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With volatility on the rise and a truncated trading week ahead, market participants are closely watching technical signals for direction. While global cues and macro uncertainties remain fluid, charts indicate that the Nifty may continue to face downward pressure in the near term.Technical analyst Nagaraj Shetti from HDFC Securities believes the trend remains firmly bearish.“No doubt market is in a downtrend. Every rise is being sold. Lower tops and bottoms over the past month indicate bears are in control. The recent bounce near 23,400–23,500 has formed a lower top. Nifty could break 22,450 next week and slide towards 22,000 in the coming weeks.”Weak Supports Amid Global PressureDespite intermittent recoveries, the underlying weakness persists, with global factors weighing heavily on sentiment.“I do not think stability will come soon. Markets are echoing global pressure—rupee and crude are key concerns. The 22,450 level is just a psychological support. Given the bearish pattern, we could soon break below this level.”Coal India Shows Relative StrengthEven in a falling market, some stocks are holding up better than the benchmark.“Coal India has corrected, but the trend remains positive with higher tops and bottoms. Around 430–435 is strong support. The stock could bounce back towards 475–480 in the near term.”Stock Strategy: Buy Strength, Sell WeaknessShetti suggests a balanced approach with opportunities on both sides of the market.“Ather Energy is in a strong uptrend with consistent higher tops and bottoms. It has broken key resistance near 750–760. One can buy around current levels for a target of 850, with a stop loss at 760.”“On the short side, BDL is weak with a clear bearish pattern. One can sell around current levels for a target of 1070, keeping a stop loss at 1160.”OutlookWith multiple expiries and limited trading sessions ahead, volatility is likely to remain high. While selective stocks may outperform, the broader market trend continues to favour caution, with charts pointing towards further downside in the Nifty.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has claimed the targeting of six tactical vessels operated by the US military in the Persian Gulf waters. The IRGC claimed that a large number of American forces had been killed in the process. "In continuation of the 84th wave of Operation True Promise 4, the IRGC naval units conducted a hybrid operation against US and Israeli terrorists deployed in al-Shoyoukh port as well as Dubai's coasts and port, hitting downhearted American troops and their tactical hardware precisely," the public relations department of the IRGC said in a statement.You may follow our coverage of the West Asia war here The statement claimed that six US landing craft utility (LCU) were struck in the operation, which was carried out using home-grown ballistic missiles, such as Qadr 380 cruise missiles. "Given field reports, three of the combat vessels sank after the (retaliatory) strikes, whilst the rest are aflame," the IRGC said. IRGC further claimed that it has successfully destroyed a number of refuelling vehicles and the logistical support fleet belonging to the "terrorist" US military at the Al-Kharj base. It said that Kamikaze drones were employed to launch operations against the gathering centres of the US drone unit personnel on the coasts and one of the hotels in Dubai. Meanwhile, a missile was launched on Saturday morning from Yemen towards Israel, making the attack the first by the Houthis since "Operation Roaring Lion" began a month ago, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).Also read: Yemen's Houthis say 'fingers on the trigger' as US-Israeli war on Iran widens According to the Jerusalem Post, citing the military, air defence systems were activated to intercept the threat, as sirens sounded across Beersheba and surrounding communities in the Negev. According to the news report, there are no immediate reports of casualties or direct impacts. The first missile launch comes as Yemeni Armed Forces on Friday declared readiness for direct military intervention if "American-Israeli aggression" against Iran and the "Axis of Resistance" (regional resistance) groups continues to escalate, according to Iranian State Media Press TV.

