Latest Stock Market News

RailTel shares: The PSU bagged contracts worth nearly ₹50 crore. The deals include a ₹34.99 crore project from Kerala’s IT Mission for data centre operations and a ₹15.42 crore contract from Odisha’s Higher Education Department to develop bilingual college websites.

India Cements shares surged following UltraTech Cement s announcement of selling up to 6.49% stake through an offer for sale (OFS) to comply with SEBI s minimum public shareholding norms. UltraTech, the majority shareholder after acquiring India Cements in December 2024, aims to reduce its holding from 81.49%. The OFS will occur over two days, with non-retail investors bidding first.

The Q1 earnings season revealed a concerning trend as 51 previously profitable companies, including Tejas Networks and Ideaforge, slipped into losses. This downturn, impacting various sectors, reflects a broader market slowdown with single-digit growth. While analysts anticipate a recovery in the second half of FY26, downgrades outnumbered upgrades, prompting caution among investors.

Brokerages have released fresh recommendations across sectors, projecting significant upsides in select stocks. JSW Steel, Bajaj Auto, and Schloss Bangalore are among the buy recommendations, with potential upsides ranging from 6% to 48%. Conversely, Garden Reach Shipbuilders faces a Sell rating due to anticipated peak growth in FY27.

Japanese stocks experienced a surge in foreign investment, reaching a high of 1.16 trillion yen, fueled by expectations of a U.S. rate cut and strong domestic economic data. The Nikkei 225 Index hit a record high, although technology stocks later declined.

The rupee strengthened to 86.93 against the US dollar, buoyed by positive domestic equities and increased risk appetite amid hopes for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Investors are closely monitoring geopolitical developments and the US Federal Reserve s stance on interest rates.

Market expert Sunil Subramaniam believes that Goods and Services Tax (GST) acts as a growth trigger. It will give Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) confidence to invest in India. He also highlights the importance of S&P s upgrade of India s rating. Subramaniam notes inconsistent FII support, with selling observed in July and August.

The MPC minutes reveal a cautious stance, with some members acknowledging room for an August rate cut, while Governor Malhotra highlighted external growth challenges. Uncertainty surrounding trade policies and the impact of past easing measures influenced the decision to maintain the status quo. Members opted to wait and assess the full transmission of previous policy actions before considering further cuts.

The Reserve Bank of India is transitioning towards principles- and outcome-based regulations to offer operational flexibility to regulated entities. While this approach fosters innovation, the RBI acknowledges the importance of rule-based frameworks, particularly for consumer protection. The central bank is also exploring behavioural economics to enhance consumer outcomes and improve regulatory efficiency.

Indian microfinance companies are focusing on cleaning up their balance sheets. They are writing off bad loans earlier to improve their financial health. CreditAccess Grameen, Fusion Finance, and Muthoot Microfin are among the companies adopting this strategy. Fusion Finance has even revised its write-off policy.