Published on: April 28, 2025
Indian equity markets extended morning gains on Monday, with the Sensex soaring 1,065 points to 80,277.54 and the Nifty climbing 303.8 points to 24,343.15 by midday. Investor sentiment remained resilient despite recent India-Pakistan border tensions, supported by robust foreign institutional investor (FII) inflows, easing US-China trade tensions, and optimism around corporate earnings.
Reliance Industries led the rally with a 4.81% jump, while other major gainers included BEL, Sun Pharma, JSW Steel, and Tata Steel. Shriram Finance was the top laggard. Market breadth stayed positive, with midcaps outperforming the broader market.
Sectorally, financials and banks posted strong gains. Analysts caution that while momentum remains strong, upcoming global events and economic data could influence near-term trading patterns.
Published on: April 28, 2025
Shares of Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) surged nearly 6% on Monday, driving a strong rally in benchmark indices, after the conglomerate posted a 2.4% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit to ₹19,407 crore for the fourth quarter of FY25. RIL's stock touched an intraday high of ₹1,374.9, its biggest one-day gain since January, adding roughly ₹1 trillion to its market capitalization, which stood at ₹18.44 trillion.
Revenue from operations climbed to ₹2.6 trillion, bolstered by strong performances from Reliance Retail and Jio Platforms. Retail net profit rose 30.4% year-on-year, while Jio’s net profit jumped 25.7%, aided by higher telecom tariffs.
Brokerages like Citi and Nuvama maintained bullish ratings, with target prices of ₹1,520 and ₹1,708, respectively, citing strong growth momentum across key businesses and future prospects in new energy and 5G monetization. RIL also announced a ₹5.5 per share dividend for FY25.
Published on: April 28, 2025
Benchmark indices surged sharply on Monday, with the BSE Sensex jumping 1,005.84 points, or 1.27%, to close at 80,218.37, crossing the 80,000-mark for the first time. The NSE Nifty also rallied 289.15 points, or 1.20%, to finish at 24,328.50.
The rally was fueled by strong buying in Reliance Industries, private sector banks, and sustained foreign fund inflows, helping the market recover after two sessions of decline amid India-Pakistan border tensions.
During the session, Sensex touched an intraday high of 80,321.88, gaining over 1,100 points. Out of 30 Sensex stocks, 23 ended in the green, reflecting broad-based optimism in the market.
Published on: April 28, 2025
Equity benchmark indices rebounded sharply on Monday, with the Sensex rising 456.05 points to 79,668.58 and the Nifty gaining 112.85 points to 24,152.20 in early trade. The rally was driven by strong foreign institutional investor (FII) inflows, a positive trend in global markets, and a sharp 3% surge in Reliance Industries after it reported a 2.4% rise in its March-quarter net profit.
Other major gainers included Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, and SBI. However, tech majors like HCL Tech, TCS, and Tech Mahindra were among the laggards. FIIs continued their buying streak, investing ₹2,952 crore on Friday and ₹17,425 crore in the past week, reversing earlier selling pressure.
Despite the bullish trend, concerns over Indo-Pak tensions could pose a near-term risk, analysts warned. Meanwhile, global markets were mostly higher, and Brent crude traded marginally up at $67.04 a barrel.
Published on: April 28, 2025
Shares of Shriram Finance Ltd. declined sharply by over 9% on Monday, extending losses for the second consecutive session following a contraction in its fourth-quarter net interest margin (NIM). The company's profit for the quarter ended March rose 9.9% year-on-year to ₹2,139.4 crore, narrowly beating analysts' estimates.
Despite a 20.7% rise in total income and a 13% increase in net interest income, investor sentiment was weighed down by a fall in NIM to 8.25% from 9% a year earlier, higher credit costs, and an increase in gross stage-2 loans. Management attributed the NIM compression to a larger liquidity buffer, which they expect to normalize over the next two quarters.
Gross NPA improved to 4.55%, while net NPA stood at 2.64%. The stock touched a low of ₹596.15 before recovering slightly, underperforming the broader market. Despite the short-term weakness, analysts remain largely positive, with 37 out of 40 maintaining a 'buy' rating and a 12-month target suggesting a 21.1% potential upside.
