India Today
์ค๋ ์ฑํฅ
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4-year-old dies, 2 children test positive for Shigella infection in Kerala
4-year-old dies, 2 children test positive for Shigella infection in Kerala
๐ฎ๐ณ ์ธ๋ ยท "POSITIVE" ยท ์ด 52๊ฑด
ํํฐ ๋ณด๊ธฐํ์ฌ ์ง์
50.0
0 = ๋ถ์ ์ฐ์ธ
50 = ์ค๋ฆฝ
100 = ๊ธ์ ์ฐ์ธ
์ต๊ทผ 7์ผ ๊ธฐ์ค 5,111๊ฑด์ ๋ถ์ํ ๊ฒฐ๊ณผ, ๋ด์ค ์ฌ๋ฆฌ์ง์๋ 50.0(๊ท ํ)์ ๋๋ค. ๊ธ์ 0๊ฑด(0.0%)ยท์ค๋ฆฝ 5,111๊ฑด(100.0%)ยท๋ถ์ 0๊ฑด(0.0%)์ด๋ฉฐ, ์ค๋ฆฝ ๋น์ค์ด ๋๋ ทํ๊ฒ ๋์ต๋๋ค. ์ฑํฅ ์ง์๋ ์ข ํฉ 11.6(์ค๋ ๊ท ํ)์ ๋๋ค.
4-year-old dies, 2 children test positive for Shigella infection in Kerala
The continued rise in leverage among retail and high-net-worth investors through derivatives and margin trading facilities (MTFs) remains a key concern for the market, S Naren, Executive Director and CIO of ICICI Prudential AMC said at ICICI Securities India Investor Conference 2026.While there has been significant discussion around the sustainability of mutual fund inflows and SIP contributions, Naren believes leverage in the derivatives market poses a much bigger risk than any moderation in mutual fund investments.Also Read | Sensex down over 10K points from Dec peak. Should investors buy the dip, hold positions, or wait on sidelines? "The level of leverage in the derivatives market and the amount of margin trading funding taken from brokers have continued to increase. That is a concern because leverage among retail and HNI investors is rising," he said.According to Naren, even if SIP inflows witness a marginal slowdown, it is unlikely to pose a significant challenge as mutual fund investors are typically long-term participants who invest without leverage. In contrast, derivative traders often operate with borrowed money, increasing risks during periods of market volatility.He noted that margin trading facility exposure is currently at its highest-ever level, highlighting the growing appetite for leveraged market participation.Against this backdrop, Naren sees an interesting contrarian opportunity emerging in segments that have witnessed relentless foreign institutional investor (FII) selling over the last 20 months."If you look for something contrarian today, it would be stocks where FIIs have been persistent sellers over the last 20 months," he said.Among these, private sector banks stand out as one of the most attractive investment opportunities for long-term investors, according to Naren.He believes private banks could emerge as the best-performing sector over the next three years. One key reason is the significant reduction in foreign ownership resulting from sustained FII selling.Also Read | Four mutual funds restrict large inflows into gold ETFs and FoFs; Rs 25 crore cap imposed "FIIs used to have nearly 40% of their India portfolios allocated to private banks. Whenever they wanted to reduce exposure to India, private banks became the natural source of liquidity," Naren explained.As a result, FIIs have consistently sold private banking stocks over the last 20 months, creating a valuation opportunity for long-term investors willing to take a contrarian view.Beyond equities, Naren remains optimistic about India's debt markets following recent policy measures aimed at improving foreign investor participation.According to him, two critical factors that influence foreign investment in debt marketsโcurrency stability and taxationโhave both moved decisively in India's favour."In debt, there are two factors: currency and taxation. Both have turned very positive, which significantly improves India's attractiveness," he said.Naren believes these developments improve India's chances of gaining inclusion in global bond indices such as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index and have contributed to a highly optimistic mood in the domestic debt market.He pointed out that bond yields have moved well below policy rates in several segments, particularly in three-year corporate bonds, creating attractive investment opportunities.However, Naren cautioned that the global fixed-income environment today is very different from what prevailed during the 2013 taper tantrum period.At that time, interest rates across much of the developed world were close to zero, making India's bond yields highly attractive to international investors. Today, investors can earn meaningful returns even in developed-market government bonds."US 30-year government bonds are yielding around 5%, and even Japanese government bond yields are at levels not seen for decades," he said.As a result, the yield differential between India and developed markets has narrowed significantly compared with 2013.Also Read | Gold and silver ETFs slip up to 8% amid Israel attack and crude oil spike. What should investors do? While India has strengthened its macroeconomic position considerably over the past decade, global investors now have a wider range of attractive fixed-income options available to them.Naren also highlighted the relatively small size of foreign portfolio investor exposure to Indian debt compared with equities.According to him, FPI debt investments remain only a fraction of FPI equity allocations. In contrast, foreign investors had built substantial equity positions in India during a period when domestic valuations traded at significant premiums to other emerging markets.He noted that Indian equities became exceptionally expensive after 2023 as domestic investors increasingly channelled savings into equities rather than debt."Valuations in India reached levels that were several times higher than markets like China. In such an environment, FIIs logically chose to reduce equity exposure," he said.At the same time, India has historically adopted a cautious approach towards opening its debt markets to foreign investors.Naren believes this measured approach has helped preserve financial stability while gradually increasing foreign participation in government securities.With improving debt market fundamentals, supportive policy measures, and attractive opportunities emerging in sectors overlooked by foreign investors, Naren sees both fixed income and select equity segments offering compelling opportunities for long-term investors.Commenting on the recent correction in Kospi, Naren said that it is a healthy correction but even now I don't think on market cap terms it is cheap.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in alongwith your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.
