Published on: February 19, 2025
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has seen its equity portfolio take a major hit, with the value of stocks held by the insurer dropping by Rs 84,247 crore in just over a month. As of the December 2024 quarter, LIC's holdings in listed companies amounted to Rs 14.72 trillion, which has now decreased to Rs 13.87 trillion, reflecting a 5.7% loss.
A large portion of the fall is attributed to sharp corrections in stocks like ITC, Larsen & Toubro, and State Bank of India, which together accounted for nearly 30% of the erosion. The financial sector, particularly banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), has been a major contributor to LIC's losses.
Analysts predict that market volatility may continue, with subdued growth expectations for the next two quarters, keeping LIC's prospects uncertain. However, certain companies like Bajaj Finance and Maruti Suzuki have bucked the trend, adding value to LIC’s portfolio.
Published on: February 18, 2025
Vedanta Ltd. is in the spotlight today as its board meets with equity shareholders, secured creditors, and unsecured creditors to seek final approval for the proposed demerger of its diversified businesses. The demerger will result in the creation of separate companies focusing on aluminium, oil & gas, power steel, and base metals, each carrying the Vedanta brand.
Shareholders will receive one equity share of each new entity for every share of Vedanta they hold. The process is expected to conclude by the end of Q1FY26. This move is part of Vedanta's strategy to streamline its business operations, reduce debt, and improve profitability.
Analysts remain cautiously optimistic about the company's performance, with continued focus on growth, cost savings, and deleveraging efforts.
Published on: February 18, 2025
Software giant Infosys has announced a strategic partnership with Lufthansa Group and Lufthansa Systems GmbH to set up a Global Capability Centre (GCC) focused on accelerating digital transformation within the aviation industry.
The center will develop AI-driven aviation IT products and data-driven solutions aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and customer experience for Lufthansa Group and external airline customers.
Leveraging Infosys' AI-first offering, Infosys Topaz, the collaboration seeks to optimize flight navigation, crew operations, and more. Infosys' global expertise in digital transformation will help Lufthansa navigate operational challenges and drive sustainable growth within the aviation sector.
Published on: February 18, 2025
Indian stock markets saw a slight recovery on Monday, February 17, 2025, with the BSE Sensex rising 58 points and the NSE Nifty gaining 30 points. Despite the sharp intraday bounce, analysts suggest that sentiment remains weak as Nifty failed to reclaim key technical levels.
The market faces resistance near 23,000, while support is seen around 22,800. With no major cues from Wall Street, traders will turn to Asian markets for guidance. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued selling, with a net outflow of Rs 3,937.83 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought Rs 4,759.77 crore worth of shares.
Small-cap stocks are under pressure, with Nifty SmallCap 100 down nearly 24% from its all-time high. Investors should watch for IPO-related developments as over Rs 50,000 crore worth of shares are expected to hit the market soon. Key stocks to watch today include Bharti Airtel, Uno Minda, and Paytm.
Published on: February 18, 2025
In Tuesday's trading session, Srestha Finvest, Vodafone Idea, and G G Engineering were the top gainers in terms of trading volume, with shares of Srestha Finvest leading at 5.53 crore shares traded.
Other notable stocks with high trading volumes included Standard Cap, YES Bank, and SpiceJet. Despite the surge in trading activity for these stocks, the broader market closed in the red, with the NSE Nifty down 14.21 points at 22,945.3 and the BSE Sensex slipping 29.47 points to 75,967.39.
On the downside, stocks like IndusInd Bank, Trent, and UltraTech Cement saw significant declines, contributing to the overall market dip.
Published on: February 18, 2025
State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman CS Setty discussed the positive impact of recapitalisation and reforms on public sector banks (PSUs), noting cleaner balance sheets and improved loan underwriting practices at the NDTV Profit Conclave.
Setty highlighted the evolving saving behavior of depositors, with increased asset allocation across segments and a shift toward market investments. He emphasized the importance of diversified sources of debt capital beyond traditional bank loans, including bonds, mutual funds, and insurance.
