The Economic Times

Indian equities rebounded on Monday after eight consecutive weekly losses, with Sensex rising 473 points and Nifty gaining 134 points. Softer US jobs data and lower crude prices supported sentiment, though analysts flagged bond yields, currency risks, RBI policy and earnings uncertainty.

Marico has raised its stake in Satiya Nutraceuticals, owner of The Plant FixPlix, to 84.09% after acquiring an additional 24.09% for Rs 1,012.03 crore. The company also reported strong Q2 momentum and expects double-digit revenue growth and mid-twenties operating profit growth.

In a dramatic turn of events, British Airways flight BA295 found itself in an emergency situation as it rapidly descended from 37,000 feet to just 9,000 feet while heading to Chicago. This alarming altitude drop triggered the crew to squawk 7700, indicating a general emergency. The plane circled over the Bristol Channel to safely burn off fuel before landing, all while no injuries were reported and investigations began.

Dennis Hastert's reputation collapsed years after he left Congress when a federal investigation into suspicious bank withdrawals exposed payments intended to conceal sexual abuse dating back to his years as a high school wrestling coach.

The 57th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council has been rescheduled to October 8, starting at 11 am. The meeting's location is the Summit Room, Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi. An Office Memorandum cited unavoidable circumstances for the date change without providing further details. Members of the Council have been notified about this alteration, and an apology has been expressed for any inconvenience caused.

Vedanta will consider its first interim dividend for FY27 at a board meeting on October 8, 2026. The company has set October 14 as the record date. The dividend proposal follows strong Q2 production, including record Zinc India refined metal output.

From a loan growth perspective, state-run banks' advances growth remained in the range of 12.59-29.83 per cent year-on-year in Q2, while private banks' growth ranged from 16.3-40 per cent during the same period.

Zerodha founders Nithin and Nikhil Kamath have acquired a 6.72% stake in Viceroy Hotels through Kamath Associates and Nksquared. The investment comes as the hotel company recovers after insolvency resolution, expands its portfolio and seeks capital through a Rs 105-crore rights issue.

Sebi has launched the Samajh Se Investing Simple campaign under Project Jagrook to simplify investing, promote informed decisions and prevent financial fraud. It also introduced MUST to boost financial literacy among students and announced an official WhatsApp channel for investor awareness.

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, has inaugurated Project Jagrook, which aims to boost investor education and awareness. This initiative addresses the stark difference between market understanding and actual involvement, with only 9.5 percent of the 63 percent of households aware of securities products actively engaged.

Tata Group retailer Trent reported 23% year-on-year growth in standalone revenue to Rs 5,788 crore in Q2FY27, while H1 revenue rose 21% to Rs 11,454 crore. The company crossed 1,000 Zudio stores and operated 1,342 stores across brands by September.

Axis Banks gross advances rose 22.7% year-on-year to Rs 13.846 lakh crore by September 30, 2026, while deposits increased 20.7% to Rs 14.521 lakh crore. CASA deposits grew 10.6%, with FCNR(B) flows significantly influencing deposit and loan growth.

Kotak Mahindra Banks net advances rose 24.7% year-on-year to Rs 5,77,094 crore by September 30, 2026, while total deposits increased 23.2% to Rs 6,51,491 crore. CASA deposits grew 11.3%, according to provisional data disclosed by the lender.

The Sensex fell 49 points to 72,480 on Wednesday as several BSE 100 stocks hit fresh 52-week lows. PB Fintech, Hindustan Unilever, Britannia Industries, Tata Consumer Products, Godrej Consumer Products, Bharat Electronics and Indian Oil were among them.

Indian equity markets rebounded on Monday, with the Nifty and Sensex rising 0.60% and 0.66%, respectively. ITC led the gainers, while HCL Tech and Asian Paints fell sharply. FMCG and consumer durables outperformed, but healthcare and pharma stocks declined as investors assessed global rate and crude oil cues.

Punjab National Bank has launched its 2026 festive retail loan campaign, offering concessions across home, car and other retail loans. Under the scheme, home loan borrowers will get a full waiver of upfront and processing fees along with a 5-basis-point rate concession, while car loans will also carry a full fee waiver.

In a bold statement, Rahul Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of unlawfully changing Form 6 without consensus. The Supreme Court confirmed that these alterations to electoral rolls were not sanctioned. Gandhi emphasized the need for accountability for the CEC and his colleagues. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh further alleged that this modification was aimed at silencing the Gen Z voter demographic.

