Published on: August 25, 2025
Indian IT stocks rallied on Monday, with the Nifty IT index climbing nearly 3% to a one-month high of 36,406, as global sentiment improved after U.S. Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted at potential rate cuts.
MphasiS led the surge with a 4.17% jump, while Infosys and TCS gained over 3%. All 10 index constituents ended in the green, including Wipro, HCL Tech, LTIMindtree, and Tech Mahindra. Analysts say a Fed rate cut could revive tech spending and deal flows for Indian IT firms.
However, escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and India, including fresh tariffs set to kick in on August 27, along with foreign investor outflows and weak earnings, remain key headwinds. Despite the recent rebound, the Nifty IT index is still down 16% in 2025, making it the year’s worst-performing sector so far.
Published on: August 25, 2025
Several corporate developments are set to drive stock-specific action on Monday. Ceat Ltd.’s arm CEAT OHT Lanka signed a $171 million investment pact with Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment, marking one of the largest Indian manufacturing investments in the island nation.
Yes Bank gained RBI approval for Japan’s SMBC to acquire up to 24.99% stake, valid for a year, though the regulator clarified SMBC will not be classified as a promoter. Bajaj Auto announced the resumption of electric Chetak scooter supplies across dealerships after overcoming global rare earth magnet shortages. JSW Steel received a ₹1,472.69 crore demand notice from the Odisha government over its Jajang iron ore block.
Reliance Infra clarified that Bank of India’s action on Reliance Communications has no operational impact. Meanwhile, IDBI Bank secured SEBI nod for reclassification of LIC as a public shareholder. Other notable updates include Coal India’s pact with the Madhya Pradesh government for critical minerals, Imagicaaworld’s acquisition of Malpani Parks Ahmedabad, Borosil Renewables’ delay in results due to insolvency proceedings of its German arm, and leadership changes at Mahanagar Gas.
Published on: August 25, 2025
Veteran banker Rajiv Anand has officially assumed charge as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of IndusInd Bank, the lender announced in an exchange filing on Monday. His appointment, approved earlier this month, follows the resignation of former CEO Sumant Kathpalia and deputy Arun Khurana after the bank reported a $230 million loss due to misaccounting of internal derivative trades.
Anand, a Chartered Accountant with over three decades of experience in global and Indian banking, most recently served as Deputy Managing Director at Axis Bank. He has also held senior leadership positions at HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Axis Asset Management. IndusInd’s board had shortlisted him along with Rahul Shukla and Anup Saha for the top role.
Published on: August 22, 2025
Vedanta Ltd. on Thursday announced a second interim dividend of ₹16 per share for FY26, amounting to a payout of ₹6,256 crore, with August 27, 2025, as the record date. This follows the earlier interim payout of ₹7 per share in June, bringing the total dividend for shareholders in the past 12 months to ₹35.5 per share—making Vedanta the highest dividend-paying stock in India with a yield of nearly 8%. The stock closed at ₹447.10 on the NSE, up 0.36% on the day of the announcement.
However, the dividend bonanza comes amid mounting regulatory and legal challenges. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) recently deferred its hearing on Vedanta’s demerger plan to September 17 after the Centre raised concerns over disclosure gaps, while SEBI censured the company for altering its scheme despite prior approvals. On the legal front, the Supreme Court rejected Vedanta’s plea for higher compensation tied to its Talwandi Sabo Power project, upholding a prior verdict that denied ‘deemed export’ benefits. These hurdles highlight the continued uncertainty surrounding Vedanta’s corporate restructuring and expansion ambitions, even as it maintains a strong shareholder return policy.
Published on: August 22, 2025
IT major Wipro Ltd. announced a $375 million agreement to acquire Harman International Industries’ Digital Transformation Solutions (DTS) business unit, including subsidiaries and certain other assets. The all-cash deal, with earn-out considerations, gives Wipro full ownership of DTS and will add over 5,600 employees based across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Headquartered in Connecticut, DTS is a global provider of engineering research and development (ER&D) and IT services, with core expertise in embedded software, digital engineering, cloud, AI, automation, and customer experience solutions.
DTS reported revenue of $314.5 million in CY24, with services contributing about 85%. Its diverse client base spans industrial, consumer, hi-tech, communications, software, and healthcare sectors. For Wipro, the acquisition expands ER&D offerings, enhances innovation-led services, and improves access to high-growth markets such as technology, aerospace, and healthcare.
CEO Srini Pallia called the acquisition a milestone in Wipro’s transformation journey, enabling accelerated digital innovation and strengthening global competitiveness.
