Stock Market Live Updates 26 March 2024: Sensex, Nifty brace for volatility amid global trends and derivatives expiry

Sensex, Nifty, Share Prices LIVE: Stock markets are expected to be influenced by global trends and foreign investors’ trading activity in the holiday-shortened week, with key indices possibly facing volatile trends due to the monthly derivatives expiry on Thursday. This week will have three trading sessions, with markets closed on Monday for Holi and Friday for Good Friday. Analysts anticipate lower trading volumes and limited market cues but warn of potential volatility as the March F&O expiry and the financial year-end approach. Last week, the BSE benchmark rose 0.25%, and the Nifty increased by 0.33%. Investors will also closely watch factors such as US GDP data, movement in global oil prices, and the rupee-dollar trend. Foreign institutional investors offloading shares and a depreciating rupee indicate potential challenges ahead for equity markets. Despite this, FPIs have shown a resurgence in investment activity, injecting over ₹38,000 crore in March, driven by favourable global and domestic economic conditions. FY24 is set to end in the block deal space with transactions totalling around ₹1.7 lakh crore, slightly lower than FY23, driven by promoters and private equity firms utilizing this window for selling stakes or existing holdings. March has seen significant block deals, including BAT Plc selling a stake in ITC, Rakesh Gangwal selling a stake in Interglobe Aviation, and Tata Sons selling a stake in TCS.