Non-banking finance companies accounted for nearly half of new-to-credit loans below Rs 2 lakh as of June 2026. Their retail delinquency rate remained lower than the overall industry average, reflecting improved asset quality. Monitoring credit positively impacted borrowers' cure rates compared to those who did not monitor. The customer base for NBFCs grew significantly over the last decade, indicating increasing access to credit.

Jupiter will not disappear in an instant like a star. The planet appears large enough in the sky for the process to take about a minute. When Jupiter comes back into view, its return should take roughly the same amount of time.

Biocon Electric has filed DRHP with Sebi for a Rs 59 lakh-share IPO, comprising a fresh issue and OFS. The company plans to use fresh proceeds primarily for working capital, with shares proposed for BSE and NSE listing.

The ET Alpha Wealth Summit 2.0 is scheduled for October 8, 2026, in Mumbai. This event will gather various investment professionals including high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Some of the discussions will focus on the implications of AI for portfolio management and investment allocation. Expert sessions will explore the balance between human judgement and AI in making investment decisions.

Sebi is likely to change its closing auction mechanism after sharp derivatives price swings on expiry days. The regulator may stop using the closing auction for derivatives settlement for at least a year, shifting to a 30-minute volume-weighted average price, while retaining the auction for less-liquid underlying stocks.

Central Bank of India reported a significant 30 percent credit growth for the second quarter of this financial year. The total advances reached Rs 2.93 lakh crore as of September 30, 2025. Total deposits increased by 14 percent, amounting to Rs 5.08 lakh crore during the same period. The bank's total business also rose by 21 percent to Rs 8.89 lakh crore.

In the upcoming three months, a significant event will unfold as lock-ins will expire for shares in 91 companies, releasing approximately $14 billion worth of stocks. Notably, the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute will see a release of 464 million shares. As various companies unlock shares through November and December, investors should closely analyze potential shareholder actions in the post-lock-in landscape.

Nearly 78 BSE 500 stocks saw both FII and retail ownership rise in June 2026. Ten stocks gained 10%-35% over three months, led by Lenskart Solutions.

Jefferies sees signs of recovery in Indias derivatives market as options volumes rebound after the disruption caused by the closing auction session (CAS). BSEs cash-market share also rose, while MCX benefited from stronger energy options activity. The brokerage expects Groww to benefit from improving orders, higher MTF volumes and commodity trading, and named Groww, MCX, KFIN and Nuvama as top picks

Nomura initiated coverage on InterGlobe Aviation with a Buy rating and a Rs 6,000 target price, implying around 20% upside from the September 30 close. It believes IndiGos low-cost model, large aircraft order book and expanding international network could strengthen its competitive edge despite elevated fuel prices.

Jefferies has initiated coverage on Dhoot Transmission with a Buy rating and a Rs 1,730 price target, implying 20% upside. The brokerage expects strong two-wheeler demand, premiumisation and electrification to drive growth, with newer products adding to the opportunity. It forecasts 24% revenue and 27% EPS CAGR through FY29.

Shares of Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and AU Small Finance Bank rose up to 4% after strong Q2 business updates. Deposits and advances recorded robust year-on-year growth across the lenders, boosting investor sentiment. Analysts expect loan growth momentum to continue, though near-term margins could remain under pressure amid surplus liquidity.

India's manufacturing sector must focus on quality and innovation to secure a competitive global position. Venu Srinivasan expressed that India's progress must extend beyond cost-effectiveness to achieve international standards. The country faces significant challenges in gaining consumer trust for its products, requiring widespread improvement across all industries. Continuous efforts are necessary as companies evolve amid global competition in quality.

Avenue Supermarts achieved an impressive 18.4% increase in year-on-year revenue for Q2, totaling Rs 19,206.18 crore. As of September 30, 2026, the company operates 518 stores, although one is temporarily closed for renovations. However, following this positive news, shares dropped 4.07% on the NSE, indicating market concerns. Additionally, Avenue Supermarts issued Rs 500 crore in commercial paper with a 6.

Nifty rebounded after its longest weekly losing streak in 25 years, but technical indicators suggest the broader downtrend remains intact. The index is near key support at 21,74322,182, while 22,55022,600 is the immediate hurdle. A break below support could expose Nifty to 19,000 and 16,700.

The Nifty rebounded around 1% on Monday after its longest weekly losing streak in 25 years, while the Sensex gained as much as 700 points. However, after an 8-week slide that erased about 8.7%, investors remain unsure whether the gains mark a durable bottom or merely a temporary relief rally before another leg lower.

