LIC Likely to Announce Its First-Ever Bonus Issue Tomorrow: Check Key Things to Know
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is poised to announce its first‑ever bonus issue at a board meeting on April 13, marking a rare move for the state‑run insurer. The bonus would distribute free shares from reserves, enhancing liquidity without altering market capitalisation, which tops Rs 5 lakh crore (about $60 billion). LIC’s recent financials show a 17% year‑on‑year profit rise to Rs 12,930 crore ($1.6 bn) and a 17% jump in net premium income to Rs 1.26 lakh crore ($15 bn). The stock, up 46% over three years, is down roughly 6% in 2026, closing near Rs 798 ($9.6).
Madhusudan Kela Picks Beaten-Down Smallcap Bets; Buys Indiabulls, Simplex Infra in Q4
Ace investor Madhusudan Kela has taken a contrarian swing into beaten‑down small‑caps, buying a 2.22% stake in Indiabulls Limited (5.15 cr shares) and a 1.21% position in Simplex Infrastructures. Both stocks are trading well below their 200‑day moving averages and are...
D-Street Week Ahead: Nifty Extends Rebound; Godfrey Phillips Signals Breakout After Base Formation
The Nifty index rebounded, gaining 275.5 points (1.16%) after a brief dip caused by US trade‑tariff uncertainty and a delayed Supreme Court ruling. Technical analyst Milan Vaishnav highlighted that Godfrey Phillips (GODFREYPHLP) has completed a multi‑week base formation, with bullish signals...
West Asia Turmoil Priced in; India’s Long-Term Story Intact, Says Sunil Singhania
Sunil Singhania says the West Asia conflict has heightened oil prices and supply‑route worries, feeding volatility into Indian equities. He notes that roughly 90% of the conflict‑related risks are already priced in, leaving a favorable risk‑reward balance. Domestic investors continue...
Valuations Turn Attractive as Markets Look Beyond Uncertainty: A Balasubramanian
A Balasubramanian, MD & CEO of ABSL AMC, says Indian equities have slipped into a valuation sweet spot as geopolitical tensions ease and macro signals improve. The Nifty now trades below its long‑term average P/E, while credit and deposit growth are rebounding after...
Financial Services Bear Maximum Brunt of Late-March FPI Selloff
Foreign portfolio investors dumped over ₹60,000 crore (≈ $7.2 billion) from Indian financial services in the second half of March, the steepest outflow since 2012. The sell‑off peaked at ₹28,824 crore (≈ $3.5 billion) from March 16‑31, contributing 43% of the ₹67,081 crore (≈ $8.1 billion) withdrawn across 21 sectors. Banking...
Macro Buffers to Help India Tide over Gulf Crisis: World Bank
The World Bank projects India’s GDP growth at 6.6% for FY27, noting that the ongoing Gulf conflict could shave a few tenths off the outlook. It assumes oil prices of $90‑100 a barrel and expects growth to rebound to about...
RBI Mandates Payment of Inward Remittances on Same Business Day
India, the world’s top remittance recipient with $135 billion in 2025 inflows, is set to speed up inbound foreign‑exchange transfers. The Reserve Bank of India issued a final circular mandating banks to credit payments to beneficiaries on the same business day...
RBI's Move to Scrap Investment Buffer Could Lift Banks' Capital
The Reserve Bank of India has proposed eliminating the Investment Fluctuation Reserve (IFR), a 2% buffer that banks keep to absorb mark‑to‑market losses on bond holdings. By allowing the IFR balance to be re‑classified as Tier I capital, banks could transfer...
Global Relief Wave Lifts Indian Markets, but FIIs Stay Cautious
Indian equities surged on Wednesday, with the NSE Nifty climbing 3.8% to 23,997.35 and the BSE Sensex up 4% to 77,562.90—the strongest one‑day gains since early 2021. The rally was sparked by relief over a US‑Iran cease‑fire that sent oil...
Ceasefire Calm Sparks Bargain Hunting in Beaten-Down Stocks
A tentative cease‑fire between the US and Iran has eased geopolitical tension, prompting investors to revisit stocks that were hardest hit by the West‑Asia conflict. Aviation, travel, oil‑marketing companies, textiles and chemicals posted sharp gains, with Hindustan Petroleum up 10.1%...
Dragon Does a Trump 'China Made Efforts to Stop War'
Chinese diplomat Mao Ning asserted Beijing’s “own efforts” to push a cease‑fire between the United States and Iran, following former President Donald Trump’s public credit to China for the deal. The truce, a two‑week pause mediated by Pakistan, came after...
