The Economic Times

China and Hong Kong stocks declined on Wednesday as investor expectations surrounding the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping cooled. Rising trade friction with Europe further dampened sentiment, although property shares bucked the broader market trend on government support measures for China Vanke.

IonQ shares surged 9.3% following significant updates on its Asia-Pacific expansion and technological advancements. The quantum-computing firm is deepening its presence in South Korea through a strategic partnership with SDT to deploy its Superion 256 system, alongside reporting key breakthroughs in quantum error correction and engineering simulation acceleration.

Indian benchmark indices gain up to 0.5% as metal and financial stocks support the market, while elevated crude prices and bond yields remain key constraints. Analysts highlight resistance levels and stretched midcap and smallcap valuations.

Indias midcap stocks outperformed the Nifty 50 over six months, with 10 stocks gaining 50%-105%, alongside notable FII and mutual fund holdings.

India experienced accelerated business growth in September due to increased demand in manufacturing and services sectors. The HSBC flash India Composite Purchasing Managers' Index rose significantly from August, indicating expansion. However, export growth slowed, impacting overall economic performance negatively. Hiring in the services sector also declined, limiting job growth prospects. Input-cost inflation eased, providing some relief to businesses in this competitive environment.

Poompuhar: Underwater exploration at Poompuhar, a 2,000 year old Chola port city, has found over 200 potsherds and the first torpedo jars linked to Persian Gulf trade dating to the 3rd century BCE. Glazed Iranian pottery, Gangetic ware, and a 40m stone structure add proof of erosion and tsunamis burying this ancient Tamil trading hub.

Innodata shares surged 14.6% after a report linked the company to Metas Muse AI assistant, though the connection remains unconfirmed. Strong revenue growth, AI demand, leadership changes and valuation concerns are shaping investor interest in the stock.

Indian government bonds remained stable early on Wednesday, supported by lower oil prices amid selling pressure. The benchmark 10-year yield hovered around 7% after declining slightly from previous levels. Analysts noted that Indian bonds have outperformed US Treasuries amid global market volatility and oil price fluctuations. Expectations for an interest rate hike at the Reserve Bank of India's upcoming policy meeting have increased due to rising inflation concerns.

In a groundbreaking financial achievement, Vietnam's State Treasury recorded a staggering 26.55 trillion dong in its latest government bond auction, surpassing last week's figures of 564 million dollars by a large margin. An impressive 86% of the bonds on offer were sold, helping the government inch closer to its ambitious target of raising 500 trillion dong this year, with over 276 trillion dong currently secured through bond sales.

UBS upgraded Bajaj Finance to Neutral and L&T Finance to Buy, citing improving asset quality and a revival in unsecured lending. The brokerage sees scope for re-rating as personal loan growth accelerates, liquidity remains supportive and funding conditions stay favourable. It also expects improving return on assets across select NBFCs.

Bajaj Finance shares jumped 3% on Wednesday following bullish brokerage calls. Global brokerages Jefferies and UBS issued positive outlooks, with Jefferies maintaining a Buy rating with a target of Rs 1,280, while UBS upgraded the stock to Neutral with a target price of Rs 1,100.

Senator Roger Wicker has publicly criticized President Trump for the warm reception planned for Chinese President Xi Jinping. Wicker expressed that he would have advised against the lavish welcome and the state dinner scheduled for Xi. He urged Trump to address issues like China's military buildup and human rights concerns during their discussions. The summit between Trump and Xi is expected to focus on trade and artificial intelligence rivalry.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said BRICS countries need to ensure their views are reflected in the new global tax rules, as decisions taken in the next few years could shape cross-border taxation for a generation.

Jefferies has presented an optimistic 'buy' recommendation for four capital market stocks, projecting considerable upside potential. They foresee Computer Age Management Services with a possible 36% profit, while KFin Technologies and Groww enjoy a similar bullish perspective. Moreover, the Multi Commodity Exchange of India has demonstrated impressive historical returns. Investors should consider these insights before making financial commitments.

Fitch Ratings has elevated India's GDP growth forecast to 6.9 percent for this fiscal year, reflecting strong economic performance in the June quarter. This indicates remarkable resilience in the economy, with private investments projected to soar beyond 10 percent. Furthermore, the Reserve Bank of India is expected to raise interest rates by 0.