Jewar’s realty market is flying high as the much-awaited Noida International Airport (NIA) was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. An investment of nearly Rs 11,200 crore ($1.2 billion) has been made in the first phase of the project, which will handle 12 million passengers annually. Once fully developed, the airport will have a total capacity of 70 million passengers.Billed as India’s largest upon completion, the six-runway airport is planned across 7,200 acres and counts Zurich Airport International AG as its sole investor.ALSO READ: PM Modi inaugurates Noida International Airport, Delhi-NCR’s second international airport at JewarIt is one of the biggest projects in India’s infrastructure overhaul that has seen billions being poured into building bridges, highways, ports and airports. The success of large-scale projects with foreign investment, such as the Jewar airport, is crucial for India’s economy to continue attracting overseas capital.The Jewar facility is banking on its strategic location in Uttar Pradesh and proximity to Agra, home to the Taj Mahal. About 174 acres of cargo and warehousing belt is also being planned around the airport. Several private firms, including the Adani Group, are bidding for the construction of a logistics hub.Ambitious industrial plans in the area are expected to bring more footfalls to the new airport. These include a Foxconn semiconductor facility, a solar manufacturing hub, and new factories by wire and cables maker Havells India Ltd. as well as agri-machinery maker Escorts Kubota Ltd.ALSO READ: Noida International Airport: Here’s everything you need to know about India’s newest international airport“The Noida International Airport is set to emerge as a powerful gateway for the state, significantly enhancing global connectivity and attracting investments across sectors. We anticipate a strong ripple effect on the real estate market, with property values witnessing a steady upward trajectory in the coming years,” said Manoj Gaur, CMD, Gaurs Group.Gurugram playbook or a new script?Comparisons between the new airport corridor and Gurugram’s growth story are rising, with a key question: Can it replicate that trajectory?For decades, development was concentrated in a few dominant nodes, primarily Gurugram and parts of Noida, said Mohit Batra, Regional Director, Realistic Realtors. The emergence of the Yamuna Expressway belt signals a shift toward a more distributed model, he added.“What we are seeing now is the emergence of multiple growth nodes. Jewar has the potential to become an independent economic centre rather than just an extension of Noida.”The corridor is already seeing strong traction, with growth patterns evolving. It is expected to draw multinational and domestic companies to the NCR’s satellite city, boosting demand for Grade-A office space and luxury housing, experts said.They project Grade-A office leasing in Noida at 2–3 million sq ft annually—about a quarter of Delhi-NCR activity—from this year, supported by upcoming infrastructure projects that will improve connectivity with Gurugram and Delhi.Noida has delivered nearly fivefold returns over the past six years in some micro-markets, driven by infrastructure expansion, policy support and rising demand.According to InvestoXpert Advisors, the Yamuna Expressway has emerged as NCR’s strongest real estate corridor, with apartment prices rising 158% (Rs 3,950 to Rs 10,200 per sq ft) between 2020 and 2025, while plot prices surged 536% (Rs 1,650 to Rs 10,500 per sq ft).Prices take offAccording to Square Yards, property prices near the upcoming Noida International Airport are expected to rise sharply, with plot values likely to increase by 28% and apartment prices by 22% over the next two years.Over the past five years, apartment prices have nearly tripled, while plot values have grown about 1.5 times, with some micro-markets seeing up to fivefold gains. This reflects strong investor interest driven by infrastructure development.The government is pushing an aerotropolis model, similar to global hubs like Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, integrating aviation with commercial, industrial, logistics and residential ecosystems to create self-sustaining urban centres.“Before construction accelerated on the Jewar airport project, Noida’s real estate market lagged behind other NCR markets due to delays and developer challenges,” said Sunita Mishra, Vice-President – Research & Insights, Square Yards.With the airport nearing operations, the region is expected to drive the next phase of NCR’s real estate growth, turning the Yamuna Expressway into a key investment destination.Airline test aheadUltimately, an airport’s success hinges on airline participation, a challenge in India’s aviation market where IndiGo and Air India together control nearly 90% market share.The Jewar airport will also compete directly with the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport to attract carriers. This contrasts with the Adani Group, which operates both Mumbai’s existing and upcoming Navi Mumbai airports, giving it greater leverage in securing airline partnerships.India’s major carriers—including IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express—have shown interest in operating from Jewar, according to Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority official Shailendra Bhatia. To attract airlines, authorities have lowered airport charges and cut VAT on jet fuel to 1%, compared with around 25% at Delhi airport.IndiGo had earlier signed an agreement to be the airport’s launch carrier in November 2023.For now, locals are watching closely to see how the new airport shapes economic opportunities and daily life in the region.

