ET NEWS

At least 13 people were killed in a major road accident near Rayavaram in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district on Thursday after a private travel bus collided with a tipper lorry and caught fire.The impact of the crash triggered a blaze that quickly engulfed the bus, leaving passengers trapped inside, with several feared to have been burnt alive.According to district police, around 20 injured passengers have been shifted to various hospitals for treatment. Officials further indicated that the death toll, initially reported to be lower, rose to 13 as rescue operations progressed, and could increase further given the severity of the incident.The accident occurred while the bus was travelling from Jagityala to Kaligiri, according to Markapuram DSP Harshavardhan Raju. Authorities said the collision took place near slab quarries, an area known for heavy vehicle movement.Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep shock over the incident and spoke to officials to review the situation, particularly the medical assistance being provided to the injured.The bus, officials said, was completely gutted in the fire that broke out immediately after the collision, complicating rescue efforts.The chief minister has directed authorities to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the causes of the accident and submit a detailed report. Further details are awaited as investigations continue.

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a sharp spike in crude oil prices, global markets are grappling with heightened uncertainty and volatility.Speaking to Kshitij Anand of ETMarkets, Alekh Yadav, Head of Investment Products at Sanctum Wealth, underscores the importance of global diversification, recommending investors allocate 10–20% of their portfolio to international assets.While opportunities remain in regions such as emerging markets and Japan, Yadav advises a staggered approach to fresh investments, given currency fluctuations and the evolving macro landscape.He also highlights the need for disciplined rebalancing and selective exposure to commodities as investors navigate an increasingly complex global environment. 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) The Middle East conflict is causing a major oil shock, with nearly 20% of global supply affected via the Strait of Hormuz. With very limited alternatives oil prices could rise sharply. If the conflict ends soon, markets may rebound, making current levels attractive for long-term investors, though oil may take time to stabilize and the economy could see short-term weakness.If it drags on, sustained high oil prices could slow economic activity, raise recession risks, and lead to further declines in global and Indian equity markets.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) This situation differs from most past geopolitical shocks because it directly impacts the global economy. Given the uncertainty, global diversification remains important.Before the conflict, emerging markets and Japan looked attractive. We continue to like them but would suggest adding them more gradually. While some emerging economies are hurt by higher oil prices, energy-exporting countries may benefit.Japan, though an energy importer, is showing structural improvement as it emerges from a long phase of low growth and disinflation, supported by better corporate governance.Q) How could rising crude oil prices and commodity volatility reshape the global investment landscape?A) Even if the conflict ends quickly, countries are likely to rebuild strategic reserves, keeping global energy prices elevated and inflation higher for longer. This typically puts pressure on equity valuations, especially growth stocks, while supporting value and commodity-linked sectors.In the meantime, energy-exporting countries and sectors such as oil, gas, and mining are likely to benefit, whereas import-dependent economies may face margin pressure, currency weakness, and slower growth..Q) What role does rebalancing play during volatile periods when asset prices move sharply due to geopolitical shocks?A) Sharp movements in asset classes can disrupt portfolio balance. Rebalancing restores the intended allocation by correcting these shifts, helping manage risk, prevent overexposure, and position the portfolio for recovery.Q) Which global ETF themes—such as technology, semiconductors, or global indices—do you believe investors should track in the current environment?A) We currently prefer a globally diversified approach, with an overweight stance on emerging markets and Japan, and an underweight position in U.S. equities. We also favour the commodities sector and look to gain exposure through global commodities ETFs, as direct investment in commodities is not available in India.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) We recommend allocating 10–20% of capital to global diversification. For those considering this now, a staggered approach may be prudent, especially given the recent sharp depreciation in the currency.