Wipro Shares Gain 3% After Bagging Olam Deal Worth More than $1 Billion
Wipro Limited announced an eight‑year, $1 billion-plus strategic transformation contract with Singapore‑based Olam Group, including an $800 million committed spend. The deal will see Wipro deliver AI‑driven, end‑to‑end services across Olam’s farm‑to‑fork value chain and acquire Olam’s digital arm, Mindsprint, adding roughly...
Banks Pay Near 2-Year High Rates on CDs Amid Tight Liquidity
Indian banks are issuing certificates of deposit (CDs) at near‑two‑year highs, with rates topping 8.32% for short‑term tenors. HDFC Bank alone mobilised about ₹4,300 crore ($520 million) at 7.6% for 33‑day CDs, while the sector issued roughly ₹1.07 lakh crore ($12 billion) in the fortnight...
Chasing Trends or Buying Value? The Strategy that Wins over Time
The article contrasts trend‑chasing with disciplined value investing, highlighting Joel Greenblatt’s Magic Formula as a systematic way to spot undervalued, high‑quality stocks amid market noise. It notes that macro‑driven volatility creates short‑term mispricings across U.S., European and emerging markets, while...
Silver Drags Commodity ETFs Down up to 15% in March. What Next for Investors?
In March 2026, silver‑focused commodity ETFs slumped as much as 15%, with UTI Silver ETF posting the steepest decline of –14.72%. The broader commodity‑ETF universe saw 43 funds in the red, while gold ETFs also recorded double‑digit losses. The sell‑off...
Are You Looking for the Best Mutual Funds for SIPs in April? Here Is Help for Conservative Investors
ET MutualFunds has published ready‑made SIP portfolios aimed at conservative investors, dividing allocations across three monthly investment brackets – roughly $24‑$60, $60‑$120, and above $120. Each bracket assigns 50% of the SIP to ICICI Prudential Regular Savings Fund, with the remainder spread...
No Need for a Rate Hike Unless Inflation Spikes: Economists
Indian economists briefed the Reserve Bank of India that a rate hike is unnecessary as long as inflation stays within the 2‑6% tolerance band. The discussion, held amid the West Asia war and soaring Brent crude at $110‑$120 per barrel,...
Is It Time to Buy IT ? Fund Managers Suggest Gradual Addition by Investors
Indian IT stocks have slipped to their cheapest valuations since mid‑2020, with the Nifty IT index trading at a 20.6‑times price‑to‑earnings multiple, well below its five‑year average of 29.16. The index has fallen 31.5% since October 2024, dragging the sector’s weight...
Oil Slides 4% to Below $100/Bbl as Middle East Uncertainty Keeps Markets on Edge
Oil prices plunged on Wednesday, with Brent June futures slipping 4.35% to $99.45 per barrel and U.S. WTI falling 3.99% to $97.34. The decline came despite signals that the U.S.-Iran conflict could be winding down, as investors reacted to lingering...
FII Exodus Hits Record Rs 1.6 Lakh Crore in FY26 Despite Strong DII Cushion
Foreign investors withdrew a record $19 billion (≈₹1.6 lakh crore) from Indian equities in FY26, marking the second consecutive year of outflows. Domestic institutions countered the sell‑off with a historic $102 billion (≈₹8.5 lakh crore) inflow, led by mutual funds, pension funds and insurers. The rupee’s 4 %...
Japan to Create Special Cell to Push FDI Into India
Japan’s Foreign Ministry is establishing a dedicated centre to streamline Japanese investment into India, targeting ¥10 trillion (about $62.6 billion) in private‑sector capital by 2035. The unit will help firms navigate India’s fragmented state regulations, opaque law enforcement, and complex tax regime...
US Stock Market | Nasdaq Speeds up Big Tech Entry with New Fast-Track Index Rules
Nasdaq announced a overhaul of its Nasdaq‑100 index rules to accelerate the inclusion of newly listed large‑cap companies. A new “fast‑entry” mechanism can add eligible firms within weeks instead of up to a year. The changes also revise market‑capitalisation calculations,...
India’s Real Estate PE Inflows Jump 59% to $6.7 Billion in 2025; Office, Data Centres Lead: Savills India
India’s real‑estate private‑equity inflows surged 59% in 2025, reaching $6.7 billion, driven by strong GDP growth and easing monetary conditions. Office assets led the market with $2.4 billion, while data centres and residential properties also saw sizable allocations. Foreign investors contributed roughly...