Published on: August 22, 2025
A host of companies and sectors drew brokerage commentary today, with multiple analysts revising their outlooks and target prices. Macquarie said the recent US–EU trade agreement implies tariffs on pharma exports will be capped at 15%, impacting Indian generics. On ITC, Morgan Stanley maintained an overweight but cut the target price to ₹469 (from ₹500), citing margin pressures despite slight top-line growth in FY26–27.
In restaurants, Macquarie noted muted demand trends, with eyes on the festive season, and revised target calls: Jubilant (underperform, ₹530), Devyani (outperform, ₹210), Westlife (outperform, ₹820), and Sapphire (outperform, ₹360).
In IT and digital services, Kotak initiated coverage on Firstsource with a reduce rating and a ₹375 target, flagging risks from GenAI disruption, while JP Morgan kept Wipro neutral at ₹260, viewing its recent acquisition as growth accretive but near-term margin dilutive.
Kotak also initiated buy on Sagility with a ₹56 target, citing a scalable US healthcare play despite near-term profitability pressure. CLSA set a target of ₹3,624 for Escorts Kubota, driven by localisation and tractor market share recovery, aided by rural demand and GST relief hopes. Meanwhile, Kotak initiated coverage on Eclerx with reduce and a ₹4,000 target, forecasting 12.1% revenue CAGR through FY28 with scope for margin expansion.
Published on: August 22, 2025
Shares of R Systems International Ltd. surged over 17% on Friday after the company announced the acquisition of Mangalore-based Novigo Solutions, a specialist in low-code/no-code (LCNC) development and intelligent automation services. The deal, valued at Rs 400 crore in upfront cash with additional stock consideration linked to future EBITDA performance, is expected to be EPS accretive from the first year.
Novigo, which has grown at a 44% revenue CAGR over the past three years, will add niche expertise in software product engineering and agentic AI, while enabling market expansion into the Middle East and strengthening delivery capabilities in southern India. With Novigo integrated, R Systems’ annual revenue will rise 14.7% from Rs 1,797 crore to Rs 2,061 crore. The stock hit an intraday high of Rs 496.9, its sharpest rise in over a year, despite being down 7% year-to-date.
Published on: August 22, 2025
The Bank Nifty index fell 0.9% on August 22, underperforming benchmark indices as investors booked profits ahead of US Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech. Heavyweights HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank led the decline, slipping 1.5% and 0.9%, respectively, while Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank also ended lower.
Analysts noted that the index remains in a consolidation phase, trading within 54,800–56,300. Technically, a break below 54,800 could trigger a fall towards 54,000, while a move above 56,100 is needed to confirm a strong rebound.
Published on: August 21, 2025
In a major relief proposal for policyholders, the Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST reform is set to recommend full exemption of goods and services tax (GST) on health and life insurance premiums, potentially from around Diwali. Analysts estimate that premiums could decline by up to 15%, though the actual reduction will depend on how the input tax credit (ITC) mechanism is handled.
Currently, insurers adjust GST paid on commissions and services against collected tax, but under the exempt category, this credit will not be available, leading insurers to raise base prices to manage the ITC loss. Experts say the impact may be higher on health insurers, while general insurance firms with broader product portfolios may absorb the change more easily. Some industry voices suggest a 5% GST with ITC benefit as a better alternative for both insurers and customers.
Despite the complexities, the exemption is expected to boost demand for health and term insurance, especially as premiums have climbed in recent years amid rising healthcare costs.
Published on: August 21, 2025
Brokerages have issued fresh commentary today across multiple companies and sectors, updating outlooks and revising target prices. Emkay said the proposed GST exemption on life and health insurance could lower consumer prices but also remove Input Tax Credit benefits, shifting focus to commissions and costs. Nuvama initiated a Buy on Hexaware Technologies with a target of ₹950, citing growth visibility, steady margins, and strong clientele.
Jefferies initiated a Buy on Bajaj Finserv with a target of ₹2,420, expecting a 22% earnings CAGR supported by improving insurance profitability and optional value from new ventures. In NBFCs, Jefferies noted moderating growth in Q1 but expects improvement in H2, with top picks including Bajaj Finance, Chola Finance, and Shriram Finance. Kotak Securities maintained Sell on Vinati Organics, raising its target to ₹1,280, citing muted growth and project delays as risks.
