Business / The Economic Times
Bitcoin traded steady between $101,000 and $102,000 on Friday amid a hawkish U.S. Fed stance and weak global cues. Ethereum slipped below $3,400, while altcoins saw mixed movement. Analysts said whale accumulation and ETF inflows could trigger a rebound if Bitcoin breaks above $102,500.
Divi's Laboratories reported a robust financial performance for the second quarter of FY26, with consolidated net profit soaring by 35% year-on-year to Rs 689 crore. The pharmaceutical major also witnessed a significant 16% increase in consolidated revenue from operations, reaching Rs 2,715 crore for the period.
Smartworks Coworking Spaces Ltd has significantly reduced its net loss to Rs 3.13 crore in the second quarter. This improvement comes despite increased expenses. The company's total income saw a healthy rise of 22 percent compared to the same period last year. Smartworks manages large office campuses across India and Singapore, sub-leasing them to various companies.
Citi reiterates BUY rating on Vodafone Idea with a target price of Rs 14, suggesting a 51% upside. The Supreme Court's order enables reassessment of Vodafone Ideas AGR dues, providing potential government relief.
Vietnam's richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong, has launched VinSpace Joint Stock Company to produce planes and spacecraft, expanding Vingroup's diverse portfolio. This new venture, with initial capital of $11.4 million, aims to complement existing Vingroup businesses and explore future growth in aerospace and related fields.
Japanese government bond yields saw an uptick, particularly for longer-term debt, following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's appointments of fiscal stimulus advocates to key economic roles. This shift has reignited concerns about government spending, impacting yields across various maturities. Market sentiment remains cautious, with fiscal developments and overseas interest rates now the primary drivers for JGBs.
Japan's Ministry of Finance is exploring mid-year reviews for government bond issuance. This move aims to boost market stability. Currently, plans are set annually. A recent cut in super-long bond sales eased market oversupply concerns. The proposed change would allow adjustments based on market conditions. This marks a significant shift in Japan's bond issuance framework.
Lupin shares rose on Friday after the pharma major reported a robust 73% YoY surge in Q2 FY26 PAT to Rs 1,485 crore, driven by strong sales growth, margin expansion, and operational efficiency. Revenue jumped 24% YoY to Rs 6,831 crore, while EBITDA soared 76%.
SEBI Chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey said the regulator has flagged over 1 lakh misleading social media posts, warning that unregulated influencers pose a direct threat to investors. Speaking at the CNBC-TV18 Summit, he outlined reforms to enhance transparency, governance, and capital market inclusivity.
Studds Accessories shares dropped 2% on debut amid weak market sentiment. Despite a 73x IPO subscription, strong demand and industry leadership underpin growth prospects and reasonable valuation.
LIC stock edged higher after the insurer reported stronger-than-expected margins of 17.6% in 1H FY26, prompting JM Financial to reiterate its Buy rating with a Rs 1,111 target. Analysts expect margin resilience, product diversification, and potential GST tailwinds to drive a stronger second half.
MCX shares rose on Friday after the exchange reported a 29% YoY surge in Q2FY26 PAT to Rs 197.47 crore, driven by strong revenue growth, higher bullion trading activity, and new product launches. Average daily turnover jumped 87% YoY, led by increased participation in gold and silver contracts.
India's central bank chief, the RBI governor, believes easing rules on banks funding company takeovers is a smart move. This change should really help the actual economy by making it simpler for businesses to get money for buying other companies or growing. Ultimately, this is expected to get the economy humming and drive growth nationwide.
Piramal Finance made its market debut on November 7 at 1,270 per share on the BSE, a 13% premium to the discovered price of 1,124.20. The stock further rose 3% to 1,309 intraday. The listing came via a merger with Piramal Enterprises Ltd (PEL) and was not preceded by an IPO.
Despite a mixed year for the SME market, ten IPOs delivered exceptional returns, with some tripling investor wealth. Companies like Zelio E-Mobility and TechD Cybersecurity saw significant gains, driven by strong sectoral tailwinds and healthy growth. These outperformers highlight opportunities within specialized sectors like EVs, cybersecurity, and healthcare.
