In the week ended on Friday, 17 April 2026, the S&P BSE Sensex advanced 943.29 points or 1.22% to settle at 78,493.54. The Nifty 50 index jumped 302.95 points or 1.26% to settle at 24,353.55. The BSE 150 Mid-Cap index surged 3.25% to close at 16,131.51. The BSE 250 Small-Cap zoomed 4.55% to end at 6,546.28.

Weekly Index Movement:

The domestic equity markets slumped on Monday, with benchmark indices witnessing a broad-based selloff amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a sharp surge in crude oil prices. The decline followed rising tensions between the United States and Iran after US President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supplies. The S&P BSE Sensex tanked 702.68 points or 0.91% to 76,847.57. The Nifty 50 index declined 207.95 points or 0.86% to 23,842.65.

The stock market was closed on Tuesday 14 April 2026, on account of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti.

The headline equity benchmarks surged on Wednesday, tracking firm cues from other Asian markets amid renewed optimism over the resumption of US-Iran peace talks. The S&P BSE Sensex surged 1,263.67 points or 1.64% to 78,111.24. The Nifty 50 index jumped 388.65 points or 1.63% to 24,231.30.

The headline equity indices erased early gains to end marginally lower in a volatile session on Thursday. Tracking positive global cues, the markets opened higher on optimism around a potential US-Iran peace deal and held gains in the first half. However, selling pressure in the latter half wiped out intraday advances. The S&P BSE Sensex declined 122.56 points or 0.16% to 77,988.68. The Nifty 50 index fell 34.55 points or 0.14% to 24,196.75.

The key domestic indices ended with modest gains on Friday after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about securing a permanent ceasefire with Iran. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex jumped 504.86 points or 0.65% to 78,493.54. The Nifty 50 index rose 156.80 points or 0.65% to 24,353.55.

Economy:

India's Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose to 3.4% in March 2026 from 3.21% in February 2026 to mark the largest inflation rate in over one year. Food inflation was at 3.87%, picking up from the 3.47% in the previous month.

India’s wholesale inflation rose to a 38-month high of 3.88% in March, up from 2.13% in February, driven by higher prices of crude petroleum, fuel, and manufactured goods, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The increase was led by a rise in prices of crude petroleum and natural gas, non-food articles, basic metals, manufactured products, and food articles. The index for this major group rose 4.13% in March 2026, compared with 1.17% (provisional) in February 2026. Prices of manufactured goods increased 0.88% in March from 0.75% in February, with 16 of 22 manufacturing groups recording gains while 6 reported declines. Meanwhile, WPI food inflation remained unchanged at 1.85% YoY in March.

Meanwhile, India’s trade deficit narrowed to $20.67 billion in March 2026, down from $27.1 billion in February and $21.69 billion in the same month last year, marking the smallest gap since June 2025. The improvement was driven by a rise in exports to $38.92 billion in March 2026 from $36.61 billion in February 2026, along with a decline in imports to $59.59 billion from $63.71 billion. However, the outlook remains uncertain amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

IMF lifts India growth outlook to 6.5%:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has marginally raised India’s GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 6.5%, citing strong domestic demand and carryover momentum, while retaining the same growth estimate for 2027.

However, the IMF cautioned that escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, could weigh on global growth and push inflation higher in the near term.

Globally, growth is projected at 3.1% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, with China expected to grow at 4.4% and the US at 2.3%, underscoring India’s relatively stronger growth outlook.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Wipro shed 0.28%. The IT major announced its Q4FY26 results today. Its net income for the quarter was at Rs 3500 crore, an increase of 12.3% QoQ and decrease of 1.9% YoY. Gross revenue at Rs 24240 crore, an increase of 2.9% QoQ and 7.7% YoY. IT services segment revenue was at $2,651.0 million, increase of 0.6% QoQ and 2.1% YoY.

Wipro expects revenue from IT Services business segment to be in the range of $2,597 million to $2,651 million. This translates to sequential guidance of (-)2.0% to 0% in constant currency terms.

Meanwhile, the company's board approved share buyback of up to 60 crore shares (5.7% equity) at Rs 250 per share via tender offer, aggregating up to Rs 15,000 crore, subject to shareholder approval through postal ballot.

