New Delhi, March 18 -- The Nifty 50 index has been trotting close to the 24,000 mark after back-to-back gains for three consecutive trading sessions this week. The revival in sentiment is visible even as the crude price-related worries and US-Iran war woes linger.

Crude oil prices clawed back earlier losses, with Brent crude trading firmly above $103 per barrel. The conflict between the US and Iran has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage through which 20% of the global crude oil passes.

The US-Israeli attacks against Iran and Tehran's retaliatory strikes on energy and shipping assets across the region have added to the flare-up in crude prices. Brent is up 70% this year, and higher for longer crude prices can hurt Asian eco...