Hardwyn India, a provider of kitchen, door, glass, wardrobe and sliding hardware solutions, has announced a bonus issue in the ratio of 2:5 for its shareholders.In an exchange filing released on Friday, Hardwyn India said that its board of directors met on June 5 to consider and approve the issuance of โbonus equity shares in the ratio of 2:5 i.e., 2 bonus equity shares of Rs 1 each fully paid-up for every 5 equity shares of Rs 1 each fully paid-up held by the shareholders of the company as on the record date, by capitalization of free reserves/retained earnings, subject to the approval of members in Extraordinary General Meetingโ.Along with the bonus issue, Hardwynโs board also approved increasing the companyโs authorised share capital from the existing Rs 50 crore, divided into 50 crore shares with a face value of Rs 1 each, to Rs 70 crore, divided into 70 crore equity shares with a face value of Rs 1 each. Also read: Why is the stock market crashing today?The Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) where the bonus issue will be voted on is scheduled for July 3 this year. The company set June 26 as the cut-off date to determine who can vote in the EGM.Hardwyn India bonus issue record dateAs part of the bonus issue, the company proposed to issue nearly 19.54 crore new shares for its shareholders, using its free reserves or retained earnings, which stood at Rs 19.65 crore at the end of the financial year 2026.The record date to determine the eligibility of shareholders for the 2:5 bonus issue is yet to be announced. Hardwyn said that the bonus issue is expected to be dispatched within two months of the boardโs approval, that is, by August 4.A bonus issue consists of free shares distributed by a company from its reserves and is often seen as a sign of strong financial health and growth prospects. While the issue of bonus shares increases the total number of outstanding shares, it does not change the companyโs market capitalisation. However, it can improve liquidity and affordability, allowing more investors to add shares of the company to their portfolio.Anand Rathi names Hardwyn India as its pick of the monthAnand Rathi Investment Services named Hardwyn India as its pick of the month in its report dated June 2, highlighting that the stock is currently trading near its 20 DEMA support. โAdditionally, the DMI indicators are positively aligned, while the ADX is placed at 32, reflecting strong trend strength and supporting the possibility of further upside momentum,โ it said.โTherefore, traders may consider accumulating the stock in the Rs 24.50โ25.50 zone, with a stop-loss at Rs 22.50. On the upside, the stock has the potential to move towards the Rs 30 target in the near term, provided it sustains above the mentioned support levels,โ it added. The target price implies an upside potential of nearly 23% from the stockโs previous closing price of Rs 24.41 apiece.Hardwyn India share priceHardwyn India shares declined nearly 1% to trade at Rs 24.21 apiece, at around 11.05 am on Monday. The stock has fallen around 4% in five days and 2% in one month. Overall, the shares of the company are, however, up over 44% in 2026 so far.Also read: Nestle among Nuvama's top 5 consumer picks after Q4 earnings season. Do you own any?(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
New Delhi: Jack Danielโs whiskey maker Brown-Formanโs India managing director Gaurav Sabharwal said the US spirits company is โkeenly watchingโ developments on the India-United States trade deal. โThe positive signs have been there. We are very keenly watching that space because most of our business comes from American whiskey.โ The first phase of the bilateral trade agreement between the two countries may be finalised by mid-July, according to government officials. While the US and India discussed a possible trade deal earlier this year, discussions slowed down amid talks on sweeping tariffs.Brown-Forman, which operates as a 100% subsidiary in India, imports its full portfolio and doesnโt manufacture locally as of now. โFrom an overall impact, with inflation going up, petrol prices, transportation - that is going to put some pressure. The other is that as the consumers start looking at fighting inflation, discretionary spend is obviously the first thing that takes a knock. So we are keeping a close watch.โSabharwal said the West Asia war has โso far, not impacted its business in India, adding though that the spirits maker is keeping a close watch on any ripple effect that inflation and supply disruptions may have.โThe Kentucky-based spirits maker recently rejected two potential deals - a nearly $15 billion takeover offer from the US bourbon whisky maker Sazerac and merger talks with French spirits company Pernod Ricard. Last week, the spirits maker reported better-than-expected sales for the March โ26 quarter aided by steady demand for premium spirits, but cautioned about impact on consumer spending behaviour for the year. "We anticipate the operating environment for โfiscal 2027 to remain challenging, as macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical instability continue to negatively impact consumer behaviour and beverage alcohol consumption, particularly within developed markets," the company said in its earnings statement.Sabharwal said ready-to-drink concepts like Jack & Coke โare a growing space in India, but small.โ India had introduced Jack & Coke about three years back in select markets such as Goa, Haryana and Bengaluru. โIt's something which works pretty well with the legal drinking age - 25-30 years old. RTD is a growing space, but a smaller space as far as the Indian spirits and beer consumption goes. So we are still figuring out the rollout plan because one of the critical things is to get the pricing right and obviously one has to make the margins as well. The demand is there, but we just need to manage the system a little better.โ BrownโForman Corporation reported fourth quarter net sales increase by 2% to $912 million compared to the same year-ago period. Operating income decreased 53% to $96 million.For the India unit, while the mainstay remains Jack Danielโs, Sabharwal said the company is gradually building its portfolio to include Woodford Reserve and Herradura.โOne of the biggest mindset shifts is that the propensity to spend has gone up pretty much over the last 10 years. It's about people getting into the legal drinking age and numbers estimate that over the next five years we are going to be adding 20 million people into the legal drinking age every year. The legal drinking age will move anywhere between 18 to 25. Then there is change in social conditioning. Penetration numbers are also increasing. So you have a huge cohort coming in,โ he said.
