Higher F&O Taxes Won’t Deter Small Investors, Says NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan; Calls for Tax-Based Entry Filter
NSE Managing Director Ashish Chauhan argued that recent hikes in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) will not discourage retail participation in futures‑and‑options (F&O) trading. He suggested that eligibility for derivatives should be tied to an investor’s tax‑paying capacity, proposing a minimum annual tax threshold of ₹10‑20 lakh. Chauhan cited international markets such as the United States, Singapore, and South Korea to illustrate how qualification filters, rather than blunt tax increases, can protect small investors. He warned that derivatives remain inherently risky for retail participants.
Exports Jump 29 Pct to Record Feb. High on Surging Chip Demand
South Korea’s exports surged 29% year‑over‑year in February, hitting a record high. The jump was driven primarily by a sharp rebound in semiconductor shipments as global chip demand accelerated. The trade surplus expanded sharply, reinforcing the country’s position as a...
Thai Gold-Trading Curbs Take Effect as Authorities Rein in Baht
Thailand's central bank introduced strict retail gold‑trading limits effective March 1, 2026. Individuals can now trade up to 50 million baht per day on each online platform, aiming to dampen speculative buying that has lifted the baht. The cap excludes USD‑denominated...
BofA: Slowing Demand to Hit Philippines Growth
Bank of America projects Philippine GDP growth at 4.6% in 2026 and 5.0% in 2027, falling short of the economy’s 5.5‑6.5% sustainable range. The slowdown is driven by weak household consumption, softer private investment and a tapering of government disbursements...
BSP Flags Faster Inflation in February
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) projects February inflation to rise to between 2.3% and 3.1%, up from January’s 2% rate. Higher rice and fish prices, elevated petroleum costs and increased Meralco electricity charges are the main upward pressures, while...
NFTY: Comparatively Better, Structurally Weak
The First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF (NFTY) provides U.S. investors with an equal‑weight exposure to the Nifty 50 constituents, but its performance is hampered by a weakening Indian rupee. Over the past two decades the equal‑weight index has generated...
FIIs Pour Rs 22,615 Crore Into Indian Equities in February. Can Iran-Israel Conflict Flip the Trend?
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net buyers in February, pouring Rs 22,615 crore into Indian equities, with Rs 19,782 crore going to secondary markets and Rs 2,832 crore to primary issues. However, a sharp sell‑off on February 28 saw FIIs dump Rs 7,536 crore, dragging the Nifty and Sensex...
Vanguard’s India Portfolio Shines: 12 Stocks Rally up to 120% in FY26, 8 Fresh Q3 Picks
Vanguard Fund’s India portfolio surged, now valued at ₹69,100 crore, a 60% jump from the March quarter. The fund holds stakes in 48 BSE‑listed companies, placing it among the top three active foreign institutional investors in the country. Twelve of its...
LT Group Books 4th Straight Record Earnings in 2025 at P31B
LT Group Inc. reported a record P30.98 billion net income for 2025, a 7 percent increase over 2024, marking its fourth consecutive year of record earnings. Philippine National Bank drove nearly half of the profit, contributing P14.26 billion as its net income rose...
Japan's Consumption Tax Suspension May Not Result in Lower Food Prices
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to suspend Japan’s 8 percent consumption tax on food for two years to ease inflation pressures. The proposal meets skepticism from economists and small‑business groups who argue the cut may not translate into lower retail prices....
The Head Fake: Buying the Chinese Stocks Post-Ruling Dip
The U.S. Supreme Court’s February 20 decision struck down IEEPA‑based tariffs, removing the worst‑case tariff risk for Chinese e‑commerce firms. The market’s initial rally faded as investors fretted over a possible 15% global tariff, creating a temporary dip in Alibaba...
US Markets Regulator SEC Announces New Insider Trading Rules for Foreign Companies
The SEC announced new insider‑trade reporting rules for foreign private issuers, requiring executives to disclose purchases or sales within two business days, effective March 18, 2026. The mandate aligns foreign executive reporting with U.S. standards and fulfills a 2025 congressional...
