Markets

Hindustan Unilever reported a 21% rise in net profit to ₹2,994 crore for Q4FY26, alongside a final dividend of ₹22 per share. The result signals strong earnings momentum for India's largest FMCG company. Volume and margin details from the full results will be closely watched by investors.

The Indian rupee fell to a record low Thursday as crude oil prices climbed back to 2022 highs. Higher oil costs expand India's import bill, widen its trade deficit, and squeeze the RBI's ability to balance inflation control with growth support. The central bank is now under renewed pressure to intervene in currency

Indian equity markets dropped in early trade after crude oil surged past ₹120 per barrel. InterGlobe Aviation, UltraTech Cement, Mahindra & Mahindra, Axis Bank, Eternal, and Adani Ports led losses on the Sensex. Sustained oil prices at this level could pressure margins across aviation, cement, and auto sectors.

Hindustan Unilever reported its highest volume growth in 15 quarters in Q4, beating analyst estimates. Volume growth signals real demand expansion beyond price increases, a positive read for India's FMCG sector. HUL declared a final dividend of Rs 22 per share, with a record date of June 23.

The Indian rupee dropped 32 paise to a record low of 95.20 against the U.S. dollar in early interbank trading. A weaker rupee raises import costs, particularly for dollar-priced goods like crude oil, and could add to domestic inflation pressure.

The Indian rupee fell to a fresh all-time low of 95.2475 per US dollar, with the 10-year government bond yield crossing 7%. The dual pressure of currency weakness and rising yields signals stress across India's financial markets. Both moves raise costs for importers and borrowers.

The Sensex dropped 647 points and the Nifty 50 fell 212 points at open, pressured by a crude oil price shock and foreign institutional selling. Rising crude raises India's import costs and fuels inflation concerns, compounding the impact of sustained FII outflows.

Crude oil prices are strengthening after the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping lane for oil, was closed. The disruption tightens supply for buyers across Asia and Europe and could push fuel and energy costs higher. Duration of the closure will determine how far prices move.

Crude oil climbed to $120 per barrel on April 30, its highest since mid-2022, as U.S. sanctions on Iranian exports tightened global supply. Stalled nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran offer no near-term relief. Elevated prices could push fuel and inflation costs higher across multiple sectors.

Exit polls predict a BJP edge in West Bengal and Assam, with markets likely to react selectively on open. State election results tend to move specific sectors rather than the broad index. Infrastructure, power, and real estate stocks with regional exposure are the ones to watch.

Foreign portfolio investors have sold over ₹1.8 lakh crore in Indian equities in the first four months of 2026, exceeding the full-year total for 2025. A weak rupee, high oil prices, and India's thin AI exposure are pushing capital toward South Korea and Taiwan instead. This is the steepest four-month FPI outflow ever

Amazon's cloud unit AWS beat revenue expectations, fueled by rising AI demand, pushing the company's shares up. Strong AWS results signal healthy enterprise spending on AI infrastructure. The result adds to similar beats from Microsoft and Google, pointing to a broad sector trend.

The US Federal Reserve kept rates at 3.5%, 3.75% for the third straight meeting after an 8-4 FOMC vote, with no updated economic projections released. A steady US rate environment reduces near-term pressure on the Indian rupee and foreign capital outflows from emerging markets.

AWS posted 28% revenue growth, topping Wall Street estimates on strong enterprise AI demand. Amazon's stock still dropped after the company guided current-quarter operating income below analyst forecasts. The divergence reflects heavy AI infrastructure spending the company expects to monetize over coming years.

The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged but logged its highest level of internal dissent since 1992. That level of disagreement among policymakers signals a real split on the path ahead for rates. Markets will watch closely for clues on whether a policy shift may come sooner than expected.

WTI crude jumped 6.61% to $106.58 and Brent rose 5.9% to $117.81, marking eight straight days of gains. A sharp fall in US oil inventories reported by the EIA, combined with no progress on the ongoing Middle East conflict, drove the rally. Sustained prices above $100 raise inflation and fuel cost concerns across major

Adani Power, Vedanta, Bajaj Finance, Federal Bank, IOB, Indian Bank, Granules India, and Bansal Wire all reported profit growth in Q4 results on April 29, 2026. NDTV was the outlier, posting a wider net loss for the quarter. Full result details and management commentary are expected to follow through the day.

The Sensex rose 609 points after reports that the UAE may exit OPEC sparked hopes of lower global crude prices, which would ease costs for India as a major oil importer. The rupee, however, fell 30 paise to a record low close near 84.8 against the dollar, which could blunt some of that relief.

The US Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at today's policy meeting, with inflation risks from geopolitical conflict complicating any move toward cuts. Growth forecasts for the US economy have been revised lower. Markets will parse the Fed's statement for clues on when rate cuts could begin.

The rupee closed at a record low of 94.8450 per dollar, down 0.3%, as Brent crude surged to nearly $115 per barrel on stalled Iran conflict diplomacy. Higher oil prices widen India's import bill and put sustained pressure on the currency. Markets will watch for RBI intervention and any diplomatic developments that