ET NEWS

The Nifty ended the week down 5.3% as the Iran–Israel war, a falling rupee, persistent FII outflows, and fuel supply worries weighed on domestic markets. When trading resumes on Monday, a series of key events scheduled for the week are likely to influence investor sentiment.The 50-stock index slipped 488.05 points, or 2.06%, to close at 23,151.10.Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, said the index has moved further away from the 200-DMA as selling intensified. The RSI has entered the oversold zone and the trend remains weak, he added, expecting further downside with RSI languishing in deep oversold territory.“In the short term, the trend may continue to remain weak, with any rise likely to be sold into. On the downside, the index may fall towards 23,000–22,800, while resistance is placed at 23,400,” De said.1.Iran-Isreal WarBy the time global markets begin trading on Monday, the Iran–Israel war would have entered its 17th day. Markets are expected to remain jittery as long as the conflict continues.With any signs of a truce between the warring sides appearing distant, AFP reported Iran vowing to inflict what its foreign ministry spokesman described as an “unforgettable lesson” on its enemies in the United States and Israel.“We cannot accept that they talk about dialogue and ceasefire now and then and after that we face the repetition of these crimes and war. Our armed forces are very determined to firmly teach the enemy an unforgettable lesson,” AFP quoted Iranian diplomat Esmaeil Baqaei as saying.2. Fed FOMCThe US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting will be closely watched this week amid concerns that the ongoing conflict could disrupt inflation dynamics if it drags on.The rate-setting committee will begin its two-day meeting on Tuesday, March 17, and announce its policy decision on Wednesday, March 18.The central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady as US inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target. The consumer price index rose 2.4% in February on a year-on-year basis, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.3. US marketsDomestic markets will also take cues from Wall Street. Major US indices ended lower on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 119.38 points, or 0.26%, to close at 46,558.50. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 206.62 points, or 0.93%, to 22,105.40, while the S&P 500 declined 0.61%, or about 40 points, to end at 6,632.19.4.. Crude oilAll eyes will be on crude oil prices. Benchmark Brent and US WTI crude surged more than 3% in the previous session and could extend gains when trading resumes.US WTI crude futures settled at $99.31 per barrel, rising $3.58 or 3.74%, while Brent crude climbed 3.43%, or $3.41, to close at $103.14 per barrel.5.. FII / DII actionForeign institutional investors (FIIs) sold Indian equities worth Rs 10,716.64 crore on Friday. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs), meanwhile, were net buyers at Rs 9,977.42 crore.FIIs have offloaded equities worth Rs 52,704 crore in the first fortnight of March, with Friday recording the highest single-day outflow of 2026. On a year-to-date basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have sold Indian equities worth Rs 66,051 crore.6. Sector watchThe Iran–Israel/US conflict has been impacting several sectors. Oil marketing companies (OMCs) could come under pressure if crude prices rise further, as higher input costs may squeeze their margins. On the other hand, upstream explorers such as ONGC and Oil India could benefit from higher oil prices. Paint and tyre companies, which use crude derivatives as raw materials, may also face pressure. Airline and tourism stocks are expected to react when markets reopen. With LPG shortages already affecting restaurants, further correction in quick-service restaurant (QSR) stocks cannot be ruled out.7. Technical triggersDecoding the Nifty charts, Dr Ravi Singh, Chief Research Officer at Master Capital Services, said the index has decisively breached its critical 23,800 support and is now trading at a fresh 10-month low, signalling a strong bearish grip.For the coming week, the psychological 23,000 level will be crucial. A breakdown below this could drag the index towards 22,800 and even 22,500, he said.