The Economic Times (India)
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For nearly a decade, India's carmakers chased the sport utility vehicle (SUV) dream.Higher margins, aspirational buyers and a growing appetite for larger vehicles pushed manufacturers to flood showrooms with sport utility vehicles and compact SUVs, steadily relegating hatchbacks — once the backbone of India's passenger vehicle market — to the sidelines.Also Read: Tata Motors PV launches next-gen Tiago from Rs 4.69 lakh, Tiago.ev from Rs 6.99 lakh with lifetime battery warrantyThe strategy worked. Utility vehicles now account for well over half of all passenger vehicle sales in India and contributed nearly two-thirds of the 4.3 million vehicles sold in FY25.But as economic pressures mount, vehicle prices climb and first-time buyers struggle to enter the market, India's biggest automakers are beginning to acknowledge a reality they may have overlooked: the country's next wave of growth could come from the very segment they left behind.From Maruti Suzuki's renewed commitment to entry-level cars to Tata Motors' ambitious reinvention of the Tiago, hatchbacks are once again finding themselves at the centre of boardroom conversations.Also Read: Small cars strike back: Maruti Suzuki bets on mass mobility while costs squeeze fourth quarter profitsAnd this time, carmakers are betting that small cars no longer have to feel small.The forgotten customerThe shift is being driven by a growing recognition that India's passenger vehicle market cannot rely indefinitely on premiumisation.While SUVs have transformed the industry's revenue mix, they have also pushed average vehicle prices steadily higher, making car ownership increasingly difficult for millions of households.Maruti Suzuki Chairman R. C. Bhargava recently signalled the company's intent to rebalance its portfolio."We are planning to develop both small cars and SUVs. The small car market is growing. India is a country where small cars have a long-term future," Bhargava said.The comments mark a notable shift in tone from an industry that spent years focusing on larger and more expensive vehicles.For Maruti, which built its dominance on models such as the Alto, WagonR and Swift, the renewed emphasis reflects confidence that affordability will remain central to India's mobility story."A large part of the population… need small cars" for basic mobility, Bhargava said.Industry analysts say the opportunity remains substantial."In the small cars segment, there is a much bigger conversion pool that carmakers can navigate. Hence, there is this renewed push towards small cars and that segment," said Hemal Thakkar, Senior Director, Crisil Intelligence."India is a price sensitive market and hence, small cars will stay and customers are looking for upgrades within vehicles. If carmakers can provide small cars with new features and upgrades, then there will be more customers for the small car space," he added.Making hatchbacks aspirational againIf Maruti is signalling a strategic return to small cars, Tata Motors is attempting something more ambitious — making hatchbacks desirable again.The company this week unveiled the next-generation Tiago and Tiago.ev, positioning them as technology-rich products aimed at reviving a segment many in the industry had effectively written off."Hatchbacks remain the gateway to personal mobility for millions of Indian families and yet, for far too long, this segment received scarce attention from the industry, when it genuinely deserved far more," said Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles.Calling the new Tiago "not an evolution but a full reinvention", Chandra said the vehicle brings substantially upgraded design, connected technologies and safety features that were once largely reserved for more expensive categories.The next-generation Tiago gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless smartphone connectivity, a dual-screen dashboard, wireless charging and a segment-first 360-degree surround-view camera."The feeling of wow shouldn't be reserved for expensive cars," Chandra said."Today hatchback customers want far more than mobility, they want design, tech, safety and pride of ownership. A car they want to flaunt."The company has also positioned the Tiago.ev as an affordable electric mobility option, offering a lifetime battery warranty and fast-charging capability that can add up to 100 kilometres of range in 18 minutes."Tiago will make EV more accessible," Chandra said.Why affordability is back in focusThe renewed interest in hatchbacks comes as affordability re-emerges as a key concern across the industry.Vehicle prices have risen sharply in recent years because of stricter regulations, higher commodity costs and the addition of new safety and technology features.That has increasingly pushed first-time buyers out of the market.According to Srikumar Krishnamurthy, Senior Vice President and Co-Group Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA Limited, hatchbacks continue to play a critical role in expanding the customer base."Hatchbacks remain a preferred segment, particularly for first-time buyers and households seeking a second vehicle, as affordability and comfort are key purchase considerations," he said."From an original equipment perspective, a presence across segments also helps improve reach, especially