
Dalal Street braces for cautious start as Putin’s India visit signals long-term trade gains but short-term market caution. (Photo: ANI, X)
As Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his high-profile visit to India for the 23rd Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the spotlight now turns to Dalal Street, where traders, analysts, and institutional investors are preparing for Monday’s market opening with cautious anticipation.
While the summit delivered a major economic roadmap and a strengthened geopolitical partnership, questions remain: Will markets cheer the diplomatic warmth, or react cautiously to the global implications?
During the summit, India and Russia formally unveiled a Programme for Economic Cooperation until 2030, setting an ambitious goal of lifting bilateral trade to $100 billion, significantly higher than the current volume of around $68 billion. The plan focuses on diversifying trade beyond the traditional pillars of oil and defence by accelerating Indian exports in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, marine goods, engineering, textiles, healthcare and IT-BPM services.
Putin confirmed that both sides had agreed to eliminate critical trade hurdles by strengthening financial settlement systems, easing logistics and export approvals, and promoting rupee-based transactions to support smoother bilateral trade flows.
Prime Minister Modi described the roadmap as a “shared priority to make trade more diversified, balanced and sustainable,” while Putin said economic ministries of both nations had been tasked with eliminating trade bottlenecks and promoting joint industrial and investment projects.
The visit takes place against a backdrop of global uncertainty, Western sanctions pressure, and ongoing negotiations on a Ukraine peace roadmap. For India’s markets, which have already rallied sharply over the past several weeks, Monday’s session will test investor confidence on how geopolitical realignments could influence capital flows and sectoral valuation.
Historically, high-level Russia-India summits have been followed by short-term market corrections, driven largely by foreign investor nervousness and fears of geopolitical friction. Over the past 25 years, previous visits by Putin triggered declines of 15% in 2000, 5% in 2014, and 5% in 2018, reflecting a recurring pattern of risk-aversion.
Analysts believe this reaction stems not from economic announcements themselves but from global market psychology: FIIs tend to move defensively whenever India-Russia ties appear to challenge Western interests.
Market experts say Monday’s trade could open with weakness or consolidation rather than a broad-based rally.
Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet, said the India–Russia cooperation roadmap provides long-term structural benefits but near-term movement may be cautious due to global sensitivity.
“While the India-Russia partnership supports diversification and long-term growth, the delayed India-US trade agreement and sanctions-related concerns may keep markets from reacting euphorically. The effect is likely constructive for select themes like defence, infrastructure, energy and critical minerals.”
Ravi Singh, Chief Research Officer at Master Capital Services, said the roadmap could reshape India’s economic landscape over time, but investors may initially adopt a wait-and-watch approach.
“India and Russia targeting $100 billion trade is significant. Sectors such as defence, pharmaceuticals, engineering and marine products are positioned for gains. Still, Monday may reflect caution due to global geopolitical sentiment and currency volatility.”
Several sectors are expected to remain in sharp focus:
Make in India partnerships will boost defence production, with companies such as:
HAL
Cochin Shipyard
Mazagon Dock
Bharat Electronics (BEL)
BHEL
MTAR Technologies
With Russia supplying more than one-third of India’s crude requirements, stability in energy flows benefits:
Reliance Industries
ONGC
Oil India
IOC
HPCL
BPCL
Connectivity programs and transport corridor modernization will support:
L&T
GMR
IRCON
Cooperation on critical minerals and EV supply chains could fuel interest in:
NALCO
Vedanta
Hindalco
Indian exporters could benefit from bottleneck removal for Russian market access, especially:
Pharma
Marine & agriculture
IT services
Engineering goods
Jewellery
India and Russia agreed to accelerate the use of national currencies, with more than two dozen Vostro accounts already active. A stable transition towards rupee settlements could gradually reduce dollar dependency and support external balance.
Sachdeva noted that a stronger export cycle and currency settlement framework may ease pressure on the rupee, which recently touched ₹90.40 per dollar.
Despite strong declarations and trade ambitions, Monday’s trading direction will hinge on three factors:
FII selling or risk-off stance due to sanction optics
Lack of clarity on concrete defence or investment contracts
Weakness in the rupee or global commodity volatility
Market participants believe the recent equity rally leaves indices vulnerable to a corrective consolidation regardless of geopolitical input.
|
Possible Outcome |
Expected Market Move |
Trigger |
|
Mild correction |
-1% to -2% |
FII risk-off, sanction impact fears |
|
Sector rotation |
Mixed performance |
Buying in defence, energy, infra; profit-booking elsewhere |
|
Flat/neutral |
Range-bound |
Wait-and-watch sentiment |
|
Upside rally |
+1% to +2% |
Announcement of firm defence or energy deals |
While the Putin-Modi summit marks a decisive shift in bilateral economic strategy and could open significant long-term opportunities, Dalal Street is expected to approach Monday with defensive positioning rather than enthusiasm.
Analysts say that stock-specific plays may outperform even if the broader indices move sideways or correct slightly.
For investors, the visit is not a short-term trading event but a structural strategic transformation narrative that could shape India’s industrial, defence, energy, and export ecosystem over the next decade.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
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