall profits tax on fossil fuel exporters to help ease cost-of-living pressures.
The situation remains fluid. Oil prices have shown extreme volatility, plunging on de-escalation hopes only to rebound on renewed threats. International efforts, including IEA-coordinated stockpile releases and diplomatic talks involving multiple nations, aim to stabilize flows, but analysts warn a prolonged Hormuz disruption could push prices toward US$150 or higher in extreme scenarios.
For ordinary Australians, the pain is already real at the pump and in broader price pressures. Businesses are absorbing or passing on costs, while policymakers balance short-term relief with longer-term energy security reforms. Australia’s paradox — a major energy exporter with thin domestic fuel reserves — has rarely been more exposed.
As the conflict enters its fourth week, the full bill remains uncertain. Treasury and bank forecasts will likely be updated as events unfold, but early indications point to a meaningful hit to living standards and growth, tempered only partially by resource sector windfalls. Economists stress that a swift resolution would limit damage, while prolongation risks scarring the economy for years.
Business
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Iran military spokesperson says US is negotiating with itself, state media

Iran military spokesperson says US is negotiating with itself, state media
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Gold Price Pares Back Losses After Trump Post. Why It’s Still Down.
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Business
Discover the Hidden Treasures of Thailand for the Ultimate Healing Journey
Thailand’s Healing Journey campaign promotes wellness tourism, highlighting serene destinations like Krabi, Chiang Mai, and Sukhothai. The initiative focuses on immersive cultural experiences, sustainable travel, and profound relaxation.
Key Points
- Campaign Launch: Thailand’s Healing Journey campaign, initiated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in January 2026, targets wellness-seeking travelers. It promotes physical and mental rejuvenation through serene destinations like Krabi, Chiang Mai, and Sukhothai, emphasizing immersive cultural experiences and traditional healing practices.
- Wellness Focus: The campaign highlights diverse wellness offerings, from hot springs to yoga retreats, enhancing the travel experience with cultural depth. Emphasizing a mindful living philosophy, travelers can explore nature, engage in wellness activities, and enjoy locally-sourced culinary delights.
- Sustainability Commitment: Emphasizing responsible tourism, the campaign promotes eco-friendly practices while inviting conscious visitors. By offering tailored wellness packages in luxurious yet mindful settings, Thailand aims to redefine luxury, making it synonymous with wellness, cultural enrichment, and sustainable travel.
Thailand’s Healing Journey Campaign: An Introduction
Thailand is experiencing a significant transformation in its travel landscape with the launch of the Healing Journey Thailand wellness campaign by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in January 2026. This initiative aims to attract high-value, wellness-seeking travelers and highlights the country’s natural beauty intertwined with rich cultural experiences. The campaign emphasizes the concept that “Healing is the New Luxury,” encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in traditional Thai healing practices and explore tranquil settings. Targeting those searching for a purposeful travel experience, it offers a blend of relaxation, self-reflection, and cultural immersion across various scenic locations.
Exploring Unique Wellness Destinations
The campaign spotlights lesser-known destinations such as Krabi, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, and Baan Na Ton Chan, which provide opportunities for wellness, relaxation, and cultural engagement. In Krabi, crystal-clear beaches set the scene for rejuvenation, while Chiang Mai is celebrated for its spiritual ambiance and rich arts scene, offering tranquil meditation centers alongside vibrant local markets. These regions not only serve as peaceful retreats but also allow travelers to engage in traditional Thai practices and community workshops, enhancing their connection to the local culture and ensuring that the wellness experience goes beyond superficial relaxation.
Sustainability and Holistic Wellness Experiences
Emphasizing eco-consciousness, the campaign encourages responsible travel, aligning with global trends towards sustainability. The Healing Journey Thailand promotes the idea that luxury can manifest through meaningful wellness experiences rather than mere opulence. Visitors are invited to partake in healing activities such as yoga retreats and hot spring visits, complemented by locally sourced culinary delights, which foster a holistic approach to well-being. By focusing on quality over quantity in tourism, Thailand aims to create lasting positive effects for both travelers and the local communities, making it a premier destination for self-care and rejuvenation.
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