The wounds from the recent bloodbath remain fresh on Dalal Street, even as markets attempt to recover some losses. Market expert Manish Chokhani pointed out that Indian currency, bonds and equities are all cheap now, and this could unleash a buying frenzy.

“Indian currency, Indian bonds, Indian equities are all cheap now. Just waiting for cheap oil to unleash a buying frenzy? Is it the dark hour before dawn…or the twilight before a dark night?” the Director at Enam Holdings said in a post on X.

Both Sensex and Nifty have crashed nearly 9% respectively so far in March, with the sharp selloff wiping out more than Rs 40 lakh crore from the total market capitalization of all companies listed on BSE. This came as the war between Iran and US-Israel triggered a massive rally in oil prices and rattled global markets. Market analysts also highlighted the possible impact of prolonged elevated oil prices on India’s economy.Earlier this month, Moody’s Ratings had said that India could face pressure on the rupee, higher inflation and a widening current account deficit in case the Middle East crisis continued to push up energy prices and disrupt supplies. Costly energy imports would weaken the rupee, raise inflation, worsen the current account balance and complicate monetary policy as well as fiscal management if they lead to expanded subsidies to help offset the economic shock.

“India is a resilient country with strong fundamentals. While we have war raging on, Indians understand the challenges and are willing to work with the government. There will be a shortfall in economic activity in the short run, but we will make up for it in the coming months,” said Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal during a fireside chat with CNBC-TV18 earlier this month.

Markets heal after bloodbath

While the war is officially in its fourth week, markets found some much-needed relief after the leaders of the countries involved in the conflict hinted at ceasefire talks and possibility of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil supply.
The US President Donald Trump-led administration has sent a 15-point plan and ceasefire proposal to Iran to end the raging war in the Middle East, multiple news agencies reported. The peace plan was shared with Iranian officials on Tuesday via Pakistan, according to the New York Times.
Trump, meanwhile, claimed that Iran has agreed that it will “never have a nuclear weapon”, even as fighting in the region continued and Tehran publicly denied that any formal negotiations are underway. Trump also claimed victory in the war, stating that US military forces have destroyed Iran’s military capabilities. “Look, their navy’s gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. Pretty much everything they have is gone,” he said. Later, the US President added that Iran had sent what he described as a “very big present” linked to the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a sign that the US was “dealing with the right people”.

As a result of the rising expectations of the war ending soon, oil prices sharply slipped below the key $100 per barrel mark today. Brent crude futures declined nearly 5% to $99 per barrel on Wednesday morning.

Indian stock markets rallied sharply on Wednesday, with Sensex jumping 1,150 points to 75,214, while Nifty 50 gained 370 points to near 23,300 in the morning. The benchmark indices have extended gains for the second consecutive session, erasing all losses recorded during Monday’s crash.

The latest decline in oil prices have stoked hopes for the selloff in markets to calm down. Only time will tell whether the recent bloodbath was the “dark hour before dawn” or “the twilight before a dark night”, as stated by Chokhani.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Shares of Solar Industries rallied as much as 5.4% to their day’s high of Rs 13,251 on the BSE on Wednesday after domestic brokerage firm Elara Capital initiated coverage with a Buy call, citing that the company is ‘unleashing growth juggernauts’.

With a target price of Rs 15,450, the brokerage implies an upside potential of 24% from the previous close of Rs 12,430 per share. Analysts said one of the world’s largest commercial explosives companies is entering its next phase of growth across the defence, explosives and mining value chain.

The company is evolving from a strong industrial explosives franchise into a vertically integrated defence manufacturer, positioning itself to tap high entry barrier segments such as propellants, warheads and rocket integration, ammunition, military drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, counter-drone systems and anti-tank guided missiles. At the same time, its international non-defence explosives business is also gaining solid traction.

The initiation comes at a crucial juncture for defence stocks, amid the ongoing Iran conflict and heightened geopolitical tensions. Here are the three key growth drivers for the company, according to Elara Capital.

