The Economic Times

Markets are expected to trade range-bound with stock-specific action driven by domestic demand and policy. Analysts recommend focusing on domestic-facing sectors like PSU banks, autos, healthcare, metals, and capital goods due to stronger demand visibility amid global volatility. The RSI indicates weakening momentum, suggesting a potentially weak near-term sentiment.

Markets traded with volatility on Thursday, ending almost unchanged amid mixed cues. Vishal Mega Mart promoter entity plans to sell a 6.5% stake at a discount. Bharti Airtel's entry into the NBFC space is seen as a strategic growth driver, while Bandhan Bank received RBI approval for SBI Mutual Fund's stake acquisition.

Asian stocks saw a slight dip from their peak levels. This followed a downturn in Wall Street markets. Investor sentiment was impacted by a subdued response to Nvidia's earnings report. Despite this, Asian equities continue to outperform global benchmarks this year. Investors are focusing on companies involved in the artificial intelligence supply chain.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has mandated that all market intermediaries must prominently display their registered name and registration number on social media platforms when sharing securities market-related content. This new rule, effective May 1, aims to help investors easily identify content from regulated entities and their agents, thereby simplifying investments.

The National Stock Exchange has invited 15 investment bankers to pitch for managing its upcoming IPO, with JPMorgan Chase and Kotak Mahindra Capital among those in contention. The exchange is expected to file its draft red herring prospectus in April, with existing shareholders likely to offload 4-4.5% of equity. This move follows SEBI's no-objection certificate, ending a decade-long regulatory hurdle.

HDFC Bank has enhanced locker security with mandatory biometric authentication linked to Aadhaar. A bank representative will now monitor locker room exits. Annual locker fees have also seen a significant increase. These changes align with RBI guidelines for improved security and transparency. The bank aims for a paperless and efficient locker access system.

Capillary Technologies India's stock has fallen 35% from its peak due to AI threats and a muted December quarter. The company, which offers a SaaS platform for customer engagement, faces potential revenue and profit contraction. Despite management's optimism about AI's role in analytics and campaign management, investors are concerned about its impact on the business model.

Motilal Oswal Alternates has achieved the first close of its maiden private credit fund, India Credit Excellence Fund-I, at 1,700 crore. The fund aims for a 3,000 crore corpus and will provide secured lending and customized solutions to profitable, growing mid-market businesses. This strategic move leverages the firm's existing capabilities to tap into a rapidly expanding private credit market.

Retail investors largely ignored the government's offer for sale in IRFC, with only a fraction of the reserved shares being bid for on the final day. Institutional investors had previously subscribed to nearly 95% of their allocated shares. Due to undersubscription, the government opted not to exercise the green-shoe option.

Domestic institutional investors' stock purchases in February dropped to their lowest since April 2025, with inflows cut by over half compared to the last six months. This decline is attributed to lackluster market returns over 18 months and a shift in investor interest towards outperforming precious metals like gold and silver.

Titan MD Ajoy Chawla attributes bolstered consumer demand to the online betting ban, GST rationalization, income tax slab relaxation, and increased infrastructure investment. He noted that while gold buying volumes in terms of customers remain flat, grammage has seen a decline, mirroring industry trends.

National Asset Reconstruction Company of India (NARCL) plans to bid approximately 900 crore for Videocon Oil Ventures' (VOVL) stressed debt, which has admitted claims of 30,640 crore. After months of negotiations and addressing complexities, the bad bank has formalized its offer, potentially leading to a Swiss Challenge process.

Indian banks are bracing for higher funding costs on certificates of deposit and large-ticket deposits, as robust year-end credit demand collides with a liquidity squeeze. With the credit-to-deposit ratio at a record high, lenders see borrowing rates staying elevated at least until March, complicating efforts to sustain strong loan growth while protecting margins.

Vishal Mega Mart's promoter, Samayat Services LLP, is set to sell a 6.5% stake through a block deal at Rs 115 per share, a 10% discount to the current market price. This move comes as the company reported a 19% rise in net profit for the December quarter.