With the benchmark index - BSE Sensex down by over 10,000 basis points to a level of 74,243 as of June 6, 2026, has left many investors wondering whether to continue SIPs and lump-sum investments during the current market decline, hold current positions or wait for greater clarity on market direction?Market experts believe that investors should see this 10,000 point correction as a buying opportunity rather than a reason to panic.Vishal Dhawan, Founder & CEO, Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors told ETMutualFunds that investors should view this 10,000-point Sensex correction as a long-term buying opportunity as market drawdowns are natural processes that shake out speculative premiums, resetting valuations to fundamentally healthier levels.Also Read | Multicap or flexicap mutual fund for a 20-year SIP? Expert explains what investors should choose โLong-term investors can continue their Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and hold current positions firmly. Pausing allocations to "wait for clarity" is a psychological trap that historically locks investors out of the sharpest days of a market rebound.โDhawan further said that while regular SIPs are key to an investment journey, panic selling must be completely avoided; use this market decline to methodically build an equity baseline designed to reward your patience when economic sentiment inevitably swings back to optimism at some point in the future and it is critical to have a minimum 5-7 year investment horizon whilst investing.Echoing a similar opinion of considering this as a buying opportunity rather than a reason to panic, Amitabh Lara, Executive Director, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited shared with ETMutualFunds that for long-term investors, this is not the time to stop investing.Amitabh further said that continuing SIPs during a fall can actually work in your favour because the same investment amount buys more units at lower prices and one of the biggest mistakes investors make is stopping SIPs during a correction and returning only after the recovery has already happened.The benchmark index which touched a peak of 84,391 on December 10, 2025, is now down by nearly 10,148 points to a level of 74,243 as of June 6, 2026.As the market becomes volatile, investors as well as the fund managers keep cash in hand and wait for the opportunity to deploy it in the market but with a dilemma whether to deploy cash immediately or stagger investments over time.Amitabh said that if investors have idle cash available then they can go ahead and invest as a lumpsum and funds can be deployed in a staggered manner through tranches, over 6 to 8 weeks. โIt also removes the stress of trying to time the exact bottom. If they have SIPs, they can continue it without worrying about the market level and take advantage of rupee cost averaging.โDhawan said that for investors sitting on cash, a staggered deployment strategy via a 6-month to 12 month Systematic Transfer Plan (STP) is highly recommended as this approach could hedge your principal against intermediate downside volatility.He further said that investors should avoid deploying an absolute lumpsum at current levels, as picking the exact market bottom is a statistical myth and tranche-based buying ensures you average out your entry costs across multiple lower price bands smoothly.โPark your liquid capital in low-duration instruments and systematically route it into equity. This automated execution effectively replaces portfolio anxiety with disciplined benefits. In case you wish to deploy a lumpsum, and not do a STP, an investment in the Balanced Advantage category is suggested.โ Dhawan said.How equity categories performedETMutualFunds checked the performance of equity mutual funds since December 10, 2025. Small cap funds have delivered an average return of 6.06% since the date BSE Sensex touched the new peak, followed by mid cap funds which gave an average return of 2.58%.Also Read | Nippon India Mutual Fund limits subscription in Gold BeES and gold savings fund In contrast, the counterparts, large cap funds gave a negative average return of 6.26% since December 10, 2025. Multi cap funds gave an average return of 0.06% whereas flexi cap funds fell 2.95% on an average in the said time period.Out of 10 equity categories, only three gave positive average returns which were small caps, mid caps and multi caps whereas the other categories such as large caps, contra funds, ELSS, flexi, focused, value and large & mid caps gave negative average returns.Which market-cap segment could lead the recovery?Dhawan said that large-cap stocks are typically best positioned to lead the initial recovery wave when domestic and foreign institutional flows return and their robust cash flows, operational scale, and institutional backing provide an essential fundamental moat.He further said that mid-caps may require stock-specific elements to perform, as many names went up significantly during the previous bull cycle; small caps should be approached with high caution and patience, as they remain prone to sharp liquidity outflows during market corrections. โLimit small-cap exposure if you can handle the volatility and have a longer time horizon of 7-10 years for mid and small caps.โLara said that small caps appear to have the most room for upside when markets recover. Currently, Nifty Smallcap 250 is trading about 17.4% below its fair value, compared with 9.6% for the Nifty Midcap 150 and around 5-9% for large-cap indices. Hence, small caps have corrected more than large caps and mid caps relative to their earnings potential.He further said that investors can have a balanced exposure across market caps, with 55% in large caps and the rest in mid and small caps to be a part of the eventual recovery that will follow in the markets.BSE Sensex: In the last six months, the index was down 13.38% and in the nine months, it was down 8.01%. In the last one year, Sensex was down 8.83% whereas in the last three years and five years it was up 5.74% and 7.33% respectively.Sector allocation becomes particularly important during market corrections as valuation gaps emerge across industries. The question is whether investors should actively target beaten-down sectors or focus on broader diversification.In response to this, Lara said investors should avoid investing in single sectors or making sectoral bets as performance in sectors/themes is highly cyclical. For example, in 2024, the pharma & IT sectors were part of the best-performing sectors, however, they both turned into worst-performing sectors in 2025, which suggest that entry and exit at the right time play a crucial role in making investments in the sectorial/thematic funds.Also Read |HDFC Mutual Fund limits subscription in its gold ETF and FoF. What this means for investors? During such corrections, it would be more beneficial for investors to invest in diversified categories of equity mutual funds to get exposure to all sectors and benefit from their performance, rather than focusing solely on any single sector, Lara further said.Dhawan said to prioritize accumulating high-quality banking and financial services funds as these segments offer good earnings visibility, corrected price multiples, and fundamentally strong underlying balance sheets.He further said systematic accumulation of Information Technology (IT) funds could be attributed to these deep valuation resets as they are cash-rich franchises with low debt. However, they do face business model risk. Conversely, stay away from Utilities and capital goods as valuations look well above their long term averages.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in along with your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.
