Nomura has upgraded Kotak Mahindra Bank to Buy, making it its top pick among Indian banks, while retaining ICICI Bank as its “preferred compounder.” The call comes amid tightening liquidity, rising funding costs, and delayed NIM recovery across the sector. Kotak shares rose ~2%, ICICI ~1.5%, with targets of Rs 445 and Rs 1,535, respectively.Read More

Gold and silver prices extended losses as a stronger dollar and fading rate cut expectations weighed on sentiment. Elevated geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity markets added pressure. Analysts expect continued choppiness, advising investors to wait for stability while monitoring key support and resistance levels in both domestic and international markets.Read More

Hedge funds significantly increased selling of emerging Asian equities last week, the heaviest since April 2025, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iran conflict. This risk aversion led to broad-based outflows across global regions, though overall positioning in emerging Asia remains elevated despite strong performance in markets like South Korea and Taiwan.Read More

Dividend-paying stocks are gaining attention in a volatile market. Companies with steady cash flows are returning excess cash to shareholders. Vedanta leads with a 6.3% dividend yield. Coal India offers 5.7%, and REC provides 5.4%. Hindustan Zinc, GAIL, ITC, ONGC, RITES, NMDC, and Oracle Financial Services Software also feature in the top dividend yield list.Read More

Geopolitical tensions and commodity price volatility are shaping the global investment landscape in 2026. Deepak Jorwal of Motilal Oswal Private Wealth advises investors to maintain disciplined, diversified portfolios with global allocation and rebalancing strategies to navigate these evolving risks effectively.Read More

Rising margin trading exposure in Indian equities could amplify downside risks amid market volatility. With the MTF book expanding sharply and concentrated in less liquid stocks, any further correction may trigger margin calls and forced selling. Upcoming RBI norms on broker funding add another layer of potential deleveraging pressure.Read More

Indian stock markets opened sharply higher on Tuesday. The Sensex and Nifty gained over 1.5 percent each. This rise followed a brief pause in US bombing of Iran. Positive global cues also boosted investor sentiment. Asian Paints and IndiGo were among the top gainers. The rupee also strengthened against the US dollar.Read More

Japan’s core inflation dipped below the Bank of Japan’s 2% target in February for the first time in nearly four years. Government subsidies on fuel and utilities significantly offset rising import costs, masking underlying inflationary pressures which remain firm. This divergence presents a communication challenge for the BOJ as it navigates monetary policy.Read More

Around 120 companies have received SEBI’s nod for IPOs, with several popular names like Duroflex, Hero Motors, and Kent R O Systems poised to launch soon. These upcoming public issues, including those from Purple Style Labs and Pride Hotels, aim to raise significant capital for expansion and debt repayment.Read More

The US Federal Reserve faces a period of uncertainty. Escalating Middle East tensions are impacting oil prices and the economic forecast. This complicates the Fed’s decisions on interest rates. Policymakers are watching closely. The situation could lead to higher inflation or slower growth. The Fed needs flexibility to respond to these evolving risks.Read More