The Economic Times

Market expert Gurmeet Chadha has raised concerns about unverified news spreading on social media. He warns that such information, especially around market expiry days, can lead to chaotic trading and pose risks to the entire financial system. Chadha highlighted recent false reports about Russian oil shipments and Chinese contractors.

Bharat Coking Coal raised Rs 273 crore from anchor investors at the top price, ahead of its IPO opening January 9. Strong institutional participation reflects renewed interest in PSU listings and confidence in Indias largest coking coal producer.

Indian equities fell for a fourth straight session as geopolitical tensions, US tariff worries, FII outflows and weak global cues hurt sentiment. Nifty slipped below 26,000 and key averages, signalling a bearish shift despite optimism from GDP growth and selective earnings.

Stephen Miran, a Federal Reserve governor whose term ends at the end of January, said Thursday that he is looking for 150 basis points of interest-rate cuts this year to boost the U.S. labor market.

The US trade deficit made a sharp and unexpected pullback in October, reaching its lowest level since 2009 as goods imports dropped while President Donald Trump's tariffs took hold, government data showed Thursday.

Reliance Industries' board will convene on January 16 to review its third-quarter financial results. An analyst meeting will follow to discuss earnings for the quarter and nine months ending December 31, 2025. The company's stock has seen recent declines. Investors await the upcoming financial disclosures.

Global defense stocks climbed on Thursday after President Donald Trump called for a substantial increase in the U.S. military budget, fueling a fresh rally amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Sebi formed a Working Group to craft five- and ten-year technology roadmaps for market infrastructure institutions, focusing on AI, cloud, and emerging technologies. It also revamped stock broker regulations, easing cross-regulatory activities and replacing three-decade-old norms.

Nifty extended losses for a fourth session, slipping below 26,000 and key averages, signalling bearish momentum. Analysts warn of further downside amid rising volatility, but recommend IFB Agro and India Cements as technical buys with defined targets and stop-loss levels.

Shell expects a loss in its chemicals and products business in the fourth quarter due in part to significantly lower oil trading results, the energy giant said in a trading update on Thursday, prompting questions over whether it will maintain the pace of its share buyback programme.

Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Thursday, as investors turned cautious ahead of Friday's crucial nonfarm payrolls report, while defense companies advanced after President Donald Trump called for a $1.5 trillion military budget.

India's Bajaj Group has acquired a 23% stake in its insurance subsidiaries from Allianz SE for 213.90 billion rupees ($2.38 billion), group firm Bajaj Finserv said on Thursday.

India's National Stock Exchange is in discussions with Indian Gas Exchange, or IGX, to develop and launch Indian natural gas futures, the country's largest bourse said on Thursday.

SaaS firm Amagi Media Labs set its IPO price band at Rs 343361 per share for a Rs 1,789 crore issue opening January 13. The offer includes fresh equity and OFS, with proceeds aimed at technology expansion and acquisitions.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) presented a surplus budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year on Wednesday, forecasting a net surplus of Rs 143.05 crore.

Real estate firm Shree KB Realty has bought a 3-acre plot in Greater Noida for Rs 122 crore through an auction process to develop a commercial project.

Indian government bonds fell on Thursday ahead of a debt sale, which is likely to test a market where appetite has taken a hit despite aggressive debt purchases by the central bank.

Market regulator Sebi has overhauled its more than three-decade-old stockbroker regulations, allowing brokers to carry out activities under the framework of other financial regulators, in a move aimed at providing ease of compliance as well as ease of doing business.

Avro India plans to list its wholly-owned subsidiary Avro Recycling by FY28 and raise up to Rs 300 crore through a public issue to support the expansion of its recycling business, a top company official said on Thursday.

Seven BSE 500 stocks, including Bajaj Auto and Polycab, hit fresh 52-week highs even as the broader market slipped, with monthly gains ranging from 5% to 15%.

Nifty Metal stocks fell sharply after a strong rally as profit booking and global commodity index rebalancing triggered volatility. Precious metals like gold and silver saw selling pressure, while Brent crude may attract inflows. Experts say the correction is technical, with long-term supply-demand fundamentals in metals still supportive despite near-term uncertainty.

Indian markets extended losses as the Sensex slid 800 points and the Nifty broke key technical levels amid renewed US tariff concerns. Analysts advise caution, citing geopolitical risks and weak momentum, even as long-term fundamentals remain supportive.

Nifty Metal stocks fell sharply after a strong rally as profit booking, commodity index rebalancing and uncertainty over US Fed rate cuts triggered volatility. Analysts say valuations had priced in a bull case, but underlying demand-supply remains supportive. Short-term earnings may be muted, yet experts see corrections as buying opportunities for long-term investors.

Silver prices, after a record rally to USD 83.60/oz in late 2025, face heightened volatility in 2026. HSBC expects bullish momentum in H1 due to physical market tightness and safe-haven demand, but warns of potential pullbacks in H2 as supply rises, industrial demand weakens, and investor sentiment shifts.

Shares of BHEL and other capital goods stocks tumbled up to 14% after reports said the Finance Ministry may scrap restrictions on Chinese companies bidding for government contracts. BHEL closed nearly 9% lower, while ABB, Siemens and L&T also declined amid broad market weakness and sharp sector-wide selling.

The Indian rupee ended lower on Thursday after a choppy session as fresh, surprise intervention by the Reserve Bank of India was outweighed by tariff worries and equity outflows.

Motilal Oswal expects Nifty Q3 earnings to grow 8% year on year, marking the strongest pace in eight quarters. Oil and gas, autos and NBFCs lead growth, while SBI and Eternal feature among its top stock ideas.

Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath urges IPO investors to track lock-in expiries, warning that post-expiry selling by large shareholders can pressure stocks. He also highlights regulatory limits on broker growth, including SEBIs 15% open interest cap.

