The Economic Times

The price of silver reached $100 in trading Friday, profiting from its safe-haven status amid unrest surrounding the policies of US President Donald Trump. Silver, which has doubled its price in just 3.5 months, reached $100.11 an ounce, also on strong demand for the metal that is used in solar panels and electronics as well as for making jewellery.

Shriram Finance reported a 29% drop in third quarter net profit at Rs 2,522 crore as against Rs 3,570 crore. The company attributed the fall in profit to the exceptional gain of Rs 1489 crore it received for sale of its stake in subsidiary Shriram Housing Finance.

MCX posted a sharp Q3FY26 surge, with profit up 151% and revenue rising 121%, driven by booming derivatives volumes, strong bullion participation, new product launches and expanding options activity, supported by governance focus and readiness.

Intel's shares plunged 14% on Friday after the company struggled to meet strong artificial intelligence-driven demand for data-center chips due to supply constraints, disappointing investors betting on its turnaround.

BPCL posted an 89% surge in Q3FY26 net profit to Rs 7,188 crore on higher refining margins and revenue growth. The oil PSU also declared a Rs 10 interim dividend, while maintaining a stronger balance sheet with lower leverage.

U.S. stocks opened mostly lower on Friday, putting the main indexes on track for a second consecutive weekly drop, as Intel tumbled on a downbeat outlook and lingering geopolitical concerns kept risk appetite in check.

Kotak Mahindra Bank is expected to post modest Q3FY26 profit growth of 13%, aided by steady loan expansion, stable margins and improving asset quality. Brokerages see resilient earnings, controlled credit costs and moderate NII growth ahead of results on January 24.

Indian stock markets and commodity exchanges will remain closed on January 26 for Republic Day. Trading resumes January 27. The holiday begins a 15-day closure calendar for 2026, as investors navigate markets amid global trade tensions, FII outflows and earnings.

Luxury fashion platform Pernias Pop-Up Shop is heading for the stock market after Sebi cleared parent Purple Style Labs Rs 660 crore IPO. Backed by celebrity investors, the digital-first brand has posted rapid revenue growth and built a strong domestic and global presence.

Indias IPO pipeline gained momentum as Sebi approved 12 offerings across sectors. Sify Infinit Spaces Rs 3,700 crore issue, Indias first pure-play data centre IPO, leads the list, highlighting rising investor appetite for digital infrastructure and diversified growth stories.

UltraTech Cement is expected to post a steady Q3FY26 performance driven by strong volume growth, healthy revenue expansion and improved profitability. Brokerages estimate a QoQ PAT rise of up to 25% and revenue growth of up to 11%, supported by better demand, higher capacity utilisation and easing cost pressures.

Adani Green, Ixigo, Paytm and other major stocks saw sharp moves on Friday as markets slipped amid broad-based selling.

Indian government bonds fell on Friday, ending a three-day winning streak, as traders feared the market may struggle to absorb fresh state debt supply next week.

Seven BSE 200 stocks, including Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta, hit fresh 52-week highs on Friday despite a market slump, extending their strong 1-month rallies of up to 17%.

Urban Company slipped to a Rs 21 crore Q3 loss as heavy investment in InstaHelp hurt earnings, despite 33% revenue growth. Core businesses stayed profitable, margins improved, and management expects continued growth while near-term losses persist from expanding housekeeping services.

Hindustan Zincs market value crossed Rs 3 lakh crore after a threefold surge in silver prices propelled the stock to the top of Indias metals sector. Shares jumped over 6% on Friday, with the company overtaking peers including parent Vedanta. Strong fundamentals and rising silver prices have prompted multiple broker upgrades.

Adani Power raised Rs 7,500 crore through NCDs from major domestic institutions to refinance debt and fund operations. The fundraising comes amid sharp selling in Adani stocks, even as investors cite strong fundamentals, expansion plans, and a relatively conservative balance sheet.

IndusInd Bank Q3 Results: IndusInd Bank's net profit saw a significant drop of 88.5% year-on-year for the December quarter. Despite this, the profit was in line with market expectations. Net interest income decreased, but net interest margins improved. The bank's balance sheet size and advances also saw a decline. Non-performing assets increased, while the provision coverage ratio improved. Capital adequacy ratios remained strong.

