A fall in crude oil prices can trigger a relief rally, which in fact it did in early trade on Thursday. But there is another reality as well. It does not immediately repair the stress created over the last few months. Tariff pressure, slowing demand, volatile raw-material costs, and oil-linked uncertainty have already disturbed working capital, margins, and earnings visibility across sectors. Investors looking to deploy fresh money should separate companies that merely bounce with sentiment from those that have the balance-sheet strength to absorb shocks and still grow.