in Tier 2/3 cities."Krishnamurthy added that rising vehicle costs are forcing manufacturers to revisit their entry-level offerings."With input costs rising and vehicle prices expected to increase further, affordability is becoming even more important, especially in the mass-market segment. In response, OEs are looking to reposition entry-level hatchbacks and compact SUVs through new launches and refreshed variants that offer a stronger value proposition to consumers."Beyond SUVsThe industry's renewed focus on hatchbacks does not mean SUVs are going away.Far from it.Utility vehicles remain India's dominant passenger vehicle category and continue to drive growth and profitability for manufacturers.What is changing, however, is the recognition that growth cannot come solely from moving customers up the value chain.To sustain volumes, carmakers need to bring new buyers into the market.That is especially important as India adds millions of young consumers entering the workforce, many of whom are seeking their first personal vehicle but remain highly sensitive to price.Affordable electric hatchbacks could further strengthen the segment's appeal in coming years."Affordable EV hatchbacks could become an attractive proposition as charging infrastructure improves, range-anxiety concerns ease, and the financing environment becomes more supportive," Krishnamurthy said.For much of the past decade, India's hatchbacks were treated as yesterday's story while SUVs became the industry's obsession.Now, as automakers search for their next growth engine, the segment that once put millions of Indians behind the wheel is beginning to look relevant again.The future of India's auto market may still be taller, bolder and SUV-shaped. But increasingly, carmakers are recognising that the road to scale may once again begin with a hatchback.
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.
New Delhi [India]: In a major boost to strengthen the long-range air defence capabilities of the country, the fourth squadron of the S-400 Sudarshan air defence systems reached India from Russia a few days ago.The S-400 Sudarshan long-range air defence system from Russia reached India on a ship and will be deployed in the operational area very soon, defence sources told ANI.The S-400 air defence system is part of a 2018 contract under which India was to acquire five S-400 squadrons from Russia, three of which arrived two years ago and the remaining two were delayed due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.Also Read: India set for $2-billion drone order in biggest buy, industry body saysThe Sudarshan played a huge role in thwarting the Pakistan Air Force's capabilities during Operation Sindoor, where it secured the longest recorded surface-to-air kill by bringing down a high-value Pakistan Air Force surveillance aircraft flying at over 300 km.The fifth squadron of the S-400 air defence mission system is expected to reach India in the next few months.The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has already cleared the acquisition of five more squadrons of the S-400s.India is also working on an indigenous programme, codenamed Project Kusha, to develop its own air defence systems capable of shooting down enemy drones at similar ranges as the Russian system.Also Read: Tata chairman reviews defence manufacturing push at Bengaluru facilitiesIndian defence major Solar Industries has been involved in the project as a development cum production partner.
The shares of Vodafone Idea sharply surged nearly 7% to a new 52-week high of Rs 15.09 apiece on the NSE on Wednesday, even as the Sensex and Nifty crashed, as multiple tailwinds boosted investor sentiment for the telecom major.The stock has rallied 46% in one month and a whopping 121% in one year. The company currently has a market capitalisation of more than Rs 1.62 lakh crore.ICRA upgrades Vodafone Idea’s rating, revises outlookRatings agency ICRA upgraded Vodafone Idea’s rating to A- from its earlier BBB rating and revised its outlook on the company’s long-term fund-based loans worth Rs 727 crore to ‘Stable’ from ‘Positive’. ICRA said that the rating upgrade was driven by a change in rating approach for Vodafone Idea to factor in support from promoter Aditya Birla Group, which was further strengthened with the re‑appointment of Kumar Mangalam Birla as the Chairman of the board and with the proposed equity infusion of approximately Rs 4,730 crore through a preferential allotment of warrants to a promoter group entity in May 2026. “These developments reflect strong confidence in Vi’s potential and long-term growth trajectory. The Aditya Birla Group has expressed its continued support to Vodafone Idea to ensure timely debt servicing and to ensure continuity of operations and improvement in its market position. The Aditya Birla Group has been consistent in providing operational and financial support to Vi and will continue to do so going forward. Further, the Group’s brand equity and market position provided Vi with assistance in Government engagement and higher financial flexibility,” it added.ICRA also highlighted the revision of Vodafone Idea’s adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues. In May, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) cut Vodafone Idea's AGR dues by 27% to Rs 64,046 crore as of December 31. This revision significantly