Chapter 235: 235:The Crash
Evan's decision to short-sell a significant volume of shares triggered an unprecedented decline in the stock prices of the companies associated with the Rajput family and their affiliates.
Prominent stocks that had previously shown resilience and growth suddenly began to plummet, triggering panic among retail investors.
For instance, the shares of Rajput Enterprises fell sharply, dropping nearly 15% within an hour. Other companies that were associated with or partnering with the Rajputs also experienced sharp declines, with stock prices dropping by similar margins.
As a result, the mutual funds that had heavily invested in these companies faced immediate repercussions, with analysts predicting a massive wave of redemptions, and anxious investors rushing to minimize losses. Caught off guard, the fund managers scrambled to rebalance portfolios, adding even further selling pressure to the market.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that tracked sectors tied to Rajput holdings experienced drastic declines and were hit especially hard, with many dipping below their net asset values. This created a compounded effect, as the decline in share prices led to further sell-offs in related ETFs, exacerbating the overall market downturn.
Analysts noted that some ETFs lost up to 30% of their value in a single trading session, marking one of the steepest drops in recent history.
The broader stock market responded to the turmoil with a massive sell-off. The benchmark index, previously buoyed by bullish sentiment, saw a dramatic reversal, plunging over 10% within hours and officially entering bear territory. Technical indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Averages, turned sharply negative, pointing to further weakness ahead.
Traders watched as candlestick patterns reflected a clear reversal; a series of red candles filled the charts, each one larger than the last, confirming a strong bearish trend. The Bollinger Bands tightened dramatically, illustrating the increased volatility and growing uncertainty in the market.
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However, this wasn't the end.
Evan planned to hit everything that was within the scope and after targeting the shares and ETFs, his eyes were drawn towards the other side.
The Currency Exchange…
As the stock market spiraled downward, the dollar strengthened significantly against the rupee. The flight to safety intensified, with investors favoring the stability of the dollar amid fears of a potential recession triggered by the market turmoil.
The dollar soared, gaining over 3% against the rupee in a matter of days, rising from an exchange rate of 82 to 85 rupees per dollar. This depreciation of the rupee led to further complications, especially for companies that heavily relied on imported goods and materials. Analysts warned that this could lead to increased inflation as import costs surged.
Foreign investors, unnerved after observing the chaos in the Indra's market, began to pull their capital out, fearing further losses. This exodus of foreign direct investment (FDI) triggered a liquidity crisis, worsening the situation for local businesses. The Indran Reserve Bank was forced to intervene, considering measures to stabilize the currency and mitigate the impact on the economy.
The cascading effects of Evan's short-selling strategy created a storm of volatility across the financial landscape. As stock prices plummeted, mutual funds and ETFs suffered massive losses, and the rupee weakened against the dollar.
The trading floor buzzed with activity as traders and investors alike braced for the fallout from this unprecedented market manipulation, their futures hanging in the balance as they navigated the turmoil unleashed by Evan's calculated moves.
Yet, while Evan was behind all this, the ones who started all this were none other than the Rajputs who were witnessing their months of planning taking a huge toll and getting drowned before their very eyes.
As Vishal and Jagesh monitored the chaos, they were fully aware that they were in a race against time to counter the mysterious individual's next moves and regain control before the market's downward spiral claimed more victims.
"Stop this shit from our end!" Jagesh ordered, realizing they were on the brink of a total failure. "We need to protect our assets before it's too late."
Vishal nodded, the urgency of the situation weighing on him. "If the guy keeps successfully shorting these stocks, it could destabilize everything we've worked for all this long. We can't allow him to seize control."
In a matter of moments, the trading floor erupted into a whirlwind of chaos, but Jagesh and Vishal remained resolute. They strategized amidst the frenzy, determined to mitigate the damage and counter Evan's unexpected offensive.
"We need to gather intel on the guy's moves and understand his next steps. He's playing chess while we're stuck on checkers," Vishal said, his voice steadying as he refocused on the task at hand.
As the market continued to react violently to Evan's short sell, Vishal and Jagesh knew the stakes had never been higher. The battle for control over their future had escalated, and they had to act quickly if they were to withstand the storm Evan had unleashed.
