SGX Nifty March 2026 futures increased by 274.00 points, indicating a gap down opening for the Nifty 50 today.
Institutional Flows:
On 06 March 2026, provisional data indicated that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) divested shares amounting to Rs 6,030.38 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) made net purchases totaling Rs 6,971.51 crore in the Indian equity market. The FIIs have divested shares amounting to Rs 21,831.19 crore in March (up to 06 March 2026). This comes after their cash sales of Rs 6,640.78 crore in February and Rs 41,435.22 crore in January 2026.
Global Markets:
Asian markets experienced a significant decline today as oil prices surpassed $110 per barrel for the first time since 2022. In a recent update regarding the US-Iran conflict, Iranian state TV reportedly announced early on Monday that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late supreme leader, has been appointed as his successor. This development comes as the war, which commenced just over a week ago following his father’s assassination, takes a significant turn. On Monday, South Korea’s Kospi activated its second circuit breaker within just four sessions. The index fell sharply by more than 8%, leading to a 20-minute halt in trading starting at 10:31 a.m. local time. Samsung Electronics experienced a significant decline of over 10%, while its chip counterpart SK Hynix fell by 11.6%. A circuit breaker was triggered last week as the benchmark plummeted over 12% on Wednesday, marking its most significant single-day drop. Japan’s Nikkei 225 experienced a significant decline of 6.48%, dropping below the 53,000 threshold for the first time since February 06, while the Topix decreased by 5.8%.
Brent futures surged by 23.38% to $114.30, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures increased by 26.35% to $114.85. The increase follows significant reductions in oil production by key Middle Eastern producers, such as Kuwait, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, in response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump, however, posted on Truth Social that a gain in “short term oil prices” was a “very small price to pay” for eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat. “Only fools would think differently!” Trump added. On Wall Street, stocks experienced a decline on Friday, contributing to their weekly losses, as oil prices surged and traders responded to an unforeseen decrease in new U.S. jobs data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 453.19 points, which is a decrease of 0.95%, closing at 47,501.55. The S&P 500 declined by 1.33%, finishing at 6,740.02. The Nasdaq Composite decreased by 1.59%, closing at 22,387.68. Friday’s increase in crude prices was prompted by Trump’s remarks. The President expressed in a social media update that an agreement to conclude the U.S.-Iran conflict is contingent upon a “unconditional surrender” from the nation in the Middle East.
Qatar’s energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, informed the Financial Times that Gulf energy producers might have to declare force majeure in the near future, halting production in a decision that could drive oil prices to $150 a barrel. The conflict in the Middle East could “bring down the economies of the world,” he cautioned. Equities faced pressure from the most recent jobs data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a decline of 92,000 in nonfarm payrolls for February, marking a significant difference from the downwardly revised gain of 126,000 in January and falling short of the anticipated growth of 50,000 that was widely expected for the month. The unemployment rate increased to 4.4% from 4.3%.
Domestic Market:
The major equity indices closed significantly down on Friday, following a brief pause, as the situation in West Asia reached its seventh day, driving crude oil prices upward. Ongoing foreign fund outflows continued to impact investor sentiment negatively. The Nifty closed around the 24,450 level, weighed down by declines in banking shares.
The S&P BSE Sensex dropped 1,097 points or 1.37% to 78,918.90. The Nifty 50 index declined by 315.45 points, which is a decrease of 1.27%, bringing it down to 24,450.45.