Brief India: Hormuz Shock: $79bn AUC (Asset Under Custody) Decline Marks Sharpest Drop Since Covid and more
In this briefing: Hormuz Shock: $79bn AUC (Asset Under Custody) Decline Marks Sharpest Drop Since Covid Bajaj Finance (BAF): Strong Q3FY26 Aequitas: Manipal Health Enterprises Ltd Pre-IPO Tearsheet V-MART Retail: Unnecessarily Punished, Maintain BUY Banks and NBFCs Sector Update - Fundamentals Firm, Valuations Now More Compelling 1. Hormuz Shock: $79bn AUC (Asset Under Custody) Decline Marks Sharpest Drop Since Covid FPI equity assets dropped $79bn in two weeks ending March 15, 2026, the sharpest fall in six years , surpassing the COVID-led outflows of March 2020. Only USD 5.9bn reflects actual selling, most decline is mark-to-market, indicating markets are pricing a sustained crude shock as Brent stays above $112 near Nifty’s 52-week lows . With FPI ownership already low, market support hinges on domestic flows. FPI re-entry now depends more on geopolitical easing, especially re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz . 2. Bajaj Finance (BAF): Strong Q3FY26 BAF reported strong Q3FY26 with AUM growth of 22% YoY and PPOP growth of 19% YoY.