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Indian equity markets are likely to make positive start on Friday despite weak cues from global markets. Traders are likely to opt for short-covering after a sharp fall in the previous session. However, some cautiousness may come amid continued foreign fund outflows, as foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded shares worth Rs 7,558.19 crore on Thursday. 

Some of the key factors to be watched:   

India-UK FTA likely to be implemented by early May; EU by year-end: The report said that the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK, signed in July last year, is likely to be implemented by early May, as both sides are sorting out a few issues.

Govt approves Rs 497 crore RELIEF scheme amid West Asia disruptions: The government has rolled out the RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme with an outlay of Rs 497 crore to provide relief to exporters facing disruptions due to the ongoing West Asia conflict. 

India safeguards maritime trade amid West Asia crisis: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said India has taken swift and coordinated measures to safeguard the country's maritime trade amid the evolving situation in West Asia to ensure seamless cargo movement and minimal disruption to supply chains. 

India to pitch for strengthening WTO at upcoming ministerial: The report said that India will push for further strengthening of the WTO at the upcoming ministerial meeting in Cameroon so that it can play an important role in promoting global trade at a time when the world is witnessing turmoil due to various geopolitical factors. 

Power sector’s stocks will be in watch: Union Power Minister Manohar Lal said that India is well prepared to meet the projected peak power demand of 270 GW during this summer season. 

On the global front: The US markets ended lower on Thursday as fears about the Iran war and inflation gripped global markets. Asian markets are trading mixed on Friday following the broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight. 

Back home, snapping a three-day winning streak, Indian equity benchmarks plummeted by over 3% on Thursday as a sharp jump in crude oil prices and weak global trends, amid escalating strikes on energy infrastructure in West Asia, unnerved investors. Additionally, some cautiousness came from foreign portfolio investors, who recorded net sales of equities worth Rs 2,714.35 crore on Wednesday. Finally, the BSE Sensex fell 2496.89 points or 3.26% to 74,207.24 and the CNX Nifty was down by 775.65 points or 3.26% to 23,002.15. 

Some of the important factors in trade: 

Net direct tax collection grows 7.1% to Rs 22.8 lakh crore till March 17 in FY26: Income Tax Department in its latest data has showed that the net direct tax collection grew 7.1% to about Rs 22.8 lakh crore till March 17 this fiscal (FY26) due to slower refunds and higher corporate tax mop-up. 

India’s outward FDI commitments see 35.88% dip in February: Amid global economic and geopolitical challenges, the RBI in its latest report has showed that India's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) commitments declined by 35.88% to $2,758.90 million in February 2026 as against $4,302.70 million in February 2025, impacted by fall in equity investments. 

RBI to inject Rs 75,000 crore in banking system through VRR auction: Amid the current and evolving liquidity conditions of the banking system, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is all set to inject Rs 75,000 crore worth of liquidity in the banking system. It will conduct a three-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction on March 20.

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