Market Watch March 2026: Upcoming IPOs, High-Dividend Stocks, and Nifty Trends

The Indian market is showing a sharp divide in late February. While the Nifty IT index has hit a 30-month low due to AI disruption fears, the Metal and Energy sectors are reaching all-time highs. This week, we see 5+ IPOs opening and several “Dividend Kings” approaching their record dates.

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1. IPO Watch: Big Moves this Week

The IPO market is heating up with a mix of Mainboard and SME entries.

• Omnitech Engineering: Opening Feb 25 – Feb 27. Price Band: ₹216 – ₹227.
• Yaap Digital (SME): Opening Feb 25 – Feb 27. Price Band: ₹135 – ₹145.
• Striders Impex (SME): Opening Feb 26 – Mar 02. Price Band: ₹71 – ₹72.
• Gaudium IVF: Listing expected on Feb 27.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the Grey Market Premium (GMP) for Omnitech; institutional interest is reportedly high despite the broader market volatility.

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2. Dividend Alerts: Don’t Miss These Dates

If you want “passive income” in your account by March, check these Ex-dividend dates:

Company	Dividend Amount	Ex-Dividend Date
Castrol India	₹5.25 (Final)	March 23, 2026
Engineers India	Interim (TBA)	March 06, 2026
NBCC (India)	₹0.12 (Interim)	February 25, 2026
Dhunseri Ventures	₹3.50 (Interim)	February 27, 2026

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3. Market Pulse: Nifty 50 Outlook

The Nifty 50 recently slipped below its 100-day EMA, closing near 25,424.

• Support: Immediate support is at 25,350. If this breaks, we could see 25,000.
• Resistance: Heavy resistance is at 25,650.
• Sector to Watch: Nifty Metal is the star performer, up 14% this year. Conversely, avoid heavy exposure to IT stocks until the AI-led labor arbitrage concerns stabilize.

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4. Bond Market & Small Savings

With the 10-year G-Sec yields hovering around 7.1%, tax-free bonds are becoming attractive again for conservative investors looking to park their IPO profits.