The Economic Times News

Jefferies sees Reliance Industries and ONGC as key Indian beneficiaries of a potential US-led restructuring of Venezuelas oil sector. While Venezuela holds vast reserves, its low current output limits any near-term impact on crude prices. Over the medium term, higher investment and production could reshape supply dynamics, with implications for margins, cash flows and valuations.

Bajaj Housing Finance's shares are poised for attention following a robust Q3 FY26 business update. The company reported significant year-on-year growth in disbursements, assets under management, and loan assets. This positive performance follows a strong Q2 FY26, with increased net profit and revenue.

HDFC Bank's Q3 FY26 business update revealed robust growth, with advances climbing nearly 10% year-on-year to Rs 29.46 lakh crore. Deposits also saw a healthy 11.5% increase, reaching Rs 28.60 lakh crore. This strong performance, particularly in term deposits, signals sustained lending momentum and deposit mobilization for India's largest private lender.

On January 2, six stocks from the Nifty500 universe showed improving momentum as their RSI levels crossed above 50. This shift reflects strengthening price action and rising bullish interest, offering traders early signals of potential upside as momentum builds across select stocks.

On January 2, six stocks from the Nifty 200 universe that rose over 5% appeared on the bullish White Marubozu scanner. The pattern indicates strong intraday buying interest, with prices moving from session lows to highs, signalling firm buyer control and raising the likelihood of continued upward momentum.

The Indian rupee faces continued pressure, potentially crossing 90 and increasing dollar demand from importers. Government bonds may decline due to higher-than-expected state debt supply. Traders are watching the Reserve Bank of India's intervention strategy amidst concerns about its forward dollar positions.

Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) is set to launch its maiden IPO in 2026, offering up to 46.57 crore equity shares via an offer-for-sale by Coal India. The IPO, priced between Rs 21 and Rs 23, aims to raise Rs 1,071 crore and will list on BSE and NSE.

23 stocks from the Nifty 500 universe closed above their 200-day moving average (DMA). From this group, we have highlighted the top 12 stocks that gained over 2.5%, according to stockedge.com's technical scan data.

Avenue Supermarts' shares are set for attention on Monday, January 5. The company reported a 13% year-on-year revenue jump for the quarter ending December 31, 2025. Revenue reached Rs 17,613 crore. This update follows previous positive performance. DMart's store count reached 442. The company's stock closed flat on Friday.

Gold prices jumped over 1% on Monday. Other precious metals also saw significant gains. This surge followed the United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. The incident has heightened geopolitical tensions. This has increased demand for safe-haven assets like gold. Investors are closely watching the developing situation in Venezuela.

The dollar strengthened against the euro and pound early in the new year, reaching a 3.5-week high versus the euro. Geopolitical tensions from a U.S. raid in Venezuela add a layer of risk. Key U.S. economic data this week, including non-farm payrolls, will heavily influence Federal Reserve policy and investor sentiment regarding potential interest rate cuts.

Oil prices saw a slight increase as investors assessed potential disruptions to Venezuelan shipments following U.S. President Trump's actions against President Maduro. Despite the political upheaval, initial reports indicate no damage to Venezuela's oil production. Analysts suggest that in a well-supplied market, further export disruptions would have minimal immediate price impact.

Asian equities surged to a record high, driven by technology shares, while oil prices fluctuated and precious metals climbed. The ousting of Venezuela's president introduced a geopolitical flashpoint, but markets largely digested the news, with traders refocusing on rate paths and liquidity conditions.

US President Donald Trump said Washington could raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not address US concerns over Indias purchases of Russian oil. India became the largest buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude after the Ukraine war began in 2022, drawing criticism from Western nations that say the trade supports Moscows war effort.

Emerging-market bonds are poised for support in 2026, driven by increasing local investor ownership. These domestic holders, less exposed to currency risk, are proving more resilient. This shift, with China, Mexico, and Indonesia leading, signifies maturing financial markets and a more stable outlook for the asset class.

Benchmark indices reached new all-time highs as 2026 trading commenced, fueling stock-specific action. Traders carried forward bullish bets and reduced bearish positions in select stock futures for the January series. Several stocks, including UNO Minda, Tata Power, and Varun Beverages, are showing strong momentum and are poised for significant movement.

Indian markets surged to new record highs, marking a strong start to the New Year. Nifty decisively crossed the 26,200 mark. Several companies like DMart, Bajaj Finance, and Marico are in focus due to Q3 updates. DMart reported a 13% revenue jump, while Bajaj Finance saw a 15% increase in new loans booked.