“On the upside, 23,800 and 24,050 now act as stiff resistance levels. The strategy remains ‘sell on rise’ until the index decisively reclaims the 24,000 mark. Expect continued volatility as the market searches for a bottom amid escalating Middle East tensions,” he added.8. Rupee vs dollarThe rupee’s movement against the US dollar will also be closely tracked.The Indian rupee fell to a record low on Friday amid concerns that the Iran war-driven surge in oil prices could disrupt India’s growth-inflation dynamics and dent capital flows. The rupee weakened to 92.4750 per dollar, surpassing its previous record low of 92.3575 hit on Thursday.It eventually closed at 92.4550, down 0.7% for the week.The benchmark Nifty 50 has slipped into correction territory since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, with the index falling about 2% on Friday.Analysts told Reuters that a prolonged Middle East conflict could worsen the rupee’s outlook significantly, with persistently high energy prices potentially pushing the currency beyond 95 per dollar.9.IPO watchActivity in the primary market is expected to remain strong, with three IPOs opening for subscription this week and three companies scheduled to list.Mainboard IPOs of GSP Crop Science and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) will be in focus.Agrochemical manufacturer GSP Crop Science plans to raise Rs 400 crore through its public offering. The IPO will open on March 16 and close on March 18, with a price band of Rs 304–320 per share.CMPDI, a consultancy arm of Coal India, will open its IPO on March 20 and close on March 24. The grey market premium (GMP) is currently around Rs 24.Meanwhile, the SME IPO of Novus Loyalty will open on March 17 and close on March 20. The price band has been set at Rs 139–146 per share, and the company aims to raise about Rs 60.15 crore.Stocks of Rajputana Stainless, Apsis Aerocom and Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust are also scheduled to list on the exchanges this week.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

Lebanon is open to entering direct peace talks with Israel, but insists that a ceasefire must be reached before negotiations begin, according to Al Jazeera. The development comes as Israel threatens what could be its largest ground invasion of Lebanon since the 2006 War. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assigned his close adviser, Ron Dermer, to lead the Israeli side of the Lebanon diplomatic track. From the US side, the talks could reportedly involve Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The discussions could begin within days and may take place in Paris or Cyprus, potentially involving direct, head-to-head negotiations, Al Jazeera reported. There have also been reports that France proposed a peace plan that would require the disarmament of Hezbollah and Lebanon's recognition of Israel as conditions to end the war. However, the French Foreign Ministry has denied those reports, according to Al Jazeera.Lebanese officials have indicated they are willing to engage in talks, but Nabih Berri, Lebanon's parliamentary speaker and a leader of the Amal Movement, said a ceasefire must be implemented before negotiations can begin.Meanwhile, regional tensions continued to rise with military developments across West Asia.In a post on X, United States Central Command said US forces are continuing operations against Iranian military capabilities. U.S. forces continue to degrade Iranian military capability. pic.twitter.com/pnB4Man57u - U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 14, 2026 Meanwhile, Press TV reported that an Iraqi resistance group released footage claiming to show an attack on US military bases in West Asia.Press TV also reported that a US base in Iraq was on fire following a reported strike.In another update cited by the Iranian news outlet, Iran's armed forces said they had shot down four additional drones, bringing the total number of drones downed to 118. Earlier, militants from Hezbollah engaged with the advancing Israeli forces in southern Lebanon after air raids and artillery strikes targeted multiple towns in the region, Al Jazeera reported.Citing the official Lebanon National News Agency, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire struck several towns across southern Lebanon. The news report said air raids hit the town of Mefdoun in southern Lebanon and areas between Mefdoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.Heavy artillery shelling also targeted nearby towns, including Zawtar, Yahmar, Arnoun and Mefdoun, Al Jazeera reported.Meanwhile, Israeli forces attempted to advance into the border town of Aita al-Shaab, where gunfire and shelling were heard during clashes.According to Al Jazeera, militants from Hezbollah responded by firing guided missiles at the advancing Israeli troops.Press TV reported that Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets targeting a gathering of Israeli troops at al-Khazzan Hill.

