Mumbai: Markets are set to face fresh turmoil on Monday, with Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz because its ports were being blockaded by the US, forcing oil prices back up, in sharp contrast to the optimism on Friday, when the key maritime channel had been opened up.
Stocks and the rupee are seen facing fresh challenges after having recouped losses and strengthened amid easing geopolitical tensions. Last week, the Sensex and Nifty gained up to 1.3%, while broader indices advanced further – the Nifty Midcap 150 rose 3.5% and Smallcap 250 was up 4.4%, extending gains for the second straight week. The rebound faces hurdles if tensions erupt again.
The rupee may open 30-35 paise weaker against the dollar. It closed at 92.93 per dollar on Friday, up 0.30% from the previous close. But traders expect it to slip below 93 due to higher oil prices, after some ships were fired upon as Iran closed the Strait. Satellite imagery late on Sunday showed ships at a standstill, after they had started moving two days before.
“On Friday, things had cooled down a bit after Iran opened the Strait but since then, there have been some volatilities, as a result of which, oil prices have increased,” said Alok Singh, head of treasury at CSB Bank. “It is now turning out to be a market driven by statements from the US and Iran. We should expect volatility to continue till there is clarity.”
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Belligerent statements by both sides are balanced by plans for renewed dialogue in Pakistan this week. Mediators and affected Gulf states are also keenly aware that the end of the two-week ceasefire is days away.
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RBI may Help Rupee “Based on the current news flow, markets on Monday are likely to react primarily to crude prices,” said Shrikant Chouhan, head of equity research, Kotak Securities. “If oil moves back toward $100 per barrel, the market may open near previous closing levels, and then shift focus toward domestic developments.” When Iran announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz would be open as part of peace efforts, Brent crude plunged 9% to $90.38 a barrel, helping Wall Street benchmarks close at record highs later in the day. Before the US-Iran truce, prices were at around $110. All eyes are on the diplomatic peace talks between the US and Iran, with the ceasefire deadline of April 22 fast approaching, said Siddhartha Khemka, head of research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services. “Now that there has been a sharp rally over the past 10 trading sessions, there should be some consolidation,” he said.
Higher oil prices will push the rupee to open lower on Monday before the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) possibly steps in to prevent a sharp fall, traders said. RBI’s move to take dollar demand by oil companies out of the market by providing them a direct supply of the currency through State Bank of India may also prevent a sharp fall in the rupee.
If the war continues for a longer period and crude again goes back to $100-120 per barrel, it will be negative for the economy, and markets could see a worse reaction, said Mahesh Ojha, vice president, research, Kantilal Chhaganlal Securities. “Fourth quarter results from ICICI are marginally better than expected, while HDFC Bank posted a steady quarter, and this could act as a positive trigger on Monday,” he said. “If conditions turn worse, the banking heavyweights could offer support, while if sentiment improves, they could add further upside.”
Since the ceasefire announcement on April 8, the Sensex and Nifty have gained over 5%, while the Nifty Midcap 150 and Nifty Smallcap 250 advanced roughly 10%.
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The market seems well-positioned to extend its uptrend, rather than remain range-bound, said Dhupesh Dhameja, derivatives analyst at Samco Securities.
Concurrent Technologies Plc (COTGF) Discusses Full Year Results and Leadership Transition with Strategic Business Updates April 17, 2026 6:30 AM EDT
Company Participants
Miles Adcock – CEO & Executive Director Kim Maria Garrod – CFO & Executive Director
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Operator
Good morning, and welcome to the Concurrent Technologies Plc Final Results Investor Presentation. [Operator Instructions]
Before we begin, I would like to submit the following poll. And I would now like to hand you over to CEO, Miles Adcock. Good morning to you.
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Miles Adcock CEO & Executive Director
Good morning, and welcome to our full year results for 2025.
Next slide, please. So my name is Miles. I’m the CEO. This is my fourth set of annual results, and I’m joined by Kim, our CFO. And I should note that at the same time as we issued our full year results, we also announced that Kim has decided to retire at the end of this year. My good friend and colleague, Kim, do you want to say a few words?
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Kim Maria Garrod CFO & Executive Director
Yes. So I achieved a milestone birthday this year, and that made me rethink what I was going to do. So I have decided to retire, but I’m in the business until the end of the year. I’m very excited about the business, and I will be watching it very closely after I’ve gone, and I’ll be regularly calling Miles for updates. But I’m fully committed to the business. And as I say, I’ll be taking out for most of this financial year.
Miles Adcock CEO & Executive Director
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Thank you, Kim. And just to note, Kim has generously given us until the end of the year to seek a replacement, and I’ve engaged Korn Ferry this week, and we’re working hard at finding a worthy successor.
Business groups have urged the government to cut a raft of regulations ahead of the federal budget, but the finance minister says changes have to make sense.