While warning about the risk of a looming oil shock, Groww Mutual Fundโs equity chief, CA Anupam Tiwari, says multicap strategy together with bottom-up investing can work well in this market.Although there might be valuation concerns in some specific areas, the overall investment environment for active stock picking in mid and small caps has improved to some extent, he says in an interview with ET Markets.Edited excerpts from a chat:Markets have recovered from recent corrections despite geopolitical tensions. What is the market pricing that investors may be underestimating?Markets are showing signs of recovery from the fall due to the prospects of de-escalation and continued talks regarding the resolution of the Middle East crisis. Nevertheless, one possible threat that investors might be overlooking is the possibility of prolonged geopolitical instability that can cause oil prices to remain elevated for an extended period.Sustained higher energy prices could have broader implications for inflation, currency stability, corporate profitability, and economic growth. While markets appear to be pricing in a relatively benign outcome, any disruption that results in persistently elevated crude prices could have a more meaningful impact on the macroeconomic environment than is currently reflected in markets.With valuations still elevated in parts of the market, how should investors think about allocating money across large-, mid- and small-cap stocks today?Broad concerns regarding valuation levels in the market have cooled off in recent months. At the current juncture, close to one-third of the mid-cap space is priced below its five-year average valuation levels, whereas nearly half of the small-cap space is trading below its own five-year average valuation levels.Under these circumstances, although there might be valuation concerns in some specific areas, the overall investment environment for active stock picking in mid and small caps has improved to some extent. Here, a multicap strategy together with bottom-up investing can work well in uncovering better businesses.The multicap category has seen rising investor interest. What advantages does a multicap strategy offer in the current market environment compared to pure large-cap or mid-cap approaches?While the current phase is marked by heightened volatility, volatility is often uneven across segments. In such an environment, a multicap strategy may provide disciplined exposure across market caps within a single portfolio.This allows investors the relative stability and earnings visibility of larger companies, while also participating in the long-term growth potential of mid- and small-cap businesses. By maintaining exposure across segments, a multicap approach can help reduce over-reliance on any single category and provide a more balanced way to navigate changing market conditions.One of the key benefits of a multicap strategy is that it removes the burden of market-cap allocation from investors. Determining when to allocate across segments can be challenging, particularly as market leadership often shifts across cycles. A multicap strategy addresses this by embedding this decision within a disciplined investment framework, freeing investors from having to make often difficult and timing-sensitive allocation calls.From a long-term perspective, multicap funds can serve as a core equity allocation for investors, enabling investors to participate in India's growth story through a combination of established market leaders and emerging businesses.Many retail investors continue to favour mid- and small-caps despite recent volatility. Is the risk-reward equation still attractive in these segments?While mid- and small-cap stocks are generally more exposed during periods of market volatility, the opportunity set within these segments has improved as valuations have moderated across several pockets of the market while business fundamentals have remained intact and even improved in several pockets.Rather than looking at mid and small caps as segments, investors should focus on a disciplined investment framework. Selective opportunities continue to exist despite volatility, making active stock selection increasingly important in determining outcomes.Which sectors currently offer the strongest earnings visibility, and where are you finding opportunities despite market volatility?We continue to focus on sectors where earnings visibility remains relatively strong despite broader market volatility. Financials remain a key area of interest, supported by reasonable valuations, stable asset quality, improving credit growth, and a favorable funding environment, particularly within select NBFCs and mid-sized financial institutions.Within industrials, we remain constructive on themes such as power transmission & distribution, renewable energy, and defence, where order books remain healthy and policy support continues to drive long-term demand. In the auto space, we continue to see opportunities linked to premium consumption trends, EV adoption, and select auto-component manufacturers benefiting from structural drivers such as exports, and regulatory and policy changes.We are also positive on specialty chemicals, particularly businesses with strong contract manufacturing franchises, niche product portfolios, and long-term customer relationships. If you had to allocate fresh money today, which market-cap segment would receive the highest allocation and why?Our equity investment philosophy, QGaRP (Quality and Growth at a Reasonable Price), is market-cap agnostic and driven primarily by stock selection rather than segment-level calls. We seek to invest in businesses that combine high quality management, growth potential, and valuation comfort.That said, our multicap strategy has historically maintained a growth-oriented tilt towards mid- and small-cap companies. With valuations having moderated across several pockets of the mid- and small-cap universe, we believe the environment has become more conducive in these segments for active stock selection.As a result, while we continue to maintain a diversified allocation across market caps, we remain constructive on selectively identifying opportunities within the mid- and small-cap space where fundamentals, growth prospects, and valuations are aligned with our philosophy.