The primary market will see a quiet week ahead, with no new IPOs lined up in either the mainboard or SME segments. In the holiday-shortened week, focus will be on the listing of Coal India’s subsidiary, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI). Additionally, six companies are set to debut on the bourses following their public issues — three from the mainboard segment and the remaining from the SME space.Emiac Technologies IPOThe SME IPO of Emiac Technologies, which opened on Friday, will resume its public bidding in the coming week. The issue closes on Wednesday, April 8. The issue was subscribed 33% on the opening day.The company plans to raise Rs 31.75 crore through the issue which is entirely a fresh issuance of equity shares. Ahead of the opening, the grey market premium (GMP) indicated a muted listing.The company has set the price band at Rs 93–98 per share and investors can apply for a minimum of 1 lot which comprises 1,200 equity shares amounting to Rs 1,17,600.In the book-building issue, the company will issue 32.40 lakh equity shares aggregating up to Rs 31.75 crore.Mainboard listingsCMPDI IPOCentral Mine Planning will get listed on the exchanges on Monday, March 30. Ahead of its listing, the company's shares were commanding a grey market premium (GMP) of Rs 6-7 over the upper price band of Rs 172. The stock is expected to list around Rs 179, implying a gain of over 4%.The Rs 1,842 crore IPO CMPDI managed to sail through on the final day of bidding. By the end of Day 3, the issue was fully subscribed at 1.05 times the 7.97 crore shares on offer. The issue received over 8.36 crore share bids. Demand was mainly driven by Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), who subscribed the IPO 3.48 times their quota, while Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) showed muted interest at just 33%. The non-institutional investors' (NII) quota also failed to get fully booked, managing only 35% subscription.Sai Parenteral’s IPOThe mainboard issue that closed on Friday, is expected to make its market debut on Thursday, April 2. Its GMP suggests a flat listing at Rs 392. The issue was subscribed 1.05 times over a three-day bidding period. It received over 78.80 lakh share bids against 75,22,486 equity shares available for booking.The demand was mainly driven by non-institutional investors' (NII) who subscribed the issue 2.36 times. Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) subscribed the IPO 1.71 times their quota, while Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) hardly showed any interest, subscribing just 12% shares of the available quota.Powerica IPOThis mainboard issue also ended on Friday. It is expected to make its market debut on Thursday, April 2. Its GMP suggests a muted listing at Rs 395, implying a listing premium of around 1%.The issue was overall subscribed 1.45 times over a three-day bidding period. The demand was mainly driven by Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) who subscribed the IPO 4.5 times of their quota, while Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) hardly showed any interest, subscribing just 14% shares of the available quota.The company planned to raise Rs 1,100 crore through the issue which is a combination of an offer for sale (OFS) and issuance of fresh equity. The company has set the price band at Rs 375–395 per share and retail investors can make applications for a minimum of 1 lot which comprises 37 equity shares amounting to Rs 14,615.Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar IPOThe Rs 440 crore IPO of Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar Exports ended on Friday. The offering was subscribed 3.41 times against the total 1.89 crore shares on offer.In the grey market, the IPO is commanding a premium of around 1.2%, or roughly Rs 3 above the issue price of Rs 212, suggesting a likely listing price near Rs 215.This IPO is entirely a fresh issue of 2.08 crore shares, aiming to raise Rs 440 crore. The company is set to list on both the NSE and BSE, with a tentative listing date of April 2, 2026.SME listingsThe SME issue Speciality Medicines which closed on March 24 will list on Monday. The stock is expected to list flat on the BSE SME.Tipco Engineering India IPO, ended on March 25. The stock will list on Wednesday April 1 on the BSE SME platform. The GMP revealed no listing gains.Highness Microelectronics IPO ended on Friday. Its GMP suggests a listing at a 20% premium over the issue price of Rs 120. The estimated listing price is Rs 145.(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

New Delhi, Thermax on Saturday said its subsidiary Thermax Babcock & Wilcox Energy Solutions (TBWES) has secured a boiler package supply order worth approximately Rs 1,600 crore for an ultra-supercritical thermal power project. TBWES has secured the Rs 1,600 crore boiler package supply order valued from a leading thermal power projects company in Central India for a 1x800 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant, according to a company statement. The scope of work includes manufacturing, supply, commissioning, and performance testing of the boiler package, the statement said. "This order marks a significant breakthrough for Thermax and reinforces our proven capabilities in large-scale energy solutions. We thank our customer for their trust in Thermax and look forward to delivering this project with accelerated timelines and successful execution," said Ashish Bhandari, MD & CEO, Thermax, in a statement. TBWES provides equipment and solutions for generating steam for process and power through the combustion of various solid, liquid and gaseous fuels, as well as through heat recovery from turbine/engine exhaust and (waste) heat recovery from industrial processes.TBWES also offers heaters for various applications in the chemical, petrochemical and refinery segments. Its services arm offers renovation and modernisation solutions for old boilers and heaters.