Two years ago, Sensex soared to an impressive 85,000, but the market has seen a steep decline since then. This downturn is attributed to several factors, including high crude oil prices and geopolitical instability. Analysts believe a change in macroeconomic conditions could help the index bounce back, relying heavily on the performance of large-cap stocks and improved earnings. Investors should be discerning, focusing on high-quality stocks in this challenging environment.

Indigenous chief Wagner Karipuna gazes worriedly at the tranquil river flowing past his village in the Brazilian Amazon as he imagines the nightmare scenario of an oil spill being carried here by the tides. He fears an immense disaster if an oil leak off the coast is carried into the Curipi River, which runs alongside his village of 1,800 inhabitants.

India's economy is projected to grow at 7% in 2026 due to resilient consumption and government investment. However, weather risks from a strengthening El Nino may impact agricultural yields and energy prices. The Asian Development Bank has raised its growth forecast, highlighting strong domestic demand and investment. Additionally, inflation is expected to average 5.2%, potentially constraining monetary policy.

The SWAGAT-FI framework, launched on June 1, simplifies registration for trusted foreign investors, including pension and sovereign funds. Over 164 registrations have already been recorded within just 100 days of implementation. This new system now allows a 10-year registration period, which reduces compliance costs significantly for long-term investors. While initial registrants include major global asset managers, foreign investment sentiment has fluctuated recently.

Ola Electric shares surged nearly 10%, extending their three-session rally and gaining over 86% in six months from the March low. Brokerages, however, remain cautious amid weak volumes, lower margins and continued cash burn.

For those who missed out on the National Stock Exchange IPO, there's a silver lining: several major public offerings are on the horizon! Set to accumulate a staggering Rs 4.27 lakh crore, companies such as Jio Platforms and PhonePe are readying their IPOs. With some firms already greenlit by Sebi while others await approval, the market's robust activity suggests a ripe environment for upcoming public offerings and eager investors.

US President Donald Trump has called on countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of being an out of control institution and saying the US would not allow its military personnel to face proceedings before the court.

Arvind SmartSpaces shares surged 10.83% after its Bengaluru project, Arvind Sylva

Cyclone Arnab: A depression over the Bay of Bengal is moving towards the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast, triggering school closures, evacuation preparations and a red alert in southern Odisha, even as questions swirl over whether the system will turn into Cyclone Arnab.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said recent improvements to the discount window have made emergency borrowing easier, faster and more efficient for banks. Enhanced access to liquidity can support financial stability, prevent forced asset sales during market stress and improve monetary policy implementation. Jefferson noted that 60% of loans now use the self-service portal.

Dixon Technologies aspires to become one of the world's top five electronics contract manufacturers in ten years. The company seeks to expand its production of higher-margin components and IT hardware while maintaining its smartphone assembly business. Recently, it gained government approval to partner with Vivo for smartphone manufacturing. Despite growth in revenue, Dixon faces margin pressure in its core mobile business.

US financial stocks fell sharply as investors weighed AI-driven disruption risks, uncertainty around AI-linked IPOs and a flatter Treasury yield curve. The S&P 500 Financial index dropped 2%, with money managers and banks among the biggest decliners.

Research indicates that governments may not meet the UN's 30 by 30 biodiversity conservation target by 2030. Despite some progress, only 20% of land and 10% of marine areas are currently protected. Significant funding shortfalls exist, especially in marine protection, which is far below necessary levels. A large gap exists between theoretical protection measures and their actual enforcement on the ground.

Chinas yuan weakened Wednesday after the PBOC set a weaker midpoint, ending a 10-session streak of stronger guidance. Rising trade tensions with Europe, concerns over exports and a stronger dollar weighed on sentiment. Markets now await the Trump-Xi meeting, which could influence trade relations, currency policy and the yuans trajectory.

Rajesh Exports has seen a staggering drop of 61.39% since the start of the year, making it the worst performer in the Nifty 500 index. HEG isn't far behind, down 61.16% year-to-date, reflecting significant volatility. Alok Industries' decline of 54.52% highlights the tough atmosphere for stocks. With KPIT Tech and CE Info Systems also struggling, investors should consider reevaluating these lagging investments amidst the current market downturn.

SBI, Bank of Baroda and Canara Bank have advised customers to complete important branch transactions in advance ahead of a proposed bank strike from September 28 to 30, 2026, and use digital and self-service channels during the period.

Indraprastha Gas Limited has rolled out an automated vehicle verification system at ten Delhi retail outlets, using cameras and artificial intelligence to check CNG cylinder hydro-test certificates before vehicles are allowed to refuel, as part of an ongoing safety enforcement drive.