CPF Confident for 2026 After Profit Surge
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) posted a net profit of 25.2 billion baht for 2025, up 29% year‑on‑year, driven by stronger gross margins and cost controls. Total sales fell 2% to 571 billion baht as a stronger baht weighed on overseas earnings, though...
Bharat Biotech IPO Soon? Vaccine Maker Plans to Raise $500 Million From Stock Market, Says Report
Bharat Biotech International Ltd is exploring an initial public offering to raise more than $500 million, according to Bloomberg. The Hyderabad‑based vaccine maker has delivered over nine billion doses worldwide and holds a portfolio of 19 vaccines and four biotherapeutics. Recent...
Global Funds Return to India as Earnings Outlook Improves
Global funds are pouring back into Indian equities, buying about $2.1 billion of shares in February – the strongest monthly inflow in eight months. The rebound follows a record outflow in 2025 and is driven by a newly signed US‑India trade...
Robinsons Retail Earns 6% More in 2025
Robinsons Retail Holdings posted a 6% rise in core net earnings to P6.7 billion in 2025, driven by 5.7% net‑sales growth that pushed revenue to P210.4 billion. Net income to equity holders fell 44% because the prior year’s one‑time merger gain inflated...
Megaworld Profit Hits All-Time High in 2025
Megaworld Corp. posted a record P24 billion net income in 2025, an 11% increase from 2024. Revenue climbed to nearly P86 billion, driven by an 11% rise in leasing revenues and strong residential sales. Office leasing, especially through Megaworld Premier Offices, contributed...
Gains Fade as Bears Take Hold: Sensex Slips 225 Points by Midday
Indian equity benchmarks reversed early gains, with the BSE Sensex slipping 225 points to 82,050 and the NSE Nifty 50 falling 0.26% to 25,415 by midday. Selling pressure was concentrated in power, energy and consumer stocks, while auto and healthcare names...
Stocks to Buy: Nagaraj Shetti Recommends Aurobindo Pharma, NMDC Shares to Buy
Indian equities opened with modest gains but reversed by early afternoon, as the Sensex fell 0.34% to 81,994 and the Nifty slipped 0.25% to 25,421. Profit‑taking, a seven‑month peak in crude‑oil prices, and renewed US‑Iran nuclear tensions pressured sentiment despite...
IT Sector Valuations Turn Attractive After AI Sell-Off: Emkay; Adds Infosys, HCL Tech; Exits Mphasis in Portfolio Reset
Emkay Global has turned marginally overweight on the Indian IT sector after an AI‑driven sell‑off made valuations appear attractive. The brokerage cites price‑to‑earnings multiples of 14‑18× and free‑cash‑flow yields of 4‑6% as evidence of value. It projects a potential total...
Booming Markets Propel Hong Kong Exchange’s Profits to Record High
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing reported a second‑year profit record in 2025, with attributable earnings up 36% to US$2.3 billion and total revenue hitting US$3.7 billion. The exchange reclaimed its position as the world’s leading IPO venue, hosting 119 listings that raised...
SBI Life Declares Interim Dividend of ₹2.7, Stock Rises Around 1.5% - Check Record Date Here
SBI Life Insurance announced an interim dividend of ₹2.7 per share for FY26, with a record date of March 6 and payout scheduled by March 27. The declaration lifted the stock about 1.5% in early trade, trading near ₹2,094. In Q3 FY26...
HKEX 2025 Full Year Results
HKEX reported record 2025 results, with revenue of HK$29.2bn, a 30% increase year‑on‑year, and profit of HK$17.8bn, up 36%. The exchange reclaimed its position as the world’s top IPO venue, raising HK$286.9bn from 119 listings, and posted record trading volumes...
Power Generation Lifts Meralco’s 2025 Profit by 12%
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) posted a record 2025, with consolidated core net income rising 12% to P50.57 billion, surpassing its P50 billion profit target. The boost came primarily from its power‑generation arm, which grew its share of profit to 33% and contributed...
Broker’s Call: CIE Automotive (Add)
CIE Automotive reported Q4 CY25 consolidated revenue of ₹2,390 crore, in line with consensus, while its adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 15.4%, beating the estimate by 60 basis points. India revenue grew 12% YoY to ₹1,540 crore, outpacing the domestic market, whereas...