Geopolitical shocks, like the ongoing conflict in West Asia, naturally unsettle markets. When headlines flash warnings of oil price spikes, shipping disruptions, and global “risk‑off” sentiment, it’s easy to lose sight of long‑term goals. We saw this not too long ago when the Nifty dropped nearly 3% intraday, driven by fears over crude supply routes and broader risk aversion. For India, which imports a large share of its crude and gas from this region, concerns about inflation, the current account deficit, and growth are entirely understandable.Yet history, both global and Indian, offers a reassuring lesson: markets are usually far more resilient than the gloom that dominates the headlines. From the Gulf War to the Russia‑Ukraine conflict in 2022, we have seen that while volatility spikes and drawdowns occur, broad indices have tended to recover as uncertainty fades. For long‑term investors, the real challenge is sticking to a disciplined plan that balances risk management with the ability to capture opportunities when they arise.What is Driving Markets Right Now?In the short term, three forces are shaping the market: the war, oil prices, and global liquidity. The disruption of key energy routes has pushed crude prices higher, unsettling risk assets worldwide. For India, this raises the risk of imported inflation and a wider current account deficit. At the same time, global central banks remain cautious, with a gradual path of rate cuts extending into 2026–27. This has kept Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) on the sidelines, even as domestic institutions continue to provide crucial support.Indian benchmarks have swung between sharp declines and swift rebounds. What often gets missed is that the real “pain” at the stock and sector level (especially in mid‑caps, small‑caps, and high‑beta financials) can be far deeper than the headline index suggests. In such an environment, thoughtful asset allocation and strict valuation discipline matter more than trying to time daily index movements.What Can History Teach Us About Markets and Wars?Looking back at decades of geopolitical events, we can spot three recurring patterns. During episodes such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, 9/11, and the Russia‑Ukraine war, markets did experience sharp volatility and drawdowns. Yet, as uncertainty eased and worst‑case scenarios were priced out, indices typically recovered within weeks to months. After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, for example, the S&P 500 regained its initial losses within about a month, even as crude prices remained elevated.The key takeaway is that geopolitical shocks alone rarely derail long‑term equity returns. Lasting damage usually happens only when these shocks coincide with deep macroeconomic imbalances. Today, for India, the near‑term risk is less the conflict itself and more a sustained spike in oil prices and its secondary effects on inflation and the currency. Provided crude does not stay well above $100 for an extended period, the macro impact, while uncomfortable, is likely manageable for a growing economy with strong domestic demand.A Practical Framework for Indian InvestorsGiven this backdrop, the right response will naturally depend on your risk profile and investment horizon. That said, a few universal principles can help investors stay grounded and balanced.Do’s:Revisit asset allocation: Use this period to check whether your mix of equity, debt, and gold still matches your true risk tolerance. Portfolios that have drifted toward high‑beta or thematic bets may benefit from a course correction toward core, diversified holdings.Stagger investments: For those with surplus capital, systematic deployment, through STPs or SIP top‑ups, helps average into volatility without trying to time the absolute bottom.Upgrade quality: Corrections often compress valuations for fundamentally strong businesses. Use the dip to rotate from speculative names into leaders with healthy balance sheets and pricing power.Maintain liquidity: Ensure 6–12 months of essential expenses are parked in safe, liquid instruments, so you’re not forced to sell equities in a downturn.Stick to a plan: Document your target allocation and review schedule. A structured quarterly check‑in helps you avoid impulsive decisions driven by fear or greed.Don’ts:Avoid leveraged “catch‑the‑falling‑knife” bets: Aggressively averaging down with borrowed money is a fast track to capital destruction, especially when news flow is uncertain and margin calls loom.Don’t overhaul long‑term plans: Selling quality equity exposure wholesale because of a geopolitical event risks missing the eventual recovery.Don’t ignore valuations: Not every stock that falls 20–30% is a bargain. Focus on businesses where temporary headwinds do not impair long‑term cash flows.Don’t panic‑stop SIPs: Systematic plans are designed for exactly this kind of environment. Halting them turns temporary paper losses into permanent losses of compounding potential.What Does the Future Hold?For Indian investors, the goal should be to protect long‑term objectives while using volatility to strengthen portfolio quality. In the base case, where the conflict remains contained and oil prices do not stay significantly elevated, the impact on India should be manageable. Even in a more adverse scenario, the right response is disciplined, systematic risk management, not extreme “all‑in or all‑out” moves.Over the next 12–24 months, I recommend a three‑step framework:Stabilise: Reaffirm your emergency buffers and pare down unnecessary debt, so decisions aren’t forced by stress.Systematise: Continue or enhance SIPs and use clear, predefined rules to guide your deployment.Capitalise: Use corrections to upgrade portfolio quality and, for those with capacity, consider calibrated allocations to dynamic asset‑allocation strategies.Wars and crises will come and go. India’s long‑term growth and financialisation story, however, is playing out over decades. For investors who stay aligned to that horizon, staying calm, staying liquid, and staying disciplined is likely to be the most rewarding strategy.