The Indian stock market ended last week in the red, with analysts flagging multiple factors that could keep pressure on Sensex and Nifty when trading resumes on Monday.On Friday, the Sensex closed 117 points lower at 74,243, while the Nifty 50 declined 50 points to settle at 23,367. Among the top laggards on the Sensex were Trent, TCS, Tata Steel, NTPC, HCL Tech, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Reliance Industries, with losses of 1-2%.Here are five key factors likely to drive the stock market in the week ahead.1) Weak global cuesWall Street ended sharply lower on Friday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq plunging more than 4% to log its steepest single-day decline since April 2025, after a stronger-than-expected US jobs report fuelled concerns that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer.The Nasdaq Composite tumbled 4.2%, dragged down by a more than 6% slide in Nvidia and an almost 8% drop in Broadcom. Broadcomโs weaker-than-expected guidance heightened concerns that AI-driven demand may not expand as rapidly as markets had anticipated. The Dow Jones fell 1.4%, while the S&P 500 dropped nearly 3%.European markets closed mixed, while Asian equities ended broadly lower. Japanโs Nikkei 225 and Hong Kongโs Hang Seng declined more than 1%, while South Koreaโs Kospi plunged nearly 6%. Chinaโs Shanghai Composite also ended about 1% lower.Also read: Why did Nasdaq plunge 4% to log worst day in over a year2) RBI policy impactReserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday announced that the central bankโs Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, as it assessed the impact of rising energy prices and supply disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict. The RBI also increased the investment limit for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) in equity instruments.Indian equity markets are likely to remain range-bound next week amid a mix of domestic and global triggers, according to Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research, Wealth Management, at Motilal Oswal Financial Services.โWhile the Reserve Bank of Indiaโs measures to attract foreign capital and the governmentโs tax relief for foreign investors in government securities could support sentiment, we expect market movement to be driven largely by bottom-up stock picking and sector-specific action in the near term,โ he said.Khemka noted that the central bank raised its FY27 inflation forecast to 5.1% and lowered its FY27 GDP growth projection to 6.6%, reinforcing concerns over energy prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia and weather-related uncertainties.โIf inflationary pressures remain elevated and external risks persist, the possibility of a future monetary tightening cycle could increase, keeping investors cautious. Going forward, investors will closely track energy prices, developments in the West Asia conflict, monsoon progress, FII flows and the impact of RBIโs policy measures for further market direction,โ he added.3) FII selling continuesForeign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in the Indian market during the first week of June, offloading shares worth Rs 31,120 crore, according to Pabitro Mukherjee, Deputy Vice President โ Research at Bajaj Broking. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), meanwhile, continued to provide support as net buyers.โInvestor sentiment remained subdued amid persistent geopolitical tensions, which kept crude oil prices elevated. Heightened global uncertainty, coupled with prevailing macroeconomic challenges, led to cautious market participation. Going forward, institutional flows are likely to remain highly sensitive to developments in US-Iran relations and movements in oil prices,โ he said.4) Iran-US tensions US forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites on Saturday after intercepting drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said. Reuters, citing a US official, reported that the military believes the four Iranian drones were targeting regional maritime traffic. US Central Command said on X that it subsequently struck Iranโs surveillance sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island, both located along the Strait of Hormuz.Meanwhile, Iranโs Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for the strikes and fired on four tankers attempting to cross the strait without its permission. The developments renewed concerns over escalating tensions in the oil-rich Middle East.Also read: GIFT Nifty tumbles 1.5% as US stock market plunges. Will Dalal Street crash on Monday?5) Bond yields Rising inflation concerns pushed US Treasury yields higher. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, which is highly sensitive to expectations around Federal Reserve policy, climbed to a 15-month high. Elevated interest rates typically make bonds more attractive relative to equities, weighing on stock market sentiment.Technical view on NiftyThe benchmark Nifty index ended lower for the second consecutive week, reflecting the cautious undertone prevailing in the market, said Sudeep Shah, Head of Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities.According to Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, Nifty 50 has been moving within a defined range as markets digest the RBIโs policy announcement. He noted that sentiment remains weak, with the index continuing to trade below key moving averages. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) also remains subdued, indicating a lack of positive momentum.โIn the near term, the index is likely to consolidate within the 23,300โ23,500 range. A decisive breakout above 23,500 could trigger an upmove towards 25,700 and beyond, while a break below the 23,300 support level may result in a sharper correction,โ he said.(With inputs from agencies)(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Google CEO Sundar Pichai offers a positive outlook for new graduates amidst AI advancements. He sees AI as a tool that will enhance individual capabilities, making skills more accessible. Pichai also highlights AI's potential to reduce workplace burnout, particularly in demanding professions. While acknowledging disruption, he encourages optimism about AI's positive impact on future careers.
