The Economic Times

India's FMCG sector is poised for a substantial revenue boost in the upcoming September quarter, with growth projected in double digits. This rise is attributed to an increase in both product volume and strategic pricing tactics across diverse categories. However, the ongoing surge in raw material costs, particularly for items like sugar and edible oils, may exert pressure on profit margins.

On Friday, markets experienced a moment of reprieve as the Nifty index surged by 1.3%, buoyed by support from the IT sector. However, analysts anticipate that Indian stocks will tread carefully due to prevailing global economic uncertainties. Despite a decrease in the India VIX, suggesting lesser market anxiety, the actions of foreign and domestic investors were mixed. The rupee strengthened against the US dollar, aided by decreasing crude oil prices.

Indian equity markets showed a significant recovery driven by bargain buying and favorable global cues. The Nifty 50 and Sensex both closed higher, indicating improved investor sentiment. Notable companies reporting earnings include Canara Robeco Asset Management and Avenue Supermarts, among others. Banking stocks are expected to draw attention due to changes in cash reserve ratio requirements by the Reserve Bank of India.

Investors can look forward to an active primary market with six mainboard and two SME IPOs on the horizon. Zetwork Manufacturing is expected to head the list, seeking an impressive Rs 5,000 crore, followed by Bonfiglioli Transmission aiming for Rs 2,500 crore and Tonbo Imaging India with a target of Rs 1,500 crore. Supporting this momentum are HD Fire Protect, Fusion CX, and Medical Technologies.

Nifty's recent recovery has generated optimism, but a sustained close above key resistance is crucial for further gains. Analysts suggest a cautious approach with potential accumulation of certain stocks during dips. Key stocks for investment include Aurobindo Pharma and TCS, which display strong price momentum and resilience. Market participants are advised to monitor immediate support levels for Nifty and Bank Nifty.

Nancy Guthrie's mystery disappearance has kept Pima County in the public eye and under scrutiny. With the case nearing nine months unsolved, local authorities face growing pressure for answers. Law enforcement is also responding to other serious incidents requiring their resources and attention. The ongoing investigation into Guthrie's case highlights the challenges of balancing multiple cases simultaneously.

The Reserve Bank of India has implemented fresh regulations that drastically reduce the maximum limit for dollar forward transactions by corporates from $100 million to just $5 million, imposing more stringent documentation requirements. To ease compliance, companies may consider classifying contracted exposures as anticipated exposures. This regulatory shift aims to enhance management of exchange rate risks in light of volatile market conditions, sparking ongoing industry dialogues about its pr

DBS Bank CEO Tan Su Shan emphasized the strong demand for FCNR(B) deposits as investor confidence in India. She highlighted India's potential for foreign direct investment and its advantageous position in the artificial intelligence sector. Despite foreign net sales affecting the rupee, she remains optimistic about India's economic growth and digital infrastructure. Tan discussed the importance of promoting FDI and exports to stabilize currency levels.

A report by IIT-Bombay professors recommends reducing the Merchant Discount Rate for UPI transactions to improve the ecosystem. The current rate of 0.40 percent should decrease to 0.08 percent for third-party application providers. Additionally, the study suggests that banks should not depend on transaction fees but use funds from CASA deposits. It emphasizes the development of necessary services to enhance trust in digital payments.

Checking your assigned polling place before the midterm elections is essential to avoid confusion on Election Day. Voter registration information can be used to find out where to vote. If you have moved, update your registration to ensure your polling location is correct. States have specific voter ID rules that should be reviewed prior to voting. Ensure you vote at your assigned location to prevent issues with your ballot.

Relocating to Bengaluru for a job can indeed stretch one's finances, particularly for those on beginner salaries. A Redditor is looking to make this move with a budget of Rs 30,000 and is gathering advice on cost-effective living. Suggestions range from opting for shared flats to cooking meals at home, along with taking advantage of public transport.

In a thrilling turn of events, West Indies clinched victory in the second T20I, equalizing the series at 1-1. As the teams gear up for the next confrontation, India is keen to regain the series lead. The decisive third T20I is scheduled at Holkar Stadium in Indore on October 11, 2026. Fans are buzzing with excitement to see both teams compete fiercely for dominance.

Southern California faces flooding and damage due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel making landfall. Long Beach has been significantly impacted, with waterfront homes and streets flooded by powerful waves. Emergency measures are in place in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and other coastal areas to reinforce defenses. Flash flood warnings have been issued in San Diego and surrounding counties as rainfall increases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out an ambitious vision for India to become a developed nation by 2047. He emphasized the importance of youth engagement and innovation in addressing global challenges. The Prime Minister cited an example of patriotism instilled in children through small contributions to soldiers. He assured that through collective resolve, India will achieve milestones like hosting the Olympics and landing an astronaut on the Moon.

