Stock markets up 2% as investor optimism crawls back

Indian benchmark stock indices were up 2% on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) as clarity on the Iran – U.S. war strengthened, making investors optimistic.

Nifty 50 and Sensex opened at 23064 and 74652 points and improved steadily to the day’s high of 23434.75 and 75735.6 points, respectively. They were trading at 23406 and 75667 points as of 12 p.m.

The improving optimism in the market is an outcome of easing crude prices. Brent crude futures as of 12 p.m. were trading at about $96.5 per bbl, marking a meaningful slowdown.

The stock market rout ever since mid-February, responding to heightening U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions, oozed into the market through oil prices. With the Strait of Hormuz closed, it shot to as high as $114, with some economists even factoring in macroeconomic effects of $120 a bbl.