Nomura has raised its target price for Tatas Titan Company to Rs 4,500, citing strong demand and festive-season jewellery sales. The stock has gained 15% this year. Titan reported 22% revenue growth in Q2 FY26, with jewellery sales up 18.8%. Margins remain steady despite gold price pressure, though risks exist from high gold prices and competition. Nomura forecasts strong earnings growth at a 24% CAGR through FY28.
Thangamayil Jewellery has surged over 53% in five days, becoming 2025's top-performing jewellery stock. Stellar September-quarter results and a record October, with revenue crossing Rs 1,000 crore, fueled this rally. Analysts see strong technical momentum but advise caution, suggesting dips for entry points around Rs 2,800 and Rs 2,570.
Ola Electric shares slipped over 4% after reporting a mixed Q2 FY26 performance. While losses narrowed, revenue fell 43% YoY. The company achieved Auto EBITDA profitability and cut operating costs sharply.
Indian stock markets, the Sensex and Nifty, saw a significant drop on Friday. This marks the third consecutive day of losses. Investors are booking profits after a strong rally in October. Foreign investor outflows and a cautious global mood are also impacting the market. Despite positive corporate earnings, the benchmarks are headed for a weekly decline.
Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah plans to raise 3,100 crore to open 200 new offline centres, boost branding, and strengthen tech infrastructure. Co-founders Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari said the expansion marks a hybrid growth phase, blending online scale with tech-enabled classrooms. The company remains cash-positive, generating 500 crore operational cash in FY25, and expects profitability soon.
Investors seeking income can look at top stocks offering high dividend yields. Premco Global leads with a 10% yield for FY25. Vedanta follows with 8.8%. Other companies like Jagran Prakashan, MSTC, and PTC India also present attractive yields. These companies have a history of consistent dividend payouts.
Mumbai experienced a thick layer of smog on Friday morning with air quality in several areas remaining poor due to slow winter winds. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality dipped to the 'very poor' category, with many monitoring stations recording high AQI levels. Truck-mounted water sprinklers were deployed in the capital to combat the pollution.
Indian government bonds saw little change today. Traders are cautious before a large debt sale. The outcome of this auction will guide the market. Investors are also watching for Reserve Bank of India actions. Strong buying in the secondary market has supported bond prices. Increased liquidity in the banking system is also a factor.
Financial planner Shweta Jain, Founder of Investography, reviewed investor portfolios on ET Now, cautioning against smallcap-heavy, high-risk allocations. She advised adding largecap or passive funds for stability, increasing SIPs for long-term wealth creation, and avoiding NFOs driven by low NAV hype. Her key message: invest strategically, diversify, and align portfolios with personal financial goals.
Studds Accessories share price: Studds Accessories, India's largest helmet manufacturer, experienced a weak market debut, listing below its IPO price despite strong investor demand. The company, which raised Rs 455 crore through an OFS, saw its shares open lower on both NSE and BSE. Despite a blockbuster IPO subscribed 73.3 times, the stock's initial performance suggests near-term challenges.
The Indian rupee faced depreciation against the US dollar on Friday, with foreign investors exiting the Indian capital markets. The domestic stock exchange experienced significant sell-offs. Concurrently, crude oil prices were on the rise in global markets. Notably, October saw a deceleration in growth within India's services sector, leading to the rupee's final settlement at 88.66 against the dollar.
Gold and silver opened with small gains on MCX, trading near key resistance levels amid high volatility and profit-taking. Analysts expect the metals to remain range-bound, supported by safe-haven demand and geopolitical tensions. A breakout above Rs 1,21,750 for gold and Rs 1,50,000 for silver could trigger a fresh rally, experts said.
Global AI stocks are showing early signs of a slowdown, with major tech companies experiencing sell-offs. This caution is now impacting Indian companies linked to the digital and data ecosystem, leading to volatility. Analysts suggest this is a valuation reset rather than a structural issue, with long-term AI potential still intact but requiring patience.
The CBDT has maintained the 1% and 3% tolerance ranges for transfer pricing for assessment year 2025-26, offering taxpayers greater certainty. These ranges apply to wholesale trading and other transactions, respectively, with specific conditions for trading activities. This move aims to ensure related-party transactions reflect market prices and prevent profit manipulation by multinational companies.
Growws IPO saw 1.64x subscription by Day 2, driven by strong retail demand. GMP slipped to 11% as analysts maintained bullish views citing strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential.
