Indian equities saw a relief rally with the Nifty climbing 3.5% in two sessions, fueled by optimism over de-escalation in West Asia and softening crude prices. However, the Volatility Index (VIX) only eased a modest 7%, indicating traders are maintaining hedges due to uncertainty about the sustainability of the current peace and the market’s bottom.Read More

Despite Middle East conflict, Corporate America’s growth remains strong, with strategists boosting profit outlooks. This resilience, defying concerns over oil prices and consumer demand, suggests the current oil spike is unlikely to end the business cycle. Analysts now estimate S&P 500 companies will grow profits by 11.9% in the first quarter.Read More

The Reserve Bank of India aims to keep overnight borrowing costs below its main lending rate. This strategy supports economic growth despite rising imported inflation. Policymakers may overlook current high inflation figures. They are expected to maintain interest rates unchanged. This approach counters a slowdown and avoids hindering growth. Support from monetary and fiscal policies...Read More

The market regulator has proposed an IT Resilience Index (ITRI) to assess the technology robustness of stock exchanges and other market infrastructure. This index will monitor the health of IT systems, with availability and security carrying the highest weightages. The framework aims to provide clearer insights into vulnerabilities and enable inter-institutional comparisons.Read More

Sebi is collaborating with Google to combat financial influencers who break rules. Artificial intelligence will be used to identify and remove these individuals from online spaces. A verified badge is now available on Google Play for stock trading apps from registered entities. This initiative aims to protect retail investors from fraudulent apps and misleading content.Read More

Kotak Mahindra Bank is reconciling ₹150 crore in fixed deposits and accounts linked to the Municipal Corporation of Panchkula following allegations of missing funds. The bank has filed a police complaint and stated that all account processes and transactions were handled according to due process and banking norms.Read More

Gold and silver prices surged on Wednesday, reversing recent declines, driven by a weaker dollar and lower oil prices. Easing inflation concerns and a softer interest rate outlook also boosted sentiment, with safe-haven demand increasing due to geopolitical developments. While a near-term recovery is expected, analysts suggest a firm US dollar may limit significant upside.Read More

BlueStone Jewellery’s shares have surged 15% in a month, outperforming the market. Analysts anticipate margin growth driven by operating leverage and store expansion, with over half of its 323 stores now achieving significant annual revenue. The company’s revenue grew 34% year-on-year, while net losses narrowed considerably.Read More

The approval also covers the amalgamation of Emirates NBD’s existing operations in India into RBL Bank, subject to the necessary regulatory clearances.Read More

The Indian rupee neared 94 against the dollar on Wednesday, despite a pullback in equities. Central bank interventions helped keep the rupee above this psychological threshold. Exporters withholding conversions and month-end dollar demand contributed to the pressure, while geopolitical tensions also played a role.Read More