The Economic Times

As global macro conditions shift, investors are rethinking asset allocation for 2026. Gurmeet Chadha of Complete Circle Consultants highlights constructive prospects for Indian equities, caution on silver, moderation in global AI-led trades, and potential outperformance in long-duration bonds, supported by fiscal strength and likely inclusion in the global bond index.

Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said the regulator is in the advanced stages of granting a no-objection certificate for the long-pending NSE IPO, likely within this month. NSEs listing process, delayed since 2016 due to regulatory clearances, has progressed after corrective measures and the settlement of past cases.

Avenue Supermarts, the parent of DMart, posted strong Q3 FY26 numbers with consolidated PAT rising 18.3% YoY to Rs 855.92 crore, compared to Rs 723.72 crore a year earlier. Revenue from operations grew 13.3% YoY to Rs 18,100.88 crore, up from Rs 15,972.55 crore in the same quarter last fiscal.

Nifty broke below its 500-point trading range, ending the week down 2.45% amid global uncertainty and a spike in volatility. Technical indicators signal weakening momentum, with support at 25,50025,300 crucial. Sectoral trends show Services, Pharma, Infra and BFSI outperforming, while FMCG, Energy and Realty lag on relative strength.

Aberdeen Investments is reducing its stake in Venezuela's defaulted bonds. These bonds have seen a significant price increase over the past year. Portfolio manager Kevin Daly cited high tail risk as the reason for this prudent move. Despite recent gains, the path to debt restructuring remains challenging due to ongoing US sanctions.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte confirmed a $3 billion mortgage bond purchase occurred Friday, the day after President Trump ordered a $200 billion buy to lower housing costs. Pulte also stated that the privatization of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae remains a possibility, though he did not provide a timeline for the full $200 billion purchase.

Argentina has successfully paid $4.3 billion to sovereign bondholders, meeting its January 9 deadline. This crucial payment, despite low foreign reserves, aims to boost investor confidence and reopen international capital markets. The government is keen to signal stability as more significant repayments loom, including to the IMF. Analysts are watching for a positive market reaction and potential reserve rebuilding.

Markets witnessed one of the sharpest weekly declines in recent months as global risks and heavy selling dragged indices lower. Technical expert Sudeep Shah explains whether this move signals deeper correction and outlines key levels, sector strategies and near-term market triggers.

Bitcoin trades within a narrow $88,000 to $92,000 range as its current drawdown remains far shallower than in previous market cycles. Analysts highlight muted volatility, steady capital flows and neutral technical indicators amid a wait for fresh macro catalysts.

Silvers explosive 170% surge in 2025 may be just the beginning, says Motilal Oswal, which believes the metal is entering a multi-year supercycle. Strong industrial demand, tight supply, rising ETF flows and supportive macro trends could push MCX Silver to Rs 3.20 lakh in 2026 despite expected volatility.

Stablecoin transactions surged to a record $33 trillion in 2025, driven by supportive US policy under President Trump and rapid institutional adoption. USDC led with $18.3 trillion in flows, outpacing Tethers USDT. Rising usage outside DeFi signals broader mainstream demand for digital dollars amid global economic uncertainty.

European stock markets reached a new peak on Friday. Glencore's significant jump fueled the rise. Technology stocks also performed strongly, marking their best week in almost two years. This rebound shows investor resilience despite global concerns. Defence stocks saw notable weekly gains. The US jobs report indicated cooling growth, reinforcing expectations of steady interest rates.

Wealthy individuals are increasingly investing in complex private credit and structured strategies. These investments carry inherent risks due to limited liquidity and infrequent price visibility.

Moodys has affirmed Shriram Finances Ba1 rating and revised its outlook to positive following MUFG Banks planned $4.4 billion investment for a 20% stake. The capital infusion is expected to strengthen SFLs capitalisation, funding access, and profitability, positioning it among Indias highest-capitalised non-banking finance companies.

Retail investors have steadily increased holdings in select small-cap stocks, with 12 counters delivering strong FY26 gains of up to 65%, highlighting growing confidence despite broader market weakness.