Broker’s Call: Mphasis (Add)
Mphasis retains a strong near‑ to medium‑term outlook as its legacy modernization pipeline doubles year‑on‑year, despite AI‑driven pricing pressure on renewals. Clients prefer model‑agnostic platforms that integrate with existing systems, limiting the need for full rebuilds. Discount levels on renewals...
Defence Stocks Move in Different Terrain, PSUs Struggle at Peak
Defence stocks in India are showing a split trajectory as public‑sector undertakings (PSUs) like HAL and Bharat Dynamics slide, while private firms such as Data Patterns and Solar Industries post double‑digit gains. The Nifty Defence Index remains positive, up roughly...
NSE IX Launches ‘Global Access’ Platform; Allows Easy Access to Overseas Markets for Indian Retail Investors
The NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) has soft‑launched its Global Access platform, allowing Indian retail investors to trade U.S. equities, debt and ETFs directly. The service uses a fully digital KYC process, supports fractional share purchases, and operates under the RBI’s...
Waaree Energies, Premier Energies Slip After US Announces 126% Duty on Solar Imports, Firms See No Material Impact
The U.S. announced a preliminary 126% counter‑vailing duty on certain solar imports from India, sending Waaree Energies and Premier Energies shares sharply lower—Waaree down 10% and Premier down 6%. Both companies said they have diversified supply chains and ongoing US...
Nikkei Index Ends at Record High
The Nikkei Stock Average closed at a record 58,583.12 points, up 2.20% as investors cheered the nomination of two new Bank of Japan policymakers viewed as dovish. The yen briefly slipped past the 156‑yen level before retreating, while the broader...
Taiwan Shares Close up 2.05%
Taiwan's Taiwan Capitalization Weighted Index (TAIEX) closed at 35,413.07 on February 25, up 712.25 points or 2.05%. The market saw a hefty turnover of NT$981.97 billion (US$31.38 billion), indicating strong buying pressure. Semiconductor leader TSMC broke the NT$2,000 per share mark, lifting...
Software Rout Ripples Through India’s Consumer Tech, Real Estate
Asian equities rose on Wednesday as the AI‑driven sell‑off in U.S. markets softened, offering a brief reprieve for India’s stock market. The Nifty index flirted with its 200‑day moving average, a key long‑term support level, before closing above it. Asset...
Stock Recommendations for 25 February From MarketSmith India
MarketSmith India released its top stock picks for 25 February as Indian equities slumped. The Nifty 50 dropped 1.12% to 25,424.65 and the Sensex fell 1.28%, driven by a 4.74% plunge in the IT index. AI‑related disruption fears after Anthropic’s new tools,...
Hong Kong Sees Fast Growth Continuing Into 2026 on Rebound
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced a 2026 GDP growth projection of 2.5%‑3.5%, raising expectations beyond the 2%‑3% range slated for 2025. The forecast follows a 3.5% expansion in 2025, the strongest pace since 2021, underscoring a robust post‑pandemic...
Memory Boom Drives Korean Stocks’ Breakthrough Past 6,000 Level
South Korea's KOSPI index surged past the 6,000 mark, closing at a record 6,085 on Wednesday. The rally was powered by a sharp rise in global memory demand, lifting Samsung Electronics 2.5% and SK Hynix 2.1%. The benchmark is now...
Tech-Led Rally Extends to Asia, Dollar Edges Lower: Markets Wrap
Asian equities extended a technology‑driven rally, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbing 1.2% for a third straight session. South Korea, viewed as a proxy for AI investment, surged 2.2% to a record high. A rebound in battered software stocks...
Monetary Policy Committee Policy Rate Likely to Remain Unchanged
The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to leave its policy rate unchanged at 1.25% during Wednesday’s meeting, buoyed by a stronger‑than‑expected 2.5% year‑on‑year GDP growth in Q4 2025 and a clearer political environment after the election. Economists...
