The Economic Times

A North Central Railway employee challenged his transfer from Prayagraj to Fatehpur after claiming his senior officer approved two extra days of leave through a WhatsApp 'OK'. The Allahabad bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal ruled that the message did not conclusively establish official leave sanction and upheld the transfer, accepting the Railways' administrative justification.

In a significant move towards online safety, Greece's parliament has enacted a law banning social media usage for children under 15, set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted the importance of implementing age verification methods to safeguard minors. This initiative, in collaboration with six other EU countries and the European Commission, aims to assist parents in controlling their children's social media habits.

Jefferies Christopher Wood replaced Nvidia with Greek infrastructure company GEK TERNA in his global long-only equity portfolio in October 2025. Since then, GEK TERNA has gained 65% in US-dollar terms, compared with Nvidias 15%. The shift reflects Woods preference for infrastructure, fiscal reform and improving economic fundamentals over crowded AI trades.

Swiggy shares plunged on Friday, wiping out around 9,000 crore in market value as widening Instamart losses overshadowed food delivery growth. Following Q2 results, brokerages cut their price targets, citing deteriorating quick-commerce profitability. Instamarts adjusted EBITDA loss widened to 895 crore from 778 crore, while its contribution margin deteriorated to -1.4% despite 13.4% sequential growth in net order value.

The Sensex and Nifty extended losses on Friday as crude oil prices surged and foreign investor selling resumed. The selloff wiped out nearly Rs 10 lakh crore in market value, with smallcap and midcap stocks leading declines. Oil supply concerns and geopolitical tensions weighed on investor sentiment.

Bansal Wire Industries reported a remarkable consolidated net profit of Rs 52.9 crore for the quarter ending in September, marking a substantial 38 percent growth compared to the previous year. The company's revenue surged by 23.9 percent, amounting to Rs 1,308.1 crore for the same period. Sales volume also experienced a 12.4 percent increase, reaching 1.29 LT, while both EBITDA and EBITDA per tonne achieved record highs this quarter.

Hindustan Zinc shares fell sharply on Friday after India issued permits to import 6,500 metric tonnes of silver over the next six months to meet festive-season demand. The move could ease domestic premiums amid weak demand, while silver futures declined around 3%. The stock is down over 18% so far in 2026.

As oil prices soar, the Indian stock market has deepened its losses, with both Sensex and Nifty experiencing significant downturns. Broader markets have also retreated further into the negative. Nevertheless, analysts maintain that there are glimmers of hope for the upcoming week; a rally among large-cap stocks could pave the way for investor opportunities.

Jio Platforms 30,213 crore IPO entered its final day of bidding on October 23, with a grey market premium of around 22%, indicating positive listing sentiment. The issue was subscribed 5.57 times by the end of Day 2, while the retail portion was subscribed 1.54 times. Priced at 1,0651,119 per share, the IPO values Jio at around 10.3 lakh crore at the upper end. Brokerages remain optimistic, citing its telecom leadership, improving profitability and growth opportunities in broadband and AI.

Kotak Mahindra Bank is likely to report significant year-on-year growth in net profit for Q2FY27. Brokerages estimate profit after tax to rise between 27% and 31.9%, driven by strong net interest income growth. Loan and deposit growth will remain key factors influencing the bank's overall performance and profitability. Investors will closely monitor net interest margins and operating expenses for signs of sustainability.

Paras Healthcares Rs 1,450 crore IPO enters its final bidding day with a muted response, while a grey market premium of around 2% signals modest listing expectations. Retail investors have subscribed fully, but institutional demand remains subdued.

eMudhra will exit its global SSL/TLS certificate business following a security incident involving compromised private keys linked to eight intermediate Certificate Authority certificates. The segment contributes about 1% of its global revenue. The development follows a sharp 37% decline in eMudhra shares over the previous two trading sessions.

Infosys shares rose on Friday ahead of the IT majors Q2 FY27 results, with analysts expecting an 11% year-on-year rise in revenue and an 8% increase in net profit. Investors will track management commentary on client spending, large deal wins and AI-led pricing pressure, alongside the companys full-year revenue growth guidance.

Swiggy shares fell despite its Q2 net loss narrowing year-on-year to Rs 922 crore. Revenue rose 36% to Rs 7,571 crore, while adjusted EBITDA losses widened to Rs 760 crore and sequential losses increased. Instamarts gross order value grew 31% year-on-year to Rs 9,230 crore.

Shellz India is set to list on the BSE SME platform on October 23, with a grey market premium of around 4%, indicating a potential listing gain of 4%. Its IPO was subscribed 58.54 times overall, led by NIIs at 86.41 times, followed by retail investors at 56.09 times and QIBs at 41.92 times.

Tonbo Imaging India shares are set to list on the BSE and NSE, with a grey market premium of around 64% indicating potential listing gains. The Rs 852.18 crore IPO was subscribed 135.9 times, despite a decline in FY26 income and profit.

