New Delhi, March 19 -- Cement stocks were on a steady run earlier this week before Thursday's pullback, as broader markets came under pressure from rising crude prices following fresh attacks on key energy infrastructure in West Asia, rekindling supply shock fears.

Shares of UltraTech Cement, Shree Cement, Ambuja Cements, Dalmia Bharat and Nuvoco Vistas pared some of the gains made in the first three sessions. The sector had already seen a sharp correction earlier this month, when the onset of the Iran conflict spooked investors with the prospect of higher input costs.

Seasonally, the March quarter is about pushing volumes rather than cement prices, a pattern that has held this year as well. That said, the return of input cost pressures...