New Delhi: India's smartphone market could shrink more than 13% this year, as a sharp increase in memory cost is expected to drive up device prices by 15-40%, making them out of reach for many budget customers and pushing small shop owners out of business, retailers and experts said. Falling sales and rising cost could also hurt the margins of smartphone companies, particularly smaller local brands, industry experts said.The impact was already visible in February when sales slumped 35%, retailers told ET. It will remain the same or get worse in March, traditionally a weak month for sales as customers often have less disposable money after making income tax and other fiscal-year-end payments, they said. With memory chip prices set to rise further and supplies fall short, they expect further damage in the coming quarters.Navkendar Singh, associate vice-president at market research firm IDC India, predicted India smartphone shipments to fall to 132 million units in 2026 from 152 million last year, hurt by rising device prices. "The current situation has no silver lining to bounce back very soon," Singh told ET. 129580450 Except for 2022, when sales fell 10%, the local handset market grew in the past five years. Retailers called the current situation unprecedented.Consumers are pulling back as cheap models have become unavailable, said the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA). Traditional "volume drivers" are missing from the shelves due to severe supply issues, leaving retailers with dwindling walk-ins and unsold premium inventory, the industry body said.Also read | SC to hear LG India's plea against EPF requirement for expat staffAbsence of DiscountsAs per a recent analysis by the association, the ‘general trade’ sector, comprising offline retailers, witnessed a 35% drop in business during February 2026, marking one of the toughest periods for mobile retailers in recent history. Combined with a lack of credit from brands due to stock shortages, many of these phone sellers may find it nearly impossible to survive the slump, retailers said.Major brands have increased prices by up to 30% since November, retailers said. In contrast, the mobile industry has historically seen a 10% price discount every quarter. The absence of this discount, combined with the 30% hike, means consumers are facing a 40% effective price impact, they said.Also read | India plans new Rs 1 lakh crore fund to support local chipmaking“Consumers are choosing to delay new purchases or are exploring the second-hand market rather than paying these inflated prices,” said AIMRA founder-chairman Kailash Lakhyani. “If this trend continues, we could see a ₹10,000 entry-level phone touching the ₹20,000 mark by the end of the year,” he told ET.

New Delhi: Plush hotels in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other UAE markets are rolling out exclusive staycation offers for residents, running up to 70% discounts, as occupancy levels have plummeted amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.The Four Seasons hotel at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)-where an office building was damaged by debris of an intercepted Iranian drone attack-is offering credits of AED 650 per stay towards food and beverages and spa treatments valid for selected dates starting from March 14, while the Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort in Ras Al Khaimah has a 'UAE Residents Offer' that includes late checkouts till 4 pm and 50% off on pet fees, besides 20% discounts on spa and dining for bookings until March 31.This comes as average room occupancy for some hotels in Dubai has slumped to 2%, according to a hotelier familiar with the matter. "Some hotels have begun contemplating salary cuts," he said.The Legoland Dubai resort was closed on Saturday as a precautionary safety measure in line with official guidance, as per its website. "Luxury hotel accommodations that typically command prices in thousands of dirhams during peak seasons are now being listed on booking platforms at much reduced rates," said Deepak Jain, founder of Mayfair Consultants, which offers hotel, restaurant and real estate consulting in the Indian subcontinent, the UAE and UK. "This is due to the current geopolitical climate and the reduced capacity of national carriers." Hotels throughout the UAE have redirected their attention towards the domestic market, launching appealing Eid Al Fitr promotions to attract residents, Jain said. "Additionally, resorts in Dubai are enhancing their packages with extra incentives such as food and beverage credits, spa vouchers and complimentary accommodation for children," he added.The Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah Dubai is offering AED 500 daily resort credit to spend in its restaurants, bars or spas, besides complimentary kayaking and paddle boarding from 11 am to 1 pm daily. Children under 12 stay and dine at the hotel for free, and the offer includes check-in at 10 am and late check out until 6 pm. Hyatt's Andaz Dubai The Palm, which has an average room rate of AED 1,600, is offering a staycation rate of AED 450. UAE residents who spend AED 450 on dining and wellness experiences get a one-night stay with breakfast for two for free.As per rates shared by industry insiders, ultra luxury properties are offering discounts of up to 50% while luxury five-star hotels are offering discounts going up to around 72%.