The Economic Times

India's government aims to raise 7.86 trillion rupees through bond sales between October and March. The gross borrowing limit for the fiscal year has been reduced to 16 trillion rupees. Issuance of longer duration securities has been increased to 45.6% of total borrowing. Treasury bills will be sold weekly, albeit at a lower amount than earlier this year.

Indian equity benchmarks ended higher on Friday, with the Nifty 50 rising 0.34% and the Sensex gaining 0.43%. Axis Bank and Asian Paints led the gainers, while Max Healthcare and Infosys were among the top losers. Heres a look at the biggest movers across the Nifty and Sensex.

Embassy Office Parks REIT has effectively secured Rs 1,000 crore via non-convertible debentures, aimed at refinancing its existing debts and boosting its financial position. This notable transaction highlights a pivotal moment in the evolution of India's REIT market and was fully subscribed by a reputable European bank, showcasing substantial international interest and the ongoing regulatory support from SEBI and RBI for the sector.

Indian government bonds continue to struggle amidst escalating global borrowing rates and soaring oil prices. As market participants strategize for a potential rate hike by the Reserve Bank of India, the 10-year bond yield has surged to a four-month pinnacle, instilling investor apprehension. However, Indian bonds have proven surprisingly resilient, buoyed by robust liquidity. Most analysts now foresee an impending rate increase in the next policy meeting.

India's foreign exchange reserves decreased by $14.88 billion, bringing the total to $765.90 billion. The decline occurred during the week ending September 18, according to the Reserve Bank of India data. Foreign currency assets fell by $14.82 billion, while gold reserves rose slightly by $68 million. Despite the recent decrease, reserves had increased significantly from the previous year. Overall, Indias foreign exchange reserves have shown considerable growth in recent months.

Structured debt is becoming a go-to option for high-net-worth individuals aiming for better returns and risk strategies. These investors typically review important factors, including credit quality and how cash flow is generated, before diving in. Key elements such as collateral and capital structure are essential for providing downside protection, while liquidity concerns persist due to a general lack of active secondary trading in structured debt.

Indian rupee strengthened by 15 paise, closing at 96.81 against the US dollar. Regulatory actions seemed to influence this positive movement after a low of 95.94. The Reserve Bank of India intervened, aiding the local currency amid concerns over high crude prices. Exporters sold dollars in response to the rising interest rate differential. The benchmark 10-year bond yield also fluctuated, reflecting global tightening trends.

Indian rupee strengthened by 15 paise, closing at 96.81 against the US dollar. Regulatory actions seemed to influence this positive movement after a low of 95.94. The Reserve Bank of India intervened, aiding the local currency amid concerns over high crude prices. Exporters sold dollars in response to the rising interest rate differential. The benchmark 10-year bond yield also fluctuated, reflecting global tightening trends.

Bitcoin traded near $84,000 following profit-booking from recent highs as surging US Treasury yields pressured risk assets. Despite intraday volatility and $80 million in long liquidations, consistent ETF inflows, whale accumulation, and key support levels suggest underlying demand for BTC remains firm amid ongoing macroeconomic headwinds.

Seven BSE 500 stocks, including Engineers India, Welspun Corp and Zydus Lifesciences, touched fresh 52-week highs on Friday. Here is a look at their new highs, current market prices and one-month performance.

Japanese investors bought 21.7 trillion yen of coupon-bearing Japanese government bonds between April and August, reaching 89% of their entire fiscal 2025 total. In contrast, foreign investor purchases plunged to just 2.8 trillion yen, marking a major shift in the demand composition for Japanese sovereign debt.

India could find itself more exposed to US tariff pressure over Russian oil after Washington and Beijing extended their Busan trade truce until January 10, 2027, according to GTRI. The think tank's founder Ajay Srivastava argues that China's tariff breathing room leaves New Delhi facing greater risk from Trump's new powers to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy.

Airbus shares fell after the company disclosed a quality issue affecting hundreds of A321neo aircraft. The planemaker has identified a repair, but the potential impact on deliveries and production schedules remains unclear.

The rupees decline over the past four years reflects a complex interplay of fundamentals, RBI intervention and market sentiment. A Bank of Baroda analysis finds no single dominant driver, with RBI spot and forward operations emerging as significant factors. The report expects the rupee to trade in the Rs 94.5-96 range near term.

The Indian rupee strengthened slightly against the dollar as oil prices declined and the central bank intervened. Oil prices fell about 2%, remaining above $100 per barrel amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Higher bond yields have pressured emerging market currencies, including the rupee, with India's stock index experiencing a losing streak. The Reserve Bank of India has employed various measures to stabilize the currency amid these pressures.