Sebi warns investors about fake notices demanding Securities Transaction Tax payments. Fraudsters are using forged Sebi letterheads to deceive people. The market regulator clarifies it does not issue such notices. Investors are urged to verify all communications. Sebi also cautions against unregistered individuals promising risk-free profits and handling trading accounts. Investors should check Sebi registration before investing.

Walmart will pay $100 million to settle FTC charges that it misled customers and drivers regarding earnings in its Spark Driver program. The company falsely claimed all tips went to drivers and inflated base pay and tip amounts. This settlement also prohibits Walmart from misrepresenting future delivery offers.

Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex ended largely unchanged as financial stocks, led by HDFC Bank, offset gains in auto and FMCG shares. Analysts flagged weak momentum, bearish technical signals and key support near 25,400, indicating choppy trade and possible near-term downside.

Home First Finance shares fell nearly 6% after promoters Aether and True North sold Rs 660 crore stake via bulk deals to Societe Generale and PICTET. Despite the decline, the stock has outperformed benchmarks over one year and posted strong quarterly profit growth.

The Nifty ended flat as financial stocks dragged despite gains in auto and consumer sectors. Technical indicators signal continued weakness, with resistance at 25,55025,600 and downside risk toward 25,300. Analysts recommend buying Data Patterns and Finolex Cables on bullish breakouts.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were muted at the open on Thursday, as Nvidia's stellar earnings garnered a tepid reception, while broader technology stocks lost ground as investors assessed risks to the AI trade.

The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits increased marginally last week and the unemployment rate appeared to hold steady in February amid a stable labor market.

NSE's managing director and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan on Thursday made a case for 'minimum qualifying criteria' for those participating in derivatives trading to prevent people from lower strata of society from wasting their money on speculation.

Sebi has directed all regulated entities and their agents to display registered names and registration numbers on social media platforms. The move aims to enhance transparency, curb misleading content and help investors distinguish between regulated intermediaries and unregistered market participants online.

Working groups constituted by Sebi to review the delivery and settlement framework and existing regulatory norms in the agricultural commodity derivatives segment have submitted their reports to Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the regulator said on Thursday.

U.S. stock index futures were flat on Thursday as Nvidia's stellar earnings garnered a tepid reception from investors and downbeat results from software company Salesforce weighed on sentiment.

Indias 8th Trade Policy Review at the World Trade Organization is scheduled for July 2026, marking a comprehensive peer review of the countrys trade policies. Ahead of the review, an Indian delegation led by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Member (Customs) Surjit Bhujabal highlighted Indias digital customs reforms and implementation of the WTOs Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Indian refiners are scaling back purchases of Russian crude as a US Supreme Court decision throws a key trade agreement into doubt. The proposed deal would have cut tariffs for India if it agreed to curb Russian oil imports.

Revenue department to roll out 30-day customs duty deferral for eligible manufacturer-importers from next month to boost liquidity and manufacturing activity.

India and the European Union will hold technical discussions on the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The mechanism will not have exceptions for any country, including India. This comes despite a new Free Trade Agreement between the two sides. India's carbon-intensive exports may face additional costs.

America has imposed new sanctions on Iran. These target individuals and companies involved in Iran's missile and drone programs. The move comes as the US presses Iran for a deal before nuclear talks. The sanctions aim to curb Iran's weapons capabilities and support for terrorism. This action signals continued pressure on Tehran regarding its nuclear ambitions.

The finance ministry, in a statement, said that Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary will preside over the International Customs Day 2026 along with Arvind Shrivastava, Secretary, Department of Revenue; Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman, CBIC; and other officials.

While urging the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to reclaim spectrum held by telecom companies undergoing insolvency, Trai proposed halving the networth criteria for new entrants from Rs 100 crore to Rs 50 crore per licensed service area (and from Rs 50 crore to Rs 25 crore for Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast) to encourage more participation.

Nidhi Chhibber has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog. She holds the additional charge following the completion of BVR Subrahmanyam's three-year term. Chhibber is also the Director General of the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office. This transition marks a new phase for the NITI Aayog leadership.