1.) Defence to fire growth: Revenue from the segment has grown sharply at a CAGR of 82% over FY21-25, increasing its contribution from just 5% of total sales in FY21 to 18% in FY25. This segment is expected to drive the next phase of strong growth, supported by India’s defence capital expenditure of Rs 2.2 lakh crore in FY27, along with rising global conflicts and higher defence spending worldwide.

Modern warfare is increasingly centred around four key categories: missiles and rockets, drones, counter-drone systems and ammunition. The company remains the only player in India with a presence across all these segments, positioning it as a key beneficiary. Its in-house capabilities in defence explosives, including warheads, are likely to further accelerate growth. “We expect defence revenue to grow at a CAGR of 66% over FY25-28E, with its share in overall revenue rising to 42% by FY28E,” it said in a note.
2.) Going global: Global footprint expansion continues to drive growth in the explosives segment, with the company significantly strengthening its international presence. The company now operates in more than 90 countries and has established seven overseas manufacturing facilities across Zambia, Nigeria, Turkey, South Africa, Indonesia, Tanzania and Ghana. International business already contributes about 38% of total revenue in FY25, highlighting its strong global scale. Looking ahead, further momentum is expected with new operations planned in Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and Thailand over the next two years. This expansion is likely to support an exports CAGR of around 19% during FY25-28.3.) Defence Capex plan: The company is stepping up its defence ambitions with a significant capital expenditure plan. The company intends to invest Rs 2,200 crore over FY26-28E to scale up existing capabilities and explore new opportunities in areas such as advanced ammunition and aerospace solutions. This capex will be funded through a mix of internal accruals and debt.

The push is supported by a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Maharashtra for a large defence project worth Rs 12,700 crore over the next 10 years. The initiative aims to expand production across key segments, including drones and UAVs, counter-drone systems, energetic materials, next-generation explosives and robotics.

India’s defence story is expected to benefit from increasing indigenisation and a widening global ammunition supply gap. Rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in West Asia, along with the Russia-Ukraine conflict and growing risks across maritime, aerial and land domains, have created what can be described as a “security super cycle,” driving record-high global military spending and supporting sustained growth in the defence sector.

Against this backdrop, Solar Industries stands out with strong fundamentals. The company reported an EBITDA margin of 26% in FY25, along with a return on capital employed of around 37% and a return on equity of 31%, underscoring its operational strength and efficiency.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

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Peptide drugs are one of the fastest-moving areas in biotech, but behind every platform and patent is a scientist who chose to solve hard problems.

Dr. Chengzao Sun is one of those scientists.

Today, he is Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Pinnacle Medicines. He leads research in macrocyclic oral peptide therapeutics. But his path began long before the creation of the company and his role as an executive leader.

It started in a chemistry lab.

Early Education and Scientific Foundation

Dr. Sun earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Brown University. That training shaped how he thinks.

Organic chemistry is detail-driven. It demands precision. It rewards patience.

“Chemistry teaches you discipline,” he says. “If you miss a small detail, the whole molecule fails.”

That mindset carried into his career. He focused early on peptide chemistry and synthetic methods. Peptides sit between small molecules and biologics. They are powerful but complex. For many years, they were hard to turn into practical medicines.

That challenge pulled him in.

“I’ve always liked problems that sit in the middle,” he explains. “Peptides are not easy. That’s why they’re interesting.”

How Chengzao Sun Built a Career in Peptide Drug Discovery

Over the past 20+ years, Dr. Sun has worked across biotech and large pharma. His career includes roles at Amylin, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson.

At each stop, the theme stayed the same: peptide drug discovery.

At Merck and Amylin, he worked on programs that moved from lead discovery to development. This meant designing molecules, testing their stability, and improving peptide binding to difficult biological targets.

Later, at Johnson & Johnson, he took on broader leadership. He became Head of the Peptide Platform and Early Portfolio.

That role was not just science. It was a strategy.

“You’re not just asking if a molecule works,” he says. “You’re asking if it can become a medicine.”

He led cross-functional teams. He worked with chemistry, biology, clinical, and regulatory groups. Programs moved from early research toward Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical stages.

This shift marked a turning point. He moved from scientist to scientific leader.

Why Oral Peptide Therapeutics Matter

Peptides are powerful. But many require injection. That limits patient access and comfort.

Dr. Sun saw a gap.