Published on: April 28, 2025
Indian equities faced a sharp selloff in February, with over 450 stocks from the Nifty 500 ending in the red and the Nifty 50 tumbling nearly 6%, marking its fifth straight monthly loss—the longest losing streak since November 1996. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) pulled out ₹35,694 crore in February, after withdrawing ₹78,027 crore in January, totaling ₹1.13 lakh crore of net equity sales so far in 2025, as per NSDL data.
Sectorally, realty and IT stocks bore the maximum brunt; the Nifty Realty index dropped 13.4%, its worst performance since the Covid crash of March 2020, while the Nifty IT index saw its steepest decline in nearly three years, hurt by weak sentiment after US tech stock falls led by Nvidia.
The FMCG sector also recorded a historic decline, with the Nifty FMCG index posting its longest monthly losing streak in 18 years, dragged down by subdued earnings from major companies like Nestle India, Tata Consumer, and Britannia Industries.
Published on: April 28, 2025
Shares of Ola Electric Mobility declined nearly 3% to ₹48.40 apiece on Monday, April 28, as rival Ather Energy’s IPO opened for public subscription. Ola Electric, competing aggressively with Ather and traditional auto companies in the electric two-wheeler space, continues to face significant challenges.
The company reported a net loss of ₹1,406 crore for the nine months of FY25, while Ather posted a lower loss of ₹578 crore for the same period. Despite achieving a 30% market share with 3,44,005 units sold in FY25, Ola’s stock has been under pressure, falling 43% year-to-date and currently trading 36% below its IPO price.
Analysts maintain a bearish outlook, citing technical weakness and rising competition, with warnings that a breakdown below ₹45 could push the stock towards ₹24. Meanwhile, Ola Electric clarified it has no knowledge of showroom closure notices in Maharashtra. Ather Energy’s IPO, with a price band of ₹304–₹321 per share, seeks to raise ₹2,981 crore and is being closely watched by investors.
Published on: April 28, 2025
Shares of Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) surged 3.4% on Monday, reaching a five-month high of ₹1,344 apiece, after the company posted March quarter (Q4FY24) results that exceeded analyst expectations. RIL reported a consolidated profit of ₹22,434 crore, outpacing Bloomberg's consensus estimate of ₹18,471 crore, driven by strong performance in its retail and telecom businesses, despite ongoing challenges in oil-to-chemicals (O2C).
Full-year revenue rose 7.1% to ₹10.71 lakh crore, with profit after tax up 2.9% year-on-year. Brokerages including Nomura, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Macquarie, and Nuvama Institutional Equities raised their target prices for RIL shares, citing growth triggers like the new energy segment ramp-up, Jio tariff hikes, and potential IPOs.
Reliance also announced commissioning of its first solar panel production line and reaffirmed its net zero ambition by 2035, reinforcing its strategic shift toward green energy.
Published on: April 25, 2025
Shares of L&T Technology Services (LTTS) fell sharply by 7% on Friday, hitting an intraday low of ₹4,165.9 per share, following the release of its weak Q4FY25 results. The stock was trading 5.16% lower at ₹4,248.65 per share as of 10:14 AM, underperforming the broader market. In the past year, LTTS shares have lost 13.5%, compared to the 7.3% rise in the BSE Sensex.
For the fourth quarter ending March 31, 2025, L&T Technology reported a 9% decline in net profit to ₹310.2 crore, compared to ₹341 crore in the same period last year. Sequentially, the profit also fell by 3%. Revenue for the quarter stood at ₹2,982.4 crore, up from ₹2,537.5 crore year-on-year, but down from ₹2,653 crore in Q3FY25. The company’s EBIT also slipped to ₹475.5 crore, down from ₹502.8 crore in Q4FY24.
Despite the disappointing results, the company has projected a double-digit revenue growth for FY26 in constant currency terms and reaffirmed its medium-term goal of $2 billion in revenue. However, analysts remain cautious, with Motilal Oswal and Antique Stock Broking both revising their earnings estimates downwards and maintaining neutral or hold ratings on the stock.
The weaker-than-expected margin performance and concerns about future growth prospects led brokerages to lower their target price for LTTS shares.
