The Economic Times

The US and India are reportedly close to finalizing a new trade deal. President Donald Trump indicated that this deal would be significantly different from prior agreements. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India aims to strengthen various bilateral relations. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently engaged with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss the trade deal. The discussions follow the recent framework finalization of the bilateral trade agreement.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries plans to raise 10,000 crore through two tranches of rupee-denominated bonds. The funds will help refinance bridge loans taken for the Organon acquisition valued at $11.75 billion. The first tranche will amount to 7,000 crore with a coupon rate of 8.20%. Institutional investors are expected to participate, including notable companies like SBI Pension Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund.

On Monday, benchmark indices saw a downturn, erasing a brief recovery. The combination of weak global cues and profit-taking in the private banking and IT sectors weighed on investor confidence. Analysts suggested that immediate resistance is at 23,175, with support situated at 22,800. Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth Rs 1,148 crore, while domestic institutional investors remained net buyers.

Indian equity benchmarks experienced a decline as profit-booking occurred amid rising crude oil prices. The Nifty 50 dropped significantly, closing at 22,889 after disappointing corporate earnings. Reliance Industries aims to raise funds through its initial public offering today, which is highly anticipated. Other companies such as IREDA and Yes Bank reported mixed financial results for the quarter. Investors are closely monitoring these developments and their potential market impacts.

Following the National Stock Exchange's recent listing, the unlisted share market has encountered a substantial reduction in trading activity, with brokers reporting nearly a 50% drop in average daily transactions. Despite a rise in interest for companies like API Holdings and PPFAS, none compare to the NSE's allure. Still, investor curiosity persists, hinting at bright possibilities ahead in the market.

Jio Platforms, leading India's largest IPO, presents a compelling investment avenue for everyday investors. Despite its massive telecom customer base of 533 million, revenue per user still trails behind Bharti Airtel. However, with a promising growth trajectory in digital services and telecom, this IPO is set to fortify the company's financial standing while decreasing the promoter's stake. Analysts believe Jio Platforms holds strong potential for success in upcoming market conditions.

Investors are facing challenges in allocating a lump sum investment due to uncertainty in equity markets. Wealth managers suggest a combination of equities, debt, and gold for varying risk appetites. For conservative investors, a safer asset mix is recommended, while moderate and aggressive strategies differ significantly. Allocation strategies are tailored according to individual investor profiles and market conditions.

The SP Group has not withdrawn the proposal, which was placed before the Tata Sons board by Noel Tata at its last meeting, the people said. The subsequent Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directive requiring Tata Sons to pursue a listing has not altered the group's need for funds, even as it has welcomed the regulatory move, they said.

Weather updates, October 21: The IMD has forecast rain across several Indian states and Union Territories from October 20 to 26, with isolated very heavy rainfall likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from October 20 to 22. Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also likely to receive heavy rain. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are expected in several regions.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. He paid tribute to the 166 victims of the 26/11 terror attacks during a wreath-laying ceremony. Rubio was briefed by the hotel's security head, Sunil Kudyadi, who survived the attack. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the enduring partnership between the US and India in combating terrorism.

On the second day of the Asian Para Games, Indian para athletes won five gold medals among 14 total medals. Nishad Kumar secured two golds, while Deepthi Jeevanji also claimed gold in the women's 400m T20 event. Simran set a new Games record to earn her first gold medal in women's 200m T12. In men's discus throw combined events, Pranav Soorma and Ram Ratan Singh achieved gold and silver respectively.

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake triggered a massive landslide that blocked China's Tongkou River, creating the unstable Tangjiashan lake and threatening millions downstream. Authorities evacuated residents and airlifted heavy machinery to carve a controlled drainage channel through the natural dam. The operation averted a catastrophic flood and informed landslide-dam management strategies later applied during China's 2018 Baige landslide crisis.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels recently targeted a residential area in Taiz, killing two teenage girls and wounding others. The siege on Taiz has resulted in severe humanitarian risks and soaring prices for basic necessities. A missile strike on a military camp the previous day reportedly led to at least 73 deaths, marking a significant resurgence in conflict. Meanwhile, Britain announced expanded military support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Houthi attacks.

Indian markets plunged on Monday as the Sensex fell nearly 900 points and the Nifty dropped below 22,900, wiping out nearly Rs 5 lakh crore in market value. Private bank selling, weak global cues and earnings uncertainty weighed on sentiment.

Gregor Corse, a 5-year-old boy from Scotlands Orkney Islands, has raised more than $106,000 for a local charity by completing a 30-day walking challenge despite an undiagnosed neurological condition affecting his balance and motor skills. His efforts earned him the Youngest Fundraiser of the Year award at the 2026 Pride of Britain Awards.

