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BJP urges Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to seek fresh mandate instead of running a ‘rickety’ dispensation

'E85 fuel to sell at Rs 20/litre discount'

New Delhi: State-run oil companies will sell E85 fuel — a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol — at a discount of Rs 20 per litre to offset the biofuel’s lower energy content, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday after inaugurating an E85 dispensing facility at a Delhi petrol pump.The government plans to roll out E85 fuel in phases, with 500 fuel stations targeted by the end of this year and 5,000 by the end of 2027 across India, Puri said.Indian Oil already has a network of 400 fuel stations that can dispense E100 fuel, or pure ethanol with no mix of petrol, across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.Also Read: India to launch E85 fuel today in push for flex fuel mobilityEthanol’s energy content is about one-third lower than that of petrol. To compensate for this, E85 users will receive a Rs 20 per litre discount compared with E20, the regular fuel blend sold across the country that contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol.The E20 blend will continue to be available at all fuel stations, as most vehicles currently on Indian roads can use blends of up to 20% ethanol.In recent days, Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp have each launched one vehicle model capable of running on E85 fuel.The simultaneous rollout of compatible vehicles and fuel dispensing infrastructure will help accelerate E85 adoption, Puri said, adding that there was a “pretty compelling case” for shifting to E85 because it would be cheaper, lower emissions and reduce dependence on fuel imports.

Why Some NCR Petrol Pumps Are Turning Away Customers At Night | Explained

Petrol pumps in parts of Noida and Ghaziabad are running out of fuel by night, forcing purchase limits. Here's what's behind the disruption and whether there is a shortage