Published on: April 25, 2025
Shares of Muthoot Finance slipped 3.4% intraday to hit a low of ₹2,076.9 on Friday, as the stock traded ex-dividend. By 12:35 PM, the stock was down 2.76% at ₹2,091.45, underperforming the BSE Sensex, which was down 1.12%. The decline came as investors adjusted for the company’s recently declared interim dividend of ₹26 per share (260%) for FY25.
The ex-dividend date, set for April 25, 2025, is the cutoff for determining shareholder eligibility for dividend payouts. Investors buying the stock after this date will not receive the dividend, which typically leads to a short-term price correction.
Despite Friday’s drop, Muthoot Finance has shown strong performance over the past year, gaining 30% compared to the Sensex’s 7% rise. The stock’s 52-week range spans from a low of ₹1,510 to a high of ₹2,444.65.
Muthoot Finance, India’s leading gold loan NBFC, provides secured loans against gold ornaments and has diversified into money transfers, forex, insurance, and microfinance services, reinforcing its role in promoting financial inclusion across the country.
Published on: April 25, 2025
Axis Bank reported a marginal decline in its net profit for the March 2025 quarter at ₹7,117.5 crore, compared to ₹7,129.7 crore in the same period last year. While the result slightly missed the previous year’s performance, it beat Bloomberg analyst estimates of ₹6,601.2 crore.
Net interest income (NII) grew 6% year-on-year to ₹13,811 crore, though net interest margin (NIM) slipped to 3.97% from 4.06%, reflecting pressure from a tight liquidity environment. Total advances rose 8% YoY to ₹10.4 lakh crore, with retail loans growing 7% and corporate loans up 8%. Deposits saw a 10% rise to ₹11.7 lakh crore.
MD & CEO Amitabh Chaudhry emphasized the bank’s strategic focus on profitable and sustainable growth, stating, “We are stabilising, not fully stabilised yet… we have absolutely no intention to change our risk guardrails.” He noted early positive signs across product segments but added that trends would be monitored through H1FY26.
Provisions and contingencies increased to ₹1,359 crore from ₹1,185 crore a year ago. However, asset quality showed improvement, with gross NPA ratio declining to 1.28% from 1.43% and gross slippages rising to ₹4,805 crore from ₹3,471 crore.
Despite slower loan and deposit growth relative to peers, analysts, including Pranav Gundlapalle of Bernstein, viewed the quarter positively due to stronger profitability metrics, improved asset quality, and a healthier balance sheet backed by a lower loan-to-deposit and borrowings-to-liabilities ratio.
Published on: April 25, 2025
Kotak Mahindra Bank has scheduled the release of its fourth quarter and full-year FY25 financial results for Saturday, May 3, 2025. The bank will host an earnings call at 5:15 PM IST on the same day to discuss its consolidated and standalone performance, as per a regulatory filing.
Analysts at Axis Securities project a 11.2% year-on-year decline in net profit to ₹3,669 crore for the March 2025 quarter, down from ₹4,133 crore in Q4FY24. However, net interest income (NII) is expected to grow 7% YoY to ₹7,414 crore, supported by continued business growth—especially in the secured loan segment. Margins, however, could see mild contraction.
Brokerages anticipate strong pre-provision operating profit (PPOP), driven by stable asset quality, modest expense growth, and a boost in non-interest income. Key focus areas in the earnings commentary will include net interest margins (NIMs), overall credit growth outlook, and performance in unsecured lending after recent regulatory relief.
Despite recent market volatility, Kotak Mahindra Bank stock has gained 24% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the Nifty Bank index. On April 22, the stock hit a record high of ₹3,301, surpassing its previous peak of ₹2,253 from October 2021.
The recent rally in private banks, including Kotak, has been fuelled by the RBI’s relaxation of Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) norms, expected to unlock ₹3 trillion in capital. Kotak Mahindra Bank stands out as a major beneficiary, with analysts citing the reduced run-off rate on wholesale deposits as a key catalyst for improved capital efficiency and growth prospects.
Published on: April 25, 2025
Indian equities are poised for a positive open on Friday, April 25, 2025, supported by strong global cues despite geopolitical friction with Pakistan. GIFT Nifty was trading 126 points higher at 24,529 as of 7:25 AM, hinting at a firm start for domestic benchmarks following a volatile session on Thursday.
While Asian markets moved higher on Wall Street’s rally—driven by rate cut hopes from the US Fed—investor sentiment remains cautious amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Pakistan’s retaliatory halt on bilateral trade and its stern warning against any move to stop water flow from India have added uncertainty.