alleviates the company’s liability burden and enhances cash flow visibility, the ratings agency said, adding that these will provide a push to the telco’s capex plans.Citi removes ‘High Risk’ rating on Vodafone Idea sharesCiti removed its 'High Risk' rating on the stock and raised its target price to Rs 17, implying an upside potential of more than 20% from the previous closing price. In its latest note, Citi Research changed its rating on Vodafone Idea shares to ‘Buy’ from ‘Buy-High Risk’, citing several tailwinds, including the government’s recent reassessment of AGR dues, rating upgrades, equity infusion by the Aditya Birla Group, and other factors into consideration.The brokerage, however, flagged key risks to its bullish view, including delays in bank funding, intensifying competition that could limit future tariff hikes, continued subscriber churn, and slower-than-expected growth in 4G and 5G users.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo, fell more than 1% to their day's low of Rs 4,425 on the BSE on Wednesday after it suspended flights to and from Manchester from August 31, as prolonged airspace restrictions and rising operational expenses continue to weigh on long-haul services.The airline said the temporary suspension will lead to the return of one of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft leased from Norse Atlantic Airways, which were brought in to support its long-haul international expansion plans.In a statement issued on Tuesday, IndiGo said ongoing international airspace constraints have significantly increased flight durations, while a difficult cost environment has made operations on the route increasingly challenging. As a result, services between India and Manchester will be paused from August 31, 2026.The carrier had inducted six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on damp lease from Norse Atlantic Airways in early 2025 as part of its strategy to accelerate entry into European markets before the arrival of its own Airbus A350 aircraft. The Manchester service was among the first long-haul routes launched under this initiative.According to the airline, a combination of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, elevated aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, severe airspace restrictions and currency volatility pushed operating costs well above original expectations.Abhijit Dasgupta, Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Revenue Management at IndiGo, said the route had received a strong response from passengers despite the operational difficulties."We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high-potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester and witnessed very encouraging demand response," Dasgupta said."Unfortunately, longer flying times due to airspace constraints coupled with dramatically escalating costs compelled us to take the decision to temporarily discontinue our India-Manchester services," he added.The airline stressed that the suspension is only temporary and reaffirmed its commitment to growing its long-haul international network. Dasgupta said the positive customer response had strengthened IndiGo's confidence in the long-term viability of the Manchester route and its wider international expansion plans.IndiGo also said affected passengers will be notified in advance and assisted with alternative travel options or refunds, wherever applicable. The airline clarified that all of its other long-haul international services will continue to operate as scheduled.IndiGo Q4 snapshotIndia’s leading airline by market share reported a net loss of Rs 2,536 crore for the fourth quarter of FY26, compared with a net profit of Rs 3,067 crore in the corresponding period last year. Revenue from operations, however, edged up 1% year-on-year to Rs 22,438 crore.The airline said its operational performance during the quarter was affected by disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased 3.4% year-on-year to 43.6 billion. IndiGo shares have fallen 20% in the last six months and about 17% in the last 1 year. Sensex, Nifty today: Catch all the LIVE stock market action here (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
China is pitching itself as the global fulcrum for the next phase of artificial intelligence and a legion of robotics companies is lining up initial public offerings to test investor appetite.Unitree Robotics, one of the most recognizable names in the industry after its robots practicing martial arts made headlines, on Monday received approval for a listing in Shanghai. Its IPO will serve as an early test for what could be a broader wave of offerings. Hong Kong alone has at least 46 robotics-related companies in the pipeline, more than 10% of applicants, according to a report. Companies that have filed IPO applications include Leju Robotics and Deep Robotics. “Chinese humanoids are one step closer to IPOs, igniting market interest on humanoids in the second half of 2026,” Sheng Zhong, head of China industrials research at Morgan Stanley, wrote in a note. “Funds from most of the Chinese humanoids’ IPOs will go toward R&D, especially robot models.” The deep pipeline of robotics IPOs mirrors the fast rise of China’s AI ecosystem, where an array of listings whipped up an investor frenzy in the past six months. It also aligns with Beijing’s push to shift high-tech industries from innovation to large-scale deployment. China is rushing to set the pace of funding, industrialization and ultimately leadership in what Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang calls “physical AI.” Shares of OneRobotics (Shenzhen) Co. jumped as much as 18% in Hong Kong on Tuesday, while component maker Leader Harmonious Drive Systems Co. gained as much as 11% on the mainland. 