The Economic Times

India Inc.'s third-quarter earnings show a steady performance with easing operating pressures, suggesting improving earnings visibility. While domestic consumption remains a preferred theme, caution persists regarding AI cycle uncertainty and valuation dispersion. Infrastructure and IT sectors await clearer order flows and disruption timelines.

Indias brokers lobby has urged the Reserve Bank of India to defer its newly issued lending norms for six months, citing operational challenges.

Shares of Tata Investment Corporation rose sharply after Tata Sons was reported to be preparing an EGM to clear N. Chandrasekarans third-term reappointment. With Tata Sons holding a majority stake, the move has heightened investor interest amid wider group-level developments and shifting market conditions.

Foreign institutional investors are rapidly exiting Indian IT stocks, pulling out nearly Rs 11,000 crore in early February and over Rs 74,000 crore so far in 2025, amid fears that advanced AI tools from firms like Anthropic and Palantir Technologies could disrupt traditional software services models.

Foreign investors more than doubled their purchases of US equities in 2025, defying market volatility triggered by President Donald Trumps tariffs. Net buying surged 134% to $720.1 billion from $307.5 billion in 2024, according to US Treasury Department data. The strong inflows highlight sustained global appetite for American stocks despite trade tensions and uncertain corporate outlooks.

U.S. single-family homebuilding saw a rebound in December, with starts increasing. However, a decline in future construction permits signals underlying weakness. Higher mortgage rates, material costs, and builder sentiment deterioration are constraining the housing market, despite government efforts to improve affordability.

Japan's 20-year bond yield remained stable following a moderately firm auction, showing little reaction to a previous tax-cut pledge that had sent yields soaring. Foreign investors are reportedly leading demand, attracted by higher yields on hedged bonds. Market concerns over political instability have eased after a significant election win, with reduced issuance also supporting investor appetite for super-long JGBs.

Several Indian largecap companies showed strong financial results in the December quarter. Trent and Vedanta were among ten firms that achieved substantial profit growth, with some seeing increases up to 125 percent year-on-year. Other companies like Muthoot Finance, Siemens Energy, and TVS Motor also reported healthy profit jumps.

Banks are witnessing a surge in customer interest for green products and lending, particularly driven by younger demographics' environmental consciousness. IDFC First Bank reports significant adoption of green deposits and profitable electric vehicle financing, indicating a growing movement towards sustainable finance.

Ace investor Mukul Agrawal's 2025-26 IPO investments reveal a bold strategy. Several small and medium enterprise listings delivered massive returns, turning into multibaggers. However, some mainboard and SME stocks experienced significant drops. This portfolio highlights the potential for substantial gains and losses in the IPO market.

Netweb Technologies shares rose sharply on Thursday, extending their rally to Day 3 after unveiling its Make in India Tyrone Camarero GB200 AI Supercomputer and the compact Tyrone Camarero Spark. Built with NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs and Grace CPUs, these systems target advanced AI workloads, on-premises model training, and high-performance computing in India.

Ventura Securities' Vinit Bolinjkar anticipates the Nifty reaching 27,000, citing positive trade deals and strong quarterly earnings. He highlights robust momentum in the metals sector, particularly Hindustan Zinc and Tata Steel, and remains bullish on Paytm with a target of 1,800-2,000. While cautious on pharma stocks facing regulatory scrutiny, Bolinjkar's outlook remains one of selective optimism.

Indian IT stocks face pressure due to AI fears. Companies like Wipro and TCS have seen significant drops. Investors are now looking at domestic sectors. Financials, capital goods, consumption, and autos show strong potential. Banking sector credit growth is robust. Government spending supports infrastructure. Rural demand is recovering. These sectors offer better earnings visibility amid global uncertainties.

FTSE Russell is considering fast-entry rules for IPOs as the US gears up for a blockbuster listing cycle in 2026. With anticipated debuts from giants like SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic, index providers are revising float and voting-rights criteria to ensure major newcomers are swiftly reflected in benchmark indexes.

Indian IT stocks are experiencing significant declines, sparking fears of an AI-driven Kodak moment. While some analysts warn of direct exposure to AI-induced displacement, others argue the market is oversimplifying the role of IT services. Experts suggest AI could paradoxically unlock massive modernization opportunities, potentially fueling the industry's next growth phase.

