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Sensex drops 1,300 points, Nifty falls to 23,900

Indian stock markets ended sharply lower on Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex falling about 1,300 points to close near 77,000, and the Nifty 50 slipping 400 points to around 23,900.

Investors were rattled by escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly concerns over a potential Iran-US conflict, which raised fears of higher oil prices and global instability. Foreign funds also sold equities, while domestic investors sought safer assets, adding to the pressure.

Most sectors were in the red, with banking, autos, and energy stocks leading the losses. Top losers included HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, and Maruti Suzuki, while defensive and metal stocks such as Tata Steel and Hindalco managed modest gains. Mid-cap and small-cap shares also fell sharply, reflecting broad risk aversion across the market.

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Qualcomm, NEURA Robotics team up for smart humanoid robots

Qualcomm and German startup NEURA Robotics have teamed up to develop the next generation of intelligent robots that can work safely alongside humans. The collaboration focuses on humanoid and general-purpose robots for homes, factories, healthcare, and other real-world settings.

NEURA will integrate Qualcomm’s Dragonwing Robotics IQ10 processors, designed for advanced AI and real-time decision-making,  into its robotic hardware. These chips act like the robot’s “brain,” allowing it to sense its surroundings, make decisions, and respond quickly without needing constant cloud support.

The companies are also working on a standard “Brain + Nervous System” architecture, which could become a reference for future robots. NEURA’s Neuraverse platform, a cloud-based simulation system, lets robots practice and learn new tasks virtually before applying them in the real world. This speeds up training and improves performance across multiple robots.

The partnership will also create a developer ecosystem to encourage third-party applications, making it easier for innovators to build tools for physical AI. By combining Qualcomm’s expertise in AI and connectivity with NEURA’s robotics experience, the collaboration aims to move advanced robots from labs into practical, everyday use.

Also Read: Pieter Elbers resigns as IndiGo CEO

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Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals shares rise, board considers buyback

Shares of Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals rose sharply after the company announced that its board will meet on March 12 to consider a proposal to buy back its equity shares. If approved, this would be the company’s first share buyback since it was listed.

The proposed buyback will involve fully paid equity shares with a face value of ₹2 each. Investors reacted positively to the announcement, pushing the company’s stock higher during trading as markets viewed the move as a sign of confidence from management.

A share buyback allows a company to repurchase its own shares from the market. This usually reduces the number of shares available publicly and can increase shareholder value by improving earnings per share. Companies often use buybacks when they believe their stock is undervalued.

The company has undertaken several corporate actions in the past. It issued bonus shares in a 3:1 ratio in 2004 and recently carried out a stock split in January 2025, reducing the face value of shares from ₹5 to ₹2. The company has also maintained regular dividend payouts.

In its latest financial results for the December 2025 quarter, the company reported a slight dip in performance. Net profit declined 8.4% to ₹12.49 crore, while revenue from operations fell 1.5% to ₹72.95 crore compared with the same period a year earlier.

Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals is known for its presence in therapeutic segments such as gynaecology, orthopaedics, dermatology and paediatric medicines. According to the latest shareholding data, promoters held over 67% stake in the company as of December 2025.

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Reliance backs first new US oil refinery in 50 years

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to build a new oil refinery in Texas with investment support from Reliance Industries. The refinery, planned at the Port of Brownsville, could be the first new oil refinery built in the United States in nearly 50 years.

The project is expected to have a long-term economic impact of about $300 billion. It will be developed by a company called America First Refining, with financial backing from Reliance, India’s largest private sector company.

According to Trump, the refinery will strengthen the country’s energy sector and increase domestic fuel production. He also thanked India and Reliance for their participation in the project, describing it as a major step in boosting energy cooperation between the two countries.

The facility will mainly process US shale oil and is expected to increase the country’s refining capacity. Once operational, it could help meet domestic fuel demand and also support exports.

Officials say the project could create thousands of jobs during construction and operation while also bringing economic growth to South Texas.

The announcement comes at a time when global energy markets are facing uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions and supply concerns. Expanding refining capacity is seen as an important step toward strengthening energy security.

If completed, the refinery would mark a major development for the US energy industry and highlight growing business ties between American companies and Indian firms such as Reliance Industries.

Also Read: Reliance steps up LPG output to support domestic supply

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Sensex falls 500 points, Nifty dips below 24,000

On Wednesday, the equity markets closed lower, reversing early gains as investors reacted cautiously to global developments. The BSE Sensex fell about 550 points, closing near 64,830, while the Nifty 50 slipped below 24,100. Early optimism, driven by hopes of easing geopolitical tensions, faded amid persistent selling and risk‑off sentiment.