Kumaraswamy's demand comes days after Shivakumar cautioned five Cabinet colleagues about alleged attempts to target them through sting operations, triggering a political controversy in Karnataka.

The report cautioned that public trust in UPI could be undermined if the proposed MDR framework is implemented in its present form, stressing the need to ensure that the digital payments platform does not attract negative sentiment among users.

Sensex and Nifty snapped their eight-week losing streak on Friday, surging over 1% as IT stocks rallied and crude prices eased. The rebound added more than Rs 4 lakh crore to BSE-listed companies market capitalisation, while positive market breadth favoured bulls.

Audi India is considering local manufacturing of a battery electric vehicle, with a decision expected in the next few months. The luxury carmaker aims to double its market share from around 8% to 15-16% over the next three to five years through new product launches, customer-focused initiatives and dealership expansion, particularly in tier-II and tier-III cities. The proposed India-EU free trade agreement could also help Audi introduce more models to test demand.

DBS Bank CEO Tan Su Shan addressed concerns about capital outflows from India and highlighted strong demand for FCNR(B) deposits. She emphasized the need for more foreign direct investment and exports to support the rupee's stability. Tan expressed optimism about India's potential in artificial intelligence due to its software talent and digital infrastructure developments. The importance of improving hardware capabilities alongside software strengths was also noted in her discussion.

Ace investors Ashish Kacholia and Mukul Agrawal-backed Sanshi Fund, along with Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance, acquired a combined 3.19% stake worth Rs 120 crore in Fusion CX ahead of its Rs 702 crore IPO opening on October 14.

Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi plan to consult with the Chief Justice of India regarding the government's approach to the ongoing protests. Kharge labeled the atmosphere as one of undeclared Emergency, citing extensive police actions that suggest a fear of youth unrest. The leaders are steadfast in their mission to preserve democratic principles and protect citizens' constitutional freedoms.

Suresh Raina highlighted the potential for Mohammed Shami to return to the Indian cricket team. He noted Shami's strong domestic performances and compared them to Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return. Raina emphasized Bhuvneshwar's discipline and fitness as key to his comeback. Shami has not played for India since 2025 but remains active in domestic cricket. While Bhuvneshwar has earned his recall, Shami's future readiness is yet to be confirmed.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat criticized leaders Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal for undermining constitutional institutions. He accused them of spreading anarchy through their political ambitions, which threatens democracy in India. Shekhawat dismissed allegations made by Ashok Gehlot as politically motivated and reflective of frustration. He also defended constitutional bodies, claiming it is a political duty to uphold their sanctity.

Raut also mentioned the unease within the BJP, suggesting potential leadership changes by March next year. Furthermore, he drew historical parallels to authoritarian leaders who suppressed dissent during their final days.

Violence erupted in Adoor when Congress and CPI(M) youth factions clashed after college union elections. Law enforcement registered three incidents involving activists from KSU, Youth Congress, SFI, and DYFI. The unrest intensified as SFI and DYFI protested against the arrest of CPI(M) leaders in Delhi. Amidst these events, former MLA Rahul Mamkootathil was present, rejecting any claims of assault.

Mutual funds increased their stakes in approximately 44 of these companies compared with the June 2026 quarter. Interestingly, most of these stocks delivered negative returns over the past three months despite higher mutual fund holdings.

PNB Housing Finance anticipates a minor enhancement in net interest margin due to the Reserve Bank's recent rate hike. The lender's margin improvement is expected to be between 5 to 8 basis points and will benefit customers through cheaper loans. The company is also experiencing positive demand momentum in the housing finance sector. Additionally, PNB Housing Finance has received a credit rating upgrade to AAA/Stable from Crisil.

Foreign investors sold Indian equities worth Rs 45,125 crore in October's first six sessions, nearly matching September's outflows. Elevated US bond yields and crude oil prices continue to pressure markets, while inflation data and geopolitical developments could influence the selling trend.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund MD and CEO Radhika Gupta says investors should approach Specialised Investment Funds (SIFs) with clear portfolio goals rather than chase new products or returns. Speaking at the ET Alpha Wealth Summit 2.0, she highlighted their tax efficiency, the importance of understanding derivatives-based strategies, and the need to assess risks, costs and realistic return expectations before investing.

NTPC Limited invited Expressions of Interest from commercial and industrial entities willing to invest 26 per cent equity in co-generation projects, according to the state-run power company.

