Latest Stock Market News

Bondbazaar s Suresh Darak discusses RBI s introduction of SIPs in the bond market, starting with treasury bills, offering risk-averse investors a new avenue. These SIPs allow fixed amount investments on specific dates, similar to equity SIPs, with yields around 5.5%. While not as lucrative as liquid mutual funds, they are better than idle savings accounts, especially for those averse to risk.

Saurabh Mukherjea highlights the pressure on urban consumption due to dwindling household savings and limited credit access. He suggests investing in top private banks like HDFC and ICICI, the growing pharma and healthcare sectors, particularly hospitals and diagnostics. Mukherjea also recommends considering European and American small and midcap companies due to attractive valuations and growth prospects.

The 200-day DMA is a key indicator used by traders to determine the overall trend of a stock.

Power Finance Corporation (PFC) will fix August 18, 2025, as the record date for its latest dividend, making today the last trading day for eligibility. Several other companies, including Aarti Industries, JK Paper, and DHP India, also share the same record date. Analysts advise weighing dividend capture against long-term fundamentals as prices may adjust ex-dividend.

ICICI Bank has rolled back its recently announced minimum balance requirement for new savings accounts after widespread backlash. The revised monthly average balance (MAB) norms are Rs 15,000 for metro/urban, Rs 7,500 for semi-urban, and Rs 2,500 for rural branches. Accounts opened before July 31 remain unaffected. Investors are watching ICICI Bank shares, which closed flat at Rs 1,421.15.

Mid and small-cap stocks currently trade at higher PEs, demanding superior growth to justify valuations compared to large caps. While seemingly overvalued based on current forward PEs, strong growth expectations, particularly in auto and consumer durables during the festive season, could validate these valuations. Fund manager allocation towards mid and small-caps suggests continued buying support despite valuation concerns.

VRL Logistics shares start trading ex-bonus from Thursday, August 14, following the company’s 1:1 bonus share issue. Investors buying the stock today will not be eligible for the bonus, determined by the August 14 record date. Under the scheme, shareholders receive one additional share for every share held, doubling holdings while the share price adjusts proportionally.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) reported a 141% year-on-year rise in Q1FY26 net profit to Rs 6,839 crore, up from Rs 2,842 crore a year ago. Revenue grew marginally to Rs 1,29,615 crore, while total expenses fell 2% to Rs 1,22,583 crore. The Average Gross Refining Margin declined to $4.88 per barrel from $7.86.

When the closing price rises above the VWAP, it indicates that the closing price is higher than the average price at which the stock was traded throughout the day, weighted by trading volume.