Why Multi-Asset Funds Are Now Moving to the Centre of Mutual Fund Portfolios
Multi‑asset funds in India are shedding their niche status, drawing roughly $1 billion in net inflows in February 2026 and pushing total assets under management to about $22 billion. The category led hybrid‑fund inflows for the fourth straight month, with assets growing 4.9%...
Iran War, Crude, Rupee Among 8 Factors to Steer D-Street in Holiday-Shortened Week
The NSE Nifty slipped 2.09% to 22,819.60, trading below its 21‑hour EMA as bearish momentum builds. A month‑long Iran‑Israel conflict has driven WTI crude to $101 per barrel and Brent to $115, stoking global inflation worries. Indian equities faced heavy...
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Assures Fiscal Vigil Amid Oil Spike
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will intensify non‑tax revenue mobilisation and stay vigilant on the fiscal deficit as global crude jumped from $70 to $122 a barrel. To shield consumers, the cabinet cut petrol excise by ₹10 per litre...
India, US Review Next Steps in Trade Pact Talks
India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met on the sidelines of the WTO’s 14th ministerial in Yaounde to review progress on a bilateral trade agreement announced in February. The parties reaffirmed a March signing target...
Mukesh Ambani’s Mega IPO Reliance Jio Is Said to Set Bank Fees in Line with NSE
Reliance Industries has set investment‑banking advisory fees for Jio Platforms' planned IPO at roughly 0.65% of the issue size, translating to a potential $26 million fee pool on a $4 billion offering. The fee level mirrors that proposed for the NSE’s own...
As Asim Munir Pitches Peace, Iran Stops Pakistan's Cargo Ship at Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps halted the Pakistani container ship SELEN in the Strait of Hormuz, citing a lack of clearance and hinting at a possible $2 million transit fee. The incident coincides with Pakistan’s overture to mediate between Iran, the...
HDFC Bank a “Screaming Buy” Amid Uncertainty: Sameer Dalal
Market strategist Sameer Dalal labeled HDFC Bank a "screaming buy" despite heightened uncertainty in Indian equities. He highlighted the bank's 1.6× price‑to‑book valuation and current 10‑12% earnings growth, arguing the stock offers a meaningful margin of safety. Dalal downplayed governance...
Consumption Hit as Kitchens Feel the Heat of LPG Shortage
India’s food consumption shows early strain as the Iran‑Israel conflict curtails LPG supplies, forcing hotels, restaurants and street‑food vendors to cut operations. Over the past three weeks wheat‑flour sales fell 5‑7% and edible‑oil demand plunged, with palm oil usage down...
Kotak Bank Set to Acquire Deutsche's Retail Business in Rs 4,500-Crore Deal
Kotak Mahindra Bank is poised to acquire Deutsche Bank's India retail business for roughly Rs 4,500 crore, after being named the preferred buyer. The transaction covers a loan‑and‑deposit portfolio valued at about Rs 27,000 crore, including personal, home and MSME loans, retail deposits and...
Dividend-Paying Companies Offer a Safer Bet with Capital Gains Uncertainty
Amid heightened uncertainty over capital‑gain returns, dividend‑paying stocks are re‑emerging as a defensive play. ET Intelligence Group highlighted ten Indian companies offering FY 25 dividend yields of 4% or higher, including Vedanta, Coal India and ITC. The yields are calculated from...
Options Market Eyes 2022 Playbook for Iran War Risks
The options market is looking to the 2022 Russia‑Ukraine crisis playbook as Iran‑related geopolitical risk resurfaces. While the VIX has lingered under the 30‑point threshold, realized S&P 500 volatility remains low despite elevated implied risk premiums and dealers’ short‑gamma positioning. Strategies...
Tata Power Shares Jump 5% After Gujarat Govt Approves Supply Agreement for Mundra Plant
Tata Power’s shares jumped as much as 5% after Gujarat’s government approved a revised supply agreement for its 4‑GW Mundra coal‑fired plant, allowing the company to resume long‑term power deliveries. The plant had been idle for six months following the...
GSP Crop Science IPO Day 3: GMP, Subscription Status and Key Highlights
GSP Crop Science launched a Rs 400 crore IPO on a Rs 304‑Rs 320 price band, entering its third and final bidding day. By the end of Day 2 the issue was 96% subscribed, with non‑institutional investors showing the strongest demand at 2.33 times their...
