Published on: July 15, 2025
Axis Bank Ltd., one of India’s top private sector lenders, has confirmed that its Board of Directors will meet on Thursday, July 17, 2025, to consider and approve its unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the first quarter of FY26 (April–June 2025). The announcement was made via a stock exchange filing.
In line with SEBI’s insider trading regulations, the bank has closed its trading window for designated persons and their immediate relatives from July 1, which will remain shut until 48 hours after the results are declared.
The bank will also host an earnings call on July 17 at 6:20 p.m. IST, during which senior management will brief analysts and investors on quarterly performance and key financial metrics. The call will be accessible via multiple dial-in numbers, including international toll-free lines.
Axis Bank’s previous quarter (Q4 FY25) saw a marginal decline in net profit to ₹7,117.5 crore, impacted by higher provisions and operating costs, despite a 6% YoY growth in net interest income (₹13,811 crore) and a slight improvement in net interest margin (3.97%). Asset quality showed progress, with GNPA falling to 1.28% and NNPA to 0.33%.
On the market front, Axis Bank shares have shown mixed performance. While the stock is up 14.28% over the past six months, it has declined 10.25% over the last year. The stock hit its 52-week high of ₹1,324.40 on July 15, 2024, and was trading flat at ₹1,172.60 on the NSE as of 11:18 a.m. Tuesday, underperforming the 0.51% rise in the Nifty 50.
Published on: July 15, 2025
The Indian equity benchmarks ended Tuesday's session on a positive note, supported by gains across key sectors and optimism over easing inflation. The Sensex rose 317.45 points (0.39%) to close at 82,570.91, while the Nifty 50 climbed 113.50 points (0.45%) to finish at 25,195.80. The Nifty Bank index also edged up by 0.43% to settle at 57,006.65.
Investor sentiment was buoyed by hopes of a potential rate cut following a further decline in CPI inflation, fueling interest in rate-sensitive sectors. Auto, pharma, and realty stocks led the rally, while the broader markets mirrored the bullish mood, with midcap and smallcap indices gaining nearly 1% each.
Among top Sensex performers were Sun Pharma, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Motors, M&M, and Infosys. However, HCL Technologies dragged the indices down after posting weak quarterly results. Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Steel, Eicher Motors, and NTPC also saw selling pressure.
Fertiliser and cable sectors led sectoral gains, rising 2.32% and 2.26% respectively. Non-alcoholic beverages and edible fats also saw healthy buying interest. On the business group front, Nagarjuna Group topped the charts with a 4.64% surge in market cap, followed by Hero, Dhanuka, and Pennar groups. Meanwhile, Jaypee Group plunged 8.57%, leading the laggards, with HCL, Future, and JSW Groups also ending in the red.
Published on: July 14, 2025
Hero MotoCorp is set to make a bold entry into Europe as part of its global expansion strategy, with plans to launch in Germany, France, Spain, and the UK in the second quarter of FY 2025-26, Chairman Pawan Munjal announced in the company's FY25 annual report. Highlighting the theme “Investing in the future – India and beyond,” Munjal said the company is mentoring young entrepreneurs through initiatives like 'Hero for Startups' and advancing its innovation and R&D capabilities globally.
In FY25, Hero MotoCorp recorded 43% year-on-year growth in international markets, from South Asia to Latin America, by focusing on quality, scale, and customer experience. The company also achieved a 200% surge in electric vehicle sales through its VIDA brand, fueled by expanding retail presence and innovations like the VIDA V2 electric scooter.
Munjal emphasized Hero's strategic investments, including ₹510 crore in electric three-wheeler maker Euler Motors and its growing collaboration with Zero Motorcycles to develop premium electric bikes. He also noted the strengthened partnership with Ather Energy, reinforcing India’s largest EV charging network.
Executive Director and Acting CEO Vikram S Kasbekar projected FY26 to be “a year of acceleration,” as Hero aims to grow ahead of the industry, deepen its market footprint, and lead India’s mobility transformation through innovation, sustainability, and customer-centricity.
Published on: July 14, 2025
In a message to stakeholders published in HDFC Bank's latest annual report, Managing Director and CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan expressed confidence in the bank’s growth trajectory following its merger last year. FY25 marked the first full year post-merger, during which the bank reported a 10.7% rise in net profit to ₹67,347.4 crore and a 13% increase in net interest income. The bank’s balance sheet expanded by over 8% to ₹39.1 lakh crore, with gross NPAs maintained at a low 1.33%.
