The Economic Times

Bitcoin whales have accumulated 53,000 coins in the past week, their largest buying spree since November, providing support after weeks of selling. This accumulation steadied prices, but broader investor caution and net selling by large holders over the past year raise doubts about a sustained recovery, suggesting damage control rather than renewed conviction.

Wealth management stocks in US experienced a sharp decline Tuesday following the introduction of an AI tool designed for tax strategies. Investors are concerned about the potential impact of automated advice on the industry, mirroring recent selloffs in software, private credit, and insurance brokerage sectors. Major firms like Raymond James, Charles Schwab, and LPL Financial saw significant drops, highlighting widespread investor apprehension.

The Japanese yen soared on Wednesday, propelled by a vibrant uptick in Japan's stock market and the anticipation of prudent financial strategies from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. On the flip side, the US dollar wobbled amid market uncertainty, with traders keeping a close eye on the approaching non-farm payroll report.

On Wednesday, oil prices held steady as investors keep a close eye on the diplomatic discussions unfolding between the U.S. and Iran. The backdrop of geopolitical strife continues to lend support to prices. In addition, traders are eager for the upcoming U.S.

Drawing a mixed bag of reactions from Indian investors, the US market outcome presented a dichotomy. The Dow Jones celebrated a new peak, yet the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended on a down note. Attention turns towards forthcoming labor statistics, as heavy tech spending on artificial intelligence weighs on market psychology.

In today's fast-paced markets, Warren Buffett's wisdom emphasizes that long-term investing success hinges on sticking to a strategy rather than frequent trading. This patient approach allows compounding to work, enabling quality companies to grow and rewarding disciplined investors who focus on fundamentals amidst market volatility.

Indian equity markets closed Tuesday on a cautious, range-bound note, with profit booking in banking, IT, and healthcare stocks acting as a drag. Analysts anticipate a mildly positive near-term outlook with a consolidative bias, expecting upside to be capped unless a clear breakout above 26,000 occurs.

Markets ended marginally higher on weekly expiry day, with analysts maintaining a bullish stance and recommending a buy-on-dips strategy. Several companies like M&M, LG, and Titan are in focus due to Q3 results and other corporate developments, including BHEL's government stake sale and RIL's acquisition.

Asian stocks are hovering near record highs. Investors await key US jobs data. Weak retail sales have increased expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. Treasury futures are holding gains. Gold prices are edging up. The US jobs report and inflation figures will provide clues on future rate paths. Tech firms' AI spending is a concern.

Three major public sector companies, HUDCO, NaBFID, and SIDBI, are set to raise a significant 13,500 crore from the corporate bond market. This move comes as wholesale bank lending rates show signs of easing. Investors will be closely watching NaBFID's 4,000 crore bond sale. This borrowing activity highlights the companies' strategy to tap into the bond market for funding.

Banks have parked a record 4.52 lakh crore in the RBI's Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) at 5% overnight. This strategy allows them to borrow funds at lower rates, around 4.27% from the TREPS market and earn a significant spread by depositing with the central bank. This reflects substantial surplus liquidity in the banking system.

The government is offloading up to 5% of its stake in BHEL through an Offer for Sale, starting with 3% and an option for an additional 2%. Bids open Wednesday for institutional investors and Thursday for retail, with a floor price set at 254 per share. This move aims to reduce government holding and boost public ownership and stock liquidity.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) mandates credit rating agencies (CRAs) to maintain additional net worth for rating instruments under other financial sector regulators. This move follows industry representations to allow rating of unlisted securities and other financial products, potentially creating synergies and addressing market gaps.

European multinationals are increasingly exploring listing their Indian subsidiaries in Mumbai, driven by the vibrant domestic fundraising market and the prospect of an EU-India trade agreement. Companies in auto components, speciality chemicals, and clean energy are preparing for IPOs, signaling growing confidence in India's regulatory framework and investor base.

Mutual fund investors significantly increased allocations to precious metals in January, with gold and silver ETFs attracting over 33,500 crore, surpassing equity fund inflows for the first time. This surge reflects performance-chasing behavior as gold and silver delivered substantial returns over the past year.