Bajaj Consumer Care climbed 8.81%. The company’s consolidated net profit rose 105.29% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 63.60 crore in Q4 FY26, compared with Rs 30.98 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Total revenue from operations increased 30.40% YoY to Rs 326.66 crore.

HDFC Asset Management Company (AMC) rallied 6.77%. The company reported a 2.42% decline in standalone net profit to Rs 623.29 crore despite a 16.56% jump in revenue from operations to Rs 1,050.48 crore in Q4 FY26 over Q4 FY25.

Mahindra & Mahindra declined 1.83%. The company announced that its sales stood at 100,194 units in March 2026, registering the growth of 22.37%, compared with 81,880 units sold in March 2025.

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company (AMC) dropped 1.69%. The company reported a 16.76% drop in consolidated net profit to Rs 763.42 crore on a 0.15% decline in revenue from operations to Rs 1517.01 crore in Q4 FY26 over Q3 FY26.

Jyoti CNC Automation slumped 13.52%. The company disclosed an investigation into its wholly owned subsidiary, Huron Graffenstaden SAS, by French authorities. The probe relates to alleged violations of export control rules involving dual-use machinery. Authorities have taken interim actions, including restricting the subsidiary’s director general from discharging duties. They have also seized certain bank accounts worth around EUR 4 million and two residential properties owned by Jyoti SAS. The subsidiary has denied the allegations and is seeking legal advice. It said it will contest the matter.

Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers jumped 2.23% after the company’s consolidated net profit surged 125.74% to Rs 41.56 crore on a 28.06% increase in total revenue from operations to Rs 255.66 crore in Q4 FY26 over Q4 FY25.

Crisil rallied 5.73%. The company’s consolidated net profit jumped 45.93% to Rs 233.26 crore on 30.06% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 1,057.66 crore in Q1 March 2026 over Q1 March 2025.

Angel One surged 15.15%. The company reported a robust performance for the quarter ended March 2026. The company’s consolidated net profit (PAT) jumped 83.49% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 320.24 crore in Q4 FY26, driven by a 38.20% increase in total revenue from operations to Rs 1,459.42 crore.

Global Market:

China’s finance ministry is expected to issue 15.5 billion yuan-denominated treasury bonds in Hong Kong on 22 April.

China’s economy accelerated in the first quarter, supported by strong export growth that helped offset weak domestic demand, even as the outlook remains clouded by energy price risks linked to geopolitical tensions. Gross domestic product grew 5% in the January-March period, up from 4.5% in the previous quarter, according to official data.

Inflation in the Euro Area was revised higher to 2.6% in March 2026 from an earlier estimate of 2.5% and 1.9% in February, largely driven by a sharp increase in energy prices. Core inflation eased to 2.3%, with price pressures moderating across services, goods, and food. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.3%, marking the fastest increase since October 2022, with broad-based inflation seen across major economies including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

Eurozone industrial production rose 0.4% month-on-month in February 2026, recovering after two consecutive months of decline and coming in above estimates of 0.3%. The growth was driven by non-durable consumer goods, capital goods, and intermediate goods, although energy output and durable goods declined. On a year-on-year basis, industrial production fell 0.6%.

In the UK, the economy expanded in February, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics. The growth followed a 0.1% expansion in January and was supported by broad-based gains. Services activity rose 0.5% month-on-month, industrial production increased 0.5%, and construction output climbed 1.0% despite adverse weather conditions.

In US, on the macro front, inflation data showed price pressures remain elevated. The March CPI rose 0.9% month-on-month and 3.3% year-on-year, marking the highest annual increase since May 2024.

US producer price index rose 0.5% month-on-month, significantly below expectations of a 1.1% increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, easing concerns of a sharp inflation spike driven by higher energy prices.

Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve’s Beige Book indicated that the economy grew at a slight to modest pace over the past six weeks. It highlighted the Iran conflict as a major source of uncertainty for businesses, even as price growth remained moderate despite rising energy costs. Consumers continued to face pressure from higher prices, with more households seeking financial assistance.