131456136“This is the decade of the robot – and it belongs to China,” Barclays analysts, including Zornitsa Todorova, wrote in a note last month. “This leadership reflects a decade-long, state-guided push.”The firm says China’s robotics roll-out is already unmatched, accounting for 50% of global industrial robots and 85% of humanoids in 2025. Backed by coordinated industrial policy and tight supply-chain control, humanoids could reach about 3.8% of the nation’s labor capacity by 2035, it estimates. Unitree got a nice shoutout from Nvidia’s Huang on Monday, when he showcased his company’s endeavors in robotic AI. The two companies have partnered to build humanoid “reference” machines, featuring five-fingered hands and built-in chips to replace cumbersome “Frankenrobots” in research labs.Some investors remain more cautious, though, when looking at the companies’ fundamentals. Many robotics firms are expected to burn cash for years and concerns are mounting that valuations could run ahead of earnings.A gauge of humanoid robot stocks has fallen about 13% this year, after registering a 47% gain in 2025. ChinaAMC CSI Robot ETF, a major exchange-traded fund tracking robot-related stocks, has seen net fund outflows for most of this year. Valuations were also elevated, with the sector trading at about 40 times forward earnings, compared with about 14 times for the CSI 300 Index, according to Bloomberg-compiled data.“Investors trading at such elevated valuations are typically not driven by long-term fundamentals, but rather by the pursuit of short-term price gains,” said Shen Meng, a director at Beijing-based investment bank Chanson & Co. “It indicates that sentiment is driven more by market dynamics than by conviction or long-term vision.”The state-run China Securities Journal also struck a cautious tone in an editorial published Tuesday, warning that pre-IPO valuations may outpace fundamentals, with many firms still unprofitable, raising the risk of a sharp correction if growth or commercialization disappoints. Still, prospective issuers can look at the performance of China tech IPOs this year, with many listings thousands of times oversubscribed and producing big gains on their debuts. Two of those companies, AI model developers Knowledge Atlas Technology Joint Stock Co. and MiniMax Group Inc. last month gained inclusion in the Hang Seng Tech Index after massive rallies since their January listings. For investors, the robotics companies can also offer a way to benefit from the rapid expansion of a cutting edge industry, said Zhou Nan, founder and investment director of Shenzhen Long Hui Fund Management Co.“With continued advances in AI, the robotics sector is poised for substantial long-term growth,” Zhou said. “Robotics is expected to become a key driver of enterprise value, and progressively complement or replace human labor across a wide range of use cases.”
The shares of Indian IT companies including Infosys, TCS and others continued to record sharp gains on Tuesday, pushing the Nifty IT over 3% higher even as the broader Nifty index slipped into the deep red.The Nifty IT index extended gains for the third consecutive session, jumping around 7% during the period to hit a high of 30,785 on Tuesday. Nifty crashed 3% during the same time to trade below 23,250.Infosys shares gained more than 4% to trade at Rs 1,257.90 apiece in the morning trading hours of Tuesday. The heavyweight IT stock has now gained nearly 9% in just three sessions. The shares of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) meanwhile jumped around 3.5%.Mphasis and LTI Mindtree shares jumped nearly 3% each, while HCL Technologies, Coforge, Tech Mahindra and Persistent Systems shares jumped around 2% each. Wipro shares were trading in the green with marginal gains.What’s driving the rally in IT stocks?The sharp surge in IT stocks comes after a significant decline earlier this year, following the launch of plug-ins for AI startup Anthropic's Claude Cowork agent, which could automate tasks across legal, sales, marketing, and data analysis. "We call it the ‘SaaSpocalypse,’ an apocalypse for software-as-a-service stocks," Bloomberg quoted Jeffrey Favuzza from the equity trading desk at Jefferies.While analysts continue to debate the future of IT companies following fresh AI advancements, investors were quick to analyse the cheap valuations, leading to some pockets of buying. Nuvama, in its note, had highlighted that the IT sector is setting up for a powerful comeback, not a collapse after the brutal AI-driven selloff.