BoT Upgrades Thai GDP Forecast After Robust Q4
The Bank of Thailand raised its 2026 GDP growth projection to 1.9%, up from 1.5%, after a stronger‑than‑expected fourth‑quarter performance. Governor Vitai Ratanakorn stressed that tighter coordination between fiscal stimulus and monetary easing is essential to move the economy toward...
CPN Launches Major B7bn Expansion of Central Phuket
Central Pattana (CPN) is allocating 7 billion baht to expand its Central Phuket mixed‑use complex, boosting the gross building area from roughly 300,000 to 500,000 sq m and lifting total project value above 26 billion baht. The plan doubles the luxury zone, adds a...
Philex 2025 Income Climbs to P929.69M on Record Metal Prices
Philex Mining Corp posted a net income of P929.69 million in 2025, a 14.7% rise year‑over‑year, driven by record‑high gold and copper prices and a favorable peso exchange rate. Revenues climbed 8.2% to P8.85 billion, while core net income surged 43.6% to...
SEC Revises IPO Float Rules to Revive Listings
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission issued Memorandum Circular No. 11, Series of 2026, revising public‑ownership requirements for IPOs. The new tiered framework reduces the minimum float to 33 percent for firms under P500 million and as low as 15 percent for companies above P50 billion, with a...
Govt to Divest up to 4% Stake in IRFC via OFS Starting Wednesday, Sets Floor Price at Rs 104 per...
The Ministry of Railways has launched an offer‑for‑sale (OFS) to off‑load up to 4 % of Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) equity, equivalent to 26.13 crore shares, with a green‑shoe option for an additional equal tranche. The floor price is fixed at...
Schaeffler India Announces Rs 35/Share Dividend. Check Payment Date, Dividend Yield
Schaeffler India announced a Rs 35 per share dividend for FY 25, payable within 30 days of its AGM on 30 April 2026. The company posted a 36% jump in Q4 net profit to Rs 322 crore and revenue rose 28% YoY to Rs 2,724 crore. Profit after...
Broker’s Call: ABB India (Reduce)
ABB India posted a 6% year‑on‑year revenue increase to ₹3,560 crore in Q4‑CY25, but adjusted EBITDA margin slipped 230 basis points to 17.2% amid higher commodity costs and adverse mix. Order inflows surged 52% YoY to ₹4,090 crore, pushing the backlog to...
Broker’s Call: SAIL (Buy)
Emkay Global upgraded Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) to a Buy, raising the target price to ₹200 from ₹175 while the stock trades around ₹160.25. The firm projects EBITDA per tonne of ₹7,000‑7,500 over the next two quarters, up...
Sebi Chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey Flags Big PMS Overhaul, to Examine New RBI Funding Rules
Sebi chair Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced a sweeping review of portfolio‑management‑services (PMS) regulations, citing the sector’s Rs 10.5 lakh‑crore asset base and 17% CAGR growth. The draft overhaul will prioritize investor suitability, governance, and technology, with a public consultation slated before the...
Market Trading Guide: Tourism Finance and Cummins India Are Stocks to Buy on Tuesday for up to 16% Returns. Here’s...
India's benchmark indices rallied after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariffs, but the Nifty stayed confined between the 21‑EMA (25,641) and the 50‑DMA (25,737). Technical analysts highlighted elevated VIX and indecisive RSI, suggesting a sideways short‑term range....
Bharti Airtel Shares to Be in Focus After ₹20,000 Crore Capital Infusion in NBFC Arm Airtel Money
Bharti Airtel announced a ₹20,000 crore capital infusion into its non‑banking financial company arm, Airtel Money, to accelerate its digital finance push. The funding is expected to expand the company’s payments, credit and savings offerings across its telecom customer base. Following...
Asian Stocks Rally After Trump’s Supreme Court Tariffs Blow
The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated most of President Trump’s tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, delivering a sharp policy reversal. Asian equity markets responded positively, with technology and e‑commerce stocks leading gains and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng up...
PSEi Climbs to 6,488 as Earnings Lift Market Sentiment
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose to 6,488.51, gaining 0.36% as earnings releases spurred buying in industrial, mining and oil stocks. Turnover hovered around P6.12 billion, reflecting measured participation despite subdued volume from global tariff worries. Market breadth stayed positive with...