Amber Enterprises shares slumped up to 13% after the company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 32 crore in Q2FY26, compared to a profit last year, with revenue slipping 2% and EBITDA down 19%. Higher financing costs, elevated inventories and JV losses weighed on performance. Despite challenges, H1 revenue grew 25%. The stock was trading 12% lower at Rs 6,900.
TVS Motor Company is selling its stake in Rapido for Rs 287.93 crore. This marks a strategic exit from the bike-taxi aggregator. The deal involves selling shares to Accel India VIII and MIH Investments One BV. TVS Motor had partnered with Rapido in 2022. This divestment occurs as Rapido's shareholder mix changes.
Cummins India's shares are poised for action after the company reported a strong September quarter with profit after tax up 42% year-on-year to Rs 638 crore. Driven by broad-based growth in domestic and export markets, total sales surged 28% YoY to Rs 3,122 crore. The company remains cautiously optimistic despite global uncertainties.
Apollo Hospitals shares: The company posted a 26% YoY rise in Q2FY26 profit to 477 crore, led by robust growth across its hospital, diagnostics, and digital health verticals. Revenue grew 13% to 6,304 crore, driven by higher patient volumes and improved margins.
Indian stock markets opened lower on Friday. Both Sensex and Nifty are continuing their decline for the third day. Investors are booking profits. Foreign investors are also selling shares. This caution is overshadowing positive corporate earnings and trade talks. The Sensex and Nifty are set to end the week with small losses.
Bajaj Housing Finance will be in focus after reporting an 18% YoY rise in Q2 net profit to Rs 643 crore, with revenue up 14% to Rs 2,755 crore. Sequentially, PAT grew 10%. Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating and set a target price of Rs 1,150, adding to the stocks positive sentiment.
Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals reported a 41% YoY drop in Q2 FY25 net profit to Rs 75 crore, though revenue rose 1% to Rs 1,916 crore. Margins weakened due to commodity inflation and higher costs, but subsidiary Butterfly Gandhimathi posted double-digit growth. The company entered the solar rooftop segment with Rs 500 crore in new orders. Brokerages remain dividedMorgan Stanley retained Equalweight with a Rs 310 target, while Goldman Sachs maintained Buy with a trimmed Rs 330 target, citi
Infosys shares are under scrutiny as the record date for its Rs 18,000 crore share buyback approaches on November 14. This marks the company's largest buyback ever, despite recent stock underperformance. The IT giant reported strong Q2 FY26 results with a 13% net profit increase and revised revenue guidance upwards.
Life Insurance Corporation of India shares saw a significant jump. The company reported a strong 31 percent rise in its net profit for the July-September quarter. Global brokerage Citi has given a 'Buy' rating. They see a potential 50 percent upside for the stock. This positive outlook is driven by LIC's performance and business strategy.
Lenskart's IPO grey market premium has dropped 70% from its peak, signaling investor caution despite strong subscription numbers. Analysts point to valuation concerns, suggesting muted listing gains, though the company's robust business model and growth potential in India's eyewear market are acknowledged as long-term positives.
A significant uptick in futures open interest indicates substantial growth in the number of active, unexpired futures contracts in a specific security.
Bharti Airtel shares saw a dip following a large block deal. Singapore Telecommunications, or Singtel, is believed to be the seller. This move is part of Singtel's plan to optimize its investments. Despite this, Bharti Airtel reported strong financial results. Analysts remain optimistic about the company's future growth prospects.
It is an uptrend signal if the RSI value has crossed above 50 from below. RSI Trending Up means that the Relative Strength Index (RSI) values are increasing, suggesting strengthening momentum in the stock's price.
Trading below the 200 DMA is considered a negative signal because it indicates that the stock's price is below its long-term trend line.
Pine Labs IPO: In its IPO report, SBI Securities gave Pine Labs a Subscribe for long-term recommendation, highlighting the companys strong growth prospects, improving profitability, and large market opportunity. The brokerage said the fintech firm is well placed to tap into the Rs 276 trillion digital payments market projected by FY29.
Investors have a final chance today to buy Power Grid Corporation of India shares for a Rs 4.50 interim dividend. The stock will trade ex-dividend from November 10. This dividend is for the financial year 2025-26. Eligible shareholders will receive the payout on December 1. Other companies also have ex-dividend dates soon.

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