ESDS Software shares hit the 5% lower circuit on Monday, extending their losing streak to six sessions and taking the decline to nearly 30%. The selloff follows the expiry of a one-month shareholder lock-in, while weaker sequential Q1 revenue and profit have also raised concerns over the stocks stretched valuation.

Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar urged people to use Tarun Bharat instead of Gen Z, saying Indias younger generation should be welcomed rather than viewed through a generational gap.

A Delhi man living in Canada says he reached the best shape of his life after giving up Indian food about 1.5 years ago. He now eats four meals a day, tracks over 150 grams of protein and stays in a calorie deficit, a claim that has sparked a mixed debate online between support and pushback.

Aadhaar name change rules have been revised by UIDAI under a new Standard Operating Procedure issued on September 18, 2026. The updated process categorises name updates into minor corrections, data-entry errors, marital changes, regional-language errors and major name changes. Check the required documents, step-by-step process, Gazette notification rules and the applicable Rs 75 demographic update fee.

A banyan tree in Landi Kotal, Pakistan, has remained chained to the ground since 1898, when a reportedly intoxicated British officer, James Squid, allegedly believed the tree was moving towards him and ordered it to be arrested. A board still reads I am under arrest. Passed down through generations and reported by media, the bizarre colonial-era story has since become a symbol of British authority in the region.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin is undertaking a three-day State visit to India at Prime Minister Modi's invitation. He aims to strengthen bilateral collaboration across various sectors including commerce and technology. Both leaders are scheduled to hold discussions on trade, investment, and multilateral cooperation. President Parmelin will also meet President Droupadi Murmu during his visit. This trip marks a significant opportunity for India and Switzerland to enhance their long-standing partner

Traffic snarls on the newly opened Barapullah Phase-III corridor have created significant delays for motorists. Commuters have reported long waits while the old Barapullah flyover is creating a major bottleneck. The Delhi Traffic Police noted that traffic personnel are deployed to manage vehicle flow at merging points. While the corridor was opened to improve connectivity, peak hours see ongoing congestion.

Donald Trump mistakenly stated that 125 million people voted in an Indian presidential election on social media. He compared this with the US election process, claiming results take longer to calculate. Trumps comments actually referred to Brazil's presidential election that occurred recently. India does not have a presidential election system resembling that of Brazil. The confusion arose from a mix-up between the two countries' electoral processes.

HDFC Bank shares remain under pressure despite a relief rally following the appointment of Anup Bagchi as CEO. Technical analysts see resistance around Rs 755760, while support lies at Rs 685680. The stock has fallen 28% in 2026, underperforming the Nifty 50, which is down 14% this year.

R.K. Fashion Accessories IPO opened for subscription on October 5 and will close on October 7. The Rs 34.99 crore SME issue has a price band of Rs 7782 per share and a lot size of 1,600 shares. The company plans to use proceeds for working capital, expansion and new retail facilities.

Nykaa parent FSN E-Commerce Ventures shares rose after the company indicated strong Q2 FY27 growth momentum across Beauty and Fashion. Consolidated GMV is expected to grow in the high 20s, while NSV and net revenue growth are projected in the early and high 20s, respectively.

Anup Bagchi takes charge as HDFC Banks new CEO at a critical juncture, with the lender seeking to revive deposit and loan growth, improve margins and unlock HDFC Ltd merger synergies. With the stock 29% below its peak, investors will closely watch whether Bagchi can restore growth and confidence.

Indian founder shared a video of his three bedroom Airbnb in Barcelona after the one week stay cost him Rs 3.5 lakh. His walkthrough of the apartment, paired with his comments on cost of living in Europe, sparked a debate online, with several users questioning the comparison he drew with India.

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee is meeting to discuss potential interest rate hikes. Inflationary pressures and external factors are leading to anticipation of a rate increase. Analysts expect a 25 basis points hike in the upcoming policy announcement. This decision aligns with current inflation trends and economic forecasts for the country. The market is closely monitoring these developments as they will impact future economic stability.

Bajaj Finance shares rose sharply on Monday after the NBFC reported 26.5% YoY growth in Q2 FY27 AUM to nearly Rs 5.85 lakh crore. Jefferies retained its Buy rating and Rs 1,280 target price, implying 35% upside, and reaffirmed Bajaj Finance as a top pick, citing strong AUM growth.

Indias food inflation: Food prices are rising unevenly, impacting household budgets, while inflation is projected to persist in upcoming months. Economists expect food inflation to reach up to 7% in the near future due to various factors. Weather risks, particularly from El Nio, could significantly affect crop yields and consequently food prices. Additionally, global events in West Asia contribute to higher energy and logistic costs.