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At 284 companies, it was the highest reading in at least 12 quarters, according to an analysis by ETIG. They had pared holdings in 271 and 259 companies, respectively, in the December quarter of FY26 and in the year-ago quarter. The sample consists of 453 companies from the BSE500 index, which have declared shareholding information in each of the past 13 quarters.

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Number of cos with reduction at a 12-quarter high as investors turn cautious amid geopolitical uncertainties

Retail investors, included under the ‘public and others’ category, observed caution amid rising geopolitical uncertainties that caused the benchmark indices to tumble nearly 16% in the first three months of 2026. Based on a market cap basis, they reduced holdings in 65% of the companies having ₹25,000 crore or more in market cap and in 60% of the companies below this threshold. They reduced stakes in majority of the companies from sectors. including auto and ancillaries, banking, finance and insurance (BFSI), capital goods, and pharmaceuticals.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPI), notwithstanding their heavy selling in Indian equities during the period, increased stakes in 201 companies, surpassing the previous quarter’s reading of 179 companies. They increased stakes in companies from sectors, including capital goods, metals & mining and pharmaceuticals while reducing stakes in auto and ancillaries, BFSI and IT companies in the March quarter. Domestic funds, too, increased stakes in 280 companies in the March quarter compared with 261 in the prior quarter.

Company promoters joined institutional investors by raising their shareholding in 42 companies, highest in at least 12 quarters, in the March quarter, thereby taking advantage of lower stock valuations. They had increased holdings in 32 and 34 companies in the previous quarter and year ago, respectively.

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According to reports by broking firms on the ownership structure in the March quarter, FPI stake continued to fall in Indian companies in the March quarter. Elara Securities mentioned in a report that the stake of FPIs in the Nifty 500 companies fell to 17.6% from 18.2% a quarter ago while domestic institutions raised their holding marginally to 19.9% from 19.8% by similar comparison.

The new chief executive at Disney DIS 0.56%increase; green up pointing triangle on Wednesday laid out his long-term vision for the company, centered on using technology to reach consumers and increase profits.

In a nearly 3,000-word letter to shareholders accompanying quarterly financial results and comments in a conference call with analysts, Josh D’Amaro emphasized his plans to make Disney+ a digital hub for all the company’s businesses and invest in new technology, particularly around videogames.

Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston also answered a burning question among Disney investors by saying the company doesn’t intend to sell or spin off its linear networks, including ESPN.

The shareholder letter, a new tack for Disney, provides fresh insights on how D’Amaro hopes to boost the company’s stagnant stock price. Disney faces a costly transition from linear TV to streaming; economic and political instability; and heightened competition from tech companies such as YouTube.

For the second fiscal quarter, ended March 28, Disney reported revenue of $25.17 billion, up 7% from a year earlier. Net income fell around 30% to $2.25 billion, largely owing to a one-time tax benefit the prior year. Earnings per share excluding certain items rose 8% to $1.57, above analysts’ expectations, thanks in large part to growing streaming margins.

The sector saw outflows worth ₹11,704 crore in the second half of the month, after selling of ₹19,152 crore in the first half of April, according to data from NSDL. The pace of selling moderated compared to March, when they divested worth over ₹60,000 crore -the highest since 2012.

“The unabated sell-off in banking stocks is due to the sector’s high weightage in benchmark Nifty and concerns of higher inflation that could increase current account deficit,” said Sonam Srivastava, f0ounder and CEO, Wright Research.

The withdrawals from financials accounted for over 41% of the overs0eas investor selling worth ₹28,301 crore across 15 sectors in the second half of April.

In the first part of the month, they dumped shares worth ₹49,481 crore across 19 sectors.

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Sector sees outflows worth ₹11,704 cr in April 2nd half, a fourth straight fortnight from the beginning of March

Other than financials, oil and gas, information technology and healthcare were among the sectors that bore the brunt of foreign selling.
These investors deployed funds worth ₹15,592 crore across eight sectors in the second half of April, with about 60% of the investments led by the power and capital goods sectors. Both sectors witnessed purchases worth over ₹4,500 crore each in the period.Foreign investors bought shares worth ₹601 crore in the power sector in the first half of April, and while capital goods saw selling worth ₹328 crore during this period, the sector attracted inflows worth ₹3,148 crore in March- at the peak of the sell-off this year.

“Power demand has seen a strong global upswing, driven partly by rising investments in AI, which require large-scale data centres and reliable power infrastructure,” said Saurabh Patwa, head of equities and portfolio manager at Quest Investment Managers. “Power transmission and distribution companies are witnessing record-high order inflows and have performed well on the back of this strong demand environment.”

During periods of war, inflation and heightened uncertainty, investors often gravitate towards physical assets, which makes capital goods companies relatively well placed, he said.

The latest rise followed Iran’s accusation that the U.S. breached the month-long ceasefire. Washington, meanwhile, said its actions were retaliatory after Iranian forces fired on U.S. naval vessels passing through the strait on Thursday.

Oil price on May 8

Brent crude futures rose $1.41, or 1.41%, to $101.47 a barrel by 0123 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $1.12, or 1.18%, to $95.93 a barrel. Prices had initially surged more than 3% at the open.The rebound came after three straight sessions of losses driven by reports earlier this week that Washington and Tehran were nearing an agreement to halt hostilities and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed deal, however, was expected to leave broader disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme unresolved. Despite Friday’s gains, both crude benchmarks are still on track to end the week around 6% lower.

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Iran’s military claimed the U.S. targeted an Iranian oil tanker, another vessel, and civilian areas both in the strait and on the mainland.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said U.S. forces had destroyed the Iranian targets involved in the confrontation, including small boats and drones. He also warned Iran of further military action if it failed to reach a nuclear agreement.
The exchange came as the U.S. awaited Tehran’s response to its latest peace proposal, which did not address several key sticking points, including Washington’s demand to reopen the strait. Before the conflict erupted on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz handled roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply, but traffic has remained largely disrupted since fighting involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel intensified.
Analysts said the market remains on edge. Haitong Futures noted that the ceasefire may only be temporary, adding that stalled negotiations between the U.S. and Iran could spark renewed escalation and drive oil prices even higher.

Nuvama Institutional Equities said a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt nearly 20 million barrels per day of crude flows. Under such a scenario, oil prices could potentially surge to between $110 and $150 per barrel.

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