Domestic equity benchmarks ended with major losses during the week, as heightened geopolitical tensions and a sharp surge in crude oil prices weighed heavily on investor sentiment. From the four trading sessions, the market declined on three days and advanced only once, reflecting a cautious risk-off approach among participants. Escalating conflict in West Asia, particularly involving the United States, Israel and Iran, triggered volatility in global markets and pushed energy prices higher. Persistent foreign institutional investor outflows and a weakening rupee further added to the pressure on equities. Although The market witnessed a brief recovery on Thursday as bargain buying emerged and global sentiment stabilised slightly. However, in the last session of the week, equities again came under heavy selling pressure, tracking higher oil prices and persistent global concerns.
In the week ended on Friday, 06 March 2025, the S&P BSE Sensex dropped 2,368.29 points or 2.91% to settle at 78,918.90. The Nifty 50 index plunged 728.2 points or 2.89% to settle at 24,450.45. The BSE 150 MidCap Index fell 3.11% to close at 15,508.72. The BSE 250 SmallCap index tumbled 3.06% at 6,104.32.
Weekly Index Movement:
The key equity benchmarks closed sharply lower on Monday as investors adopted a cautious stance amid weak global cues. The S&P BSE Sensex tanked 1,048.34 points or 1.29% to 80,238.85. The Nifty 50 index dropped 312.95 points or 1.24% to 24,865.70.
The Indian stock market was closed on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, on account of Holi.
The domestic equity benchmarks ended sharply lower on Wednesday as investors turned risk-averse amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a sharp surge in crude oil prices. The S&P BSE Sensex tanked 1,122.66 points or 1.40% to 79,116.19. The Nifty 50 index dropped 385.20 points or 1.55% to 24,480.50.
The domestic equity market advanced on Thursday, snapping a three-session losing streak. The S&P BSE Sensex jumped 899.71 points, or 1.14%, to 80,015.90. The Nifty 50 rose 285.40 points, or 1.17%, to 24,765.90. The 50-share index had fallen 3.99% over the previous three sessions.
The key equity benchmarks ended sharply lower on Friday, after a day's breather, as the conflict in West Asia entered its seventh day. The S&P BSE Sensex plunged 1,097 points or 1.37% to 78,918.9078. The Nifty 50 index tanked 315.45 points or 1.27% to 24,450.45.
West Asia Conflict:
As of March 6, 2026, the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has entered a critical phase following the launch of major coordinated military strikes on Iranian infrastructure. The war intensified after the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on 28 February 2026 and the subsequent appointment of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor. In response to the bombardment, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on U.S. bases across six Middle Eastern countries on March.
The humanitarian toll has become severe, with casualties in Iran surpassing 1,330 deaths. The confrontation has also expanded into a significant naval conflict; a U.S. submarine reportedly sank the IRIS Dena, a modern Iranian frigate, in the Indian Ocean, while an Iranian drone carrier was set ablaze during maritime engagements.
These hostilities had a profound global impact, further exacerbated by a direct strike on Saudi Arabia's energy sector. On 2 March 2026, Iranian drones targeted the Ras Tanura refinery, the largest in the Kingdom, causing a fire and forcing Saudi Aramco to temporarily halt its 550,000 barrel-per-day operations. This attack, combined with Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, caused global oil prices to surge, with Brent crude jumping roughly 10–12% to over $82 per barrel, unsettling global markets and threatening international supply chains.
Economy:
The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)—a gauge of overall conditions derived from measures of new orders, output, employment, supplier delivery times, and stocks of purchases—rose from 55.4 in January to a four-month high of 56.9 in February.
India’s HSBC Services PMI eased to 58.1 in February from 58.4 in January and came in below the flash estimate of 58.4. New business growth slowed to its weakest pace since January 2025, while input cost inflation climbed to a two-and-a-half-year high amid higher food, energy and labour expenses. International sales expanded at the fastest pace since August. Employment increased for the second consecutive month, with hiring accelerating from January, while business confidence improved to a one-year high. Meanwhile, the HSBC Composite PMI rose to 58.9 in February from 58.4 in January, marking a three-month high.
Monthly Auto Sales:
Hyundai Motor India slipped 3.43%. The company has recorded total sales of 66,134 units in February 2026, thereby registering a year-on-year growth of 12.6%. While domestic sales rose by 9.8% YoY to 52,407 units, exports increased by 24.8% to 13,727 units in February 2026.
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles dropped 6.12%. The company has recorded total sales of 63,331 units in February 2026, registering a robust 35% YoY growth over 46,811 units in sold February 2025. Total electric vehicle (EV) sales rose 57% to 8,385 units in February 2026 from 5,343 units in the corresponding month last year, significantly outpacing the 35% growth recorded in overall passenger vehicle (PV) volumes.
Eicher Motors fell 4.75%. The company’s unlisted subsidiary, VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), reported a 23.4% year-on-year jump in commercial vehicle (CV) sales to 9,986 units in February 2026.