JSW Steel Q3 Results: JSW Steel announced a significant 198% year-on-year surge in its consolidated net profit for the December quarter, reaching Rs 2,139 crore. This impressive growth was accompanied by an 11% year-on-year increase in its Q3FY26 revenue, which stood at Rs 45,991 crore.

India Cements posted a smaller third-quarter loss on Friday compared to a year earlier, helped by a 25% jump in sales volumes as parent UltraTech Cement ramps up capacity to meet an uptick in demand.

Cipla shares dropped 5% after reporting a 57% year-on-year decline in net profit to Rs 676 crore, impacted by a fall in gRevlimid sales. Revenue remained flat at Rs 7,074 crore, with EBITDA also declining. The company plans upcoming launches to offset revenue decline and drive future growth.

Strong December quarter results highlight a powerful smallcap rally, with many firms posting over 25% profit growth. Several stocks delivered 50150% returns, including multibaggers, underscoring how earnings momentum, scale, and execution are translating into sustained shareholder wealth creation.

JM Financials Venkatesh Balasubramaniam says Indian equity valuations remain stretched despite recent correction, with real opportunities emerging gradually in smallcaps and microcaps. He advises staggered investing over 612 months, expects limited upside from largecaps in 2026, sees Budget as non-market-moving, and prefers consumer, auto, NBFC, hotel and real estate stocks while staying cautious on banks, IT, utilities and pharma.

Adani Green Q3 Results: Adani Green reported a net loss of Rs 41 crore in the December quarter, a shift from last year's profit. Despite this, total income climbed 8% year-on-year to Rs 2,837 crore. The company's power supply segment saw robust growth, with revenue up 21% and EBITDA by 23%, fueled by significant greenfield capacity additions and new project commissioning.

The selloff follows management commentary on resilient operating performance during December, a month marked by industry-wide disruptions after large-scale IndiGo flight cancellations and rescheduling across the country.

Shares of Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Ltd rallied as much as 3% to their fresh 52-week high of Rs 699 on the BSE on Friday after copper prices bounced back to inch closer to its fresh high of $13,407 on the London Metal Exchange. Zinc prices also edged higher by about a percent.

Shriram Finance Q3 results: Shriram Finance reported a 29% YoY fall in its December quarter standalone net profit at Rs 2,522 crore compared to Rs 3,570 crore reported in the year ago period.

The Indian rupee plunged to a fresh all-time low on Friday, as dollar demand from corporates and importers outweighed early moves and compounded existing pressure on the currency.

Indian equities experienced a sharp decline on Friday, with the Sensex and Nifty erasing early gains due to persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) selling. FIIs offloaded equities worth Rs 2,550 crore on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive session of net selling in January, significantly impacting market sentiment and capitalization.

Cipla Q3 Results: Cipla reported a 57% YoY drop in net profit to Rs 676 crore, impacted by lower gRevlimid sales in North America. Despite this, the company's One India business saw double-digit growth in branded prescriptions, and upcoming launches are expected to offset future revenue declines.

Adani Group stocks tumbled up to 10% after the US SEC sought court permission to email summons to Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani regarding an alleged $265 million bribery scheme. India had previously rejected official requests for service, citing procedural grounds. The SEC is pursuing the case, which involves allegations of bribing Indian officials and misleading US investors.

India's market regulator has accused top executives from PwC and EY, along with global private equity firms Carlyle and Advent, of insider trading. The allegations stem from a 2022 Yes Bank share sale. SEBI claims these individuals shared confidential information, leading to unlawful gains. This action highlights a crackdown on market manipulation and insider trading in India.

Market expert Sandip Sabharwal suggests real estate stock pessimism may be misplaced due to accounting practices, highlighting DLF, Godrej Properties, and Prestige as selective buying opportunities. He also sees potential in large banks and select NBFCs, with midcaps and smallcaps offering the best risk-reward over two years.

Eternal shares have fallen, erasing nearly $2 billion in market value, despite brokerages raising target prices, creating uncertainty for investors. The decline comes even as Blinkit turned EBITDA-positive amid intense competition, and a leadership change with CEO Deepinder Goyal stepping down may have added to market jitters.