Markets were influenced by ongoing geopolitical concerns, particularly the US-Iran conflict, which has created volatility in crude oil prices. Rising crude prices can impact inflation and economic growth, leading investors to adopt a cautious stance. Mixed global market cues and uncertainty over international economic indicators further weighed on sentiment.

Market weakness was broad-based. Banking, auto, FMCG, and IT sectors underperformed, pulling major indices lower. Mid-cap and small-cap stocks saw selective buying, while defensive and commodity-linked sectors, including metals, media, and infrastructure, showed some resilience.

Some stocks managed to hold ground or rise despite the overall market weakness. Adani Ports attracted buying interest amid positive sentiment in infrastructure and commodity-linked stocks. InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) saw gains on the back of strong travel demand. Wipro recovered some ground as investors rotated into tech stocks, while NTPC and Hindalco also recorded modest gains due to selective sectoral buying.

On the other hand, several key stocks fell sharply. Tata Consumer declined with the broader FMCG sector under pressure. Max Healthcare and JSW Steel lost value as defensive and cyclical sectors faced selling. SBI Life Insurance and Axis Bank were among the financial sector stocks that weakened, reflecting cautious investor sentiment amid global uncertainty and crude oil price volatility.

The foreign selling continued to weigh on the market, while global factors such as geopolitical tensions and rising energy prices kept investors cautious.

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Innovision IPO valued at ₹323 crore sees slow start

The Innovision Ltd initial public offering (IPO) got off to a subdued start on its first day of subscription, with investor response remaining muted. Priced between ₹521 and ₹548 per share, the ₹323‑crore IPO was subscribed by less than 1 per cent by mid‑day, according to exchange data.

Most of the early bids came from retail individual investors (RIIs). By afternoon, the retail portion, allocated about 40 lakh shares, was only 1 per cent subscribed, with around 30,672 bids submitted. The majority of these were at the cut‑off price, indicating cautious optimism among smaller investors.

Meanwhile, demand from non‑institutional investors (NIIs) was very low, with just 378 shares bid against an allocation of over 20 lakh shares. Qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) showed minimal activity, highlighting hesitancy among large institutional investors on the opening day.

Headquartered in Gurgaon, Innovision operates in manpower services and toll plaza management, covering 23 states and five union territories. The company has reported strong revenue and profit growth in recent years, driven by its experience in manpower supply and toll operations.

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of ₹255 crore and an offer for sale of 12.38 lakh shares. The proceeds will be used to repay borrowings, support working capital needs, and for general corporate purposes. If fully subscribed, Innovision’s post-IPO market capitalisation is expected to be around ₹1,290 crore.

With subscription slow on Day 1, attention now turns to whether interest will pick up in the remaining two days, as the IPO closes on March 12.

Allotment is expected by March 13, and the shares are tentatively set to list on March 17 on both the BSE and NSE.

Also Read: BARC India, Nielsen launch tool to measure ads across TV and digital

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BARC India, Nielsen launch tool to measure ads across TV and digital

The Indian advertising industry has a new way to see how ads perform across TV and digital platforms, thanks to a joint effort by BARC India and Nielsen. The new solution, called BARC | Nielsen ONE Ads, was launched on March 9 and promises to give advertisers a clear view of their campaigns’ reach across different screens.

With audiences now watching content on television, streaming platforms, mobile phones, and desktops, it has been hard for brands to know exactly how many people saw their ads. The new tool combines BARC’s TV viewership data with Nielsen’s digital insights to provide a single, deduplicated measurement. This means advertisers won’t accidentally count the same viewer twice when they switch screens.

JioHotstar was the first platform to use the tool during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, giving brands real-time insights into how their ads performed across TV and digital. The platform’s use of the system shows how cross-screen measurement can work in practice and help advertisers optimise campaigns.

BARC India CEO Nakul Chopra said the launch is a “defining moment for cross-media advertising in India.” He explained that brands can now understand their true reach and impact across all platforms, which will help them make better decisions about where to place ads.

Nielsen’s Chief Product Officer Akhil Parekh added that the tool solves a long-standing problem: brands no longer need to piece together data from separate TV and digital sources. Instead, they can see a complete picture of how their campaigns are performing.

It is believed that the system could transform how media budgets are planned and spent, helping advertisers choose the right mix of TV and digital. Wider adoption by broadcasters and streaming platforms will be key for it to become a standard in India.