Ashok Leyland tumbled 7.83%. The company reported a 24% jump in total sales (domestic & exports) to 22,157 units in February 2026, compared with 17,903 units sold in February 2025.
Bajaj Auto declined 1.56%. The company reported 27% increase in total auto sales for February 2026, selling 4.48 lakh units as against 3.52 lakh units sold in February 2025.
Escorts Kubota slipped 6.35%. The company’s agri-machinery business division sales grew by 20.4% to 10,339 units in February 2026 as against 8,590 units sold in February 2025.
TVS Motor Company declined 2.31%. The company registered sales of 529,308 units in February 2026, which is 31% higher as compared with the 403,976 units sold in February 2025.
Hero MotoCorp fell 3.36%. The company has recorded a 44% year-on-year (YoY) rise in total two-wheeler dispatches in February 2026, selling 558,216 units during the month as compared with 388,068 units in February 2025.
Stocks in Spotlight:
Paras Defence and Space Technologies climbed 17.15%. The company announced the incorporation of a new subsidiary, Paras Semiconductors. The newly incorporated entity, registered in India on 27 February 2026, will focus on setting up an advanced heterogeneous packaging and 3D packaging OSAT facility. The unit will cater to high-growth segments such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, networking and data center applications. Paras Defence has subscribed to 70,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each, aggregating to Rs 7 lakh, through cash consideration.
Force Motors fell 12.29%. The company said it had received an email from market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), seeking information to certain financial results and other crucial details.
In an email dated 4 March 2026, SEBI sought information regarding the company’s unaudited financial results (standalone and consolidated) for the quarter and half year ended on 30th September, 2024. The regulator also requested details such as chronology of event, details of insiders, MIS, details of designated persons, extract of structured digital database etc.
Angel One declined 5.81%. The company announced that its client base jumped 20.8% year-on-year (YoY) to 36.93 million in February 2026, compared with 30.58 million in February 2025.
KVS Castings rallied 4.04%. The company announced the commencement of commercial operations at its new manufacturing facility, Unit-2, from 2 March 2026.
A B Infrabuild fell 3.54%. The company received an order worth Rs 62.94 crore from the National Highways Authority of India for constructing three vehicular underpasses along with approach roads on the Puintola–Icchapuram stretch of NH-16 in Odisha.
Gujarat Gas slipped 2.64%. The company issued force majeure notices to its customers, restricting gas supply from 6 March 2026 amid the ongoing war in the Middle East region.
Ramky Infrastructure added 1.68%. The company signed an EPC agreement with Maharashtra Industrial Township for infrastructure works at Dighi Port Industrial Area Phase 1 under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor.
Keystone Realtors dropped 6.09%.The company, through its subsidiary Keymidtown Developers, has signed a development agreement with GTB Nagar societies and MHADA, along with a separate construction and development agreement with MHADA, to redevelop GTB Nagar in Sion.
Fractal Analytics advanced 2.64%. The company reported 10.6% jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 102.60 crore on 20.8% increase in net sales 854.40 crore in Q3 FY26 over Q3 FY25.
Dr Reddy's Laboratories added 1.30. The company announced that it has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) on 4 March 2026 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its formulations manufacturing facility located at Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.
Gland Pharma declined 8.37%. The company announced that it has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.025% (OTC).
Natco Pharma rallied 3.14%. The company, along with its partner Breckenridge Pharmaceutical Inc., launched Pomalidomide Capsules, a generic version of Celgene’s Pomalyst, in the U.S. market.
Aurobindo Pharma added 0.82%. The company informed that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Eugia Pharma Specialities, has launched Pomalidomide Capsules in strengths of 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg in the U.S. market.
Granules India shed 0.83%. The Granules Consumer Health received an Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its packaging facility in Virginia, USA, with a no action indicated (NAI) status.
Global Markets:
Germany's retail sales fell 0.9% month-on-month in January 2026.
the euro area’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1%, down from 6.2% in December 2025 and from 6.3% in January 2025.
According to preliminary estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade in January 2026 fell 0.1% in the euro area compared with December 2025, while it rose 0.1% across the EU.
The seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.2% in both the euro area and the EU in fourth quarter of 2025, compared with the previous quarter, according to an estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the third quarter of 2025, GDP had increased by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU.
China’s factory activity weakened in February as production and shipments slowed during the extended holiday period. The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 49 in February, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, below the widely reported forecast of 49.1.
China’s major policy gathering, the "Two Sessions," which began on Wednesday. China has reportedly set its GDP growth target for 2026 at 4.5% to 5%, the lowest target since the early 1990s, as Beijing grapples with persistent deflationary pressures and trade tensions with the United States. The government also kept its budget deficit target unchanged at around 4% of GDP.
U.S. January’s producer price index, a measure of wholesale inflation, showed a 0.5% increase for the month. Media reports had suggested that the headline reading could come in at 0.3%. The core PPI reading, which excludes food and energy prices, recorded a 0.8% gain, much more than the 0.3% rise that was widely reported in the media.