L&T announces AI digital twin for lung diagnostics; Nifty Metal gains on global price recovery sentiment & More – Paper by Pocketful

Market Recap: 17th March, 2026

Pocketful

Mar 17, 2026

Stock News Highlights

Rail Vikas Nigam (+0.41%): Stock traded in green after the company received a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for refurbishment and maintenance of railway tracks and sidings at Kirandul and Bacheli, Chhattisgarh. The order is valued at ₹95.27 crore.
Power Mech Projects (+1.63%): Stock gained after the company secured an order worth ₹709.56 crore from Adani Infrastructure Management Services for operations, maintenance, and overhauling work at the 5×660 MW Tiroda thermal power plant in Maharashtra.
L&T Technology Services (+0.23%): Stock traded in green after the company announced its next-generation AI-powered digital twin platform for lung navigation, surgical planning, and respiratory diagnostics. The platform integrates LTTS’ MedTech expertise with NVIDIA AI infrastructure to enhance precision and patient outcomes.
Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (+3.95%): Stock rose sharply after signing an MoU with NMDC to develop an integrated rare earth value chain in Gujarat.

Sectoral Performance

Metal | Nifty Metal (+2.82%): The sector rebounded after recent decline, led by broad-based buying with most stocks advancing, supported by recovery in global metal prices and improved sentiment.
Auto | Nifty Auto (+2.11%): The sector extended its rebound for a second session after a sharp 15% correction, led by gains in M&M and Maruti, with broad-based buying across auto and ancillary stocks supported by improving sentiment and stock-specific triggers.
IT | Nifty IT (-0.97%): The sector declined amid continued selling pressure, with most stocks trading lower due to weak global cues and cautious sentiment in technology stocks.
FMCG | Nifty FMCG (-0.75%): The sector declined with 4 gainers and 10 losers, reflecting broad-based selling pressure amid cautious sentiment and profit booking in defensive stocks.

Market Insights

Technical Level: The index opened with a minor gap up but witnessed slight selling pressure in early trade. It sustained near the 23,350 level, establishing it as a key support zone. As the session progressed, buying interest emerged, pushing the index higher toward the 23,650 resistance level. Overall, the market maintained positive momentum and closed in the green.
Advance-Decline Ratio: Market breadth remained positive for the session, with 1933 advances against 1296 declines, indicating broader buying support across the market.
The Big Picture: Oil prices surged around 4% as uncertainty over a U.S.-led plan to secure Strait of Hormuz shipping raised supply concerns. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and disrupted tanker movement increased fears of global oil shortages, keeping energy markets volatile and investors cautious.
FII/DII Activity (Mar 13, 2026): Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) remained net buyers with ₹5,225 crore, while foreign institutional investors (FIIs) turned net sellers with ₹4,741 crore.

Watch Out For Tomorrow

IPO Corner: GSP Crop Science is set to close tomorrow, giving investors the final opportunity to bid for the issue before the subscription window ends.
Macro: Japan Balance of Trade (Feb) & USA API Crude Oil Stock Change (Mar/13) data are scheduled to be released tomorrow , which may influence global market sentiment.
Index Watch: Nifty posted gains for a second straight session, but muted portfolio performance reflects narrow, large-cap driven buying. The index is attempting a rebound from lower levels, not yet a confirmed trend reversal. Key support lies near 21,750, while resistance is placed at 24,350. Sustained participation will decide further direction.

5-Day Course

Theme: Understanding Mutual Funds for Indian Investors

Day 2 - Types of Mutual Funds in India

Mutual funds are designed to meet different investment goals and risk levels. In India, they are broadly categorized based on the type of assets they invest in.

Equity Mutual Funds
These funds invest primarily in stocks and aim for long-term capital appreciation. Examples include large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and sectoral funds.

Debt Mutual Funds
These funds invest in fixed-income instruments such as government securities, treasury bills, and corporate bonds. They are typically considered lower risk compared to equity funds.

Hybrid Mutual Funds
Hybrid funds invest in a combination of equities and debt instruments to balance risk and return.

Index Funds
These funds track a specific market index such as the Nifty 50 or Sensex and aim to replicate its performance.

Sectoral and Thematic Funds
These funds invest in specific industries such as banking, IT, or infrastructure.

For Indian investors, the key principle remains the same:

Higher exposure to equities usually means higher potential returns and higher risk, while debt-focused funds offer relatively stable but lower returns.