“Peptides can hit targets small molecules cannot,” he explains. “But if patients can’t take them easily, adoption becomes harder.”

That problem helped shape the vision behind Pinnacle Medicines.

Today, as Co-Founder and CSO, he leads research focused on macrocyclic and oral peptide platforms. Macrocyclic peptides are structured in ways that can improve stability and binding strength. The goal is to unlock new therapeutic pathways.

His work spans multiple disease areas. These include immunology, oncology, cardiometabolic disease, and neuroscience.

He is also listed as an inventor on numerous patents related to peptide and macrocyclic therapeutics. Some focus on pathways such as interleukin-23 (IL-23), a key player in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

“Oral peptide may be the ultimate solution,” he says. “It is safe, efficacious and convenient”

From Big Pharma to Company Creation

Starting a company is different from leading a division inside a global pharmaceutical firm.

At Pinnacle Medicines, Dr. Sun is helping shape both science and culture.

“In a smaller company, every decision counts,” he says. “You don’t hide behind structure. You build it.”

As CSO, he oversees research direction, platform development, and scientific partnerships. He works closely with teams pushing programs from concept through early development.

The focus is not speed for its own sake. It is disciplined progress.

“Drug discovery takes time,” he says. “You have to respect biology and we focus most on validated ones.”

Publications, Patents, and Industry Impact

Dr. Sun has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications. His work includes advances in cyclic peptide linker design and molecular modeling.

He is also an inventor on multiple patents. These patents reflect years of applied research. They are not theoretical exercises. They are tied to real programs and real therapeutic goals.

His expertise sits at the intersection of medicinal chemistry, peptide engineering, and translational development.

Beyond corporate work, he serves as a Scientific Advisory Board member of the Boulder Peptide Society. The organization brings together researchers focused on peptide science and innovation.

“Science moves faster when people share ideas,” he says. “Community matters.”

Leadership Style and Industry Perspective

Dr. Sun does not describe himself as a visionary. He describes himself as practical.

“You earn credibility molecule by molecule,” he says.

Colleagues know him for bridging detailed chemistry with business strategy. That combination matters in biotech. A platform must work scientifically. But it must also fit development realities.

He believes the peptide field is entering a new phase.

“We now have better tools,” he says. “Computational design. Improved synthesis. Better delivery strategies. The field is more mature.”

Still, he stays cautious.

“Drug discovery humbles you,” he says. “You learn to stay curious.”

The Bigger Picture in Peptide Innovation

Peptide drug discovery is no longer a niche. It is a competitive and fast-evolving sector within biotech.

Leaders like Dr. Chengzao Sun helped build the foundation during its early phases. Now they are shaping their next chapter.

His career shows a steady progression: chemist, drug discovery scientist, platform head, co-founder.

Each step builds on the last.

“I never chased titles,” he says. “I chased hard scientific questions.”

Today, those questions continue at Pinnacle Medicines.

And the molecules are still at the center of the story.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund has launched the JioBlackRock Large Cap Fund which is open for subscription and will close on April 7.

The investment objective of the scheme is to generate long-term capital appreciation by predominantly investing in equity and equity-related instruments of large-cap companies.

Investment strategy

The scheme will follow an active investment strategy that adopts a systematic approach to stock selection and portfolio construction. The approach allows the fund manager to respond proactively to changing market conditions and emerging opportunities.

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Why should one invest in the JioBlackRock Large Cap Fund?

According to the fund house, the fund combines human insight and the power of technologies like AI and machine learning to identify strong large-cap companies and manage risk in a structured manner, using India-specific Signals research scores (Systematic Active Equity) provided by BlackRock group entities.
The fund focuses on investing in largecap companies by following a disciplined framework and defined risk management processes. It is structured to provide exposure to established market leaders within the largecap segment. Lastly, it is delivered at a relatively low price with no exit load.

What experts say about the fund

Experts typically advise investors to avoid investing in NFOs unless they offer something unique. The uniqueness could be that the scheme offers an investment option not available in the market or offers something extra to an existing option. Otherwise, experts believe investors are better off with an existing scheme that has a long performance record. This is because you have historical data to base your investment decision on. You don’t have any data when it comes to new offerings.