Jubilant FoodWorks has celebrated an impressive leap in net profits for the December quarter of FY26, witnessing a remarkable surge of over 68 percent. This robust financial growth was bolstered by a 13 percent increase in revenue from its operations, stemming from enhanced operational efficiencies and strategic store expansions.

S&P Global forecast 2026 profit below Wall Street expectations on Tuesday, with growing investor unease over AI-driven disruption sweeping through the software and services sector pushing its shares to their lowest in over two years.

Markets ended marginally higher on weekly expiry, extending the rally amid supportive global cues and FII inflows. Analysts remain bullish, advise buy-on-dips, note improving momentum, key support at 25,790, resistance at 26,00026,300, with breadth positive across broader markets overall today.

Indias leading hospital chain Apollo Hospitals reported a 35% increase in third quarter net profit to Rs 502 crore compared to the same period last year, while consolidated revenue grew 17% YoY to Rs 6,477 crore. Its EBITDA grew 27% to Rs 965 crore, the company said in a filing to the stock exchanges on Wednesday.

Managed workspace solutions provider IndiQube Spaces Ltd reported a sharp rise in profitability in the December quarter, with profit after tax (PAT) surging 214% year-on-year to 40 crore, driven by strong enterprise demand, rising occupancy and expansion across new markets.

IIFL Finance plans a retail bond issuance of Rs 2,000 crore next week to support its business growth that more than doubled in a year, backed by a spurt in lending against gold jewellery.

Nifty closed higher for the third session, supported by auto and metal stocks, while trading sideways. Technical indicators signal improving momentum. Analysts expect a sideways-to-positive trend and recommend HDFC AMC, Grasim Industries, Eternal and Gabriel India for short-term gains.

US retail sales showed no growth in December, according to delayed government data released Tuesday, missing analysts' expectations amid heightened scrutiny of the American consumer's appetite -- a key driver of the world's biggest economy.

Retail investors snapped up software and tech stocks following last week's heavy selloff, largely brushing aside worries that advances in artificial-intelligence models could upend parts of the industry.

Aditya Birla Group flagship holding firm Grasim Industries Ltd on Tuesday reported a 28.76 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 2,232.95 crore for the December quarter of FY'26, led by a good performance across businesses.

Wall Street's main indexes opened higher on Tuesday after a sharp rally in the previous session as tech stocks bounced off a bruising rout, while investors parsed retail sales figures that kicked off a series of crucial economic data releases this week.

Britannia Industries posted a 17% YoY rise in Q3FY26 net profit to Rs 680 crore, driven by 8% revenue growth, strong biscuit and adjacent category performance, product innovations, and stable commodity costs, reflecting healthy business momentum.

BHEL stake sale: The government will sell 3% stake representing over 10.44 crore shares in Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) via an offer for sale (OFS). The defence PSU has set the floor price at Rs 254 per share.

Ferrari on Tuesday forecast at least a 6% rise in core earnings in 2026, supported by new models, and posted fourth-quarter 2025 results that beat analyst expectations, lifting its share price by 8%.

Several non-financial Nifty500 companies posted over 50% year-on-year sales growth in the December 2025 quarter. Metals, energy, real estate, engineering and new-age companies led gains, highlighting robust operating momentum while raising questions on sustainability ahead.

Sensex closed higher as four index heavyweights hit 52-week highs, signalling bullish momentum. Tata Steel, SBI, UltraTech Cement and Titan Company rallied strongly, reflecting sustained buying interest, sector leadership and expectations of further upside amid broader market strength ahead now.

Apollo Hospitals Q3 Results: Leading hospitals chain Apollo Hospitals reported 35% year-on-year (YoY) growth in its consolidated net profit at Rs 502 crore in the third quarter. The Board has also declared an interim dividend of Rs 10 per share for the financial year 2026.

Marquee investors Mukul Agrawal and Sunil Singhania-backed India Ahead Venture Fund acquired minority stakes in YAAP Digital, endorsing its AI-led marketing intelligence platform, ahead of the companys proposed IPO and expanding investor interest in data-driven performance marketing businesses globally today.