India's investor base has reached a new peak with over 26 crore unique trading accounts on the NSE. The exchange added the latest crore accounts in under four months, highlighting rapid growth beyond major financial hubs. This surge is fueled by digitalization, simpler KYC, and positive market performance, with individual investors now holding a significant market share.
India and US set to finalize first phase of bilateral trade deal by mid-July after positive talks, aiming for preferential access and cooperation.
Government and RBI measures to boost foreign investment in government securities led to a bond rally, with benchmark 10-year G-Sec yields softening. Exemptions from long-term capital gains and withholding taxes for FPIs in G-Secs, along with expanded investment options, are seen as positive for the fixed income market.
The commerce ministry said the two sides held positive discussions across a wide range of issues
India and the US held โconstructive and positiveโ discussions on an interim bilateral trade agreement and the two sides are committed to take the deal forward, the external affairs ministry said
India and United States officials held positive, constructive talks on an interim trade deal, with both sides committed to securing the agreement
As India sees incessant FII selloff so far this year, the government and RBI announced a slew of measures to ease foreign investments in government securities, with analysts suggesting that these may provide some short-term support for Dalal Street.India scrapped the long-term capital gains tax on investments by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in government securities through an ordinance issued on Friday. The government has now exempted FIIs from tax on any interest income from government securities, as well as capital gains arising from their sale, exchange or transfer, according to an official gazette. Separately, while announcing the outcome of the MPC meeting, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra also unveiled a series of measures to boost FPI investments, including expanding the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to cover new issuances of 15-, 30- and 40-year government bonds.Limits on investments by NRIs and OCIs in equity instruments without Sebi registration are being raised, allowing them to invest larger amounts without regulatory registration. The facility is also proposed to be extended to all Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), bringing them on par with NRIs and OCIs. This came as the RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%What does this mean for Indian stock market?The proposal to increase investment limits for NRIs and OCIs in listed equity instruments without Sebi registration, and to extend the same facility to all individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), is a significant step toward broadening participation in Indian capital markets, which is expected to improve market depth, liquidity and long-term capital inflows, said Arun Poddar, CEO of Choice International.He highlighted that equally important is the removal of capital gains tax on government securities investments for foreign investors. โThis move strengthens the attractiveness of India's bond market and could encourage greater foreign participation in government debt. At a time of heightened global volatility, these measures reinforce investor confidence, support capital inflows, and reaffirm India's commitment to building deeper, more globally integrated financial markets, with the policy rate expected to remain low for an extended period,โ he said.The government's move to exempt Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) from capital gains tax on any interest earned from government securities is โhighly positiveโ for the capital markets, said Sumit Singhania, Head of Research at Bajaj Broking. โThis fiscal cushion arrives at a crucial time, offering a strong shield to domestic markets as the RBI chief warned of volatile forex markets driven by shifting global sentiments,โ he added.The policy is distinctly positive for bond markets and well-capitalized Banks and NBFCs, which benefit from targeted hedging subsidies and systemic stability, according to Archit Doshi, Senior Vice President at PL (Prabhudas Lilladher) AMC. โConversely, one should be underweight rate-sensitive sectors, which remain highly vulnerable to margin compression, higher inflation expectations, and the threat of the RBI reaching its tightening tipping point,โ he said.Rajeev Radhakrishnan, CFA, CIO of Fixed Income at SBI Mutual Fund, also said that the announcements aimed at enabling more dollar inflows are more significant in the near term, even though the overall policy stance has been broadly in line with expectations. โThe concessional swap facility should help stabilise short end market rates and the foreign exchange market in the near term,โ he said.For equities and debt markets, the measures to attract FII inflows are supportive of liquidity and inflows, while for the rupee, they signal a clear intent to anchor expectations and reduce volatility amid global oil shocks and sustained foreign selling pressure, said Ajit Mishra, Senior VP of Research at Religare Broking.Sachin Bajaj, Chief Investment Officer at Axis Max Life Insurance, also said that the initiatives are expected to support capital inflows, deepen domestic bond markets, and provide support to the Indian rupee over the short to medium term.RBIโs hawkish tone and the Indian stock marketWhile the measures taken to attract FII inflows in the debt market will likely provide short-term support for Dalal Street, analysts advised caution over the RBIโs hawkish policy stance. While the RBI maintained its policy repo rate as per expectations, the tone was much more cautious than in previous meetings.Sachin Bajaj highlighted that the policy emphasised preserving macroeconomic stability amid the prevailing global macroeconomic environment. โWe believe there are significant risks to inflation in the coming months due to the pass-through of higher commodity prices to consumers and elevated food prices resulting from a below-normal monsoon. Going forward, there is a risk of an upward revision in inflation projections, and given the evolving global backdrop, we believe the RBI is likely to maintain a prudent, data-dependent approach. Future policy actions will be contingent on evolving growth-inflation dynamics and global developments,โ he added.Also read: Explained: Sebi's Rs 15.15 lakh crore revenue inflation allegations against Rajesh ExportsWhile hawkish rhetoric without an accompanying rate hike provides a temporary respite for equity markets, it does not constitute an unequivocal endorsement of investment, particularly in highly rate-sensitive sectors such as real estate, automotive, and consumer discretionary goods, said Vipul Bhowar, Senior Director, Head of Equities at Waterfield Advisors.