The curious case of Rajesh Exports: Massive revenues, meagre profits

Mumbai: It is India's fourth biggest company by revenue, but the managing director of precious metals trader Rajesh Exports (REL) apparently doesn't know how and from where it gets the biggest chunk of the revenue, show the findings of a regulatory investigation.In its investigation report, the Securities and Exchange Board of India observed allegedly unscrupulous activities by REL's promoters, such as accounting irregularities and siphoning off of company funds into personal accounts, and also pointed out lapses by its auditors. The regulator said the company and its auditors were non-cooperative."The acts of REL constitute a deliberate device, scheme and artifice to mislead and defraud investors dealing in the shares of REL by portraying an inflated and misleading picture of its operational scale, revenue and financial health," Sebi observed in its report.The company, eponymously named after its chairman Rajesh Mehta, is accused of committing an elaborate financial fraud that includes dressing-up of revenues of ₹15.15 lakh crore over the years, personal gold trades covered up as corporate sales and phoney gold mine investments of ₹1,035 crore, according to the interim report.REL denied the charges of misdeeds. In a press release Thursday, the company said the revenues stated in its financials were correct and that the confusion arose because of a mix-up between Ebitda and revenue numbers at Swiss refiner Valcambi SA, an indirect subsidiary.Sebi has not made any adverse observation with regard to earnings, the company said, claiming that the regulator has only observed suspicion with regard to revenues which was primarily because of confusion over the Valcambi numbers.Numbers don't add upIn fiscal 2025, REL reported consolidated revenue of ₹4.23 lakh crore against a profit after tax of just ₹95 crore, translating into a net margin of barely 0.02%. The year before, on ₹2.8 lakh crore revenue, profit was ₹336 crore.Experts who have studied the Sebi report and the company's annual reports say the numbers did not add up. The business appeared to be operating at margins that were not merely thin but structurally negligible, they said."It looks like a case of pass-through accounting. There is no value creation. It was 'flow of gold' being booked as revenue," said a leading auditor on the condition of anonymity.Sebi, which began the investigations in March 2024 following a shareholder complaint about suspected accounting malpractices, said it found that about 97-99% of REL's consolidated revenues were attributed to its overseas subsidiaries, principally Valcambi. But Valcambi's own accounts, audited by KPMG SA, recorded only processing fees that were about ₹3,027 crore across five years.Valcambi refined gold on behalf of clients and never took ownership of the precious metal or recognised the value of gold as revenue in its books. Yet, Global Gold Refineries AG (GGR), the parent of Valcambi that had no independent operating business, recorded gross revenues running into hundreds of crores by including the gross value of gold that actually belonged to others, according to the Sebi report.Rajesh Exports, which owns GGR through a Singapore subsidiary, used those unaudited figures in its financial statements, significantly bumping up the company's revenue, it said.In its press release, REL said: "The core observation in the order is with regard to the misreporting of the revenues. This has emerged primarily due to confusion because Sebi has considered the Ebitda of Valcambi instead of revenue hence it has stated that there is a difference of about 97% in the revenue.""There is no reason for any listed entity to inflate revenue and maintain the earnings, this will only reduce the margins of the company, which would be adverse to the company," it said.Senior management in the darkThe senior management of REL told regulators that most of them were in the dark about the company's overseas operations and only the promoter, Rajesh Mehta, dealt with those activities."Valcambi SA does not have any gold mine on its own," managing director Suresh Gowda was quoted in the Sebi order as saying. "It refines the raw gold purchased by it from various entities, whose names I do not recollect, as these things are exclusively handled by Rajesh Mehta, chairman of REL. I have never interacted nor involved with any subsidiary/step-down subsidiary of REL, as these were exclusively taken care of by Rajesh Mehta," he told the investigators, as per the order.According to the report, REL booked ₹11,487 crore in sales between 2021-22 and 2023-24 to Affluence Shares and Stocks, a broker that made up to 66% of the company's standalone revenue for that period. But Affluence, in formal depositions to the regulator, said it had not done any business with REL.Following the transaction trail, the investigators found out that the transactions were personal gold derivative trades executed by promoter Mehta using his own brokerage account and then recorded in the company's books as corporate sales, the order said.The investigators also found that Mehta used corporate funds. As per the Sebi observations, bank records show REL transferred ₹338.90 crore directly into Mehta's personal accounts between April 2020 and September 2025.Unlike in the case of Nirav Modi or Gitanjali Gems, who are accused of bank fraud, Rajesh Exports doesn't appear to have borrowed big from banks or through sale of bonds, according to regulatory filings.The company's market cap was just over ₹3,000 crore, as per Thursday's closing share price. LIC (10.8%) and Bridge India Fund (8.46%) are its major institutional shareholders."It is striking that, even at a peak market capitalisation of ₹25,000 crore, the company did not hold any analyst calls, a basic expectation for a listed company of that scale," said Shriram Subramanian, founder and managing director of InGovern Research Services, a corporate governance advisory firm.The regulator in 2024 hired BDO India Services to investigate. But the forensic audit faced problems at almost every stage of the investigation. It was denied access to ERP systems and was not provided a complete journal dump, preventing independent verification of transactions recorded in the books, according to the regulatory report.And the company declined to share subsidiary-level records with the investigator, citing Swiss data protection laws, limiting auditors largely to reviewing financial statements prepared by the management itself rather than underlying evidence, it said.What's also come under the scanner was the conduct of statutory auditors for the last few years: CA PV Ramana Reddy, the proprietor at PV Ramana Reddy & Co, and CA PL Venkatadri, partner at BSD & Co.The company's FY24 and FY25 annual reports, filed with the stock exchanges, carry an unqualified opinion from BSD & Co, which concluded that the financial statements presented a "true and fair view" in line with Indian Accounting Standards.The company's FY24 Directors' Report noted that the statutory and secretarial auditors had made no qualifications, reservations or adverse remarks.The Sebi report said for over five months, the auditors sat on the regulator's request for missing documents and statements.Emails sent to both audit firms did not elicit any response.REL closed 5% lower at ₹103.92 Thursday on the NSE. The shares are down from their peak of ₹1,028.40 on February 6, 2023.

Jefferies initiates coverage on Poonawalla Fincorp with Buy rating. Why are analysts bullish?

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 Thursday’s 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)

