Crude oil prices back at $100: Can it hit the Indian economy, corporate earnings, and delay stock market recovery?

Brent crude futures have surged over 35% this month to around $102 per barrel, driven by intensifying US-Iran hostilities, raising concerns about the Indian economy, corporate earnings, and stock market recovery. India meets roughly 85-90% of its oil requirements through imports, and Motilal Oswal estimates a $10-per-barrel rise in crude could cause a 30-40 basis point decline in GDP growth. Kotak Securities noted that sustained elevated crude could push inflation to 5-5.3%, slow real GDP growth to about 6.25%, widen the CAD to nearly 2.5%, and weaken the rupee toward 97 against the US dollar.