South Korea's stock market hit all-time highs before a sharp decline, marked by a 40% drop in the Kospi index since June, which has significantly affected investor wealth. As South Korean investors grapple with this downturn, experts believe that Indias market might benefit, citing its diverse sectors. It's encouraged that investors proceed with caution, keeping an eye on local demand and foreign investments.

HPCL reported Q2 FY27 consolidated profit of Rs 3,625 crore, down 6% year-on-year, while revenue increased 26% to Rs 1.39 lakh crore. Gross refining margins improved significantly to $32.15 per barrel. Despite strong operational performance, shares remain under pressure in 2026. Motilal Oswal maintained a Buy recommendation on the stock.

Nuvoco Vistas Corp achieved a consolidated profit growth of 78% year-on-year to Rs 65 crore. Revenue also increased by over 13% to Rs 2,790 crore during the September quarter. The company sold 4.7 million tonnes of cement, which was up 9% from the previous year. Nuvoco expects cement demand to rise after the monsoon season with upcoming government-led capex.

Market analysts have recently initiated coverage on a selection of Indian stocks, highlighting significant growth opportunities. Nomura has issued Buy ratings for Vedanta Aluminum, Hindalco, and Paytm, driven by diverse growth vectors. Similarly, Axis Direct and JM Financial have endorsed Dr. Lal Path Labs and Shiprocket, suggesting a promising trajectory.

Core4 Engineers Rs 54.82 crore SME IPO opens on October 23, 2026, and closes on October 27. Priced at Rs 8893 per share, proceeds will fund working capital, facility acquisition, and corporate purposes. The company reported FY26 revenue of Rs 92 crore and profit of Rs 2 crore, reflecting strong annual growth.

Jio Platforms will wrap up its IPO bidding today, setting a new benchmark as India's largest public offering to date. With an overwhelming interest from investors, substantial gains are forecasted when the shares list. Analysts from various brokerages endorse participation, highlighting Jio's robust leadership in the digital market, with growth prospects that cover cloud services and enterprise solutions beyond telecommunications.

When the closing price is above the VWAP, it means the stock closed at a price higher than its volume-weighted average traded price during the day. The VWAP gives greater weight to prices at which higher trading volumes occurred.

Swiggy, Siemens Energy India, Nippon Life India Asset Management and KPIT Technologies featured in StockEdges F&O scan on October 22, with futures open interest rising more than 9% from the previous session.

Kaynes Technology India, Vijaya Diagnostic Centre and Bajaj Finance featured in StockEdges White Marubozu scan on October 22, highlighting bullish candlestick patterns across three Nifty 500 stocks.

International Gemological Institute, Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra), ITC Hotels and Balkrishna Industries featured in StockEdges RSI Trending Up scan on October 22 after gaining over 3%.

SpaceX has stated that any potential merger with Tesla will require Elon Musk's approval. Despite Musk's recusal from talks due to conflicts of interest, his endorsement raises concerns. Analysts believe a merger is likely, although opinions vary on shareholder compensation. Musk's recent comments have caused issues that may lead to delays in the process. The special committee and board of directors will review and approve any potential combination.

Qatar Energy has signed a significant liquefied natural gas agreement with Cheniere Energy to purchase 4 million metric tons annually. The deal ensures supply flexibility as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz could affect exports. Two million metric tons per year will come from Cheniere's Sabine Pass facility, while the remaining will be sourced from Corpus Christi.

German building materials company Knauf Group plans to invest an additional 350 million in India to set up four new manufacturing plants, Managing Partner Murat Akyildiz said after meeting Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

The Rs 5,012.33 crore IPO comprises a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 2,830 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 14.45 crore shares worth approximately Rs 2,182 crore. While the proceeds from the fresh issue will go to the company, the OFS proceeds will accrue to the selling shareholders.

The Rs 2,533.66 crore IPO comprised an offer for sale (OFS) of 4.32 crore shares, with no fresh issue component. As the offering was entirely an OFS, the company will not receive any proceeds from the IPO. Instead, the proceeds will go to the existing shareholders selling their stakes.

The Rs 475.48 crore IPO comprised an offer for sale (OFS) of 1.38 crore shares. Since the issue was entirely an OFS, the company will not receive any proceeds from the offering. Instead, the proceeds will go to the existing shareholders selling their stakes.

Jindal Stainless has revised its FY27 volume growth outlook to 4-6%, down from the previous 7-9% forecast, due to declining sales. Despite the downturn, the company reported an 11% rise in profits during the September quarter, driven by over 664,000 tonnes of steel sold, with exports comprising 11%. This adjustment reflects ongoing challenges in the market affecting their overall performance.

Hindustan Petroleum Corp has reported a 6% decline in consolidated net profit for the second quarter of FY27. The company returned to profitability in Q2 FY27 after suffering a significant loss in Q1 FY27. Revenue from product sales increased by 26% compared to the previous year's second quarter. Despite the quarterly revenue growth, losses were reported for the first half of FY27 due to high crude oil prices.