Goldman Sachs maintained Neutral on Delhivery, lifting the target to ₹390, pointing to e-commerce-led growth but margin challenges from light parcel deliveries. JPMorgan reiterated Overweight on Syrma SGS, hiking its target to ₹950 as QIP funds are expected to drive M&A-led growth, forecasting a 30% revenue CAGR for FY25–28. Separately, Nomura noted that U.S. tariffs could accelerate RBI rate cuts, forecasting 25 bps cuts in both October and December, with rates seen at 5% terminal level by end-FY26.
Published on: August 21, 2025
The initial public offering (IPO) of Shreeji Shipping Global Ltd. witnessed overwhelming investor response, getting subscribed 58.1 times on the third and final day of bidding, August 21. The ₹410.71 crore mainboard IPO saw robust participation across investor categories, with qualified institutional buyers leading at 110.41 times, followed by non-institutional investors at 72.7 times and retail buyers at 21.94 times.
The issue, priced in a band of ₹240–₹252 per share, comprised a fresh issue of 1.63 crore shares. With a grey market premium (GMP) of ₹38, the stock is estimated to list around ₹290, reflecting a potential listing gain of nearly 15%. The IPO, managed by Beeline Capital Advisors Pvt., is scheduled to debut on the bourses on August 26.
Published on: August 21, 2025
Stock market experts have identified five stocks for investors to consider on Thursday, projecting attractive returns across diverse sectors. Rajesh Palviya of Axis Securities recommends Grasim Industries with a target of ₹2,930 and India Hotels at ₹830, backed by strong analyst consensus.
Gaurav Sharma of Globe Capital suggests Can Fin Homes with a potential 16.3% upside and Mphasis with moderate gains. Meanwhile, Vinay Rajani of HDFC Securities advises a buy on Marico with a target of ₹780. Bloomberg data shows strong analyst support for these picks, with most maintaining a "buy" rating, indicating confidence in their near-term growth potential.
Published on: August 20, 2025
Bajaj Auto Ltd. shares have gained 7.52% over the past three sessions, supported by positive sentiment from GST reforms that lifted the auto sector outlook. The company also received a favorable order from the Guwahati tax division, which set aside a demand of ₹2.32 crore and ₹23 lakh interest for FY21 discrepancies.
Meanwhile, its wholly owned unit Bajaj Auto Credit Ltd. raised ₹500 crore through commercial paper at a 6.25% discount rate, redeemable on Nov. 17, carrying a CRISIL A+ rating. Bajaj Auto’s stock traded at ₹8,832, up 0.41% as of 11:14 a.m., outperforming the Nifty 50.
Despite a 9.74% decline over the past year, the stock is up marginally YTD, with strong trading volumes and an RSI of 70.79. Analyst sentiment remains mixed, with 23 ‘buy’, 25 ‘hold’, and 8 ‘sell’ ratings, while Bloomberg’s 12-month consensus target suggests a 2.6% upside.
Published on: August 20, 2025
Coal India Ltd. has declared a final dividend of ₹5.15 per share for FY25, amounting to a payout of ₹3,173.8 crore to nearly 23 lakh shareholders. The record date for eligibility is set for Aug. 21, making Aug. 20 the last trading day to buy shares under the T+1 settlement system.
The government, holding a 63.13% stake, will receive ₹2,003 crore, while retail investors with 4.18% ownership will get around ₹132 crore. The dividend proposal awaits shareholder approval at the AGM on Aug. 28 and will be paid within 30 days thereafter.
This comes after Coal India paid interim dividends of ₹15.75 per share in October 2024 and ₹5.6 per share in January 2025. The PSU stock, currently offering a 6.88% dividend yield, closed at ₹387.8 on Tuesday, down 0.6%, and has declined 26% year-to-date.
Published on: August 20, 2025
Nomura expects the upcoming GST reductions on automobiles to trigger a multiplier effect of 1.0–1.5, potentially boosting sector-wide demand by 10–15%. The brokerage sees Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Ashok Leyland as the biggest beneficiaries, with auto component makers like Uno Minda, Motherson Sumi Wiring, and Sansera Engineering also likely to gain from higher volumes.
Popular models such as Maruti’s WagonR and Mahindra’s Bolero could see notable price cuts, improving consumer sentiment. While four-wheeler OEMs stand to benefit more than two-wheelers due to cost pressures from ABS implementation, Nomura estimates margin improvement of 100–150 bps for OEMs.
However, the GST cut could widen the price gap between internal combustion vehicles and EVs, potentially delaying EV adoption by 2–3 years unless additional incentives are introduced.