Mumbai: A clutch of large IPOs is expected to prop up India’s primary market in 2026 even as market uncertainty slows down broader activity compared to the previous two robust years, said Ranvir Davda, co-head of investment banking at HSBC India.
“The number of deals may come down, but the size and aggregate value may still be similar (to the previous years),” said Davda in an interview.
Reliance Industries’ telecom arm Jio Platforms, National Stock Exchange, Zepto, PhonePe, Manipal Hospitals and and SBI Funds Management are among the large issuances expected to hit the market in 2026. Together, these issues could raise ₹1 lakh crore (about $10.8-10.9 billion).
So far this year, 20 companies have raised $2.5 billion, according to Prime Database and ETIG Database. That comes after two record years that saw 94 and 115 mainboard IPOs in 2024 and 2025, raising nearly $21-23 billion.
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This year’s IPO fundraise could be between $21 billion and $25 billion.
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“This year, a larger percentage of companies are mid to large-sized,” said Davda. “Many of these are backed by large groups or private equity investors and, therefore, have the flexibility to wait, ride volatility, and avoid pressing forward if valuations are not aligned.” The early part of this year has been slower for the IPO market, with the West Asia conflict weighing on secondary markets, IPO subscriptions and listing gains, prompting several companies to defer offerings. “This year will be volatile. Windows to complete trades will be shorter, so readiness is critical,” Davda said.
At the same time, companies that need capital are showing more willingness to negotiate.
Issuers are increasingly tapping AIFs, family offices and special situations funds alongside traditional investors, while using pre-IPO placements as a bridge to raise capital with visibility to a listing over the next 6-18 months, he said. According to Davda, technology faces sharper scrutiny amid AI disruption, global uncertainty and profitability concerns, though large consumer-tech and fintech offerings are still likely to proceed as “must-own” India exposures.
I focus on long-term investments while incorporating short-term shorts to uncover alpha opportunities. My investment approach revolves around bottom-up analysis, delving into the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of individual companies. My investment duration is the medium to long-term. Ultimately, I aim to identify companies with solid fundamentals, sustainable competitive advantages, and growth potential.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
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ET Intelligence Group: The FMCG sector is expected to post a steady March-quarter performance, supported by stable rural demand, gradual urban recovery and volume growth even as pricing remains subdued in several segments. While steady raw material costs during most of the quarter are margin supportive, the recent rise in costs of crude-linked inputs such as packaging materials could weigh on margins. Companies with stronger execution, premium portfolios and better distribution reach are expected to outperform, while category-specific challenges and international headwinds may keep performance uneven across the pack.
Hindustan Unilever is expected to report mid-single digit revenue growth led by 4-5% volume growth. Growth is expected to be broad-based, with beauty and wellbeing growing in double-digits, while home care, personal care and foods & beverages are likely to grow in mid-single digits. The demerger of low-margin ice cream business may support operating margin before depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda margin).
ITC may show pressure in the cigarettes segment amid flat volume and higher taxes while displaying resilience in non-cigarette segments. The FMCG and agriculture related business is expected to remain robust, while paperboards business may grow in single digit. The margin for the cigarettes business is likely to contract amid rising leaf tobacco costs and limited pricing hikes.
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Books & MARKS HUL, Nestlé and Britannia set for volume-led growth; high tax on cigarettes may weigh on ITC; Dabur may report modest int’l revenue
Nestle India’s consolidated revenue growth is expected to be in double-digits, led largely by volumes in the domestic market while exports may show recovery on a weak base. Normalisation is expected after GST-related disruptions in the previous quarter. However, margin is likely to contract on account of high inflation in the coffee segment. Asian Paints is likely to report better volume growth for the domestic decorative paints segment on a weak base. Upcoming price increase may boost channel restocking thereby aiding primary sales. International business may be subdued due to the Middle East disruption. Margins are likely to improve on stable raw material prices during the quarter, with the impact of recent crude inflation expected to be limited for the March quarter.
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Varun Beverages is expected to report high-single digit revenue growth in the March quarter, with international markets likely to drive momentum through high double-digit volume growth. Ebitda margin is likely to contract, partly due to upsizing in India and ramp-up of snacks in Africa. Britannia Industries may report double-digit revenue growth led by high-single digit volume expansion due to higher grammage in low-unit packs, which account for about two-third portion of sales. Margins are likely to improve supported by stable raw materials prices, especially in January and February. Dabur India is expected to post modest revenue growth, driven by mid-single digit volume growth in the domestic business. However, its international operations, particularly the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which contributes around 8% of revenue may remain weak amid geopolitical tensions. Within domestic categories, home and personal care is expected to deliver double-digit growth, while healthcare and foods may see low single-digit expansion.
Colgate-Palmolive India is expected to report low single-digit volume growth on a weak base, after three consecutive quarters of declines. The margin could contract due to higher promotions and advertisement spends.
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