The macroeconomic environment remains challenging, with crude oil emerging as a key source of uncertainty for domestic markets, analysts said on Saturday, as the Indian equities endured a challenging, holiday-shortened week, with benchmark indices extending their losses.

Nifty 50 and Sensex recorded weekly declines of approximately 2.4 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively.

Both benchmark indices extended their losing streaks to four consecutive sessions.

The sell-off spread beyond large-cap stocks, with mid-cap and small-cap indices experiencing sharper declines as investors reduced exposure amid rising uncertainty, said market participants.

The Nifty 50 ended the week under pressure, after declining for four consecutive sessions. Persistent selling has weakened the short-term technical structure, with the index struggling to sustain its earlier recovery.

The immediate resistance zone is placed around 22,800, followed by 23,000, said analysts. For the Sensex, on the downside, 72,600–72,500 forms the immediate support zone.

The broader market took the brunt of the de-risking, as valuation concerns and the unwinding of leveraged positions triggered a disproportionately sharp correction in mid- and small-caps, while large-caps held up comparatively better.

Across sectors, IT was the lone pocket of resilience, recovering from early selling to end the week largely unchanged on improving earnings visibility and renewed investor appetite.

However, rate-sensitive sectors such as consumer durables, metals and realty saw the heaviest selling as input-cost and margin worries resurfaced, said analysts.

Brent crude oil rose to a six-month high on Friday. Brent futures gained 3.1 per cent to close at $116.72 a barrel, highest since April 29. US West Texas Intermediate added 3.8 per cent to settle at $103.27 a barrel.

Brent added 6.2 per cent for the week, while WTI advanced 2 per cent for the week.

According to analysts, sustained increases in crude prices could raise energy and transportation costs, weigh on consumption and intensify pressure on oil-sensitive sectors.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached an immovable property spread over approximately 14.51 acres in Kolkata valued at Rs 85.20 crore, in connection with a bank fraud and money laundering case involving M/s Unity Infraprojects Ltd. (UIL) and others, the agency said on Friday.

According to the ED, the attached land, located at Mouza Chakgaria in Kolkata, is held in the name of M/s Suburban Agriculture Dairy & Fisheries Pvt. Ltd. (SADAFPL). The attachment was made under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The money laundering investigation stems from an FIR registered by the CBI’s Bank Securities & Fraud Branch in Mumbai on a complaint lodged by the State Bank of India.

The FIR alleges that UIL, in connivance with its promoters, directors and associated entities, defrauded a consortium of 23 banks by availing credit facilities of around Rs 3,200 crore. The total outstanding dues, including interest, are estimated at approximately Rs 3,800 crore.

According to investigators, the fraud involved fictitious transactions, round-tripping of funds, manipulation of financial records, and diversion of funds through shell entities.

The ED said its probe revealed that funds from UIL were routed through its wholly owned subsidiary, Unity Realty & Developers Ltd. (URDL), and subsequently used to acquire and hold assets through associated companies. SADAFPL was identified as a step-down subsidiary of UIL through URDL.

Further investigations established a trail linking the Chakgaria land parcel to funds originating from UIL and its group entities, indicating diversion and layering of proceeds generated from the scheduled offences. The property was attached under Section 5(1) of the PMLA to prevent its transfer or disposal pending confiscation proceedings.

The agency noted that in July 2025 it had conducted searches at residential and commercial premises, as well as bank lockers, linked to UIL, its former directors and their family members. During those operations, movable assets worth Rs 31.21 crore were seized or frozen.

The ED had also attached land parcels and flats valued at about Rs 1,493 crore through three separate provisional attachment orders, all of which were later confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA.

With the latest attachment, the total value of movable and immovable assets attached or frozen in the case has risen to about Rs 1,609 crore, the agency said.

The ED further informed that it filed a prosecution complaint before the Designated Special Court, City Civil and Sessions Court, Greater Bombay, Mumbai, on March 27, 2026.

Further investigation is underway.

Adani Power Ltd — India’s largest private thermal power generator — on Friday reported a 141.5 per cent year-on-year jump in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 7,019.32 crore for the second quarter of FY27, compared to Rs 2,906.46 crore in Q2FY26.

Total reported revenue rose 39.4 per cent to Rs 19,950.60 crore from Rs 14,307.79 crore a year ago, while reported EBITDA jumped 45.7 per cent to Rs 8,743.22 crore.

On a continuing operations basis, revenue from operations grew 29.8 per cent to Rs 17,014.06 crore, while continuing EBITDA was up 18.5 per cent to Rs 6,320.97 crore.

Apart from that, PAT nearly doubled to Rs 11,885.92 crore from Rs 6,211.59 crore in H1 FY27, while reported revenue rose 36 per cent to Rs 39,272.90 crore.

Commenting on the results, CEO S B Khyalia said, “Adani Power continues to grow from strength to strength, achieving newer milestones in profitability and project execution. The primacy of domestic coal-based power in meeting India’s long-term power needs has become clearer every day.”

On industry trends, the company said India’s power demand grew 11.5 per cent to 502 BU in Q2 FY27, with coal and lignite-based generation accounting for 66 per cent of supply. Peak demand reached 270 GW, up 18 per cent year-on-year.

The company sold 26.4 billion units (BU) in Q2 FY27, up from 23.7 BU a year ago. Plant Load Factor (PLF) improved to 70.1 per cent from 62.8 per cent, while operating capacity stood at 18,150 MW.

Meanwhile, power sales under PPAs grew 29.7 per cent to 23.4 BU, with tariff realisation improving 12.7 per cent to Rs 6.4/kWh.

Merchant and short-term realisation improved 33.1 per cent to Rs 7.2/kWh, though volumes were 43 per cent lower due to incremental tie-ups of open capacity in medium-term contracts.