Audio book platform Kuku files confidential papers for up to Rs 3,500-cr IPO

Kuku Technologies Ltd, which operates vernacular audio platform Kuku FM and short-video streaming app Kuku TV, has filed confidential draft papers with Sebi for an IPO to raise up to Rs 3,000 crore, according to sources. The company is planning to raise between Rs 2,500-Rs 3,500 crore and is targeting a valuation of up to Rs 15,000 crore (about USD 1.8 billion) through the proposed public issue, people familiar with the development said on Thursday. The initial public offering (IPO), expected in the later part of this financial year, will comprise a mix of fresh issue of shares and an offer-for-sale (OFS) by existing investors. Proceeds from the fresh issue will be utilised for strengthening technology and AI infrastructure, content creation and expansion into new geographies. When contacted, Kuku Technologies declined to comment on the proposed offering. Kuku's revenue surged nearly seven-fold to more than Rs 1,400 crore in FY26 from about Rs 240 crore in the previous fiscal, while the company remained close to achieving operational break-even. The company has leveraged artificial intelligence tools to accelerate content production, improve content recommendations and reduce customer acquisition costs. Founded in 2018 by IIT alumni Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar and Vikas Goyal, Kuku has built a portfolio spanning audio content, microdrama entertainment and edutainment. Its latest offering, Kuku TV, launched in late 2024, focuses on micro dramas -- short-form mobile-first video series with episodes typically lasting two to three minutes. The platform is currently releasing over 150 original shows every month and has crossed 200 million downloads. Industry estimates suggest that India's Hindi and vernacular micro-drama segment is expanding at around 60 per cent annually, driven by rising smartphone penetration and increasing consumption of short-form video content. Across its platforms, including Kuku FM, Kuku TV and Guru, the company has over 10 million active paying subscribers and more than 400 million cumulative downloads. Its content library comprises over 60,000 hours of programming across seven to eight Indian languages. The company has also initiated plans to expand into overseas markets, including the United States. Kuku has raised more than USD 150 million from investors such as Fundamentum Partnership, Krafton, Vertex Ventures, Granite Asia, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Paramark Ventures, India Quotient and 3one4 Capital. Former India cricket captain MS Dhoni is also among its investors. Kotak Mahindra Capital, Jefferies, JM Financial and Axis Capital are acting as the book-running lead managers to the issue.

'I'm not running at all': Lalit Modi on the 'fugitive' tag and whether he'll return to India

Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi vehemently denies being a "fugitive," asserting he has never been convicted of any crime and labels the tag as media sensationalism. He argues that his global travel demonstrates he is not evading authorities, questioning the legal basis for any potential arrest after years of investigations.

Delhi Hotel Fire: What Is B&B Scheme Under Which Property Got 6-Room Licence But Ran 25?

Flourish Stay B&B was permitted to operate six rooms under Delhi’s Bed and Breakfast scheme, but officials found nearly 25 rooms running at the property.

