Option Expert

Crude Oil & Gas Prices ⬆️

Supply disruptions in the Gulf → bullish for oil & LNG prices globally

• Energy Stocks ⬆️
Upstream oil & gas companies likely to benefit

• Airlines & Paints ⬇️
Higher fuel costs = margin pressure

• Fertilizer Sector ⬆️
Gas is key input → price increase supports fertilizer companies

• Global Volatility ⚡
Any escalation can trigger sharp moves in commodities & equities

Positive for Equities: Banking, NBFC, and rate-sensitive sectors like real estate and auto could see positive sentiment if liquidity improves.

RBI Support Missing: The lack of a fresh bond-purchase announcement from the Reserve Bank of India reduced liquidity support, which weakened sentiment in the bond market

A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, a refueling aircraft, went down in western Iraq on Thursday, the US military said, adding the incident was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

The statement did not specify whether any US service members were hurt or killed.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” a release from US Central Command said, using the name the Pentagon has given to US operations against Iran. “Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

At least five crew members were aboard the tanker that went down, a US official told CNN. The second aircraft that landed safely was also a KC-135, the official said.

Sectoral Impact in India

Negative: Oil marketing companies (IOC, BPCL, HPCL) if crude rises
Neutral to Slight Positive: Upstream companies like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India Limited if oil prices increase

Volatility: LNG importers and gas distribution firms

Market Sentiment:
Short-term volatile and cautious, especially for aviation and travel sectors, while energy stocks may remain in focus.

Restaurants in Mumbai, Bengaluru face shutdown as commercial LPG supply halts

•Bangalore Hotels Association said commercial LPG supply has stopped, with hotels set to suspend operations from March 10 due to the shortage.
•The NRAI, representing over five lakh restaurants, wrote to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri warning the disruption would force widespread closures.
•The petroleum ministry directed refineries to boost LPG output and formed a committee to assess commercial supply needs for restaurants and hospitals.

Jaishankar tells Rajya Sabha Iran ship's Kochi docking was 'the right thing to do'14

•Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha on Monday that India approved docking for the IRIS Lavan at Kochi on humanitarian grounds after Iran sought help on Feb. 28.
•The ship docked March 4, the same day a U.S. submarine torpedoed another Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, off Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 sailors.
•India's decision to shelter an Iranian warship while maintaining ties with Washington highlights New Delhi's delicate balancing act in the Indian Ocean.

Crude oil surges past $115 as Iran war chokes Gulf supply 🚨💸🚨💸🌎

crude surged past $116 per barrel on Monday, its highest since 2022, as the US-Iran war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
•Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE have cut oil production as storage capacity fills up, with Iraq's southern output dropping 70% from pre-war levels.
•Qatar's energy minister warned prices could hit $150 a barrel within weeks, saying the crisis "will bring down economies of the world."