“We see no existential threat from Gen-AI,” the brokerage writes, arguing that enterprises will still need a “system integrator” to customise plug-and-play AI and software tools for their highly complex, brownfield technology stacks and to take ownership when “the system fails at 2 am.”The latest round of buying also comes ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting next month, which would be the first under Chair Kevin Warsh. US President Donald Trump had selected Warsh partly on expectations that he would support lower borrowing costs to stimulate economic growth. However, rising inflation raised questions over the possibility of lowering rates."Indian IT firms are following suit of American companies like Anthropic and OpenAI by taking up contracts and tie-ups which are perceived as promising by investors," said Gaurav Sharma, head of Research, Globe Capital.Arbind Maheswari from BofA Securities told ET Now that the market globally is attracting flow towards only one story, at the front and centre of it is tech and AI. It is hard to pull away from that fact with a near-term vision. “There are people who believe that the whole business model of Indian IT services is put to question by the AI trade. The other side is that IT services companies will evolve and adapt and they have enough cash flow, they have the resilience, and they have shown this in the past where there were threats that seemed existential for the IT services space. This time obviously it is much bigger and it could last longer but I am sure there is enough that these companies have in them both in terms of depth of management and business models that they can evolve to adapt to the new AI world,” he added.Wipro to acquire additional stake in Aggne Global for $28.5 millionWipro announced that it will acquire an additional 20% stake in US-based insurtech company Aggne Global Inc through an all-cash transaction worth $28.5 million. The company said the transaction is expected to be completed by June 5.Earlier this year, the company acquired Mindsprint for $375 million as part of a broader $1 billion transaction with its parent, Olam Group. It also purchased select customer contracts from US-based Alpha Net Consulting LLC and its subsidiaries for $71 million.(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: India's CPI inflation is expected to rise by around 70 bps to 4.8 per cent with crude oil averaging USD 90/bbl in FY27, according to a report by 360 ONE Capital. This projection comes as the ongoing conflict in West Asia and a downgraded domestic monsoon forecast introduce fresh challenges to India's macroeconomic trajectory.The report noted that the conflict in West Asia and the resulting energy supply disruptions warrant a reassessment of key macroeconomic assumptions. "Our revised base case assumes de-escalation by mid-June, with crude oil averaging USD 90/bbl in FY27. Under this scenario, CPI inflation is expected to rise by around 70 bps to 4.8% (from 4.1%), while GDP growth moderates to 6.3% (from 6.7%). The fiscal deficit is projected to widen to 4.6% of GDP (from 4.4%), and the current account deficit to 2.1% of GDP (from 1.3%)," the report stated.Also read: India meets FY26 fiscal deficit goal at 4.4% of GDP despite revenue and global pressuresThe report noted that India's economic momentum remains stable due to domestic consumption and public spending, but geopolitical frictions pose tangible downside risks. Supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz are particularly vital, as India sources nearly 50 per cent of its LPG and around 30 per cent of its natural gas requirements through this route.Even though the "net petroleum import bill has declined from 5.5% of GDP in FY14 to around 3.0% in FY25, the economy remains exposed to a prolonged disruption in energy supplies."On the monetary front, global financial conditions continue to tighten as central banks react to persistent inflationary impulses. While the Reserve Bank of India is expected to keep policy rates unchanged in the upcoming meeting, domestic bond yields face upward pressure from a widening fiscal deficit and higher energy costs.Also read: Manufacturing activity at 3-month high in May despite cost woesThe report mentioned that the impact on macroeconomic variables is likely to be non-linear, implying significantly larger downside risks if the conflict persists. "A further USD 10/bbl increase in crude prices above our base assumption could push inflation to 5.6% (assuming a partial pass-through of around 5% to retail fuel prices), lower GDP growth by an additional 40 bps to 5.9%, widen the current account deficit to 2.5% GDP, and increase the fiscal deficit to 4.8% of GDP," the report added.Compounding these external geopolitical risks, the domestic agricultural outlook faces unexpected pressure. In its Second Long Range Forecast, the IMD downgraded the Southwest Monsoon 2026 forecast to 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) from 92 per cent estimated in April.This development represents the weakest monsoon outlook since 2015, which raises immediate concerns over overall agricultural output and rural demand.In the global perspective, the IMF has lowered its 2026 global growth forecast by 20 bps, citing risks from the Middle East conflict through higher commodity prices, inflation, and tighter financial conditions.The report stated that under the IMF's reference scenario, "global growth is projected at 3.1% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, below both the recent 3.4% pace and the historical average of 3.7%. In adverse scenarios, growth could slow to 2.5% or even 2.0%, accompanied by significantly higher inflation, with emerging markets expected to be disproportionately affected."