The FIFA World Cup transit test

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in soccer history, spread across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For millions of fans, getting to the games may prove almost as challenging as the matches themselves.With airfares climbing, gasoline prices rising and airport security lines stretching patience to the limit, North America's rail and bus operators see the month-long tournament as a rare opportunity: a chance to persuade travelers to swap planes and cars for trains, buses and public transit.For transportation providers, the World Cup is more than a sporting spectacle. It is a high-stakes audition before a global audience."We want you to be able to use our system seamlessly from the minute you decide to come to the World Cup, all the way into the games, and after that to get home," said Conan Cheung, chief operations officer for LA Metro, the public transportation authority serving the Los Angeles region.Los Angeles, which will host eight matches including the U.S. team's opening game, hopes the tournament will help reshape perceptions of a city often synonymous with traffic jams and sprawling freeways.For Cheung, the objective extends beyond impressing foreign visitors. The World Cup is also an opportunity to convince more Angelenos to embrace a public transportation system that has expanded significantly in recent years.That challenge resonates across much of the United States and Canada, where public transit networks are often less extensive than those found in Europe or Asia and where private vehicles remain the preferred mode of transport."Transit providers have an opportunity to provide service to a group of people who do not typically use transit on a day-to-day basis," said Yonah Freemark, a principal research associate at the Washington-based Urban Institute."Many of the World Cup fans coming from the U.S. or Canada do not necessarily use transit services regularly."The impressions those travelers form during the tournament could have lasting consequences."They should be making sure that the services they provide are high quality and not too expensive, because the people who are riding them are going to form an impression of those transit agencies — and there's a chance to really prove that they can provide a good service," Freemark said.Opportunity meets realityYet attracting new riders may prove easier than accommodating them.The World Cup's 104 matches will unfold across four time zones and thousands of miles, placing enormous demands on transportation networks already operating close to capacity.Ground transportation companies are eager to capitalize on soaring airline costs, but many are also wrestling with higher operating expenses of their own, particularly fuel prices.That leaves operators balancing competing priorities: attracting new customers while avoiding disruptions or price increases that could alienate the commuters who rely on them every day.For intercity bus giant FlixBus, the tournament represents a significant growth opportunity.Together with sister brand Greyhound, the company operates one of North America's largest transportation networks and says demand between host cities is already accelerating, with some departures sold out and others filling rapidly.Ahead of the tournament, the company has invested heavily in new buses and technology while placing renewed emphasis on punctuality."What is critical here is every Flix experience needs to be a happy one. That's how we actually grow our business. And this is a great opportunity," said Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan."We will welcome all the new customers and we want them to see what a change we've done and what a great experience they're going to have."Boysan believes buses are well-positioned to benefit from frustrations increasingly associated with air travel."Airports are congested and the costs are rising. And clearly travelers are naturally looking for alternatives. And there we come into effect," he said.The price problemWhile operators hope to lure travelers away from planes, some transit agencies have faced criticism for sharply increasing fares during the tournament.Few examples generated more backlash than New Jersey Transit, whose train service between Manhattan and MetLife Stadium — venue for eight matches including the July 19 final — initially carried a round-trip fare of $150 for a journey that normally costs less than $13.NJ Transit argued that the increase was necessary to cover approximately $48 million in additional costs related to security, crowd management and World Cup operations.Public criticism forced a rethink.The agency subsequently lowered the fare to $98 after securing additional advertising revenue, while shuttle bus prices on the same route were cut to $20 from the originally proposed $80 after organizers arranged additional capacity through local school buses.Boston has also announced higher event-day transportation prices. Round-trip rail tickets between downtown Boston and the stadium hosting seven World Cup matches will cost $80, compared with the usual $20 to $30, while a bus ride will cost $95.The fare hikes have drawn criticism from politicians, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer."Charging more than 11 times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple. FIFA is making billions from this World Cup," Schumer said after the original New Jersey fare was announced."FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill."FIFA has countered that high transit costs could encourage fans to seek alternative ways to reach stadiums and noted that comparable international sporting events have generally not required organizers to fund transportation impacts.Different approachesNot every city has opted for higher prices.In Los Angeles, riders heading to World Cup matches will pay standard fares."Our regular fare is $1.75, so people will be able to pay that," said Cheung. "We will honor all of the discounts we have."Philadelphia is going a step further.Fans attending matches in the city will pay just $2.90 to travel to the stadium by train and receive a free ride home, courtesy of tournament sponsor Airbnb.National rail operator Amtrak is also preparing for increased demand as supporters move between host cities throughout the month-long competition."We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad ... and ensuring our infrastructure is ready to accommodate new and returning guests," said W. Kyle Anderson, Amtrak's director of communications.For transportation providers across North America, the World Cup offers a fleeting but valuable chance to showcase what their systems can do.The tournament will crown a world champion on the field. Away from the stadiums, trains, buses and transit networks will be competing in a contest of their own — to convince millions of travelers that public transportation can be fast, reliable and worth returning to long after the final whistle.

License for 6 rooms, running 25: Shocking details emerge in Delhi hotel fire that killed 21

A devastating fire at a Delhi hotel claimed 21 lives, including 17 foreign nationals from countries like Liberia and Nigeria. The hotel, allegedly operating with 25 rooms despite permission for only six, has drawn criticism for alleged fire department response delays and government negligence.

Moody's top economist Mark Zandi says: America has a week to secure peace deal

America has days to secure a peace deal with Iran or risk recession. Stalled talks and rising oil prices have pushed the US economy to a critical point. If gas prices reach five dollars per gallon, consumer spending could collapse. Energy analysts warn that time is running out for President Trump to find a solution.

Thane, You Have Less Than 3 Hours Of Running Water Left — Ghodbunder Road To Mumbra Goes Dry At 9 AM

The Thane Municipal Corporation will shut water supply across 17 areas for 12 hours today. Fill every bucket you have — right now, before the taps run out.