Bharath Rathore, Executive Director, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited shared with ETMutualFunds that today, there are 36 large-cap funds in the mutual fund universe and in the last year, around 5 funds were launched in this category. The JioBlackRock Large Cap Fund is one of them, with the only differentiating factor stated as the use of global research and technology.

However, fund management cannot be conducted only through a tech lens, it requires strong fund manager conviction to navigate the nuances in the equity market. Hence, investors who wish to opt for this fund should adopt a wait-and-watch approach for about a year to understand the performance over the long term, Rathore further said.

Another expert, Nilesh D Naik, Head of Investment Products, Share.Market told ETMutualFunds that in terms of the investment universe, the category is quite standardized, requiring the fund to allocate at least 80% of the portfolio to large-cap stocks (i.e., the top 100 companies by market capitalization).

However, the research and portfolio construction process may vary across AMCs. In the case of Jio BlackRock, they follow their proprietary Systematic Active Equity (SAE) investment approach, Naik said.

Also Read | Holding too many mutual funds? Expert suggests trimming smallcap-heavy portfolio

Investment allocation and risk

JioBlackRock Large Cap Fund will allocate 80-100% in equity and equity-related instruments of largecap companies. 0-20% will be allocated in equity and equity-related instruments of companies other than largecap companies, 0-20% in debt and money market instruments, and 0-10% in units issued by InvITs.

The principal invested in the fund will be at “very high risk” according to the scheme’s riskometer.

The performance of this largecap fund will be benchmarked against the BSE 100 Index (TRI) and will be managed by Tanvi Kacheria and Sahil Chaudhary.

Why large caps now?

According to a post by fund house on social media platform X, Rishi Kohli, CIO of JioBlackRock Mutual Fund said, “I think it’s a great time to be in large caps, in fact, for two reasons. One is geopolitical uncertainty. Now typically around this period is when, you know, if you have to allocate then large caps because of being steadier, less risky, less volatile, it becomes a good time, you know, to invest in these.”

Kohli further added, “And secondly, of course, if you look at a lot of metrics like large cap versus mid cap or large cap versus small cap ratio, we obviously have Nifty 500 as our benchmark for a lot of the other active schemes. So we look at something like, let’s say Nifty 100 to Nifty 500 ratio, then those are almost at the lows of the last 10-12 years. And typically around when they are at such lows, then they will tend to recover compared to the rest of the market.”

Time to focus on large cap funds now?

The experts cautioned investors against investing in NFOs since there are many existing funds in the same category that have exposure to large caps.

Naik said that given the recent market fall and volatile environment, it does make sense to invest in the large-cap space, either through dedicated large-cap funds or funds with reasonably large exposure to this segment of the market.

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Rathore said investors should maintain their long-term investment strategy across diversified equity funds through all market cycles, including the current volatility. If they wish for further large-cap exposure in their portfolio, they can do this through other categories such as flexi cap, focused funds, and dividend yield funds, which have around 60-65% average exposure in large caps.

How did funds in the large-cap basket perform?

Around 27 large cap funds have been around in the industry for over five years. Out of these 27 funds, Nippon India Large Cap Fund delivered the highest return in the last five years of around 14.98%, followed by ICICI Prudential Large Cap Fund which posted a return of 13.08%.

PGIM India Large Cap Fund gave a 7.13% return in the last five years, followed by Axis Large Cap Fund, which gave the lowest return in the last five years at around 6.79%.

After seeing the historical performance of large-cap funds, Rathore said that investors may opt for either a lump sum or SIP based on fund availability. If funds are available, they can go ahead with a lump sum investment and stagger it across 6-8 weeks in tranches to better ride the volatility.

While strongly recommending investment through the SIP route, especially in a volatile environment, Naik said that investors with large sums of money to deploy could opt for a Systematic Transfer Plan (STP) which allows them to invest first in a relatively low-risk product and then systematically transfer money into equity funds over a period, such as 6–12 months. Ultimately, allocation should be aligned with one’s risk appetite.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

If you have any mutual fund queries, message ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in along with your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.

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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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.

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“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.

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“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 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.