Stocks to Watch today, March 9, 2026: Indian stock markets are expected to begin the week on a weak note as negative global signals weigh on investor sentiment. Early indicators suggest that benchmark equity indices in India could open lower during Monday’s trading session.

The GIFT Nifty futures signalled a gap-down start. At around 06:50 am, the futures were trading at 23,839, which was 706 points lower than the previous closing level. This indicates a cautious start for domestic markets.

Asian Markets Fall Sharply as Oil Prices Surge

Across Asia, major stock markets witnessed steep declines on Monday morning. The sell-off followed a sharp increase in global oil prices and rising geopolitical tensions.

• Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped more than 6% in early trade.

• South Korea’s Kospi Index also plunged over 6%.

• Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 3.68% during the early session.

The regional decline was largely triggered by a spike in oil prices after several Middle Eastern oil producers announced production cuts following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil Prices Cross $100 Per Barrel

Global crude oil prices rose sharply and crossed the $100 per barrel mark for the first time since 2022.

• Brent Crude futures surged 16.1% to $107.61 per barrel.

• West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures jumped 17.7% to $107.02 per barrel.

The price spike followed output cuts by major Middle Eastern producers such as Kuwait, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, which reduced supply in global energy markets.

Wall Street Ends Lower

U.S. stock markets had already closed lower on Friday, March 6, reflecting growing concerns over the global economic outlook. Weak data from the U.S. labour market and rising oil prices amid escalating tensions in the Middle East weighed heavily on investor confidence.

• The Nasdaq Composite declined 1.59%.

• The S&P 500 slipped 1.33%.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.95%.

Key Stocks in Focus Today

HDFC Life Insurance Company

The company’s board has approved the appointment of Vijay Vaidyanathan as the Chief Human Resource Officer. The appointment will come into effect from April 1, 2026.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories

The pharmaceutical firm received a letter dated March 5, 2026, from the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section. The department informed the company that it has closed its inquiry under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The letter stated that based on the information available, the department has not recommended any enforcement action against the company.

UltraTech Cement

The cement manufacturer has signed an Energy Supply Agreement along with a Share Subscription and Shareholders Agreement to acquire 26.20% equity stake in Sunsure Solarpark Thirty Eight Private Limited.

The company is involved in renewable energy generation and transmission, and the move is aimed at strengthening UltraTech’s renewable power sourcing.

Kotak Mahindra Bank

The bank informed stock exchanges that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Anup Kumar Saha to its board.

He has been appointed as a Whole-time Director (Executive Director) and Key Managerial Personnel, with immediate effect.

RITES Limited

The company received revised project estimates worth ₹729.28 crore from South Western Railway for railway electrification work on the Mysuru–Hassan–Mangaluru section, including the Hassan–Arsikere stretch.

Additionally, RITES secured a ₹45.18 crore work order from the Government of West Bengal. The contract involves consultancy services as Project Management Consultant for building a proposed four-lane extra-dosed bridge over the River Muriganga in South 24 Parganas.

Tata Power Company

The integrated power company announced a collaboration with Salesforce, described as the world’s #1 AI CRM platform.

The partnership aims to digitally transform the company’s growing businesses in rooftop solar, EV charging, and smart home solutions.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited

Om Prakash Bhatt has stepped down as an Independent Director of the company from March 8, after completing his second consecutive term and reaching the retirement age.

Kirloskar Electric Company

The company announced that Sanjeev Kumar S, its Chief Financial Officer, has been relieved from his duties with effect from March 6.

IRB Infrastructure Developers

The infrastructure company reported strong toll collections. Toll revenue for February increased 21.55% year-on-year to ₹746.1 crore, compared to ₹613.8 crore in the same month last year.

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy

The company announced that Sterling and Wilson Kazakhstan LLP, its step-down subsidiary in Kazakhstan, has been liquidated from March 2. The subsidiary did not have any active business operations.

Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals (GNFC)

The company informed stock exchanges that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has affected the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

In this context, GAIL (India) Limited, which supplies Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) to GNFC, received a Force Majeure notice from Petronet LNG Limited due to transit constraints impacting LNG supply.

As a result, the supply allocation of RLNG to GNFC has been reduced to 60% of the Daily Contracted Quantity (DCQ) under the supply agreement from March 6, 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice; investors are advised to consult financial expert before making any financial decisions.