โShould inflation necessitate a rate increase later this year, these sectors are likely to experience pressure on both margins and demand. For investors, the current strategy emphasises capital preservation by focusing on high-quality equities with strong pricing power. This cautious approach is designed to navigate the prevailing geopolitical uncertainties until conditions stabilise,โ the analyst added.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Indian stock market traded in the green on Friday, with Sensex and Nifty extending gains for the second consecutive session as investors await the outcome of RBIโs Monetary Policy Committeeโs (MPC) meeting today.Sensex gained 270 points at 74,629.94, while Nifty 50 rose over 62 points at 23,478.95. This came as India VIX, which measures volatility in markets, fell over 2% to 15.89.Infosys, UltraTech Cement, TCS, Tech Mahindra, M&M and Maruti Suzuki shares gained over 1% each to lead gains on Sensex. Tata Steel shares meanwhile fell over 1% to lead losses on the benchmark index.Broader markets also traded in the green, with Nifty Smallcap 100 and Nifty Midcap 100 indices gaining over 0.3% each. All sectoral indices opened in the green, with Nifty Consumer Durables, Nifty IT and Nifty Media rising nearly 1% each. Around 1,824 stocks advanced on NSE, while 523 declined and 101 remained unchanged.Whatโs moving the stock market upward today?"There are some mild positive indications for the market today. There are signs of weakness in the AI trade in the US, South Korea and Taiwan and rotation away from tech stocks, but it is too early to say whether this will sustain,โ said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments.The focus of the market today will be on the monetary policy and the message from the RBI Governor, the analyst said. โThe MPC is likely to hold rates with a guidance of a rate hike later in the year to combat inflation which is expected to rise in H2 FY27. RBI is likely to revise the GDP growth for FY 27 downward and CPI inflation upward in the context of the energy shock and its implications,โ he added.According to Vijayakumar, the most likely policy action is a โhawkish holdโ, that is, the RBI would hold the rates without any change but would send a hawkish message that inflation is set to rise and, therefore, expect rate hike later this year. If the RBI decides to act now with a 25 bps rate hike, that will move the banking stocks sharply upwards since they would benefit from rate hikes, he further said. However, a rate hike would be negative for interest elastic segments like automobiles and real estate, the analyst added.Rupee risesRupee meanwhile gained 8 paise to 95.66 against US dollar in early trade. โWith India's import bill under pressure from elevated commodity prices and continued FII outflows, participants will closely monitor the Governorโs commentary for cues on inflation, currency stability, and future policy direction,โ said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst of Commodity and Currency at LKP Securities.The analyst expects the near-term range for rupee to be 95.25โ96.25.FII selling continuesForeign investors continued to remain bearish on Indian markets. FIIs net sold Indian shares worth Rs 4,447 crore on Thursday, according to data on NSE.Notably, FIIs have remained net sellers of Indian equities for five consecutive sessions. (With inputs from agencies)(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has raised doubts over Pakistan's potential role as a regional mediator, warning India that the Middle East conflict serves as a "preview" of radical tactics that could soon impact its own neighbourhood.In an interview with PTI Videos, he rejected the notion that Pakistan possesses the credibility to act as a mediator in regional negotiations.Labelling the country unreliable, Azar characterized Pakistan as a "problematic player" whose involvement requires the US to exercise "special caution" to avoid potential traps."I don't think they are reliable," he said about Pakistan's mediation role.He added that when mediators lean towards a "terrorist entity" or "legitimize radicalism", it becomes "very tricky because the United States has to exercise special caution not to fall into traps set not only by the opposing side but also by the mediator".The envoy further alleged an increasing connection between radical elements and the region, noting a rise in visits by Hamas leaders to both Pakistan and Bangladesh over the last two years.Turning to the India angle, Azar claimed that because Israel is the most attacked country in the world, the threats it faces often serve as a "preview to a movie coming to a theatre in your neighbourhood".He specifically alleged that radical groups are drawing twisted inspiration from the October 7 attacks and warned that the methodologies of hybrid warfare, including using human shields and manipulating media, are likely to be emulated elsewhere.While commenting on Israel's policy of mandatory military service, Azar refrained from suggesting India adopt similar models.He observed that India is "blessed" with a large territory and population, expressing confidence that the Indian government is making the "right decisions" regarding its own recruitment and defence needs.He, however, noted the "positive aspect of conscription" in maturing young citizens and instilling a sense of responsibility."It doesn't mean that one size fits all. Each country has to find its own way." PTI SHJ ZMN
The government said that during the talks, the two sides held โconstructive and positiveโ discussions on issues pertaining to trade and economy.