Setty also underlined the need for a deeper bond market to support India's goal of becoming a $35 trillion economy by 2047. He spoke on the growth of private sector capital expenditure, particularly in renewables, data centers, and infrastructure, while expressing optimism for sectors like steel despite tariff uncertainties.
Published on: February 18, 2025
Indian government bond yields traded in a narrow range on Tuesday, ending slightly lower at 6.6859%, down from the previous close of 6.6930%. With Indian markets closed on Wednesday for a local holiday, investors are closely watching for the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) debt purchase of Rs 40,000 crore ($4.60 billion) on Thursday.
Traders are also awaiting the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's January meeting, which may provide insights into future rate cuts. The RBI's ongoing bond-buying operations, alongside its liquidity injections, have kept market sentiment positive.
Experts expect the bond market to remain supported by continued RBI purchases and lower supply amid a policy easing cycle. Meanwhile, attention is also focused on Friday's upcoming government debt auction, where Rs 340 billion will be raised.
Published on: February 18, 2025
In Tuesday's trading session, FMCG shares saw a mixed performance, with several stocks closing lower. While some, including Gillette India and Adani Wilmar, posted gains of up to 10%, others like Nakoda Group Of Industries and JHS Svendgaard Laboratories saw sharp declines.
The NSE Nifty50 ended 14.21 points lower at 22,945.3, and the BSE Sensex fell 29.47 points to close at 75,967.39. Leading the gainers in the Nifty pack were NTPC, Tech Mahindra, and Wipro, which saw strong upticks.
Meanwhile, stocks like IndusInd Bank, UltraTech Cement, and Hindustan Unilever were among the biggest losers. Despite the overall market dip, the session saw a clear divide between sectors, with energy and IT stocks outperforming the broader FMCG sector.
Published on: February 18, 2025
The Indian equity market started on a cautious note on February 18, tracking mixed global cues as investors digested slowing corporate earnings, high valuations, and concerns over U.S. tariffs. The Sensex was down 16 points at 75,980, while the Nifty slipped 28 points to 22,931.
Market sentiment was largely shaped by the FOMC minutes set for release on February 19, with expectations of a hawkish Fed stance dampening rate cut hopes for 2025. Despite an eight-session losing streak snapping on February 17, banking and IT stocks showed resilience, with persistent focus on value buying post-earnings.
Small- and mid-cap stocks underperformed, raising concerns over further market corrections. Additionally, foreign institutional investors continued to exit, contributing to market volatility. Key stock movements included gains for Persistent Systems and ABB India, while Zen Technologies saw heavy losses.
Published on: February 18, 2025
In today’s stock market, Srestha Finvest emerged as the top gainer in terms of trading volume, with a staggering 5.53 crore shares traded, followed by Vodafone Idea with 3.46 crore shares. Other notable gainers in volume included G G Engineering, Standard Cap, and YES Bank.
On the downside, IndusInd Bank saw a sharp decline of 2.31%, while Trent, UltraTech Cement, Bharat Electronics, and Mahindra & Mahindra were also among the top losers.
The NSE Nifty closed down by 14.21 points at 22,945.3, and the BSE Sensex ended 29.47 points lower at 75,967.39, reflecting the overall weak sentiment in the market.
Published on: February 18, 2025
Bandhan Bank's stock has fallen sharply by nearly 80% from its record high of Rs 628 in October 2019, touching a new all-time low of Rs 128.15 today. The bank has been one of the biggest underperformers over the past 5.5 years on the BSE and NSE, with a year-to-date drop of more than 19%, compared to a 3% dip in the benchmark indices.
In its Q3FY25 results, the bank reported a 41.8% decline in net profit to Rs 426.49 crore, although total income rose 26.2% YoY. Despite a rise in Net Interest Income (NII), the bank faces challenges, with analysts like Motilal Oswal revising down earnings projections for FY25, FY26, and FY27.
Nuvama has given an 'Avoid' rating, citing deposit growth constraints. Technically, the stock shows a bearish near-term outlook, with support at Rs 125 and resistance at Rs 132.80. A recovery will require sustained movement above Rs 137.