UBS has raised its 2026 forecast for US investment-grade tech bond issuance to about $360 billion, citing higher AI-led capex by megacap firms like Meta, Amazon and Alphabet, while trimming its leveraged loan outlook amid concerns that heavy AI spending could disrupt credit markets.

Gold and silver prices traded marginally lower on MCX as investors assessed rising USIran tensions and uncertainty around Federal Reserve rate cuts. While safe-haven demand supported bullion, a stronger dollar capped gains. Experts suggest caution amid elevated volatility and advise profit booking at higher levels.

A senior US lawmaker has criticized President Trump's decision to impose tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Congressman Brad Sherman stated that Trump is seeking excuses for these tariffs. He pointed out that other countries like Hungary and China import more Russian oil without facing similar penalties.

Indian currency and debt markets will be closed on Thursday, February 19, for a local holiday. Trading will resume on Friday, February 20. The Indian rupee closed nearly flat on Wednesday. The benchmark 10-year bond closed lower. Market participants believe further measures to cool bond yields are unlikely.

Bandhan Small Cap Fund, which outperformed 93% of peers last year, is investing in beaten-down Indian internet firms like Paytm and Info Edge. The fund manager sees opportunity in unpopular value stocks with potential for significant gains, even amidst market volatility and regulatory challenges. The portfolio also favors undervalued textile and real estate sectors.

Indian equity benchmarks, Nifty and Sensex, opened higher on Thursday, extending their winning streak for a fourth consecutive session. Gains in IT and metal stocks propelled the frontline indices upwards, with Sensex trading over 100 points higher and Nifty above the 25,850 level.

The US Federal Reserve sought market quotes on the dollar-yen exchange rate last month. This uncommon step, requested by the US Treasury, stirred speculation about potential coordinated action between Washington and Tokyo. The development drew attention in currency markets. The move contributed to a strengthening of the Japanese yen against the dollar.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories is set to attract investor attention after acquiring the India trademarks for specialty brands Progynova and Cyclo-Progynova from Mercury Pharma Group Limited for USD 32.15 million. This domestic acquisition significantly strengthens Dr. Reddy's gynecology portfolio and marks its entry into the Hormone Replacement Therapy segment in India.

Cochin Shipyard secured a significant $360 million contract to build six LNG-powered container vessels for France's CMA CGM Group. This deal boosts its order book to Rs 23,000 crore, enhancing future revenue visibility. The first vessel is slated for delivery by February 2029, with subsequent deliveries at two per year. This marks a key expansion into sustainable shipbuilding.

Indian markets are currently range-bound. A notable shift is occurring from traditional investing to fast-paced, technology-led trading. New-age traders are embracing derivatives and algorithmic strategies. Long-term investors continue to rely on earnings growth and SIPs. FII selling persists, but DII inflows provide support. Sector rotation is evident, with some sectors showing signs of overheating.

Investors can now turn optimistic as the market is poised for above-average gains over the next two to three years. Attractive valuations in small and microcaps, coupled with reviving earnings and pro-growth policies, signal a positive outlook. Gold also deserves a permanent portfolio allocation due to structural global shifts. The market is set for a rally.

Srinivas Rao Ravuri of Bajaj Life Insurance stresses valuation discipline for wealth creation. He advocates Growth at a Reasonable Price, warning against overpaying for future growth. Ravuri highlights that even in a rising market, entry price and margin of safety are vital. He advises on acceptable PE multiples and navigating market euphoria for disciplined investing.

Vallum Capital Advisors' Multi Asset Index Strategy achieved nearly 10% returns in January 2026, outperforming the Nifty50's 3% fall. CEO Manish Bhandari attributes this success to strategic global investments in China and Brazil, a contrarian bet on silver, and timely sector rotations. The approach emphasizes flexible, value-biased allocation across geographies and commodities, moving beyond traditional equity, debt, and gold mixes.

HDFC AMC MD & CEO Navneet Munot advises investors against momentum-driven decisions, emphasizing disciplined, multi-asset investing. He highlights India's structural growth story despite near-term volatility and suggests a balanced approach for long-term wealth creation, advocating for staggered investments through SIPs over market timing.