Saudi Arabias increased crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have pushed ship-to-ship transfer operations in the Gulf of Oman to capacity, tightening tanker availability, lifting freight rates and complicating crude flows to Asian refineries.

Macquarie projects a robust growth trajectory for India's capital market sector between fiscal years 2026 to 2030. This optimistic outlook hinges on a notable redirection of household savings towards market-based financial products. Key growth drivers identified are financialisation, equitisation, and productisation, which together enhance investment opportunities. Consequently, brokers and exchanges are likely to see substantial advantages from an expanding investor demographic.

India's journey towards becoming a developed nation includes significant advancements in its space program by ISRO. The country has developed cryogenic propulsion systems independently after being denied this technology. Chandrayaan-3 made India the first nation to land successfully near the Moon's south pole. Upcoming projects include the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program and further lunar missions by 2040.

European shares rose on Friday as easing oil prices supported risk appetite, while investors remained cautious over Middle East tensions. The STOXX 600 was on track for its first weekly gain after three consecutive weeks of losses.

Bank of England policymakers are signalling greater openness to a rate hike as elevated energy prices threaten to keep inflation above target, while markets increasingly price in a possible November increase.

Christopher Wood, the global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, identifies India's energy sector as a promising arena for growth, driven by the shift toward renewable energy sources like solar. Hitachi Energy India's CEO anticipates a significant 50% increase in energy demand by 2035, suggesting that electricity consumption could double.

Andhra Pradesh is adopting a sustainability-focused strategy for its data-centre expansion in Visakhapatnam. The state mandates that 70 percent of energy used by data centres must come from renewable sources. To address water requirements, the Polavaram project will redirect water flow toward Visakhapatnam. Additionally, the state is incentivizing the establishment of desalination plants by data-centre companies. This holistic approach aims to balance large-scale investments with sustainability

The National Stock Exchange's debut was characterized by a modest 0.8% premium on its initial public offering price. The Chairman underscored the necessity of adopting a long-term viewpoint when assessing the exchange's viability. NSE's strategic direction includes diversifying its revenue streams over the next five years to minimize dependence on transaction fees.

India's growth outlook is the strongest globally, with 74 percent of economists expecting strong growth in 2026. Domestic demand continues to show resilience, though energy prices remain a significant concern. Only 45 percent of economists expect global conditions to weaken in the coming year, a significant decrease from previous assessments. Geopolitical conflicts are viewed as major risks to the economy, according to the report.

Mexico, Brazil, the UK, Poland and Canada have emerged as high-growth markets for Indian medical equipment exports, India Exim Bank said. The study flagged modest Indian export shares despite rising import demand, and recommended regulatory alignment, stronger R&D, component manufacturing, skills development and trade promotion to expand global market presence.

Indias economy is facing near-term headwinds from unsettled ties with the United States, global energy prices and the lack of a significant AI play, Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran said. He described India-US relations as being in an uneasy equilibrium amid lingering tariff issues and fresh risks from US levies on countries buying Russian energy. Nageswaran also said India cannot align itself with any global bloc, though maintaining that independence could mean higher energy costs a

UK consumer confidence unexpectedly reached its highest level in over two years in September, with GfK's barometer rising to -13. Supported by improving household personal finance sentiment, the index beat expectations despite ongoing concerns over persistent inflationary pressures and rising fuel and energy costs weighing on broader economic recovery.

Jefferies Chris Wood expects the AI investment narrative to face a major reset, questioning whether Meta, Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft can sustain $990 billion in projected 2027 capex. He also sees Indian IT services as a potential reverse AI trade, with valuations falling even as employment remains resilient.

Motilal Oswal Financial Services wholly owned subsidiary MOCSPL has received SEBI approval to operate as a securities custodian, expanding the groups institutional offerings ahead of its planned operations in the last quarter of 2026.

The US Federal Reserve proposed rules for dollar-backed stablecoin issuers, advancing implementation of the GENIUS Act. The framework would require full reserve backing, capital and risk-management standards, and oversight for banks safeguarding reserves. It also outlines a process for supervised banks seeking approval to issue stablecoins, with 60 days for public comments.

Retail investors increased holdings across 766 BSE smallcaps in June 2026. Several stocks subsequently delivered sharp gains, with Kabra Extrusiontechnik, Indo Rama Synthetics and PVP Ventures among the biggest performers, while retail ownership also increased across these companies.