Gold and silver prices slid for a second day as Bloomberg Commodity Index rebalancing loomed, prompting heavy futures selling. MCX and COMEX prices fell sharply, with silver more vulnerable after 2025s outsized rally, while near-term pressure persists into January trading.

European shares deepened their pullback on Thursday as investors recalibrated bets following a strong start to the year, with geopolitical risks and major earnings updates in focus.

Vedanta shares fell sharply on Thursday to an intraday low of Rs 595 on the BSE amid a broad metal sector sell-off. Weakness in global and domestic commodity prices, coupled with profit booking after recent highs near Rs 630, pressured the stock, with near-term support seen around Rs 580 for potential buying.

Indian equity markets experienced sharp profit-taking, with the Nifty slipping below the crucial 26,000 mark and breaching 25,950, signaling heightened near-term volatility. Experts anticipate this uncertainty to persist until early next week, awaiting U.S. Supreme Court developments. A potential downside to 25,700 is noted if the Nifty sustains below 26,000.

Veteran investor Manishi Raychaudhuri notes that Indian equities may face a delayed earnings revival, unlike other Asian markets showing early upticks. He highlights a lack of concrete earnings upgrade evidence in India, contrasting with robust trends in North Asia and ASEAN.

Maharashtra has declared January 15, 2026, a public holiday for civic polls, but its still unclear whether financial markets will remain open or closed on the day. The BSE, NSE and MCX have not announced a trading holiday. The date also coincides with the weekly expiry of Sensex derivatives, adding to market uncertainty.

Hindustan Zinc shares fell up to 6.5% to Rs 588 on Thursday, extending a two-day decline that has erased 10% of its value, as silver prices dropped sharply by Rs 7,000 per kg to Rs 2,43,704 on the MCX. Silver ETFs also edged lower, reflecting weakness in the underlying metal and weighing on sentiment for the precious metal producer.

10 microcap stocks have surged up to 200% in FY26, with four turning multibaggers in just nine monthsdid your portfolio capture the rally?

Export-oriented stocks fell sharply on Thursday as fresh US political signals stoked fears of extremely high import duties. Shares of seafood, textile, pharmaceutical, and metal companies dropped amid concerns that a proposed bipartisan Russia sanctions bill could raise tariffs on Russian imports to 500%, potentially affecting countries like India, China, and Brazil, triggering investor caution over global trade risks.

Asian equities have started 2026 strongly, driven by fiscal expansion in developed markets and persistent geopolitical tensions. Rising commodity prices, particularly base metals, are linked to AI-driven demand. Investor Manishi Raychaudhuri remains positive on Asian equities, with a selective overweight on India, favoring financials, discretionary consumption, commodities, and industrials.

Indian markets remain selective as Q3 updates highlight strength in Tata Steel, early recovery signs in IT, and improving BFSI outlook. Safeguard duties support steel prices, while valuation comfort is drawing institutional interest into IT stocks. Consumer discretionary looks better placed than durables, even as investors stay cautious on platforms and high-competition segments.

Laurus Labs shares are surging, hitting a new all-time high near Rs 1,128.50. Analysts see strong bullish momentum, with the stock trading above key moving averages and a rising RSI. Immediate resistance is at Rs 1,150, with a potential rally towards Rs 1,233.

Japan's Nikkei share average fell for a second day, impacted by profit-taking in AI stocks and escalating trade tensions with China. The Nikkei 225 dropped 1.6%, extending Wednesday's decline, as China launched an anti-dumping probe into Japanese chipmaking chemicals. SoftBank Group was a significant loser, sliding 7.6%.

Why market is down today? Indian stock markets are experiencing a significant downturn. Benchmarks have fallen for four consecutive sessions. Investors are reacting to global geopolitical issues and potential U.S. tariffs. Corporate earnings reports are also mixed. This combination of factors is causing a broad market decline. The Sensex and Nifty 50 have both seen substantial losses.

Silver price crash: Silver prices experienced a sharp Rs 10,000 intraday fall on Thursday, following a record rally. HSBC warns of unsustainable levels and high volatility, citing weakening industrial and jewelry demand. While institutional buying offers near-term support, rising mine output and recycling are expected to temper long-term price gains, suggesting a volatile outlook for silver in 2026.

Kalyan Jewellers shares slipped marginally on Thursday despite a strong Q3 update, with consolidated revenue surging 42% YoY on festive-driven demand. Same-store sales rose 27%, international revenue grew 36%, and Candere posted a 147% jump.

The Indian rupee saw a rebound on Thursday following intervention by the Reserve Bank of India, though its long-term stability remains a concern for bankers. Despite the RBI's efforts to strengthen the currency, experts advise importers to hedge against potential future depreciation due to an uncertain trade deal outlook and subdued foreign inflows.

Shares of NALCO fell on Thursday, ending a four-day, 14% rally, as profit booking hit Indias metals sector. All 15 stocks on the Nifty Metal index traded lower amid cooling global commodity prices and stretched valuations.

Speculation about changes to insurance commissions is back on Dalal Street. This is raising concerns for distributors and insurers. Analysts warn that stock prices might not fully reflect these potential regulatory shifts. While the December quarter shows strong momentum for insurers, especially in health and term plans, any commission cuts could hurt volumes. Policybazaar also faces uncertainty.

As of January 8, the IPOs grey market premium (GMP) is around Rs 11.5, implying a 50% premium over the upper end of the price band of Rs 23.

India's residential real estate saw robust sales in 2025, exceeding 3.48 lakh units despite a slight year-on-year dip. Premium housing dominated, accounting for nearly 50% of sales, while affordable segments experienced a decline. The market is now consolidating at higher levels, with stable absorption and disciplined supply expected in 2026.