Mumbai: Two years of challenging equity market returns appear to be prompting a section of retail investors to reassess exposure to the stock market, with industry data showing rising monthly systematic investment plan (SIP) discontinuations and a slowdown in new investor additions.SIP halts continued to outpace new registrations in April, with stoppage ratio at 101%, unchanged from March, according to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). This indicates that more SIP accounts were closed than opened during the month.Importantly though, flows through SIPs, the mainstay of domestic investments, have remained resilient.131452535Not a Short-term Game This support has been critical for equities amid overseas investors stampeding out of the Indian markets. Any change in that trend would have led to greater market turmoil.Still, the discontinuation trend has worsened over time, with the 12-month SIP stoppage ratio rising to 94.5% in March 2026, compared with 75.6% in March 2025 and 52% in March 2024.Fresh investor additions slowed in April as well, with 295,000 new investors entering mutual funds, taking the total investor base to 61.7 million. This marks the slowest monthly addition since June 2023.In comparison, the industry added 700,000 and 500,000 new investors in February and March, respectively. The pace has moderated in the past two years, with 7.2 million additions in the 12 months ended March, compared with 9.7 million in the preceding year.The growing SIP stoppages and the drop in fresh investor additions underscore dissatisfaction over lower-than-expected returns from equity schemes."Two years ago, many investors came in after watching incredibly high returns from the small cap space," said Swarup Mohanty, vice chairman and CEO, Mirae Asset Investment Managers. "With high returns not coming their way now, they are disappointed."An SIP in the broad-based Nifty 50 would have lost 2.56% over the last two years, while an investment in the broad Nifty 500 would have fetched 0.83%."Many investors came with high return expectations in short time spans," said Viraj Gandhi, chief executive, Samco Mutual Fund. "As returns over the last two years are low, new investors are slow to come by, while some investors who expected high returns could move to other avenues, which is a natural phenomenon."
Shares of Indian IT companies, including heavyweights Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS and Persistent Systems jumped up to 5% on Monday as multiple tailwinds boosted investor sentiment, pushing the Nifty IT index up around 3% to emerge as the top sectoral gainer.The index rose to 29,905 in the morning trading hours of Monday, extending sharp gains for the second consecutive session. The index has now jumped nearly 4% over two days.The sharp surge in IT stocks comes after a significant decline earlier this year, following the launch of plug-ins for AI startup Anthropic's Claude Cowork agent, which could automate tasks across legal, sales, marketing, and data analysis. "We call it the ‘SaaSpocalypse,’ an apocalypse for software-as-a-service stocks," Bloomberg quoted Jeffrey Favuzza from the equity trading desk at Jefferies as saying.While doomsday prophets continue to debate the future of IT companies following fresh AI advancements, investors were quick to analyse the cheap valuations, leading to some pockets of buying. Nuvama, in its note, had highlighted that the IT sector is setting up for a powerful comeback, not a collapse after the brutal AI-driven selloff.“We see no existential threat from Gen-AI,” the brokerage writes, arguing that enterprises will still need a “system integrator” to customise plug-and-play AI and software tools for their highly complex, brownfield technology stacks and to take ownership when “the system fails at 2 am.”Also read: Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated! Why Nuvama is screaming buy on all top 10 IT stocksThe latest round of buying also comes ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting next month, which would be the first under Chair Kevin Warsh. US President Donald Trump had selected Warsh partly on expectations that he would support lower borrowing costs to stimulate economic growth. However, rising inflation raised questions over the possibility of lowering rates.Technical view on Nifty ITThe Nifty IT index has witnessed a strong rebound after taking support near its crucial support zone, indicating the possibility of a short-term recovery in the sector, Kunal Kamble, Senior Technical Research Analyst at Bonanza had said. “On the hourly time frame, the index is currently forming an inverse Head and Shoulders pattern. A decisive breakout is seen above the neckline of this pattern and has triggered further upside momentum in the index. Such a move is likely to positively impact heavyweight IT stocks that share a high correlation with the index, including Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, and HCL Technologies,” he added.Technically, the analyst had suggested that if the index manages to sustain above the 29,650 mark, it may open the door for a further recovery towards the 31,280 zone in the near term. However, he added that the current price action appears to be a retracement within the broader trend rather than a complete trend reversal. Therefore, traders should approach the sector with a cautious outlook.