IndusInd General Insurance has appointed Sharad Mathur as its new Managing Director and CEO. Mathur brings three decades of experience in the insurance and financial services industry to the company. He previously led Universal Sompo General Insurance for over six years, focusing on transformation and distribution growth. At IndusInd, he will concentrate on customer centricity and digital innovation for future growth.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have revealed the name of their second daughter, Devi Padukone Singh, on Dussehra. The Bollywood couple shared a family photograph featuring their younger daughter and elder child, Dua, in a heartwarming moment. The announcement comes after the actors welcomed their second baby girl on September 19.

PRISM is set to scale back its initial public offering from Rs 6,650 crore to Rs 3,350 crore in light of its robust cash flow and enhanced balance sheet. The majority of the newly structured funds will focus on repaying or prepaying debts. Moody's Ratings has adjusted PRISM's outlook to positive, anticipating growth in EBITDA. Notably, OYO's founder, Ritesh Agarwal, and SoftBank maintain substantial stakes in the venture.

Indian equities weakened amid negative global cues and selling in private banks and IT stocks, pushing the Nifty below 23,000. Choice Equity Brokings Sachin Gupta recommends four stocksFederal Bank, ACME Solar, Dr Reddys Laboratories and Union Bankfor potential upside.

Varanasi is preparing to host the Air Force Day Aerial Display-2026 at Namo Ghat on October 25. The event will feature various aircraft, including frontline fighters like SU-30MKI and Rafale, showcasing aerial prowess. It aims to inspire youth by introducing them to aviation and career opportunities in the Indian Air Force. Organisers emphasise the importance of training, technology, and operational preparedness behind the aerial performances.

Research on a ranch in Colorado highlighted the effectiveness of a unique fence in fostering the growth of young aspens. It successfully kept elk at bay for four years while still allowing smaller creatures like deer and bears access. This resulted in a notable increase in the height of protected aspens, indicating that successful ecosystem preservation can be achieved without entirely excluding larger wildlife, ensuring that biodiversity thrives.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in India to enhance cooperation in energy, trade, and defense matters. His visit focuses on advancing the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and includes discussions on economic engagement. Rubio's earlier trip in May involved meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The anticipated bilateral trade deal aims to address tariff issues and boost market access.

Jobandeep Singh left his engineering job after four months and returned to his village in Punjab to pursue agriculture as a business. He now grows organic crops across four acres, maintains livestock and sells directly to around 50 regular customers. His experience highlights how crop diversification, natural farming methods and direct marketing can offer an alternative approach to small-scale agriculture.

The investors included Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, BlackRock Global Funds, Eastspring Investments, Government Pension Fund Global, Natixis International Funds, Integrated Core Strategies (Asia) and Citigroup Global.

EAAA India Alternatives Ltd will open its initial public offering worth Rs 1,200 crore on October 26. The IPO will close for subscription on October 28, following anchor investor bidding on October 23. This offering is entirely an offer for sale from the Edelweiss Group with no fresh issue component. Additionally, SEC Environmental Technologies Ltd plans to launch its IPO on October 27.

The much-anticipated Reliance Jio Platforms IPO is launching for public subscription starting October 21, 2023. Shareholders of Reliance Industries can benefit from a Rs 2,500 crore reservation aimed at maximizing their investment opportunities. Those eligible are encouraged to apply in both the shareholder and retail categories. Shares are priced between Rs 1,065 and Rs 1,119, with allotments set for October 26 and listings on October 28.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Kamath said such schemes remain a concern even in 2026, calling them one of the silliest ways for investors to lose money. He also warned that these cases could become more frequent as the market cycle advances, pointing to a rise in alleged pump-and-dump schemes operating through WhatsApp groups and influencers promoting stocks and initial public offerings (IPOs).

Festive shopping is currently gaining momentum with significant sales in both online and offline markets. Companies are experiencing increased demand but are also facing rising costs that impact profitability. Many consumers are driven by discounts and affordable payment options during this festive season. Businesses are adapting pricing strategies to balance consumer affordability with input cost pressures.

7 stocks he likely added to his secondary market portfolio during the second quarter of FY27. With shareholding disclosures still being released, further changes to his portfolio cannot be ruled out.

Hockey India announced that fans will receive free entry to all matches of the men's Asian Champion Trophy. The matches are to take place in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 and November 5. All league-stage matches will be played in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2, while the semi-finals and medal matches will be played in Mohali on November 4 and 5. Fans can avail their free entry passes by registering on ticketgenie.in.

Voters in Alberta overwhelmingly chose to remain part of Canada, with 76% supporting unity. The referendum was part of a broader political movement influenced by dissatisfaction with the federal government. Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the results, emphasizing the importance of a united Canada. Despite this setback, separatist sentiments continue to linger among some Albertans. The implications of this vote may shape future political dynamics in the province.

