Latest Stock Market News

U.S. stocks edged lower on Tuesday amid persistent tariff uncertainties and declines in consumer and healthcare sectors, offsetting support from positive bank earnings. Trade policy concerns, particularly regarding U.S.-China relations, weighed heavily on market sentiment, overshadowing otherwise solid earnings reports. Investors are closely monitoring trade developments and their potential impact on future earnings guidance.

Oil prices show stability amid U.S. trade policy shifts. The U.S.-China trade war impacts economic growth and energy demand. Global oil demand growth may slow down in 2025. The International Energy Agency cuts its oil demand forecast. Rising output from OPEC+ also affects prices. Trade tensions lead banks to cut crude price forecasts.

The dollar experienced a slight recovery on Wednesday. Investors paused after weeks of selling. Markets are awaiting progress on US trade talks. Chinese economic data is expected. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak. The Bank of Canada may cut rates. Sterling hit a six-month high. The US dollar index hovered near 100.

Gold prices hit a record high on Wednesday. This surge happened because of a weaker dollar and trade war worries. Concerns about global economic growth also played a role. Investors are now waiting for U.S. retail sales data. This data will provide insights into the economy. ANZ has raised its gold price forecast for the year end.

Nvidia faces a $5.5 billion charge due to U.S. government restrictions on exporting its H20 AI chip to China, a key component for Chinese AI development. These restrictions, driven by concerns over supercomputer development, impact Nvidia s efforts to engage with China s booming AI industry.

Angel One, Waaree Renewable Technologies, and Wipro are set to announce their Q4 results, among ten companies reporting today. Wipro anticipates a revenue decline in constant currency due to softening demand, with a projected marginal YoY revenue increase. Profit is expected to rise, while margins remain stable, with investor focus on client spending and BFSI performance.

Amidst volatile equity markets and rising gold prices, Ambit Capital suggests institutional investors favor bonds over equities. Nitin Bhasin, Head of Institutional Equities, cites elevated market valuations and muted FY26 earnings growth projections as reasons. He anticipates further bond yield declines due to expected rate cuts, potentially two more in the near term.

In the January–March quarter, nearly 30 stocks—largely among the mid-cap and large-cap segments—witnessed an increase in FPI holdings for the fourth straight quarter.

Amid market uncertainty, fixed-income instruments are gaining traction. Nikhil Aggarwal of Grip Invest highlights A-rated corporate bonds and securitised debt instruments (SDIs) as options offering potentially higher yields. A-rated bonds can yield around 11.5%, while SDIs might offer over 12%, attracting retail investors seeking enhanced returns within fixed income.