India's equity markets present a contrarian opportunity as macro stability and bottoming earnings signal a constructive outlook, particularly for largecaps, midcaps, and cyclicals. Fund manager Siddharth Vora highlights multi-decadal underperformance versus global peers as a key indicator for potential outperformance, with his fund strategically overweighting metals, PSU banks, and energy.

Consumer inflation in India is set to climb to 4.3 percent in fiscal 2027. This rise follows an estimated 2.5 percent in fiscal 2026. Food inflation will normalize from current low levels. Changes in the Consumer Price Index basket will limit the overall increase. Non-food inflation and core inflation are expected to help restrain the rise.

Bharat Forge has signed an MoU with VVDN Technologies to explore collaboration across automotive, defence, AI and data centre domains. The partnership aims to leverage complementary engineering and manufacturing strengths to develop next-generation products and scalable solutions aligned with emerging technology demands.

Larsen & Toubro has announced a proposed venture with Nvidia under the IndiaAI Mission to build a sovereign, scalable gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure. The initiative combines L&Ts engineering strengths with Nvidias AI stack to support secure, production-grade AI deployment across industries, positioning India as a strategic global AI hub.

MCX and NSE have withdrawn additional margins on gold and silver futures, effective February 19. This move, initially a risk management measure due to volatility, is expected to lower capital requirements and boost liquidity. The exchanges are rolling back curbs after a recent correction in bullion prices.

We have collated a list of recommendations from top brokerage firms from ETNow and other sources.

As long as the stock is priced above the 200-day SMA on the daily timeframe, it is generally considered to be in an overall uptrend.

Marushika Technology is set to debut on the NSE SME platform on February 19, with a modest grey market premium suggesting a slight listing gain. The company, operating in IT and telecom infrastructure, including defence projects, raised Rs 26.97 crore through its IPO. Proceeds will fund working capital and debt repayment.

Gold prices dipped slightly on Thursday, reversing some of Wednesday's gains, as a stronger U.S. dollar and anticipation of key inflation data weighed on the precious metal. Investors are closely watching upcoming economic reports for clues on the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions, with markets currently pricing in rate cuts later this year.

Oil prices saw a slight dip today after a significant rise yesterday. Investors are watching developments between the United States and Iran. Both nations have increased military presence in a key oil region. Talks are ongoing, but progress remains slow. U.S. oil inventories fell last week, contrary to expectations. Official inventory data is expected today.

The dollar strengthened as Federal Reserve minutes revealed policymakers are in no hurry to cut interest rates, with some even open to hikes if inflation persists. This cautious stance boosted U.S. yields and weakened currencies like the euro and yen. Markets now await key economic data releases.

Indian markets saw a strong finish on Wednesday. Technology giants like Nvidia and Amazon led the gains. Investors showed renewed confidence in AI-related stocks. Energy also performed well. This positive sentiment boosted the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average. Economic data indicated solid growth. Federal Reserve minutes revealed a steady approach to interest rates.

Indian equity markets continued their upward trend for a third consecutive session, signaling a gradual recovery. Analysts anticipate sustained market strength with a positive bias, influenced by global market sentiment and domestic sector-specific developments. The Nifty futures on Gift Nifty indicate a positive start to trading.

Indian markets saw modest gains for a third straight session. Key stocks like Cochin Shipyard and Bharat Forge are in focus. Cochin Shipyard secured new orders. Bharat Forge is exploring technology collaborations. Hindustan Unilever plans manufacturing expansion. Dr Reddy's acquired specialty brand trademarks. L&T announced a venture for AI factory infrastructure.

Asian stocks climbed for a second day, mirroring a rebound in US tech shares and strong economic data. Oil prices held onto recent gains, marking their largest increase since October. Investors are reassessing the impact of artificial intelligence on tech companies, with some believing the recent selloff was an overreaction.

LGT Group sees India as a key growth market. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein highlights India's potential to become a very meaningful part of their global business. While regulatory hurdles exist, LGT is optimistic about its expansion. The firm focuses on long-term client relationships and disciplined diversification across global markets.