Asian share markets are mixed today after US stocks plunged on renewed anxiety over rising interest rates.

The Nikkei is up 0.7% while the Hang Seng is trading lower by 3.8%. The Shanghai Composite is down over 2%.

In US stock markets, Wall Street indices ended Thursday's session sharply lower amid a broad sell-off, as investor sentiment cratered in the face of concerns that the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike the previous day would not be enough to tame surging inflation.

The Dow Jones plunged by over 3% while the Nasdaq plummeted by 5%.

Back home, Indian share markets are trading deep in the red. Benchmark indices staged a gap-down opening today amid weak global sentiment.

Market participants are tracking shares of Reliance, Tata Power, Federal Bank, and Paushak as these companies will announce their March quarter results today.

The BSE Sensex is trading down by 837 points. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty is trading lower by 265 points.

ITC is among the top gainers today. Bajaj Finance and Wipro, on the other hand, are among the top losers today.

The BSE Mid Cap index is down 1.9% while the BSE Small Cap index is trading lower by 2%.

Barring telecom, all sectoral indices are trading in red with stocks in the metal sector, IT sector, and realty sector witnessing most of the selling.

Shares of SPS Finquest and Lakshmi Automation hit their 52-week highs today.

The rupee is trading at 76.73 against the US$.

Gold prices are trading up by 0.3% at Rs 51,017 per 10 grams.

Meanwhile, silver prices gained 0.4% and are trading at Rs 62,517 per kg.

Crude oil prices dipped as worries about an economic downturn that could dampen demand for crude vied with concerns over new sanctions from the European Union against Russia, including an embargo on crude oil.

In the latest developments from the IPO space, LIC's IPO is underway and it will remain open for subscription till 9 May 2022.

After two days, the LIC issue has been subscribed 1.03 times whereas its retail portion has been subscribed 0.93 times.

It received a good response so far, which was expected. LIC IPO is set to see record applications from individuals.

It seems that the grey market is closely following LIC IPO subscription status. According to market observers, LIC's share price has remained steady in the grey market. Shares of LIC are available at a premium of Rs 65 in the grey market today.

It remains to be seen how LIC's IPO sails through. The IPO is kept open for subscription on Saturday and Sunday too.

Moving on to news from the cement sector, the Adani group is in discussions with investment groups and funds from the Middle East for financing support of up to US$2 bn for the acquisition of the listed ACC and Ambuja, Holcim's twin cement assets in India.

This is part of a unique acquisition and financing structure that the Adani group is looking at for the potential US$7.5-bn buyout of the two listed cement companies, cumulatively the second-largest in India.

ACC is also India's oldest manufacturer of primary building material and is a step-down subsidiary of Ambuja Cement that's directly controlled by the European cement major.

Adani is likely to use a group entity based in Dubai, as the principal vehicle for the transaction, according to sources.

This entity will float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) where the Adani family, as promoters, will infuse US$1.25 bn - US$1.5 bn as equity.

A similar amount, likely in the form of structured equity, is expected from the Middle East investor group the Adani family is engaged with. Together, this vehicle will be capitalized to the tune of US$3 bn.

Note that the Adani group became India's third conglomerate to cross US$200 bn in market capitalization with the shares of five of its seven listed companies soaring to all-time highs late last month.

Not just last month, most companies are soaring ever since the March 2020 crash.

Have a look at the charts below to see the group company's share price performance on the bourses.