The issue received bids for 1,15,86,91,464 shares against 85,26,033 shares on offer. Qualified institutional buyers led the demand, subscribing to their allotted portion 293.56 times. The non-institutional investor category was subscribed 170.94 times, while the retail portion saw 31.06 times subscription.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has introduced Form 173A for income-tax exemption claims. This new form includes detailed information to be submitted by foreign institutional investors. Exemptions are available for interest and capital gains on government securities according to recent amendments. The Income-tax Act, 2025, provides these exemptions starting from April 1, 2026. The additional requirements aim to streamline the process for eligible investors and organizations.

The Rs 30,213-crore public offering comprises an entirely fresh issue of 27 crore shares. If completed as planned, it will become Indias largest-ever initial public offering (IPO), surpassing Hyundai Motor Indias record set in 2024.

US officials highlight the destabilizing nature of China's coast guard patrols near Taiwan's east coast. Randall Schriver notes that such actions extend China's claims and involve legal and information warfare. Joseph Wu asserts that China has no legitimate rights to these waters surrounding the island. Delays are expected in US arms sales to Taiwan as negotiations continue between the leaders of the US and China.

Gary Kirsten, who coached India to the 2011 Cricket World Cup title, praised Pakistan's natural beauty after cycling through Islamabad's Margalla Hills. The Sri Lanka head coach also expressed interest in exploring Pakistan's northern regions.

A total of 16 stock market holidays have been scheduled for 2026, out of which twelve have already passed. After the Dussehra holiday, trading will remain suspended on three more occasions over the remaining two months of the year.

Net profit surged 448.14% year-on-year to 394.22 crore from 71.92 crore a year ago, while revenue increased 143.62% to 2,541.79 crore from 1,043.34 crore. Sequentially, profit increased 60.49% from the previous month, and revenue rose 32.73%.

Non-ferrous companies are expected to see a sequential decline in earnings, with revenue and Ebitda expected to fall 2% and 13%, respectively. The decline in average LME aluminium prices is likely to weigh on their profitability.

A near 14% year-on-year growth in grey cement volumes to 35.94 mt in the domestic market, though, helped UltraTech clock in a near 19% year-on-year growth in consolidated sales to 23,295 crore. This also helped the profit before interest, depreciation and tax rise more than 17% to 3,832 crore. Consolidated profit for the quarter rose 21% on-year to 1,501 crore.

Last week, the ED's Mumbai Zone conducted searches at 29 premises across six cities-Mumbai, Nashik, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat and Bhavnagar-under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case relates to R M Drip and Sprinklers Systems and R&B Denims, the agency said. According to the ED, the two companies issued more than 35 million shares and convertible warrants through preferential allotments between April 2023 and March 2024. A substantial portion of the funds allegedly came fr

According to circulars issued by the NSE, the special trading session will begin at 2:20 pm on Sunday. Continuous trading in stocks covered by the closing auction session (CAS) will end at 3:15 pm, followed by the closing auction, while trading in other stocks will continue until 3:30 pm. Equity futures and options trading will run from 2:20 pm to 3:40 pm.

Total advances in the September quarter increased 19% year-on-year to 11.6 lakh crore, led by a 17% growth in domestic advances, which was supported by a 24% increase in corporate advances to 5.2 lakh crore. The bank has a corporate loan pipeline of 1 lakh crore.

Brokerages remain optimistic about ICICI Bank's strong earnings and asset quality after the recent quarter. However, HDFC Bank's profit growth was modest, and margins are under pressure, leading to a more cautious outlook. Despite this, both banks have attractive valuations and positive earnings recovery prospects. On Monday, both stocks experienced declines, along with broader market indices. Analysts highlight potential upsides for both banks based on target prices.

Global investors included BlackRock Global Funds, Capital Group, Fidelity, New World Fund and American Funds Developing World Growth and Income Fund. Other overseas participants included Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Janus Henderson, Societe Generale, Morgan Stanley Investment Funds, Norway's Government Pension Fund Global, Citadel Securities Singapore, Eastspring Investments, T. Rowe Price, Prudential Hong Kong and Integrated Core Strategies (Asia).

Across Asia, markets were mixed, with South Korea rebounding 1.8% from last week's losses amid simmering concerns over excessive investments in artificial intelligence (AI). Taiwan fell 0.6%, while Indonesia tumbled 3.6% following a warning from index provider MSCI that it would downgrade the country from the emerging market basket.

The threat actor describes this as the first disclosure of the dataset, Cyberpulse56 said, adding that the authenticity, origin and extent of the alleged exposure are inverified. If legitimate, the data could facilitate identity theft, financial fraud, targeted phishing and fraudulent loan applications, the group said.

The manner and the timing of reinstatement of the bonds as well as payment of the coupon is also under assessment, Niranjan Banodkar, CFO, Yes Bank told analysts over a call after the earnings.