Domestically, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their buying streak, investing ₹8,250.53 crore on Thursday, even as the Sensex slipped 315 points to 79,801 and the Nifty fell 82 points to 24,246.7.
Key Stocks to Watch:
• SBI Life Insurance: Reported flat Q4 net profit at ₹813.5 crore, with a 5% YoY decline in net premium income.
• Axis Bank: Q4 profit remained stable at ₹7,118 crore due to higher provisions and lower trading income.
• Persistent Systems: Posted strong 25% YoY profit growth at ₹395.76 crore, with revenue up 25.2%.
• Adani Energy Solutions: Reported a sharp 79% YoY profit jump to ₹647.15 crore, revenue surged 35.5%.
• ACC: Q4 profit dipped 20.4% YoY to ₹751.03 crore, though revenue rose 12.7%.
• Tech Mahindra: Saw a 76.5% YoY jump in Q4 profit to ₹1,167 crore due to better margins and tax benefits.
• Macrotech Developers: Reported a 38.5% rise in Q4 profit to ₹921.7 crore, with modest revenue growth.
• BHEL: Clarified that a fire near its Bhopal unit caused no operational or property damage.
• Power Grid Corp: Commissioned its 85 MW solar power plant in Madhya Pradesh.
• Container Corp: Signed MoU with GAIL India for LNG infrastructure development.
• PB Fintech: Invested ₹539 crore into subsidiary PB Healthcare Services, part of a ₹696 crore FY26 plan.
• Wipro: Launched GitHub Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to enhance development capabilities.
• RITES: Secured ₹28 crore order from Mahanadi Coalfields for consultancy services.
• Gujarat Industries Power: Commissioned the first phase (25 MW) of its 75 MW solar project at Vastan.
Overall, while global momentum supports a rebound, developments on the Indo-Pak front will continue to guide market sentiment through the day.
Published on: April 25, 2025
Indian stock markets witnessed a sharp sell-off on April 25 as escalating geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan unnerved investors. The BSE Sensex plummeted 1,195 points intraday to touch 78,606, while the NSE Nifty50 broke below the crucial 24,000-mark, hitting a low of 23,848. Although both indices recovered slightly by close, the Sensex ended down 570.8 points at 79,227, and the Nifty settled 207.3 points lower at 24,039.
The market rout followed heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) after Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement in response to India's suspension of the 1971 Simla Agreement. The move comes days after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead. With India responding militarily and Pakistan issuing stern warnings, the threat of escalation looms large.
Broader markets also faced heavy losses, with the Nifty MidCap and SmallCap indices falling 3% and 3.5% respectively. Only 279 out of 2,816 NSE-listed stocks were in the green, reflecting extreme bearish sentiment. India's volatility index, India VIX, jumped 8.2% to 17.58, highlighting investor anxiety.
All sectoral indices ended in the red, led by PSU Banks, Realty, Pharma, Metals, and Autos. Heavyweight stocks such as Axis Bank, SBI, HDFC Bank, Tata Motors, and Adani Ports saw significant selling pressure.
Experts warn of further downside if key technical levels are breached, with Nifty potentially falling to 23,670 and Sensex to 79,000 if the current volatility persists.
Published on: April 25, 2025
Prestige Hotel Ventures, a key player in the Indian hospitality sector, has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise up to ₹2,700 crore through its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The offering includes a fresh issue of equity shares worth up to ₹1,700 crore, along with an offer for sale (OFS) of shares worth ₹1,000 crore by its promoter, Prestige Estates Projects.
The company plans to utilize the proceeds from the fresh issue to repay borrowings and invest in its subsidiaries, including Sai Chakra Hotels and Northland Holding Company. It also aims to fund inorganic growth through acquisitions and other strategic initiatives.
A part of the Prestige Group, Prestige Hotel Ventures focuses on developing luxury, upper-upscale, and upper midscale hospitality assets for business and leisure travelers. The company has demonstrated strong financial growth, with a 103.73% CAGR in revenue from hospitality services between FY22 and FY24, reaching ₹795.695 crore in FY24. The offering is expected to further bolster the company's expansion in India’s competitive hospitality sector.