Despite a calibrated approach to loan growth—advances rose by 5.4% to ₹26.2 lakh crore—deposits surged 14.1% to ₹27.1 lakh crore, outpacing loans by 2.5 times. The credit-to-deposit ratio was reduced to 96% from 110% post-merger, and high-cost borrowings were brought down to 14%.
Jagdishan highlighted HDFC Bank's growing deposit franchise, noting a system-leading 14.6% incremental deposit market share and 11% total market share with just 5% of the system’s branches. He emphasized that the bank is now better positioned for accelerated growth, aiming to match industry loan growth in FY26 and surpass it in FY27. The bank also continues to invest heavily in cybersecurity and digital resilience, in line with evolving regulatory and threat landscapes.
Published on: July 14, 2025
Tata Steel UK has officially begun construction of a state-of-the-art Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) at its Port Talbot site, marking a significant milestone in its green transformation journey. The £1.25 billion investment, which includes a £500 million grant from the UK government, will create the country's largest low-carbon steelmaking facility. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Tata Steel MD & CEO TV Narendran, Tata Steel UK CEO Rajesh Nair, and UK government officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony. Chandrasekaran highlighted the project as a symbol of Tata’s long-term commitment to the UK, encompassing investments in steel, automotive, and technology sectors.
The new EAF will melt UK-sourced scrap steel to produce up to 3 million tonnes of steel annually, reducing Port Talbot’s carbon emissions by an estimated 90%. It is set to directly support around 5,000 jobs while laying the foundation for sustainable industrial leadership in Britain.
Beyond the EAF, Tata Steel UK’s decarbonisation strategy includes the development of advanced ladle metallurgy facilities, infrastructure upgrades, and partnerships with global technology leaders like Tenova, ABB, and Clecim. The construction is being led by Sir Robert McAlpine, supported by a regional supply chain of contractors including Darlow Lloyd & Sons, Mii, Skelton Thomas, and others.
Published on: July 14, 2025
Ahluwalia Contracts (India) Ltd. has secured a significant residential housing project worth ₹2,089 crore from DLF Ltd. for the 'Dahlias' project at DLF5 in Gurugram, according to a stock exchange filing on Monday. The contract spans a 44-month execution period and covers civil and structural work, including rough finishing.
This marks the second major order win for Ahluwalia in July. Earlier this month, the company, in partnership with Kalpataru Projects, received a ₹2,000 crore contract from Whiteland Corp. to develop a 20-acre housing project on Gurugram’s Dwarka Expressway, featuring around 1,700 apartments.
Following the announcement, shares of Ahluwalia Contracts surged 5.49% to close at ₹1,037.7 on the NSE, outperforming the benchmark Nifty, which declined by 0.27%. However, while the stock is up 1.11% year-to-date, it remains down 29.44% over the past 12 months.
According to Bloomberg data, out of 13 analysts covering the stock, seven rate it a ‘buy,’ four recommend ‘hold,’ and two advise ‘sell.’ The average 12-month price target suggests a potential downside of 29.4%, indicating cautious sentiment despite recent business wins.
Published on: July 11, 2025
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest software exporter, reported a muted performance for the first quarter of FY26, with CEO K Krithivasan attributing the sluggish growth to global macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds. The IT giant posted a modest 1.3% year-on-year increase in revenue to ₹63,437 crore, but saw a 1.6% dip compared to the previous quarter. Net profit rose nearly 6% annually to ₹12,760 crore, aided by one-off tax benefits and cost savings from the closure of a major transformation project.
In a significant move impacting employees, TCS has deferred its annual salary hikes by another quarter. Chief HR Officer Milind Lakkad stated that the company has not yet finalized its wage hike cycle, which traditionally begins from April 1 each fiscal year. Despite the delay, TCS expanded its workforce by 5,090 in Q1, bringing its total headcount to over 6.13 lakh.
Lakkad emphasized that hiring decisions are made on a long-term basis and not directly tied to quarterly performance. “Earlier hiring created a temporary surplus due to evolving business conditions, but this will be strategically utilized,” he said.
CEO Krithivasan noted continued delays in discretionary IT spending, citing economic uncertainty, global conflicts, and supply chain disruptions as key factors impacting client decisions. The outlook remains cautious as these challenges are expected to persist in the near term.
Published on: July 11, 2025
Domestic equity benchmarks are poised for a weak start on Friday following disappointing earnings from IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and renewed trade tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump's fresh tariffs on Canada. In this uncertain market environment, leading brokerages and analysts have issued selective recommendations for stocks.
Ashika Stock Broking advises caution on Ashok Leyland, suggesting investors wait for the price to correct to ₹225–₹200 before considering fresh entries. Similarly, SpiceJet is not recommended for buying at current levels due to intense volatility and selling pressure; the firm suggests adding only around key support zones of ₹28–₹30.