Four NSE F&O stocks recorded over 10% increases in futures open interest on September 22. Kaynes Technology led with 42.37%, followed by Ather Energy, RBL Bank and Indian Railway Finance Corporation, indicating increased futures activity.

In September, the IPO landscape has treated many investors kindly, yielding remarkable returns, although a few have faltered by listing under their initial offering prices. ESDS Software Solution stands out with its impressive performance, positively influencing market confidence. The NSE IPO attracted strong interest from institutional investors, showcasing optimism. Yet, a decline in NSE's grey market premium suggests tempered expectations for its launch.

Iraq has ordered the suspension of Iranian flights to Baghdad airport starting Wednesday at midnight. This decision follows US threats of sanctions against airports servicing Iranian airlines. Discussions are ongoing regarding the diversion of Iranian Airways flights to Najaf airport. Iranian flights to Oman have also been canceled, with ongoing consultations about this situation.

Jay Singh Rathore Scam: Jay Singh Rathore is trending after an alleged fake eye-surgery fundraiser for his minor sister reportedly raised Rs 1.5 lakh in donations. The controversy intensified after Shroff Eye Centre flagged allegedly fake medical documents, followed by hours of questions and discussions involving Rathore on an X Space, described by users as 'Chai Pe Charcha'.

Three Nifty500 stocks closed more than 2% above their respective VWAPs on September 22, according to StockEdges technical scan data, indicating that their closing prices remained above the volume-weighted average traded price for the session.

Gold prices fell Rs 1,900 per 10 grams over three sessions on MCX, while silver gained Rs 1,400 in two days. High inflation expectations and rate hike concerns keep precious metals volatile. Analysts suggest buying gold near Rs 1,52,500 and silver near Rs 2,36,000 with strict stop loss targets.

South Korean shares pared early gains on Wednesday as investors turned cautious ahead of the Chuseok holiday break. The KOSPI rose 0.16%, supported by chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix after a US technology rally. However, foreign selling and weakness in automakers and other major stocks limited gains, while the won strengthened.

The pattern is represented by a long white (or green) candlestick with no upper shadow and little or no lower shadow. It reflects strong upward price movement during the session, with the price moving from the opening level toward the session high by the close. The pattern is commonly studied in technical analysis as an indicator of price momentum.

National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) IPO shares will list on BSE tomorrow, September 24, 2026. Ahead of the debut, grey market premium signals a modest 2.4% listing gain over the upper price band of Rs 1,785. The Rs 22,562 crore offer for sale was subscribed 5.71 times overall.

Recent IPOs are turning into a headache for investors, as nearly all are now falling beneath their initial listing highs. For instance, Vibhor Steel Tubes and Mamata Machinery have seen drastic declines from their early performances. While a few stocks maintain values above their original prices, many investors find themselves grappling with losses due to inflated entry costs.

In this episode of ETMarkets Smart Talk, Varun Saboo, Head Equities at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, breaks down the hidden cost of frequent trading, explains why the impact differs sharply between long-term investors and active traders, and shares what investors should keep in mind when evaluating returns after transaction costs.

Shares of Voltas received mixed brokerages calls after the companys analyst meet. Nuvama upgraded the stock to Hold but cut its target to Rs 1,220, while Jefferies retained Buy and lowered its target to Rs 1,495. Margin pressures, rising costs and market-share gains remain key factors for investors.

Five Adani Group companies have settled Sebi proceedings over alleged disclosure and corporate governance violations, paying a combined Rs 1.51 crore. The proceedings relate to findings arising from Sebis examination of issues highlighted in the Hindenburg Report.

Varmora Granitos Rs 708-crore IPO was 11% subscribed on Day 1, with the retail portion at 20%. The issues grey market premium has cooled to 2% from 6%, indicating a modest listing premium. The IPO closes on September 24, with allotment expected on September 25 and listing on NSE and BSE on September 29.

While the recent rise in yields may make short-tenor bonds more attractive, the long end remains vulnerable to global rate pressures and domestic fiscal risks. Apoorva Javadekar, Chief Economist at Shriram Group, believes the 2-year segment offers a relatively attractive entry point, while investors should remain cautious on long-duration bonds.

Lady Shri Ram College for Women suspended physical classes and shifted to online teaching after a recent gangrape incident. The college administration prioritized student safety and ensured counselling services are available for affected students. Concerns about safety have led some students to consider returning home temporarily. An online meeting was held by the Students' Union to discuss security measures and collective concerns.