As geopolitical headwinds make it tougher for equity investors to make money, Dalal Streetโs top voice Nilesh Shah, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management, told a gathering of HNI investors at the ET Alpha Wealth Summit on Thursday that there are four specific investment structures which deserve a place in most portfolios right now.Shahโs first recommendation was the Special Investment Fund, or SIF, a structure that marks a meaningful shift in what is available to Indian investors. Shah noted that the mutual fund industry has, until now, been a long-only business but the SIF changes that. These are long-short, absolute return-oriented funds, designed to generate returns regardless of market direction rather than simply riding the equity tide.The second vehicle Shah flagged is performing credit AIFs. His reasoning was grounded in a simple supply-demand observation that for corporate settlements today, capital is not available from banks, mutual funds, or insurance companies.As institutional lenders have stepped back, borrowers are plenty and lenders very few. Amid this imbalance, Shah said the need is real and returns are attractive. Performing credit AIFs, which lend into this gap, are positioned to benefit directly from the scarcity of competing capital.https://youtube.com/shorts/Xa4AcXFg8hA?feature=shareThe third idea was REITs, and here Shah introduced a timing element. Over the last three years, REITs have delivered index-level returns of around 13.5%. But with interest rates rising, he suggested that the next six to nine months may present an opportunity to enter at better prices. Rising rates typically compress REIT valuations in the near term, and Shah framed any such correction as a potential entry point rather than a risk to avoid. Beyond the return potential, he positioned REITs as a portfolio diversification tool as the asset class behaves differently from equities and fixed income, and that is still underrepresented in most Indian investor portfolios.The fourth recommendation addressed global diversification but came with an important caveat. Mutual fund industry limits for overseas investment are currently full, which means the conventional route for Indian investors to access global markets through domestic mutual funds is closed. Shah pointed to Gift City as the workaround. Structures domiciled there allow investment under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, and in his view, these Gift City-based LRS products are the practical path for investors who want global exposure while the mutual fund window remains shut.Across all four โ the SIF, performing credit AIFs, REITs, and Gift City products โ Shah's underlying argument was the same: in a volatile period, the portfolio needs instruments that can generate positive returns through means other than a rising equity market.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
International brokerage firm Jefferies started coverage on Poonawalla Fincorp with a Buy rating and a target price of Rs 490, implying an upside of 23% from current market levels, citing positive levers of growth. Jefferies says the company is well positioned to accelerate growth under its revamped leadership team, expanding product portfolio, wider distribution network and sharper underwriting practices. The brokerage expects the company to deliver a 33% AUM CAGR, the fastest among major NBFCs, supported by an improving loan mix, better net interest margins and lower credit costs driven by reduced slippages and a healthier portfolio mix. Analysts also forecast a sharp improvement in profitability, with RoA/RoE expected to expand to 16% by FY29 from 6% in FY26, which it believes should support the stock's premium valuation multiples. The brokerage cited the company's ongoing strategic transformation under CEO Arvind Kapil, former head of retail and mortgage banking at HDFC Bank as a positive. The brokerage highlighted the leadership overhaul, with seven of nine CXOs coming from HDFC Bank, alongside the launch of six new products including prime personal loans, commercial vehicle loans, gold loans and education loans. These new segments have already scaled to 14% of AUM within a year and are expected to contribute 34% of AUM over time. Jefferies expects the company to deliver a 33% AUM CAGR during FY26-29, supported by investments in distribution, collections, technology and AI, as well as its AAA credit rating and backing from the Adar Poonawalla Group.The brokerage expects margins to improve as the company shifts toward higher-yielding products. After contracting by 250 basis points over the past two years due to the run-down of its legacy personal loan portfolio, NIMs are projected to expand by around 70 basis points over FY26-29, aided by growth in products such as prime personal loans and gold loans. At the same time, Jefferies expects cost-to-AUM to improve to 3.9% by FY29 from 4.4% in FY26 on the back of operating leverage.Asset quality trends have also strengthened, with gross NPAs declining to 1.4% from 1.8% in FY25, supported by tighter underwriting and the reduction of the stressed legacy personal loan book. Jefferies noted that delinquency levels in loans originated after September 2024 are running about 50% lower than the previous 12-month cohort. It expects credit costs to moderate to 2.2% over FY26-29 from 2.7% in FY26, driven by better portfolio quality and a growing share of lower-risk products such as gold and education loans.Following a Rs 2,500 crore capital raise in April 2026, the company's Tier-1 capital ratio has risen above 19.5%, providing ample room to fund growth. Jefferies forecasts profit after tax to surge to Rs 2,900 crore by FY29 from Rs 540 crore in FY26, while return on assets and return on equity are expected to improve to 2.3% and 16%, respectively, from 1.1% and 6% in FY26. Despite trading at 2.4x FY27 estimated book value and 25x FY27 estimated earnings, the brokerage believes Poonawalla Fincorp's strong growth trajectory and improving profitability justify premium valuations and could support further re-rating if execution remains robust. Key risks include weaker-than-expected execution, margin pressure and higher credit stress.In Thursdayโs session, shares of the company are down 1.5% to Rs 394 on the BSE. Poonawala Fincorp shares are down 18% in 2026. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)