Nine penny stocks with market capitalisations below Rs 1,000 crore and share prices under Rs 20 gained up to 316% in six months, supported by strong price momentum and minimum trading volumes of 5 lakh shares.

As many as 129 companies are set to announce their Q2 FY27 results this week, including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HCL Tech, Wipro and Nestle India. With the earnings season underway, investors will track key announcements across banking, IT and other sectors after markets snapped an eight-week losing streak. Here is a day-wise list of major companies scheduled to report results.

Bengaluru-based Tricog Health aims to conduct 100 million cardiac screenings by 2030, having screened over 41 million patients since its founding in 2014. The healthtech firm uses AI-enabled ECG devices and specialist reviews to detect heart conditions, with operations across several Indian states and 14 countries. Its technology aims to reduce diagnosis delays and improve early detection of cardiovascular diseases.

The Nifty snapped its eight-week losing streak but remains below the crucial 200-week moving average at 22,627. The weekly market outlook points to a possible technical rebound, supported by positive divergences on daily charts, though momentum remains weak. Investors should watch key support and resistance levels, sector rotation trends and a sustained move above the long-term average before turning more bullish.

Around 14 companies, including TCS, Vedanta and Ola Electric Mobility, have key corporate action dates scheduled between October 12 and 16. The announcements cover dividends, bonus issues, rights issues, stock splits and share consolidations.

HCL Tech is set to announce its September quarter results on October 12, with brokerages expecting 12% year-on-year profit growth and 16% revenue growth. Acquisitions, deal ramp-ups and seasonal strength are likely to support performance. Investors will track FY27 revenue guidance, margin trends, discretionary spending, deal wins and AI-led pricing pressures for clues on the companys growth outlook.

Five IPOs are scheduled to open for subscription next week, including mainboard issues from HD Fire Protect, Fusion CX and Sahajanand Medical Technologies. The three mainboard offerings span fire protection, customer experience and medical devices, alongside two SME issues.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the whereabouts of CJP activists Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were detained at Delhi Airport ahead of a planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police said permission had not been granted for the demonstration.

Cockroach Janta Party leader Ajinkya Shinde has taken charge of the protest following the detention of key organizers. Abhijeet Dipke and two others were detained at the airport before a planned demonstration. They are calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and have outlined their demands. The party plans to challenge the detentions legally in Delhi High Court and Supreme Court.

President Donald Trump stated that he is evaluating potential US participation in Saudi strikes on Houthis. The evaluation comes after the latest missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which left several people injured. The airport has faced repeated assaults since the Saudi-led coalition launched its military operations against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. Recent attacks have resulted in casualties among Saudi citizens, including a pilot.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that an oil tanker had exploded and caught fire after hitting a naval mine while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media

Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said the regulator expects to issue guidelines on the settlement-price mechanism for derivatives on expiry days within a week. The move follows a review of the Closing Auction Session. Sebi is also working on simpler regulations, easier market access, lower compliance costs and stronger technological resilience.

Bollywood actor Imran Khan participated in a protest at August Kranti Maidan organized by CJP. After his detention, he shared a humorous photo from inside a police van on social media. He clarified that he attended the event as a concerned citizen rather than representing any organization. More than 400 people have been detained at this protest, along with nearly 1,000 others in Delhi.

Nat Habit has secured Rs 142 crore in Series C funding led by Trident Growth Partners. The investment aims to enhance its product offerings and improve distribution channels in retail and quick commerce. The company plans to increase production capacity significantly over the next two years to meet rising demand. Additionally, Nat Habit will explore new product segments like body wash and hair colour.

Adani Green Energy reported a 24% year-on-year rise in operational capacity to 20,763 MW in H1FY27, while energy sales jumped 32% to 25,747 million units. The company added 4,083 MW of greenfield capacity and expanded its battery storage portfolio. Its board will consider Q2FY27 financial results on October 21.

DMart operator Avenue Supermarts reported an 8.5% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 743 crore in Q2FY27, while revenue grew 17.8% to Rs 19,644 crore. However, EBITDA and profit after tax margins declined amid entry-level wage inflation. The company opened 15 new stores during the quarter, taking its total to 518.

FIIs sold Indian equities for an eighth consecutive week, offloading Rs 30,294 crore, while DIIs bought Rs 30,313 crore to cushion the outflows. The Nifty 50 ended marginally higher, snapping its losing streak. Elevated crude oil prices, rupee weakness and global bond yields remain key factors shaping the outlook for a sustained recovery.

Ajinkya Shinde, the Cockroach Janta Partys national organisation in-charge, is leading the partys proposed Delhi protest after founder Abhijeet Dipke and two other leaders were detained at the airport on October 10.