Dalal Street Newbies Using IPO Muscle to Beat Down Debt
India’s recent IPO surge is increasingly being leveraged to reduce corporate debt rather than fund expansion. Companies earmarked roughly ₹35,055 crore—about a quarter of total IPO proceeds—for debt repayment across 95 issuers in 2024‑2026. This marks a reversal from 2020‑21, when...
Liquidity Faces a Bit of Squeeze as Rs 2 Lakh Crore Flows to Tax Kitty
India's banking system liquidity surplus shrank to ₹75,483 crore after a ₹2 lakh crore advance‑tax outflow, pushing overnight money‑market rates to 5.31 %. The RBI responded with a 7‑day variable‑rate repo, but attracted only ₹48,014 crore in bids. Simultaneously, the central bank sold over $15 billion...
Bajel Projects Shares Rocket 14% After Bagging Largest Ultra Mega Order Worth Rs 700 Crore
Bajel Projects announced a Rs 700 crore ultra‑mega EPC contract from Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited to build a 400/220 kV air‑insulated substation and associated transmission lines in Saswad, Pune. The deal, the largest in the firm’s power‑transmission portfolio, drove the stock...
Market Crash Wipes Rs 34 Lakh Cr in March so Far; Can Tax Harvesting Help Investors?
The BSE’s Sensex and Nifty suffered a steep sell‑off in March, erasing roughly Rs 34 lakh crore of market capitalisation amid the Iran‑Israel conflict. Investors are turning to tax‑loss and tax‑gains harvesting to mitigate the fiscal impact of the downturn. Tax‑loss harvesting lets...
Sebi Imposes Rs 10 Lakh Fine on Anand Rathi for Violation of Stock Brokers' Norms
India’s securities regulator SEBI imposed a ₹10 lakh fine on Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers Ltd for multiple breaches of stock‑broker norms. The investigation covering April 2023 to August 2024 found the firm failed to promptly report a May 2024 technical glitch and delayed...
Sebi Sets New Conditions for Intraday Borrowing by Mutual Funds From April 1
India's securities regulator SEBI introduced new rules governing intraday borrowing by mutual funds, effective April 1. The framework lifts the 20% net‑asset borrowing cap for intraday loans that are secured against same‑day receivables from the government, RBI, and clearing corporation, and...
RBI Net Buys Record $6.2 Billion Debt to Shield Bonds From War Shockwaves
The Reserve Bank of India purchased a record 572.10 billion rupees (about $6.2 billion) of government bonds in the week ending 6 March, marking its third straight week of net buying. The purchases are part of a broader liquidity infusion strategy aimed at...
Oil Shock, Inflation Pressures Dampen RBI Rate-Cut Hopes
India’s central bank faces mounting pressure to pause its rate‑cut cycle as West‑Asia oil price shocks reignite inflation concerns. A surge in Brent crude, coupled with fading food‑price base effects, threatens to push consumer inflation above the RBI’s 4% target....
West Asia Conflict Could Hurt Agri Input Availability: UPL Executive
Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have driven global fertilizer prices up 50‑80%, raising the cost of key agricultural inputs. Shipping rates, marine insurance and energy prices have also surged, creating pressure on agro‑chemical supply chains. UPL Group’s COO,...
Sebi Introduces a Simpler NISM Certification for Research Services
India’s securities regulator SEBI has rolled out a lighter NISM certification for employees handling sales and other non‑core functions in research services. The new "NISM Series‑XXV‑A" exam replaces the broader Series‑XV requirement for these roles, while core research analysts must...
NSE Tells Brokers to Disclose and Remit Excess STT Retained for FY24 and Earlier Years
India’s National Stock Exchange has issued a circular directing all brokers and sub‑brokers to disclose any Securities Transaction Tax (STT) collected but not yet deposited for FY 2023‑24 and earlier periods. The directive follows a notice from the Income Tax Department...
RCF, FACT and Other Fertiliser Stocks Rocket up to 17%. What’s Triggering the Surge?
The Indian government issued the Natural Gas Regulation Order, 2026, limiting natural‑gas allocation to fertilizer plants at 70% of their average six‑month consumption and reserving 100% for top‑priority sectors. The move follows West Asia LNG disruptions that forced a re‑allocation...
Strategic Oil Bets May Outperform in Current Geopolitical Crisis: Mark Matthews
Oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel, reigniting market volatility amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Julius Baer strategist Mark Matthews says markets are already pricing in the shock, with Asian equities showing mixed reactions and India’s exposure mitigated by improved oil...