Indian stock markets started the New Year strongly, breaking a five-week consolidation. The upcoming week promises significant economic data releases both in India and globally. Investors will closely watch India's Services PMI, Composite PMI, and GDP growth figures. The earnings season is also set to begin, adding to market activity.

Banks are likely to see lower provisioning for bad loans in the December quarter. This follows a significant drop in the previous quarter. Improved loan collection and fewer new bad loans are driving this trend. Stress in unsecured loans is also expected to ease. This should boost banks' profitability. Analysts anticipate better bank performance from the December quarter onwards.

The Nifty has broken out of a five-week consolidation, signaling a resumption of its uptrend and is expected to rally towards 26,800 in January. Analysts suggest buying on dips as long as the index holds above key support levels, with positive momentum indicators supporting the bullish outlook.

OPEC+ has decided to keep oil production steady. This decision comes despite political friction between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the US apprehending Venezuela's president. Oil prices have seen a significant drop. The group, which produces half of the world's oil, will increase output targets from April to December 2025.

Emerging markets veteran Mark Mobius, with 30% of his portfolio in India, believes the country will outperform China in 2026 due to economic reforms and a sourcing shift. He advises caution and capital preservation, holding 20% cash and using put options for downside protection amidst global uncertainty.

Customised credit cards, loan products and women-focused insurance plans may be key announcements as the government is looking to build on the measures unveiled in the FY26 budget, including the Grameen Credit Score and credit support for first-time entrepreneurs.

Tata Sons is actively seeking new leadership for its airline business, with chairman N Chandrasekaran reportedly in talks with international aviation executives. These discussions are occurring as current Air India CEO Campbell Wilson's term nears its end in June 2027, and similar changes are anticipated for Air India Express.

Global tensions may weaken the Indian rupee this week. Experts predict volatility due to US actions in Venezuela. The rupee has already declined. The Reserve Bank of India's upcoming swap operation on January 13 will be crucial. Foreign investor outflows and trade deficits also impact the currency's performance.

International Finance Corp., the World Bank Group's private-sector arm, has committed Rs 220 crore as anchor investor, while the remaining capital is coming from institutional investors, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Indian banks show improved asset quality with declining bad loans. Special Mention Accounts and Gross Non-Performing Assets have fallen significantly. Stress in MSME and unsecured loans has also eased. While overall credit costs are stable, certain segments like micro-LAP and commercial vehicles require monitoring. Lenders report better collection efficiencies, indicating a positive trend in the banking sector.

Indian insurers settled a record number of health claims in FY25. Settlement ratios improved significantly, with fewer claims rejected. Average payouts per claim decreased due to wider policy coverage. Cashless treatments continued to dominate claim payments. Regulators pushed for faster, more transparent settlements, leading to improved processing times and tighter oversight.

India is integrating sports and fitness into its skill training programs, aiming to enhance trainees' physical resilience and provide a potential second income. This initiative, inspired by Prime Minister Modi's vision, will include mandatory yoga and self-defense training at skill institutes, with certification opportunities. The government also plans to develop sports infrastructure on campus, tailored to regional strengths.

India may exempt Sovereign Wealth Funds and patient capital from taxes on Indian stock market earnings. This proposal aims to attract stable foreign investment following significant sell-offs by foreign fund managers. The government is examining extending these benefits to other long-term investors like pension funds. Such a move could boost capital inflows into the Indian equity market.

India's traditional medicine system, AYUSH, has achieved formal recognition in bilateral trade agreements with Oman and New Zealand. These agreements, finalized last December, include dedicated sections for health services and traditional medicine. AYUSH and herbal product exports saw a growth of 6.11 percent, reaching USD 688.89 million in 2024-25 from USD 649.2 million in 2023-24.

Procurement of Shri Anna, which commenced on October 1, has now been successfully completed. This year, a total of 2.13 lakh metric tonnes of millet, 43,562 metric tonnes of sorghum, and 12,208 metric tonnes of maize were procured across the state. Millet procurement was carried out in 33 districts, maize in 25 districts, and sorghum in 11 districts.

India has become the world's largest rice producer, surpassing China. The nation achieved this milestone with a total output of 150.18 million tonnes. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released 184 new high-yielding seed varieties for 25 crops. These advancements aim to boost crop production and increase farmer income, ensuring India's food security and global food supply.