New Delhi, March 9 -- It seems that early 2026 has brought many challenges to the Indian stock market, similar to the previous year, forcing the key benchmark indices to navigate through rough terrain.

Investors had hoped for better performance from the Indian stock market in the first quarter of 2026 amid expectations of a recovery in earnings. However, concerns about AI disruptions, compounded by unexpected announcements in the Union Budget 2026 and the latest escalation of war in the Middle East, have eroded investor confidence in Asia's third-largest economy.

The ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel has pushed the Indian stock market into deep trouble, as widening tensions in the Middle East have led to the clos...