TCS, Kotak Bank and six other companies are set for stock splits, bonus issues, and dividends next week, offering opportunities for investors.

India's defence manufacturing sector sees enhanced medium-term visibility due to accelerated capital acquisition approvals, with FY26 year-to-date clearances nearly double the annual outlay. This robust pipeline, spanning diverse military needs and emphasizing integrated systems, de-risks future order inflows for the sector over the next two to four years.

Indian markets remained under pressure as the Sensex declined for a fifth straight session. Twelve BSE 100 stocks recorded losses in all five sessions, reflecting sustained selling across sectors amid broader market weakness and cautious investor sentiment.

Indias primary market gears up for a busy week as six IPOs open for subscription, led by Amagi Media Labs. Alongside five SME issues, strong demand for Bharat Coking Coal highlights investor interest amid ongoing market volatility.

BNP Paribas expects the Nifty 50 to reach 29,500 by end-2026 and has identified 17 top stock picks across autos, banks, IT, telecom, consumer and healthcare sectors, led by Maruti Suzuki, Infosys, Swiggy and HDFC Bank.

IREDA posted a 15.4% YoY rise in Q3 FY26 PAT at Rs 1,381 crore, with revenue up 28.2% to Rs 6,042 crore. Loan sanctions jumped 29% YoY to Rs 40,100 crore, while disbursements rose 44% to Rs 24,903 crore. Strong domestic borrowings and diversified clean energy lending underpin robust growth and execution visibility.

Tejas Networks reported a Rs 196.55 crore loss in Q2, impacted by an 88% revenue drop and a significant BSNL order deferral. Despite a large inventory, the company secured private 5G wins and PLI incentives, signaling future growth potential amidst current financial challenges.

The dollar strengthened on Friday following weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs growth, suggesting the Federal Reserve may hold interest rates steady. The yen weakened as Japan's Prime Minister considers a snap election, while the euro declined against the dollar amid mixed European economic data.

Oil prices saw a significant jump on Friday. Growing concerns over supply disruptions in Iran due to intensifying protests are impacting the market. Escalating attacks in Russia's war in Ukraine are also contributing to these worries. Despite these factors, global oil inventories are rising, potentially capping further price increases. Market focus is now on Venezuelan oil export deals.

Gold prices surged this week, nearing record highs, driven by weaker U.S. jobs data and escalating global uncertainties. Investors are anticipating Federal Reserve rate cuts, a traditional boost for precious metals. Geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in Ukraine and unrest in Iran, further fueled demand.

The Indian stock market has been on a downward trend, recording losses for the fifth straight day. Investors are pulling back on their portfolios in light of impending US job statistics and a critical Supreme Court verdict on tariffs.

Next week, Torrent Pharmaceuticals is set to launch a hefty debt sale, targeting around 12,500 crore in fundraising. This capital will play a critical role in facilitating the company's acquisition of JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals. The strategy includes issuing commercial paper and non-convertible debentures, showcasing the increasing reliance on debt markets for corporate buyouts.

U.S. stocks reached record highs Friday following a mixed jobs report. While hiring slowed, the unemployment rate improved, suggesting a stable job market that might delay but not eliminate Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Energy and housing sectors saw significant gains, while General Motors faced a substantial hit due to its EV pullback.

Sebi has approved five IPOs across sectors including digital lending, alcoholic beverages, textiles and precision engineering. Major issuers include Kissht, Alcobrew Distilleries, Aastha Spintex, Indo MIM and Kusumgar, signalling a strong and diverse primary market pipeline.

Walmart is set to join the prestigious Nasdaq-100 Index. The retail giant will replace British drugmaker AstraZeneca. This move takes effect on January 20. Walmart is also joining the Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index and the Nasdaq-100 Ex-Tech Sector Index. Companies often switch exchanges for better alignment with investor bases and services. The Nasdaq-100 is known for including top non-financial companies.

Indian markets are off to a strong start in 2026, but investors should brace for potential volatility. Corporate earnings, crucial inflation data, and escalating geopolitical tensions are on the horizon. Despite a robust bull market, analysts caution that current optimism might be overlooking upcoming challenges, urging a look at defensive strategies.