India is unlikely to make major changes to its bilateral investment treaty dispute-resolution framework, despite foreign businesses complaining about lengthy legal processes. Under current rules, foreign investors must pursue disputes through Indian courts for five years before seeking international arbitration. The governments review is examining concerns over delays and investment barriers, but no major overhaul is planned.

Akamai shares surged after announcing an $11.6 billion, seven-year cloud computing deal with Anthropic, potentially expanding to $20 billion. The agreement strengthens Akamais AI infrastructure business, with significant planned capital expenditure and a potential 5% Anthropic stake.

PB Fintech shares extended their sharp selloff on Friday, falling 5% after plunging 36% in the previous session. Technical analysts flagged weak momentum, broken support levels and bearish indicators, while brokerages lowered targets or retained cautious views amid concerns over proposed IRDAI changes and their potential impact on Policybazaars earnings.

Balrampur Chini Mills shares gained after the government awarded a Rs 75 crore BioE3 grant for a 100 TPA PLA co-polymer R

Hong Kong stocks declined sharply on Friday, led by technology and AI shares, as investors awaited clarity from the Trump-Xi summit. The Hang Seng fell 1.7%, while the Hang Seng Tech Index dropped over 2%. Holiday closures across Asia kept trading volumes subdued, with markets assessing the summits implications for U.S.-China relations.

Oracle Financial Services Software (OFSS) shares tumbled over 5% after parent company Oracle issued a force majeure notice regarding a massive New Mexico AI data centre project. The development triggered financing concerns across AI infrastructure, sending OFSS stock to a nine-week low of Rs 10,332 on the NSE.

Nebius Group shares gained as BNP Paribas upgraded the stock and raised its target, while planned AI cloud price hikes fuel growth expectations despite elevated valuation and continued losses.

India achieved its highest-ever annual Foreign Direct Investment of USD 94.53 billion in FY 2025-26. Cumulative FDI inflows from FY 2014-15 to FY 2025-26 reached USD 843 billion. The Production Linked Incentive schemes have attracted significant investments and generated millions of jobs. Key sectors benefited include electronics, pharmaceuticals, and IT hardware as outlined by the Commerce and Industry Minister.

Newly-listed ESDS Software Solution hit the 5% lower circuit at Rs 1,758 after Q1 FY27 net profit fell 57% sequentially to Rs 29.3 crore. Despite stellar post-IPO gains, analysts advise fresh investors to avoid chasing elevated valuations and suggest allotted investors book partial profits.

Welspun Corp shares rose after its US subsidiary secured a record $412.5 million HFIW pipe order, lifting its global order book to $4.7 billion and strengthening its US manufacturing footprint.

Indian benchmark indices traded largely flat on Friday, with the Sensex and Nifty swinging between minor gains and losses after surging bond yields triggered a sharp market sell-off in the previous session.

Brussels has informed Prime Minister Burnham about necessary tariff increases on Chinese cars to prevent export issues. The EU indicated that aligning with its trade policy could help mitigate potential barriers. London was suggested to consider joining the EU customs union for a feasible solution. This communication follows lobbying for equal treatment of UK products in the trade landscape.

The US-India Business Council has urged both governments to finalize a trade agreement that reduces tariffs. Ambassador Atul Keshap emphasized that such an agreement would facilitate reciprocal trade and benefit businesses in both nations. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated the trade pact is nearly finalized pending competitive advantages in the American market.

Ola Electric shares fell sharply on Friday, snapping a four-day winning streak as investors assessed the EV makers proposed rights issue and ongoing funding needs. Despite a recent recovery, the stock remains well below its peak. Brokerages including Citi and Kotak continue to maintain bearish views, citing operational and cash-burn concerns.

Tata Sons has rejected Noel Tatas objections to N Chandrasekarans reappointment, saying the boards decision was valid and made in accordance with the companys Articles of Association.

Leading US bond fund managers overseeing nearly $700 billion are adopting a cautious stance as Treasury yields near 5% and corporate debt valuations remain stretched. Investors are prioritizing high-quality, short-duration assets and selective security picking over aggressive rate bets amid risks from rising AI-related debt issuance and persistent inflation.

After a three-year rally featuring 106 multibaggers, over half of the Nifty 500 stocks are down in 2026 amid $30 billion in FII outflows and geopolitical risks. As broader market valuations stretch, analysts advise caution, with leading fund managers highlighting better risk-reward comfort in largecap equities.