Titan Q3 Results: Consumer discretionary major Titan Ltd on Tuesday reported 61% year-on-year (YoY) growth in its consolidated net profit at Rs 1,684 crore, while total income rose 40% YoY to Rs 24,592 crore.

Alphabet has sold bonds worth $20 billion in a seven-part offering stretching out to 2066, tapping the debt market to fund its surging spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure.

MSE rejected a Reuters report claiming Sebi stalled its derivatives entry, calling it misleading. The exchange said it is fully operational, faces no regulatory bar, and continues engaging Sebi while strengthening systems, liquidity and market depth for sustainable growth ahead.

Indian markets closed higher for the third straight session as broad-based buying lifted indices. Select midcaps surged on deals, earnings upgrades and volumes, even as a few stocks fell.

Eicher Motor Q3 Results: Two-wheeler major Eicher Motors reported a 21% jump in its December quarter consolidated net profit at Rs 1,420 crore compared to Rs 1,171 crore reported in the year ago period. The profit after tax (PAT) is attributable to the owners of the company.

U.S. stock index futures remained muted on Tuesday following a sharp rally in the previous session as tech stocks bounced off a bruising rout, with investors looking out for retail sales numbers that kick off a series of key data releases this week.

Despite the US dollar extending its decline for a third straight sessiontypically supportive for dollar-denominated commodities by improving affordability for non-US buyerscopper prices remained under pressure, reflecting persistent demand concerns.

Despite market ups and downs, SIP investors are staying put with over 31,000 crore monthly. Gold ETFs are seeing a massive jump, up 118 percent. Hybrid funds are also surging 61 percent. Investors are seeking diversification and balanced portfolios. Multi-asset funds are becoming a popular choice for their comprehensive allocation. This shows a maturing investor approach.

The rupee pared initial losses and settled on a positive note on Tuesday, higher by 9 paise at 90.57 (provisional) against the US dollar, supported by positive cues from domestic equities and weakening of the American currency in the overseas market.

Benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex extended their gains for a second straight session on Tuesday, supported by a sharp rally in auto and metal stocks that lifted overall sentiment. Meanwhile, broader markets outperformed, with midcap and smallcap indices rising 0.5% and 0.35%, respectively.

Edelweiss Financial Services shares jumped after the company reported a 112% YoY rise in Q3FY26 net profit to Rs 264 crore. Growth was driven by strong performance in alternative asset management, mutual funds, and asset reconstruction, with equity AUM and SIP book expanding sharply, while asset reconstruction recoveries reached Rs 842 crore during the quarter.

Europe's benchmark share index was subdued on Tuesday as shares of BP fell after the energy giant suspended share buybacks, while gains in luxury stocks following a better-than-expected earnings update from Kering limited declines.

India is entering a two-year period of rising interest rates, according to Ajay Srivastava. Banks and gold loan companies are set to benefit significantly. Quick Service Restaurants and Electronics Manufacturing Services companies face challenges. Investors should watch bond markets for signals. This shift presents opportunities and risks across various sectors.

Axis Direct recommends UltraTech Cement, Dalmia Bharat and JK Cement after strong Q3 results, citing capacity expansion, rising demand and cost efficiencies. The brokerage sees upside potential of 814% as market share gains and margins improve over the medium term.

Despite a strong 2025, 2026 presents challenges. Ajay Srivastava highlights monopoly businesses like stock exchanges as key winners, while criticizing Indian IT management. He advises investors to seek technology exposure in US markets and maintain cash for volatility. Patience and selective stock picking are crucial amidst emerging US trade deal uncertainties.

Mutual funds steadily raised stakes in select BSE midcaps since June 2025, and many of these bets paid off. Thirteen stocks delivered sharp rallies of 30-110% over the past year, led by Aditya Birla Capital, highlighting how institutional conviction often aligns with strong midcap returns.

Indian stock markets are advancing, approaching record levels. Experts see continued strength in the Nifty, with support at 25,600. Metals and PSU banks are identified as key performing sectors. Steel Authority of India and Bank of Maharashtra are highlighted as promising stock picks. Broader market participation is increasing as the earnings season concludes.