In the wake of Evan's aggressive short-selling strategy, Jagesh and Vishal found themselves in an urgent strategy session within the Rajput family's sleek, glass-walled conference room. The atmosphere was charged with tension as screens flickered with red numbers, reflecting the devastating impact on their portfolio.
"Jagesh, we need to act fast. This market is collapsing, and we can't afford to wait any longer, that will only worsen the situation," Vishal urged, his eyes fixed on the plummeting graphs of their holdings.
Jagesh nodded, his mind racing. "I agree. We need to sell off our positions now before the prices drop any further. We can't let the guy push us out of the market without a fight."
The two men rallied their team of financial analysts and traders, initiating a rapid brainstorming session. Jagesh laid out their plan with precision, "We have to identify which of our holdings are most vulnerable and liquidate them first. I want a full risk assessment on each position we hold now."
The analysts quickly dove in to evaluate their portfolio, highlighting the stocks with the largest losses and those likely to continue dropping. The pressure was palpable, and the stakes were at an all-time high.
Vishal interjected, "We also need to create a diversion. If we sell all at once, it'll trigger a panic, and we might take an even bigger hit. We should stagger our sell orders over multiple exchanges to avoid drawing too much attention."
As the team divided into groups to execute the plan, Jagesh grabbed his phone, connecting with key contacts at investment firms and trading platforms. "I want to get the best prices possible. Let's set up limit orders just below the current market prices and execute them gradually."
With the clock ticking, the analysts worked swiftly, preparing the necessary documentation and logging into the trading platforms. They began selling shares in increments, targeting the most vulnerable sectors, first technology and real estate companies closely tied to the Rajput empire.
Vishal monitored the screens, watching as the market reacted to their actions. A flicker of hope stirred within him as the sell orders started going through, though the downward trend continued to gnaw at him. "Jagesh, we need to spread our sell-offs to international markets as well.
The dollar is up; if we sell some of our holdings in US markets, we might offset some losses from the rupee depreciation."
"Good thinking," Jagesh agreed. "Let's leverage our global connections. We'll sell off a portion of our tech holdings on the Nasdaq while simultaneously pulling out of some mutual funds that are heavily weighted in Indra's equities."
Despite the AC's cooling effect, everyone could feel the tension surrounding them. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, with a few even feeling their hands trembling, which they desperately tried to control, knowing that even a small delay in a millisecond was enough to cause a big disaster.
As their plan unfolded, tension permeated the trading floor. Each time a sell order was executed, the numbers flickered on the screens like wildfire. The analysts relayed information rapidly, revealing mixed results—some stocks held better than expected, while others plummeted further.
"Get ready for the next wave of sell-offs!" Jagesh shouted, adrenaline coursing through him. "We're not done yet. We need to maintain pressure. Use every channel—emails, calls, even social media if necessary to spread the word and create urgency among our investors to pull their funds out."
Vishal quickly grabbed his laptop, "I'll manage our communications. We need to alert our loyal investors, urging them to disinvest before it's too late. If we can convince them to sell off their holdings, we might be able to stabilize our position and limit the losses."
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Meanwhile, far from the chaos, the scene shifted to a tranquil beach where the sun cast a warm golden hue over the smooth, turquoise waters. A sleek ship glided effortlessly through the gentle waves, leaving in its wake a faint wave that sparkled in the sunlight. The atmosphere was serene, filled with the rhythmic sound of lapping water and distant seagulls.
On the ship's deck, two beach beds were set up, their white fabric fluttering in the warm ocean breeze. Reclined on the beds were two men: one with golden hair, who was sipping a vibrant cocktail garnished with a slice of pineapple, while the other, with dark hair, enjoyed a chilled cola.
The golden-haired man smiled and said, "This is exactly what we needed. A break from everything."
"However, while we are on break, I am sure some people might be scared shit out of their minds."
"I fear they might soon vomit blood," the other replied, raising his glass in agreement.
Surrounded by the beauty of the sea, Evan smiled a bit while looking at the system's nonchalant attitude and called Aurora.
"Aurora, can you give me an update on what those fools are doing now?"