Salman Khan’s Legal Battle Against ‘Kala Hiran’ Escalates | Courtroom Showdown Looms | News18

Salman Khan’s legal battle against the film Kala Hiran has intensified, with the actor alleging that the movie defames him and infringes upon his personality and publicity rights.The controversy is linked to the actor’s long-running black buck poaching case, which the film is believed to reference. Salman Khan’s legal team has reportedly objected to the portrayal and sought action against the filmmakers.However, the makers of Kala Hiran have stood firm on their position, setting the stage for a major courtroom showdown that has sparked widespread debate across the entertainment industry. Watch the full report for all the latest updates. -newsNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

ED cracks down on Dawood aide in Maharashtra, Gujarat raids

Enforcement Directorate conducted extensive raids across Maharashtra and Gujarat, targeting over 20 locations in a money laundering probe linked to drug trafficker Mohammad Salim Dola. Dola, recently extradited from Türkiye, is accused of running a transnational drug syndicate and is a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim.

Balen Shah stirs controversy in Nepal with ‘encroaching India’ remark. What did he say? Row explained

Nepal PM Balen Shah made these remarks while answering questions in Parliament on a long-running border dispute with India, only to trigger controversy.

Ola Electric opens QIP, sets floor price at Rs 37.74/share

Bengaluru: Electric vehicle maker Ola Electric Mobility on Monday approved the opening of its qualified institutional placement (QIP) and set a floor price of ₹37.74 per equity share for the issue, according to a stock exchange filing.The company's fund raising committee approved the launch of the issue on June 1 and cleared the preliminary placement document for institutional investors. The company may also offer a discount of up to 5% on the floor price in line with Sebi regulations, the filings read.QIP is a way for listed companies to raise money from large institutional investors such as mutual funds, insurance firms, sovereign funds and foreign portfolio investors, without going through a public issue process.The fundraising comes at a time when Ola Electric is navigating slowing sales, market share pressures and continued losses in the electric two-wheeler market. The company on May 14 also announced ₹2,000 crore investment into its wholly-owned subsidiaries focused on electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, as it looks to double down on localisation and vertical integration.Ola reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 500 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2026, narrowing 42.5% from Rs 870 crore in the year-ago period, aided by lower expenses. In Q3, the company had reported a loss of Rs 487 crore. For the full 2026 financial year, the company posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 1,833 crore compared with Rs 2,276 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations fell sharply to Rs 2,253 crore from Rs 4,514 crore a year ago. Brokerages have also flagged concerns around market share erosion and cash burn. Citi earlier downgraded the stock to and cut its target price, citing persistent challenges to volume growth and rising balance sheet pressures. The company recently reported a recovery in registrations, with May registrations rising to 14,752 units. Ola said the issue price will be determined in consultation with the book running lead managers. “For Q1 FY27, we expect 40,000- 45,000 orders and consolidated revenue of Rs 500-550 crore, nearly double Q4 levels. As volumes recover, we expect the auto business to move towards adjusted operating EBITDA and free cash flow positivity through FY27,” Aggarwal said in its shareholder’s letter. The company’s focus remains on its EV products, particularly electric motorcycles and cell manufacturing, he added. Ola’s shares on Monday closed at Rs 39.53 on BSE, 4.91% lower compared to previous trading session. The QIP announcement was made post market hours.

New audio deepens concerns around Josh Jacobs’ arrest investigation

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is facing increased scrutiny after newly released dispatch audio revealed reports of yelling, screaming, and objects being thrown inside his Wisconsin home before his arrest. Authorities later booked Jacobs on multiple domestic abuse-related charges, including a felony count of strangulation and suffocation. Jacobs has denied all allegations through his attorneys, who say key evidence has yet to be made public as the investigation continues.

This 65-year-old programming language is making companies spend millions to keep it running

Despite its age, COBOL remains the critical backbone of the global financial system, handling trillions daily. As its original developers retire, a severe shortage of skilled programmers has emerged, leading to astronomical salaries for those who can maintain the ancient code. Young developers are now capitalizing on this scarcity, while institutions explore AI solutions to bridge the gap.

Extra Time! NSE extends F&O trading by 10 minutes. What changes for traders?