Paytm's stock experienced a significant drop due to market worries about the Payment Infrastructure Development Fund. This scheme's potential discontinuation could impact digital payment providers. However, a brokerage firm has initiated coverage with a positive outlook, forecasting substantial growth. Meanwhile, domestic mutual funds have reduced their holdings in Paytm for the first time since its debut.

The rally has spilled into Indian markets, where silver-linked exchange-traded funds have posted outsized gains. Tata Silver ETF jumped 17%, while Nippon India Silver ETF, DSP Silver ETF, and ICICI Prudential Silver ETF rallied about 1011%. MCX Silver March futures were trading around 2.2% higher at roughly Rs 334,600 per kg.

Market expert Sandip Sabharwal highlights opportunities in strong large-cap stocks amidst volatility. He sees potential in InterGlobe Aviation due to its financial strength and market dominance. The IT sector offers moderate returns with improving order signings. Sabharwal advises extreme caution on financial stocks, especially after the IIFL episode.

IndiGrid Infrastructure Trust successfully raised Rs 1,500 crore via an oversubscribed institutional placement, attracting significant participation from insurance and mutual funds. This capital infusion, alongside a prior preferential issue, brings their total FY26 equity fundraising to Rs 1,938 crore. The move bolsters their balance sheet, enabling disciplined growth and enhancing unitholder value.

ideaForge Technology's shares dropped 5% after reporting a widened net loss of Rs 33.85 crore in the December quarter, despite a 79% revenue jump. Elevated material costs significantly compressed gross margins to 23.7%. The company, however, sees a strong order book and anticipates improving margins and profitability in the upcoming quarter.

India's insurance sector is set for a major transformation. New reforms are expected to bring global standards and boost insurance coverage across the nation. This move aims to address the current low penetration levels and offer better products to the public. The changes are designed to improve pricing and accessibility, paving the way for sustainable growth in the insurance industry.

Veteran investors Ashish Kacholia, Mukul Agrawal, Vijay Kedia and Dolly Khanna remained active in Q3 FY26, selectively adding new stocks, raising stakes and trimming exposure amid a sharp selloff in smallcap equities.

Silvers sharp rally has boosted Indian silver ETFs, led by a 17% jump in Tata Silver ETF, as global prices near the key $100 level. Gold and silver hit record highs amid geopolitical tensions, a weaker dollar and expectations of Fed rate cuts.

Tanla Platforms shares surged 11.87% to Rs 501.85 after reporting double-digit revenue and profit growth for Q3 FY26. Net sales rose 12% YoY to Rs 1,121 crore, with net profit up 11% to Rs 131 crore. The company's CEO hailed the quarter as a milestone, with strong performance across all key metrics.

President Trumps mortgage bond plan is offering only marginal relief, with Reuters noting limited impact on mortgage rates and persistent affordability pressures. Analysts say structural supply shortagesnot financingare the main constraint on the U.S. housing market. Meanwhile, rising Treasury yields and geopolitical risks threaten to push borrowing costs higher.

Bitcoin is trading in a narrow range near $89,800 as investors await fresh triggers. Analysts cite weak liquidity, ETF outflows and macro uncertainty, though price stability near $90,000 suggests underlying conviction remains intact despite broader market caution.

Indian equity markets show resilience despite recent incremental weakness, with the broader outlook dependent on earnings visibility and global developments. While current earnings are mixed, a rebound is anticipated later in the year, driven by inventory rationalization and stronger growth expectations. Global events, particularly US trade policy, remain a key overhang, though potential trade deals could boost sentiment.

Central bank independence is crucial for economic stability, as it helps control inflation and maintain confidence. Research shows that political interference in monetary policy often leads to higher inflation, currency weakness and slower growth.

Mark Mobius says Indias recent market correction is driven by FII outflows, weak rupee, higher oil prices and global uncertainty, not a broken growth story. He expects earnings-led FII return, reforms and infrastructure push in the Budget, stays bullish on India over China long term, and recommends equities alongside gold and silver for diversification.