India's asset monetisation initiative, NMP 2.0, is set to boost the economy significantly. The plan aims to unlock value from public assets, generating substantial investment. This initiative is projected to increase India's GDP by around Rs 40 lakh crore over the next decade. It will drive infrastructure development and encourage private sector participation, strengthening the nation's economic growth prospects.

India has quietly raised the cost of exporting -- halving RoDTEP rebates that refund embedded taxes -- at a time when global demand is weak and competition is tightening, squeezing margins and testing exporters pricing power.

US President Trump enacted a new 10% global tariff, a day after the Supreme Court struck down his previous duties. This move, authorized under the 1974 Trade Act, aims to maintain his trade policy despite growing uncertainty among major trading partners like India and the EU, who have paused trade talks.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has allocated an initial 50 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to Tamil Nadu. This proactive security measure is in preparation for the 2026 state assembly elections, with the CAPF expected to be inducted on March 10, 2026, for area domination and confidence-building.

India is actively pursuing stronger economic ties with Canada and the United Kingdom. Discussions are underway for comprehensive economic partnership agreements. These agreements aim to significantly boost bilateral trade and investment. Regular engagements are planned to build sustained momentum in these crucial partnerships. New avenues for collaboration are expected to unfold, benefiting both nations.

The US administration is preparing new national security investigations that could allow President Donald Trump to impose fresh tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down his country-specific emergency levies last week.

The Reserve Bank of India is closely monitoring a 590 crore fraud case linked to IDFC First Bank, with Governor Sanjay Malhotra stressing that it does not pose a systemic risk to the banking sector. The RBI is preparing updated projections for retail inflation and is actively managing liquidity in the financial system.

Bharti Airtel is injecting 20,000 crore into its new NBFC, Airtel Money, to fuel its next growth phase. This move aims to expand financial services across India by leveraging Airtel's digital assets and data expertise. The company plans to offer digital lending and credit solutions, building on its existing successful credit engine.

Kazakhstan, a major uranium producer, will supply a significant amount of uranium to India. This new contract will fuel India's nuclear power plants. The agreement follows recent discussions between Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom and India's Department of Atomic Energy. India and Kazakhstan have a history of uranium supply deals. This development strengthens energy cooperation between the two nations.

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) plans to set up special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to issue insurance-linked securities like catastrophe bonds, aiming to diversify insurance risk beyond traditional reinsurance. Chairman K. Rajaraman said private equity and other investors could participate in risk-sharing, making the insurance industry more stable and sustainable. The IFSCA will soon approach the government to operationalize these SPV structures.

Commercial sector credit surged 14.7% year-on-year to over Rs 300 lakh crore by end-January, indicating increased loan demand following RBI's 125-basis-point rate cuts. Banks have regained market share, with incremental credit growth rising 35% in the first 10 months of the fiscal year, driven by rate cuts and liquidity infusions.

In Haryana, a suspected Rs 590 crore fraud related to deposits at IDFC First Bank is under official scrutiny. Acting on Chief Minister Nayab Singh Sainis orders, both the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Vigilance Department are examining how the funds were handled.

AU Small Finance Bank has initiated a review of its operations after being delisted from the Haryana governments panel over alleged irregularities. The bank maintains that no financial loss or fraud has been detected and has temporarily relieved certain employees of duty while an internal probe is conducted.

The government has ordered a study to assess whether rapid formalisation and digitisation are generating durable income and jobs for informal workers. Led by EPFO, the review will guide corrective policies to ensure inclusive growth, as over 90% of Indias workforce remains informal despite rising payroll additions and digital adoption.

Government deposits in private banks face scrutiny after a suspected fraud at IDFC First Bank. This could lead to funds moving to state-run banks like SBI and PNB. IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank have been de-empanelled by the Haryana government. This situation may impact low-cost deposit accounts. Other private banks could also see some deposit shifts.

IDFC FIRST Bank will get Rs 35 crore from its employee dishonesty insurance. This follows a Rs 590 crore fraud at its Chandigarh branch. The bank's management confirmed this to investors. The fraud impacted the bank's stock, causing a significant drop. The bank has suspended officials and launched a forensic probe.