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a sharp spike in crude oil prices, global markets are grappling with heightened uncertainty and volatility.Speaking to Kshitij Anand of ETMarkets, Alekh Yadav, Head of Investment Products at Sanctum Wealth, underscores the importance of global diversification, recommending investors allocate 10–20% of their portfolio to international assets.While opportunities remain in regions such as emerging markets and Japan, Yadav advises a staggered approach to fresh investments, given currency fluctuations and the evolving macro landscape.He also highlights the need for disciplined rebalancing and selective exposure to commodities as investors navigate an increasingly complex global environment. 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) The Middle East conflict is causing a major oil shock, with nearly 20% of global supply affected via the Strait of Hormuz. With very limited alternatives oil prices could rise sharply. If the conflict ends soon, markets may rebound, making current levels attractive for long-term investors, though oil may take time to stabilize and the economy could see short-term weakness.If it drags on, sustained high oil prices could slow economic activity, raise recession risks, and lead to further declines in global and Indian equity markets.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) This situation differs from most past geopolitical shocks because it directly impacts the global economy. Given the uncertainty, global diversification remains important.Before the conflict, emerging markets and Japan looked attractive. We continue to like them but would suggest adding them more gradually. While some emerging economies are hurt by higher oil prices, energy-exporting countries may benefit.Japan, though an energy importer, is showing structural improvement as it emerges from a long phase of low growth and disinflation, supported by better corporate governance.Q) How could rising crude oil prices and commodity volatility reshape the global investment landscape?A) Even if the conflict ends quickly, countries are likely to rebuild strategic reserves, keeping global energy prices elevated and inflation higher for longer. This typically puts pressure on equity valuations, especially growth stocks, while supporting value and commodity-linked sectors.In the meantime, energy-exporting countries and sectors such as oil, gas, and mining are likely to benefit, whereas import-dependent economies may face margin pressure, currency weakness, and slower growth..Q) What role does rebalancing play during volatile periods when asset prices move sharply due to geopolitical shocks?A) Sharp movements in asset classes can disrupt portfolio balance. Rebalancing restores the intended allocation by correcting these shifts, helping manage risk, prevent overexposure, and position the portfolio for recovery.Q) Which global ETF themes—such as technology, semiconductors, or global indices—do you believe investors should track in the current environment?A) We currently prefer a globally diversified approach, with an overweight stance on emerging markets and Japan, and an underweight position in U.S. equities. We also favour the commodities sector and look to gain exposure through global commodities ETFs, as direct investment in commodities is not available in India.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) We recommend allocating 10–20% of capital to global diversification. For those considering this now, a staggered approach may be prudent, especially given the recent sharp depreciation in the currency.

Mumbai: India's headline equity indices extended gains to the second straight day, recouping in two sessions nearly a third of the losses made since the start of the West Asia conflict, and restoring about Rs 16.15 lakh crore in market capitalisation. Investors have regained some confidence across Asian markets on cooling crude oil prices and talk of communication between the US and Iran aimed at bringing an end to the war. The NSE Nifty rose 394 points, or 1.7%, to close at 23,306.45 on Wednesday. Analysts said the recovery could continue over the next few days and the Nifty may go up to 23,800 in the coming days. The BSE Sensex rose 1,205 points, or 1.6%, to end at 75,273.45. Over the last two sessions, the two indices have risen nearly 3.5% each. Both had fallen almost 10.6% each from the start of the conflict until Monday. Since February 28, when the war began, market cap in India is down ₹32.87 lakh crore. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan was up 2.9%, China advanced 1.3%, Hong Kong rose 1.1%, South Korea gained 1.6% and Taiwan rose 2.5%. The pan-Europe index Stoxx 600 was up 1.5% at press time. 129814110 Analysts Suggest Extended Recovery Wall Street's main indices were also on an upward trajectory as of press time. "The recent de-escalation in the West Asian conflict suggests that the worst may be behind us," said Pankaj Pandey, head of fundamental research at ICICI Direct. "While the situation remains fluid and a formal ceasefire is still awaited, markets are likely to extend their recovery in the near term, barring any fresh adverse developments." Chandan Taparia, head of technical and derivatives research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said markets are likely to extend their recovery in the near term as long as the Nifty holds above 23,000 levels. Taparia said that a move toward 23,850 appears possible as the index emerges from oversold zones and is showing signs of a bullish divergent pattern. "However, an elevated volatility index remains a concern, which is yet to ease despite the market's recovery," he said. India Volatility Index (VIX) - popularly known as the fear gauge - fell marginally by 0.4% to 24.64 levels. Normally, VIX cools off when indices rise, and a higher level may indicate traders remain cautious about the future. "However, as crude oil prices may take longer to stabilise, the recovery is unlikely to be V-shaped. That said, over the next three to six months, we expect losses stemming from the conflict to be largely recouped," said Pandey. He said the recovery is likely to be led by autos, metals and BFSI (banking, financial services, insurance), with large-cap stocks offering the most favourable risk-reward profile. "Investors may consider waiting for greater stability before increasing exposure to mid and small-cap stocks," Pandey said.