Published on: February 18, 2025
NTPC, India's largest integrated power utility, announced on February 18 that it has paid an additional Rs 2,424 crore in interim dividend to its shareholders for the financial year ending March 2025. This is the second interim dividend for the fiscal, bringing the total dividend paid so far to Rs 8,000 crore, which also includes a final dividend of Rs 3,152 crore for FY2023-24.
This marks the 32nd consecutive year of dividend payments by NTPC, a reflection of the company's consistent financial performance.
NTPC has a robust installed capacity of over 77 GW, with ongoing expansions, including 9.6 GW of renewable energy capacity. The company is also focused on growing its renewable energy portfolio to 60 GW by 2032 and diversifying into new business areas like e-mobility and green hydrogen solutions.
Published on: February 18, 2025
Reliance Consumer Products Ltd. (RCPL), the FMCG arm of Reliance Industries, has officially launched its soft drink brand Campa Cola in the UAE at the prestigious Gulfood 2025 event. In partnership with Agthia Group, a leading food and beverage company in the region, RCPL aims to introduce the iconic Indian brand to the UAE market.
This marks RCPL’s first entry into the region, reaffirming its commitment to long-term growth. The launch is expected to attract both nostalgic Indian expatriates and local consumers in the UAE, with Agthia's extensive distribution network driving the brand's reach.
Campa Cola, reintroduced in India in 2023 after Reliance acquired the brand in 2022, has disrupted the beverage industry in India and now seeks to build a fan base in the Middle East.
Published on: February 17, 2025
Indian stock markets experienced a significant crash on Monday, February 17, 2025, with the BSE Sensex plunging 644 points to a low of 75,295, and the NSE Nifty50 falling 204 points to hit a low of 22,725. Major stocks like M&M, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Infosys, and Wipro saw heavy losses during the session. The broader markets also took a hit, with the Nifty SmallCap and Nifty MidCap indices falling 2.3% each.
Analysts point to ongoing foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, totaling Rs 2.94 trillion since October 2024, as a key driver of the downturn. Additionally, concerns about US President Donald Trump's trade policies, including potential reciprocal tariffs, have created nervousness among investors, particularly in emerging markets like India.
Trump's recent memorandum on "unfair trading practices" raises the possibility of broader tariff and non-tariff barriers being imposed on India and other Asian economies. While the current market volatility is driven by external factors, analysts remain cautiously optimistic, with historical data suggesting that markets may rebound after consecutive declines. The Nifty's immediate support is seen at 22,500, with a potential bounce expected if the index breaches resistance levels.
Despite concerns, some analysts predict a market recovery in the second quarter of FY26 as worries over tariff tensions ease and earnings expectations stabilize. Analysts recommend a focus on large-cap stocks, particularly in sectors such as consumption, IT, healthcare, and real estate, while remaining cautious on mid and small-caps due to their expensive valuations.
Published on: February 17, 2025
The Indian rupee closed weaker against the US dollar on Monday, falling by 2 paise to settle at Rs 86.85, compared to Rs 86.83 on Friday, according to Bloomberg data. Despite this decline, the rupee's performance showed resilience, aided by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) intervention to stabilize excessive depreciation by accumulating reserves at lower levels and selling forwards at higher levels.
India's forex reserves saw a significant rise, reaching $638.26 billion for the week ended February 7, marking a $7.65 billion increase. Foreign institutional investor outflows, however, continue to apply downward pressure on the rupee. Experts also pointed to potential challenges from the RBI's decision to double its government securities purchase target, which could affect liquidity and influence the rupee's trajectory
The 87.20 level is emerging as a key resistance point, with 86.50 acting as support. A breach of 86.50 may lead the rupee to test the 86 level. Crude oil prices also dropped to a nearly two-month low amid optimism for a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, which could ease global supply disruptions. Meanwhile, the US dollar failed to recover its losses from Friday, driven by weaker-than-expected retail sales data.