Also Read: Indonesia signs BrahMos deal with India

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Sensex jumps 640 points, Nifty closes above 24,250

Equity markets bounced back sharply on Tuesday, as the  BSE Sensex surged 640 points to close at around 78,206, while the Nifty50 climbed over 230 points to settle above 24,250, reversing some of the losses from the previous session. Analysts said the rally was fueled by a combination of lower crude prices, a stronger rupee, and improving risk appetite.

Leading the rally were auto and consumer goods stocks. Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Asian Paints were among the top gainers, along with IndiGo, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, which saw healthy buying interest. In contrast, IT heavyweights Infosys, Reliance Industries, and Tata Consultancy Services remained under pressure, limiting the overall upside.

“The market is responding to easing energy costs and reduced inflation concerns,” said a market analyst. “Investors are rotating funds into cyclical sectors such as autos, FMCG, and banking, while selective selling in IT continues.”

Global developments also played a key role in the rebound. Strengthening international equities and calmer crude markets provided much-needed support, encouraging traders to return to Dalal Street.

The bounce comes after a rough patch on Monday, when the Sensex had tumbled over 1,300 points, dragged down by high oil prices and geopolitical concerns. The reversal highlights how sensitive Indian markets are to energy costs and global volatility, but also their resilience when positive cues emerge.

Trading volumes were robust across sectors, indicating broad participation, particularly in value and cyclical stocks. Investors will continue monitoring crude price trends, foreign fund flows, and global market cues in the coming sessions to gauge whether the recovery can sustain.

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Sedemac Mechatronics IPO subscribed 2.68 times

The initial public offering (IPO) of Sedemac Mechatronics closed with an overall subscription of 2.68 times, receiving a moderate response from investors across categories.

The ₹1,087-crore IPO was structured entirely as an offer for sale (OFS), where promoters and existing shareholders sold around 80.43 lakh equity shares. Since it was an OFS, the company itself will not receive any proceeds from the issue, and the funds will go to the selling shareholders.

The price band for the issue was fixed at ₹1,287 to ₹1,352 per share. Investors were required to apply for a minimum lot of 11 shares.

Among the different investor categories, qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) showed the strongest interest in the issue. The portion reserved for institutional investors was subscribed about 8.46 times, reflecting strong participation from large investors such as mutual funds and financial institutions.

In comparison, participation from other investor categories remained relatively lower. The non-institutional investor (NII) segment, which includes high-net-worth individuals, was subscribed around 0.77 times. Meanwhile, the portion reserved for retail investors saw a subscription of about 0.20 times.

Overall, the IPO received bids for approximately 15.11 million shares against the 5.63 million shares offered. Market analysts noted that demand was largely driven by institutional investors, while retail participation remained limited.

Based in Pune, Sedemac Mechatronics develops advanced electronic control solutions used in the automotive industry. The company designs systems that help manage engine performance and other vehicle functions, supplying technology to automobile manufacturers.

The share allotment for the IPO is expected to be finalised shortly, after which the company’s shares are likely to be listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and the BSE.

Market experts said the subscription level indicates a balanced response to the issue. While institutional investors showed strong confidence in the company’s business model and growth prospects, participation from retail investors was comparatively subdued.

Also Read: Flipkart shifts headquarters to India ahead of IPO plans

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Flipkart shifts headquarters to India ahead of IPO plans

E-commerce company Flipkart has moved its headquarters from Singapore back to India, a step widely seen as preparation for its planned initial public offering (IPO). The move aligns the company’s corporate structure with its main market, where most of its business operations are based.

The company confirmed that it has completed the shift of its holding structure to India. With this change, Flipkart Internet Private Limited, the group’s India entity, will become the main holding company for its operations. The restructuring is expected to simplify regulatory processes and support the company’s future listing plans.

Founded in Bengaluru in 2007, Flipkart had earlier moved its headquarters to Singapore to attract global investors and operate under a more favourable tax and regulatory environment. However, with India’s capital markets expanding and investor interest in technology companies growing, the company has decided to bring its base back to the country.

The relocation is closely linked to Flipkart’s long-term plan to go public. The company is reportedly preparing for a possible IPO in the coming years, which could become one of the largest listings in India’s technology sector. While the timeline and valuation have not yet been finalised, industry analysts believe the move will help the company navigate domestic listing rules more easily.

Flipkart is one of India’s largest online retail platforms and plays a major role in the country’s fast-growing e-commerce sector. The company competes with global players such as Amazon in the Indian market.

The firm received a major boost in 2018 when US retail giant Walmart acquired a majority stake in the company in a deal worth about $16 billion. Since then, Flipkart has continued to expand its operations across categories including electronics, fashion and grocery.

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