Meanwhile, Mehta Equities remains optimistic on Vedanta, calling it one of the best-diversified metal companies and noting that every dip is a buying opportunity despite short-term hurdles from allegations by Viceroy. On IREDA, Ashika recommends holding the stock as it trades in a sideways range, expecting a bounce back if it approaches ₹155–₹156.
On Natco Pharma, Mehta Equities suggests a "wait and watch" stance while highlighting it as a good averaging opportunity amid an improved earnings outlook. However, geopolitical uncertainties including tariff concerns remain key headwinds.
Overall, experts are urging investors to be selective and focus on quality amid broader market weakness.
Published on: July 10, 2025
State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender by assets, is preparing to raise up to ₹250 billion ($2.9 billion) through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) as early as next week, according to sources familiar with the matter. If fully subscribed, this would become the largest QIP in Indian history, surpassing Coal India’s ₹225.6 billion offering in 2015.
The move is part of SBI’s strategy to support its loan book expansion, reinforce its balance sheet, and comply with regulatory norms. This marks SBI’s first equity market fundraising since 2017. The bank’s board approved the proposal in May, although final plans are still being worked out and may change.
To manage the landmark transaction, SBI has shortlisted six investment banks: Citigroup India, HSBC India, ICICI Securities, Kotak Investment Banking, Morgan Stanley, and SBI Capital Markets, as reported earlier by Bloomberg News. SBI has not yet commented on the development.
Published on: July 10, 2025
Vedanta shares continued to trade in the red on July 10, slipping nearly 1.5% to around ₹434.30, following a steep intraday fall of over 8% the previous day. The decline was triggered by explosive allegations from US-based short seller Viceroy Research, which claimed Vedanta’s parent company, Vedanta Resources Ltd (VRL), operates like a “Ponzi scheme” draining cash from its Indian subsidiary to service its own debts.
Calling VRL a “parasite holding company,” Viceroy alleged that it has no meaningful operations and is surviving solely on funds extracted from Vedanta Limited. The report further stated that such a mechanism compromises long-term creditor interests and labeled Hindustan Zinc—one of Vedanta’s key assets—as a "liability," citing alleged related-party deals and unjustifiable brand fees.
Vedanta responded strongly, calling the report “malicious,” “selective misinformation,” and an attempt to manipulate market sentiment. In a stock exchange filing, the company dismissed the claims as baseless and accused Viceroy of intentionally timing the report to disrupt upcoming corporate actions.
The development comes just ahead of Vedanta’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for later today, where Chairman Anil Agarwal is expected to address stakeholders and possibly respond to the controversy directly.
Meanwhile, Hindustan Zinc shares also remained weak following similar allegations by Viceroy.
Adding to the intrigue, Bloomberg reported the recent departure of Chris Griffith, CEO of Vedanta Resources’ base metals business and head of its African zinc operations—though this could not be independently confirmed.
Commenting on the matter, Rakesh Arora of Go India Advisors told CNBC-TV18 that the short-seller’s claims were outdated and unfounded. “Vedanta’s debt is not an issue now. Lenders wouldn’t have approved its demerger otherwise,” he said, adding that the company has performed strongly in recent years and remains fundamentally sound.
Published on: July 10, 2025
HCL Technologies is in the spotlight following two major international partnerships that signal its growing influence in both the global public sector and the evolving smart vehicle ecosystem.
On Thursday, July 10, HCLTech announced a strategic 10-year agreement with the Dunedin City Council (DCC) in New Zealand to modernize and manage the Council’s IT infrastructure. The engagement covers key areas such as cybersecurity, hybrid cloud, IT asset management, service management, and network services. HCLTech will deploy AI and automation tools to deliver 24/7 virtual support, introduce omnichannel service tools, and improve accessibility for residents, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and citizen engagement.
In a separate announcement on Wednesday, the company revealed a multi-year partnership with Tokyo-based Astemo Cypremos, a subsidiary of Astemo, focused on advancing the autonomous and smart vehicle ecosystem. HCLTech will help Cypremos transition to a software-defined vehicle model using platforms like TestSphere for validation and AI Force for performance enhancement. Cloud Bridge, another proprietary tool, will enable real-time multicloud testing environments. This collaboration is expected to impact millions of end users across over 150 countries.
Despite the strategic wins, HCLTech shares ended 2% lower on Wednesday at ₹1,674.05 on the BSE. Investors will be closely watching for further market response to these long-term growth-oriented partnerships.
