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Indian market is expected to consolidate, mirroring mixed global cues. Nifty futures closed positively, while India VIX saw a rise. Option data suggests a trading range between 23,800 and 24,700. Analysts recommend holding above 24,250 for an upward move. Experts suggest buying IRFC, Torrent Pharma, CDSL, Bharat Forge, and Delhivery, with specific targets and stop losses for short-term trading.

Indian benchmark equity indices began Thursday on a weak note, pulled down by Reliance Industries and banking stocks. Foreign inflows and hopes of easing US-China trade tensions offered some support. Eternal shares fell sharply after its food delivery CEO resigned. U.S. Treasury Secretary hinted at de-escalating trade war between the United States and China, potentially easing recession fears.

ICICI Securities is optimistic about IDFC First Bank. They maintain a Buy call. The target price is revised to Rs 75. A large capital infusion is expected to boost loan growth. This infusion will also improve operating leverage. Warburg and ADIA s investment should strengthen the bank s CET1. The bank s fixed-rate loans position it well for Net Interest Margin.

Biocon shares: The board approved a hike in the company’s authorised share capital from Rs 625 crore to Rs 700 crore, along with a corresponding amendment to the capital clause in its Memorandum of Association.

India s stock and gold markets are simultaneously surging, defying traditional investment strategies. The Sensex and Nifty have soared, while gold prices have skyrocketed due to a weakening US dollar and global uncertainty. Experts advise investors to maintain a long-term asset allocation, stagger investments, and avoid chasing short-term highs, suggesting profit booking if gold holdings exceed 20-25% of the portfolio.

JM Financial maintains a buy call on HDFC Life, revising the target price to Rs 850. The brokerage anticipates continued growth in banca and agency channels, projecting 15% APE growth and 100bps margin expansion over FY25-FY27e. This valuation is based on 2.4x FY27e EVPS of Rs 349, with a reiterated BUY rating.

UBS has strategically moved away from globally exposed markets, opting instead for those driven by local dynamics. Its revised scorecard favors economies with stable earnings, minimal vulnerability to global trade disruptions, and strong bottom-up analyst sentiment—making China and Indonesia key beneficiaries of this shift in capital allocation.

ICICI Securities maintains a buy call on Eternal (formerly Zomato), setting a target price of Rs 310. The company reported a consolidated total income of Rs 5,657 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, marking a significant increase from previous periods. With a strong financial performance and positive outlook, ICICI Securities reaffirms its confidence in Eternal s growth potential.

Persistent Systems reported a 25.5% YoY rise in Q4 FY25 PAT to Rs 395.76 crore, with revenue up 25.2% at Rs 3,242.11 crore. The board proposed a final dividend of Rs 15, taking FY25 s total to Rs 35 per share. TCV stood at Rs 4,312.95 crore. CEO Sandeep Kalra emphasised AI-led growth, targeting $2 billion in revenue by FY27.