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced a significant change to trading hours in the equity derivatives segment with the introduction of the Closing Auction Session (CAS) framework.Starting August 3, 2026, the normal market closing time for equity derivatives will be extended by 10 minutes to 3:40 pm from the current 3:30 pm. While the extension is noteworthy, the bigger change lies in how closing prices for eligible securities will be determined.The move aims to ensure a smoother transition between the cash and derivatives markets at the end of the trading day while maintaining consistency in the pricing framework across segments.What is the closing auction session?The CAS is a structured trading window held at the end of the trading day. During this period, market participants place buy and sell orders to determine a single closing price for a security through an auction-based mechanism.Unlike the current system where prices evolve through normal trading until market close, the auction process discovers a fair closing price based on orders entered during the designated session.According to the exchange, CAS will initially apply only to securities in the cash segment that have derivative contracts available. The framework will roll out in phases, and any future expansion will be subject to SEBI guidance and separate operational instructions from the exchange.Why are derivatives trading hours being extended?Although CAS applies only to the equity segment, NSE decided to extend trading hours in the derivatives segment to ensure both markets remain aligned during the closing process.The exchange also clarified that the price bands and pre-trade risk control measures introduced as part of CAS in the cash market will be mirrored in the derivatives segment. This is intended to maintain consistency between the two segments during the closing phase of trading.How will the closing auction session work?The CAS will run for 20 minutes, from 3:15 pm to 3:35 pm. The process will begin with a transition phase between 3:15 pm and 3:20 pm, during which the reference price will be calculated using the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of trades executed between 3:00 pm and 3:15 pm.Between 3:20 pm and 3:25 pm, participants will be able to enter both market and limit orders. From 3:25 pm to 3:30 pm, only limit orders will be permitted. During this period, market orders cannot be modified or cancelled.The order entry session will close randomly at any point between 3:28 pm and 3:30 pm, after which the auction process will determine the final closing price.How will closing prices be calculated?One key point highlighted by NSE is that there will be no change in the methodology used to calculate closing prices of derivative contracts. The volume-weighted average price (VWAP) used for derivatives closing price calculation will continue to be based on trades executed during the final 30 minutes of trading. However, because market hours are being extended, that 30-minute window will now shift to 3:10 pm-3:40 pm instead of the current 3:00 pm-3:30 pm.For securities eligible for CAS, the closing price in the cash segment will be determined through the auction process.Ashish Nanda, President and Digital Business Head at Kotak Securities summed up the shift by noting that the market is moving from a "continuous trading close" to an "auction discovered close".Under the current framework, closing prices are derived from the VWAP of trades executed between 3:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Under the new framework, closing prices for F&O-eligible stocks will effectively be linked to a 20-minute auction process running from 3:15 pm to 3:35 pm.What happens if a stock is removed from F&O?NSE clarified that eligibility for CAS is linked to the presence of derivatives on the stock. If a security is excluded from the equity derivatives segment on both exchanges, it will no longer be eligible for the CAS.In such cases, the closing price will revert to the existing methodology and be determined using the VWAP of trades executed during the last 30 minutes of trading. However, if the security continues to be part of the derivatives segment on at least one exchange, it will remain eligible for CAS.What happens to pending orders?The exchange outlined operational changes relating to order management. All unexecuted special orders, including stop-loss orders and disclosed quantity orders, will be cancelled. Pending orders that fall outside the revised price band will also be cancelled automatically, and members will receive appropriate cancellation notifications.Why does this matter for traders?For many market participants, the biggest implication is that the final closing price may no longer mirror the last traded price visible on trading screens at 3:30 pm.According to Ashish Nanda, this could require adjustments to trading strategies, particularly for option writers and arbitrageurs who rely heavily on closing prices for valuation, settlement and hedging decisions.While the derivatives market will remain open until 3:40 pm, the broader shift is not simply about extending trading by 10 minutes. It marks a change in how closing prices for eligible securities are discovered, with the exchange moving toward an auction-based mechanism designed to determine a single closing price at the end of the trading day.What happens to existing market timings?Apart from the revised closing time, most trading schedules remain unchanged. The pre-open session in the derivatives segment will continue to begin at 9:00 am and the normal trading session will continue to start at 9:15 am. Similarly, the trade modification window will remain unchanged and continue until 4:15 pm.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

NSE pre-IPO window to close soon. Can you still profit?

