macroeconomic uncertainty

Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn over Rs 2 lakh crore from Indian equities in 2026, with May seeing further outflows of Rs 14,231 crore. Persistent global macroeconomic uncertainties, including inflation and interest rate concerns, are driving this trend, making developed market debt more attractive. Despite overall selling, some selective interest remains in specific sectors and growth-oriented mid and small-cap stocks.

The Indian rupee hit an all-time low against the US dollar, falling to 96.1650 amid escalating Middle East conflict and rising oil prices. This depreciation intensifies concerns over India's macroeconomic outlook, with authorities implementing measures to curb the decline and stabilize the currency.

PRO FX Tech reported a 37% revenue surge to Rs 177 crore and a 24% net profit increase to Rs 15 crore in FY26. This growth was fueled by strong demand for premium audio products and enhanced execution across retail and business segments, despite macroeconomic headwinds. The company anticipates exceeding Rs 200 crore in revenue this fiscal year.

Bengaluru-based Scapia, a travel-fintech innovator, has secured $63 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst. This capital infusion will fuel the expansion of its integrated travel and financial services, including co-branded credit cards and AI-driven product development. The company aims to enhance user experience across bookings and payments, with domestic travel bookings showing significant growth.

Foreign investors have continued their withdrawal from Indian equities, with net outflows reaching Rs 27,048 crore this month. This selling spree, totaling Rs 2.2 lakh crore in 2026, is driven by global macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and a stronger US dollar making developed markets more attractive.

LTM boosted fresher hiring by 40% and deployed over 1,500 AI agents in FY26 to enhance productivity. Simultaneously, the company increased reliance on overseas subcontractors, particularly in the US and Europe, while its permanent employee count grew overall, driven by India.

Persistent foreign fund outflows and the rupee sliding to record lows have further dampened sentiment, prompting investors to stay cautious and intensify selling across equity markets.

Indian markets brace for volatility this week, driven by US-Iran tensions and crude oil price swings. Investors will also scrutinize crucial inflation data from India and the US for interest rate clues. Key corporate earnings are also on the radar, alongside foreign investor activity, shaping market sentiment.

One of the key triggers behind the market decline was renewed uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran conflict. US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was “on life support” after Tehran rejected Washington’s latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict. Trump described Iran’s demands as “garbage.”

Uday Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, urged India to reduce its reliance on foreign capital and cultivate a robust domestic pool of long-term risk capital for true self-reliance. He emphasized that companies should prioritize building businesses with a three-to-five-year vision over short-term stock price fluctuations, advocating for stronger domestic private equity and venture capital ecosystems.

Economists believe India’s foreign-exchange reserves are still sufficiently strong to shield the rupee from the oil price shock triggered by the Iran conflict, with the country’s reserve buffers remaining far healthier than the levels seen during the 2013 taper tantrum.

India has significantly increased import duties on gold and silver to 15% from 6%, aiming to curb rising imports and conserve foreign exchange amid the West Asia crisis. This move follows Prime Minister Modi's appeal for austerity and aims to ease pressure on the rupee and the country's balance of payments.

The CEA’s words could not be more direct and the situation the world’s sixth largest economy faces is by no means small. Several macroeconomic indicators are in focus; inflation, health of the current account, and the exchange rate.

Gold price prediction today: Any upside in gold and silver prices may face resistance at higher levels, says Vedika Narvekar, Research Analyst - Commodities & Currencies, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers.

The Indian rupee is facing significant pressure, weakening against the US dollar due to soaring crude oil prices driven by Middle East geopolitical tensions and persistent foreign fund outflows. Despite India's robust economic growth, the currency's slide continues as the Reserve Bank of India intervenes to curb volatility rather than target a specific exchange rate.

India’s gold imports hit a record $71.98 billion in 2025-26, rising over 24% from $58 billion a year earlier. This was largely due to skyrocketing global gold prices, which have bumped up the value of imported gold.

For RBI the situation is clear: The resilience of the global economy, already inflicted with trade tensions, is being tested by the conflict in West Asia. The biggest takeaway from the RBI bulletin is that India’s domestic supply chains may come under risk from a prolonged war scenario, though strong macroeconomic fundamentals provide a buffer.

The RBI cautioned about potential second-round effects from the West Asia conflict, where supply shocks could morph into demand pressures. Persistent geopolitical tensions and rising energy costs are creating global macroeconomic uncertainty, necessitating continuous assessment of inflation and growth risks.

The sell-off was widespread, extending beyond large-cap stocks to the broader market. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index was down 0.5%, while the Nifty Midcap 100 index fell more than 1%.