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Indian markets rose notably on Friday to extend gains from the previous session, largely led by gains in IT stocks, financials and metal shares. Today, markets are likely to start the week on pessimistic note amid lackluster cues from global peers. Traders will be concerned amid fears that the U.S. banking turmoil will lead to tighter lending standards that will cripple small businesses and eventually send the world's largest economy into a recession. There will be some cautiousness as the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) statistical supplement showed India's foreign exchange reserves fell to $560 billion as of the week ended March 10, their lowest since early-December. However, some respite may come later in the day as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) revised upwards its growth estimate for India by 20 basis points to 5.9 per cent for FY24. Some support will come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India's economic and banking system are strong even amid the turmoil currently rocking global markets. Traders may take note of report that India and the European Union (EU) concluded the fourth round of talks for a comprehensive free trade agreement in Brussels, a move aimed at further strengthening economic ties between the two sides. There will be some buzz in power stocks as India's power consumption surged 10 per cent to 1375.57 billion units (BU) during April-February this fiscal year and has already surpassed the level of electricity supplied in entire 2021-22. Banking stocks will be in focus as the Reserve Bank governor Shaktikanta Das cautioned banks against any build-up of asset-liability mismatches, saying both are detrimental to financial stability and hinted that the ongoing crisis in the US banking system seems to have emanated from such mismatches. There will be some reaction in cement industry stocks with Crisil’s report that the continuing demand for housing, accounting for 60-65 per cent of cement demand, and aggressive government investments in infrastructure will drive demand, nudging cement-makers to add 145-155 MT in fresh capacity at an investment of Rs 1.2 lakh crore by FY27.

The US markets ended lower on Friday as investors remained wary about a potential banking crisis even as the country's largest banks came to the rescue of troubled regional lender First Republic Bank. Asian markets are trading mostly in red on Monday following a lower close on Wall Street.

Back home, Indian equity benchmarks overcame bouts of volatility to settle in the green for the second straight session on Friday, backed by renewed buying interest in Realty, Metal and Banking stocks. Besides, a strengthening rupee and lower crude prices in the international markets also influenced sentiments. Markets made a gap-up opening amid a firm trend in global equities. Traders took a note of rating agency Crisil’s statement that the India’s economy is likely to log in 6 per cent growth next fiscal, in line with consensus estimates, driven by an increased capex by the private sector. It added the private sector capex is expected to deliver double-digit revenue growth for the second year on the trot. The economy is projected to grow 7 per cent this fiscal. Crisil further said it expects the corporate revenue to log in double-digit rise again next fiscal. However, markets reversed initial gains in afternoon deals amid volatility. Traders turned anxious amid reports that the RBI is likely to for one more rate hike in its next monetary policy committee meeting in April, as India’s headline inflation continues to be sticky at around 6 percent and the central bank also keeping its eye on the rupee stability along with uncertainty in the US markets and Fed impending decision. Traders took a note of repot that Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran has said the global uncertainty has been rising after the recent developments in the United States and governments, businesses and individuals should keep 'margins of safety' in fiscal, corporate and savings account planning. Besides, foreign institutional investors (FII) net sold shares worth Rs 282.06 crore on March 17, according to the provisional data available on the NSE. But, in the late afternoon deals, markets regained traction to close with handsome gains as positive cues from European markets lent some support to markets. Finally, the BSE Sensex rose 355.06 points or 0.62% to 57,989.90 and the CNX Nifty was up by 114.45 points or 0.67% to 17,100.05.

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