The long wait for the NSE public listing appears to be entering its final stretch. The exchange recently confirmed that it expects to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) by the second week of June, putting the country's most anticipated IPO one step closer to reality.The update has once again sparked interest in NSE's unlisted shares, which continue to change hands actively in the private market. With the DRHP now less than two weeks away, investors may want to know does it still make sense to buy NSE shares before the IPO?The answer from analysts is nuanced. Most experts agree that NSE remains one of India's strongest financial franchises. However, they also caution that investors should not treat the approaching IPO as an automatic opportunity for quick gains.NSE currently trades in the unlisted market at around Rs 1,950-2,050 per share, implying a valuation of roughly Rs 5 lakh crore. That valuation already reflects significant optimism around the company's eventual listing."NSE is clearly one of India's strongest capital-market franchises and remains one of the most awaited IPO candidates. However, investors looking to buy unlisted shares purely because the DRHP filing is close should exercise caution," said Paresh Bhagat, CIO of Veer Growth Fund and chairman of Mangal Keshav."The business quality is not in question. The key risk is valuation and entry price." Bhagat noted that based on FY26 profit after tax of around Rs 10,300 crore, the exchange is already valued at nearly 48-50 times earnings.While NSE enjoys dominant market share, strong profitability and significant cash generation, he believes much of that strength is already reflected in current unlisted market prices. One of the biggest assumptions among investors is that buying shares before the IPO guarantees a profit once the company lists. Analysts say that assumption may not always hold true.The eventual IPO pricing remains unknown. In many large public offerings, companies deliberately leave room for public market investors by pricing the issue below prevailing unlisted market valuations.If that happens, investors entering NSE at current unlisted prices could face limited upside or even temporary mark-to-market losses. "The pre-IPO window should not be seen as a guaranteed arbitrage opportunity," Bhagat said. "If the IPO is priced more reasonably for public-market investors, the gap versus current unlisted prices could be meaningful."Others echo the same concern. "I would avoid buying NSE unlisted shares purely on the expectation of the upcoming DRHP filing," said Arpit Jain, Joint Managing Director at Arihant Capital Markets."While the filing could be an important milestone in the IPO journey, a significant portion of the optimism around the listing is already reflected in the current unlisted market price." Jain pointed to several high-profile IPOs in recent years where strong excitement before listing did not necessarily translate into exceptional post-listing returns.He said investors should focus on valuation, offer pricing, market conditions and the final IPO structure rather than rushing to buy shares simply because the DRHP is approaching.At the same time, few analysts dispute the quality of the underlying business. NSE remains India's largest stock exchange and dominates equity derivatives trading. The exchange reported total income of Rs 18,713 crore and consolidated net profit of Rs 10,302 crore in FY26.Its capital-light business model, strong cash flows and dominant market position have made it one of the most sought-after names in the unlisted market.According to Nitant Darekar, Research Analyst at Bonanza, NSE currently trades at around 45 times FY26 earnings, based on earnings per share of Rs 41.62. While that valuation is not cheap, it remains below some listed peers."NSE remains a capital-light near-monopoly," Darekar said. "At around Rs 1,950-2,170 in the unlisted market, it trades near 45x FY26 earnings. That's rich, but below BSE at around 70x and MCX at around 80x."Darekar added that the recent settlement of the long-running co-location case has removed a major overhang on the IPO process. However, he cautioned that the exchange's earnings remain linked to derivatives trading activity, which can be volatile, especially after regulatory changes in the futures and options segment.He also highlighted another practical consideration for investors. "The urgency is real. Post-DRHP, fresh unlisted purchases face a one-year lock-in. But valuation, not the calendar, should drive the decision."That point is particularly important because many retail investors view the narrowing pre-IPO window as a reason to buy immediately.Ishan Tanna, Senior Associate at Ashika Capital, said history suggests otherwise. "Historically, buying unlisted shares very close to the IPO stage has not always offered the best risk-reward for investors," he said."In many cases, the biggest gains are made when IPO visibility is low and uncertainty is high. Once the DRHP gets filed and listing draws closer, valuations often become expensive as the IPO excitement premium starts getting priced in."Tanna said NSE remains a rare financial infrastructure asset with strong profitability and a dominant position in Indian capital markets, making it attractive for long-term investors.However, investors chasing quick listing gains should recognise that late-stage entry into pre-IPO stories often carries greater risks than many assume.For now, the consensus among market experts is that NSE remains one of India's highest-quality businesses and its IPO will likely attract enormous investor interest. But with the stock already trading at elevated valuations in the unlisted market, investors may need to focus less on the countdown to the DRHP and more on whether the current price adequately compensates them for the risks ahead.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)