Published on: July 10, 2025
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services company, is set to kick off the Q1FY26 earnings season today, drawing investor attention to both its own performance and the broader health of the IT sector. The company’s board will meet to approve the standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2025, with results expected between 4:00 and 4:30 PM. An interim dividend may also be declared, with July 16 fixed as the record date.
TCS shares opened flat this morning, trading slightly down by 0.23%. The stock has been under pressure recently, down 2.5% in the past month and nearly 18% year-to-date, with a 13% drop over the past year.
Analysts expect a subdued Q1, citing deal ramp-downs and sectoral challenges. Nuvama forecasts a 1% drop in constant currency revenue, while Kotak pegs the dip at 0.4%, driven by softness in retail and manufacturing segments. However, forex gains could cushion overall numbers.
A year ago, in Q1FY25, TCS posted a net profit of ₹12,040 crore and revenue of ₹62,613 crore, while last quarter (Q4FY25) saw a net profit of ₹12,224 crore and revenue of ₹64,479 crore. Market participants will be watching today’s announcement closely for signals on sector trends, client spending, and management commentary for the quarters ahead.
Published on: July 9, 2025
Indian stock markets opened on a cautious note on Wednesday, July 3, with both the Sensex and Nifty 50 slipping in early trade. The Sensex opened at 83,652.46, down 60 points or 0.07%, while the Nifty started at 25,506.85, down 15.65 points or 0.06%. The Nifty Bank also declined, opening at 57,143, down 0.20%.
The sentiment remains subdued amid rising global uncertainties. A major concern is the looming threat of tariffs from former US President Donald Trump, who proposed a 10% duty on BRICS nations and warned of a 100% tariff for those supporting a rival to the US dollar. These comments have sparked concern among investors, particularly ahead of the FOMC minutes (July 9) and TCS earnings (July 10), both of which are expected to bring volatility.
In early trade, Asian Paints, PowerGrid, BEL, and Maruti were among the top gainers, while Sun Pharma, Infosys, Tata Motors, Axis Bank, and Kotak Bank dragged the indices lower.
Asian markets opened mixed, with Japan’s Nikkei gaining 0.33%, while Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.26%. Region-wide caution prevails ahead of Trump’s August 1 tariff deadline.
Market analysts suggest technical reversal patterns hint at possible upside, with key resistance at Nifty 25,550 and Sensex 83,500. However, breaking below 25,400/83,300 could shift sentiment, potentially pushing indices toward 25,175/82,600 levels. All eyes now turn to Q1 earnings, especially from midcap companies and select largecaps, for direction in the near term.
Published on: July 9, 2025
ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company (ICICI Pru AMC), India's second-largest asset manager, is gearing up for its much-anticipated IPO, having filed draft papers with SEBI on July 8. Backed by ICICI Bank and UK-based Prudential Holdings, the IPO will be a pure offer-for-sale (OFS) of 1.76 crore equity shares by Prudential, meaning no fresh funds will go to the company itself.
This marks a significant milestone for the ICICI Group, which will see its fifth company go public after ICICI Bank, ICICI Prudential Life, ICICI Lombard, and ICICI Securities. It will also be the fifth AMC to list on Indian stock exchanges. With a 13% market share of India's total average AUM and over 14.6 million investors, ICICI Pru AMC posted a 29.3% YoY rise in net profit at ₹2,650.7 crore for FY25.
In an industry-first, 18 merchant bankers — including Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Axis Capital, and ICICI Securities — have been roped in to manage the IPO. Ahead of the issue, ICICI Bank has received board approval to raise its stake in the AMC by 2%, while Prudential plans to partially exit its holding through the listing.
Published on: July 9, 2025
Indian benchmark indices closed in the red on Wednesday as investors remained cautious amid ongoing uncertainty around a potential India-US trade agreement. The Nifty50 slipped 46.4 points or 0.18% to end at 25,476.1, while the Sensex shed 176.43 points or 0.21%, closing at 83,536.08.
In contrast, broader markets outperformed significantly, with the smallcap index rising by 0.6%.
Sectoral Snapshot:
Market action was mixed across sectors. Pharma stocks saw renewed buying interest after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariff relief, while metal counters fell sharply on the back of a proposed 50% tariff on copper imports, negatively impacting sentiment.
Stocks in Focus:
Vedanta: Shares declined sharply following fresh allegations by Viceroy Research, which flagged "material discrepancies" in the company’s financial statements.
TCS: The stock ended slightly lower ahead of its highly anticipated earnings release scheduled for tomorrow.
Global Cues:
European markets traded in the green as hopes of progress on a US-EU trade deal lifted sentiment. Germany’s DAX was up 0.97%, while France’s CAC 40 gained 1.01% at the time of market close in India.