Bank of America acquired over 2 lakh shares of MTAR Technologies for Rs 55 crore in a bulk deal, paying a 6% premium. MTAR Technologies shares surged 6.69% to Rs 2,688.30, hitting a 52-week high. The company, involved in high-precision engineering for aerospace and energy, reported a decline in net profit and revenue for the September 2025 quarter.

The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%, potentially easing Federal Reserve concerns about labor market weakness. Traders now anticipate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's final rate cut has occurred, with future easing decisions likely falling to his successor. While job growth was weaker than expected, the jobless rate decline offers the central bank breathing room.

Markets regulator Sebi on Friday proposed an overhaul of the trading-related framework at stock exchanges, aimed at simplifying rules, removing duplication, and reducing the compliance burden for market participants.

Societe Generale bought 14.33 lakh Tata Capital shares via a Rs 51 crore block deal after anchor lock-in expiry, while Marshall Wace exited an equal stake. The stock rose to Rs 359.85 following Indias largest 2025 IPO this week today

The U.S. Supreme Court will not issue a ruling on Friday in a major case testing the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs.

India's markets regulator on Friday proposed to issue a uniform set of trading-related disclosure requirements to standardise compliance across India's three stock exchanges and two commodity exchanges.

Wall Street's main indexes opened slightly higher on Friday, as investors digested weaker-than-expected jobs data, while awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Market veteran Gurmeet Chadha credited retail investors and DIIs for supporting Nifty amid heavy FII selling, citing record SIP inflows as proof of resilient long-term domestic capital and urging policy incentives to reward patient investors.

U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in December amid business caution about hiring because of import tariffs and rising artificial intelligence investment, but the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%, supporting expectations the Federal Reserve would leave interest rates unchanged this month.

The Indian exchange NSE will operate for regular trading on January 15, despite Maharashtra's public holiday for civic polls. While trading will proceed, January 15 is designated a settlement holiday, meaning T+0 settlements will not be processed. Consequently, T+1 trades from both January 14 and 15 will be settled on January 16.

SEBI simplified the accredited investor framework for AIFs, allowing agreements before certification, easing documentation norms and reducing bottlenecks, while preserving prudential safeguards and corpus rules to promote ease of doing business in capital markets.

StocksEdge data highlights ten mid-cap non-financial companies delivering over 50% EBITDA margins in FY25, led by NTPC Green Energy and SJVN, reflecting superior operating efficiency, resilient profitability and strong execution across diverse sectors.

Six BSE 200 stocks, including ITC, Siemens Energy India and Jubilant FoodWorks, hit fresh 52-week lows on Friday as market weakness dragged them down up to 21% over the past month.

Indian stock exchanges NSE and BSE will conduct a mock trading session on Saturday, allowing brokers to test systems, risk controls and contingency mechanisms under simulated conditions. The drill includes call auctions, block deals and an outage scenario to validate Sebis alternate trading venue framework. No live trading will occur.

SEBI revamped technical glitch norms for brokers, easing compliance by limiting applicability to firms with over 10,000 clients, simplifying reporting, granting exemptions, and rationalising penalties, offering relief to smaller brokers while maintaining technology, risk management and market integrity standards nationwide.

Indian markets extended losses for a fifth straight session as tariff concerns weighed on sentiment. Stocks such as Manappuram Finance, IEX and Elecon Engineering declined sharply, while Mazagon Dock, BHEL, NALCO and Hindustan Zinc saw buying interest.

BSE Index Services launched the BSE All Derivative Stocks Index to track derivative-eligible BSE 500 stocks, using market-cap and momentum weighting, reflecting Indias growing equity derivatives depth and offering a new benchmark for passive and active investment products nationwide participants.

Indian equities suffered a brutal start to the year as global trade fears, Trump tariff threats and heavy foreign selling dragged Sensex down over 2,000 points, erasing Rs 9 lakh crore and pushing markets into a risk-off, high-volatility phase nationwide.