“Aggressive or high-risk traders may consider short-term trading opportunities in select IT counters, provided the index maintains strength above key support levels. On the downside, a breach below 28,800 could once again invite selling pressure across the Nifty IT index and associated IT stocks, potentially weakening the ongoing recovery structure,” he said.IT stocksPersistent Systems shares were the top gainers on the Nifty IT index, jumping nearly 5%. Infosys shares followed, surging nearly 4%. Mphasis, Tech Mahindra, LTI Mindtree and Coforge shares gained over 3% each.Also read: Wockhardt shares rocket 19% after FDA approval for antibiotic targeting drug-resistant infectionsTata Consultancy Services (TCS) and OFSS shares jumped around 2% each, while HCL Technologies and Wipro shares gained around 1% each.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Shares of Asian Paints rallied as much as 4% to their day’s high of Rs 2,778 on the BSE on Monday after the company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,172 crore for the fourth quarter of FY26, marking a 69% year-on-year increase from Rs 692 crore posted in the corresponding quarter last year. Revenue from operations during the January-March quarter rose 11% to Rs 9,228.46 crore, compared with Rs 8,349.59 crore reported a year earlier.During the quarter under review, total income increased by more than 11% year-on-year to Rs 9,418 crore. Total expenses rose at a slower pace, increasing nearly 8% to Rs 7,829.17 crore.EBITDA for the quarter rose 24.4% year-on-year to Rs 1,787 crore from Rs 1,436.2 crore in the corresponding period last year. EBITDA margin expanded by more than 200 basis points to 19.3%, compared with 17.2% a year earlier. For the full financial year ended March 31, 2026, Asian Paints reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 4,325.35 crore, up 18% from Rs 3,667.23 crore recorded in the previous financial year. Annual revenue from operations rose around 5% year-on-year to Rs 35,583.54 crore in FY26.Asian Paints shares: Buy, sell or hold?Nomura raised its target price to Rs 3,600 (35% upside) while maintaining a Buy rating, highlighting that the company not only retained but improved its guidance despite cumulative price hikes of around 13.5% year-to-date, including 10.5% implemented in April-May and a further 3% increase announced to dealers. The brokerage noted that management's decision to maintain volume growth guidance of 8-10% signals confidence in a strong demand environment. It also pointed to improved product mix guidance of -3% to -4%, compared with the earlier expectation of -5% to -6%, driven by a greater push towards premium and luxury paints, implying high-teens sales growth in FY27. The brokerage also maintained its operating margin guidance of 18-20% despite raw material inflation and competitive pressures. Nomura believes there is a high probability of crude oil prices moderating from current levels over the next six months, which could further support margins.Motilal Oswal maintained its Neutral rating on Asian Paints with a target price of Rs 2,750, implying a modest upside of up to 3%. The brokerage raised its FY27 and FY28 earnings estimates by 3%-4%, citing better-than-expected revenue performance. However, it cautioned that the uncertain geopolitical environment and persistent inflationary pressures could continue to weigh on overall demand. Management has guided for high single-digit volume growth in FY27 despite significant price hikes, supported by a favourable base, more painting days due to El Niño conditions and an extended festive season. The brokerage expects standalone EBITDA margins of 19.1% and 19.5% for FY27 and FY28, respectively, while consolidated margins are projected at 18.2% and 18.6%. It also noted that paint demand has remained subdued over the past two years, and recent price increases could delay a broader demand recovery. To counter competitive pressures, Asian Paints continues to focus on product innovation, strengthening brand salience, regionalisation and execution.JM Financial upgraded Asian Paints to Add with a target price of Rs 2,815, implying an upside of 5.4%. The brokerage believes the company's FY27 revenue outlook remains encouraging, supported by management's volume growth guidance of 8-10%. Combined with double-digit price increases, including hikes of around 10.4% already implemented and an additional 2-4% announced from June, along with a lower adverse mix impact of 3-4%, this is expected to drive mid-teen sales growth in FY27. JM Financial noted that demand trends remained stable during April and May, while management remains optimistic about business momentum in the second and third quarters of FY27, aided by a longer festive season. Also read: PSU bank stocks vs private banks in FY27: The valuation trap you need to avoidThe brokerage also highlighted that management has reiterated its EBITDA margin guidance of 18-20% despite significant raw material inflation, supported by price hikes, sourcing efficiencies, an improved product mix and calibrated spending. However, the company expects competitive intensity in the paints sector to remain elevated. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)