AMC & product-related updates
Precious metals saw pressure during the session. Gold and silver ETFs declined by up to 4%, as rising interest rate expectations reduced the appeal of non-yielding assets.
At the same time, regulatory discussions around AIFs are evolving. SEBI has encouraged the industry to focus on onboarding accredited investors rather than increasing the investor limit per scheme, signalling a shift toward more sophisticated capital participation.
Regulatory & policy developments
Investor participation initiatives are gaining momentum. NSDL has launched a “Women Plan,” offering a three-year settlement fee waiver for new women investors opening demat accounts between April 2026 and March 2027.
SEBI is also reviewing market structure changes. The regulator is considering reintroducing open market share buybacks through stock exchanges, which could improve liquidity and price discovery.
In commodities, the government has imposed import restrictions on gold, silver and platinum, indicating tighter control over precious metal flows.
Currency market oversight has strengthened further. RBI’s recent clampdown on speculative trades has impacted the offshore NDF market, where estimated monthly turnover ranges between $150 billion globally.
Mutual fund & distribution signals
Foreign capital flows remain under pressure. Rising bond yields and geopolitical risks have triggered outflows of ₹17,689 crore from FAR-eligible government securities.
Global brokerages are also turning cautious. Nomura has downgraded India and flagged concerns that slower market returns could weaken incremental domestic participation — a key support for equities.
Real estate investment trends reflect similar caution. Foreign inflows into Indian real estate dropped sharply during the March quarter, indicating a more selective global investment approach.
Markets & sectoral trends
Indian equity markets remained volatile on April 2, 2026. Indices opened sharply lower due to geopolitical tensions and a spike in crude oil prices but recovered later on selective buying.
Bond markets reflected stress. The benchmark 10-year yield moved up to around 7.05% as crude oil crossed $100 per barrel again.
Currency markets also saw structural shifts. RBI actions to curb speculative activity have led to a reassessment of the offshore rupee derivatives market.
Corporate actions, capital flows & business developments
Primary market activity remains strong. Multiple companies have filed draft papers with SEBI, including Sadbhav Futuretech, TC Terrytex and Bvishal Oil and Energy.
IPO momentum accelerated toward the end of FY26, with nearly two dozen companies filing papers in just two days. Some firms, such as Rediff India and SNVA Traveltech, opted for the confidential pre-filing route.
Strategic investments and corporate activity continue across sectors.
Alkem Labs plans to increase its investment to ₹1,036 crore for a manufacturing unit in Ujjain.
In banking, RBI has approved Emirates NBD to acquire up to a 74% stake in RBL Bank, which could lead to its transition into a foreign bank.
In the startup ecosystem, fintech platform Bachatt raised $12 million in a Series A round to expand its AI-led financial solutions.
Consumer and digital sectors also saw activity. Ola Electric reduced prices for its Roadster model to improve affordability, while BigBasket strengthened its branding partnership with RCB for the 2026 T20 League.
Source: Moneycontrol, Business Standard, CNBC TV18, Economic Times, Cafemutual
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