Around 10 mutual fund NFOs will open for subscription next week. Mutual funds offer new products just to complete their bouquet of offerings. (Source: ACE MF)

Mutual funds on a continuous basis churn their portfolio to offer good returns. Here are the stocks from which these five mutual funds made a complete exit in July, according to Mutual Fund Insights by Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research.

Rupak De from LKP Securities identified Balrampur Chini, Tata Motors, and ICICI Lombard as top stock picks. Each stock showed positive indicators, suggesting potential upward movement.

In December 2020, India's test series victory in Australia highlighted how people's identities shape their perceptions. The author explores how investing styles become part of an investor's identity, often leading to biased decision-making. He advises keeping one's investing identity small to stay objective, adapt to changes, and improve portfolio performance.

ETFs in India observed a rise in assets under management, reaching Rs 8.11 trillion by July 2024. Enhanced digital accessibility and innovative ETF products from mutual fund houses appealed to individual investors. Regulatory measures and the introduction of new thematic ETFs have boosted investor confidence, facilitating portfolio diversification and reduced costs.

In the week ending August 16, the Indian benchmark index Sensex weekly gain was about 1%. During this rally, nine penny stocks saw their prices rise between 10% and 21% in a week. Our selection criteria focused on stocks with a market capitalization below Rs 1000 crore, a share price under Rs 20, and a last trading volume exceeding 5 lakh shares.(Data Source: ACE Equity)

Nifty ended the holiday-shortened week with a 1% gain, powered by IT and consumer durables. Key factors for the upcoming trading week include global cues, Jackson Hole symposium, corporate actions, and FII/DII activities. Analysts project potential upside for Nifty while cautioning about a critical gap at 24,200 that could signal lower levels if breached.

While a number of investors heard the term “ Yen carry trade” for the first time in early August, the fact is that literally every sharp hit to the equity market or a real economic crisis which different markets have witnessed since 1990, Yen carry trade had played a role. Right from the Asian crisis of 1997-98, dot com bubble of 2000, 2015 Chinese stock market crash and even to brexit. You name it and at the back of it you will find a Yen carry trade. It is not that Yen is the villain, there is a simple economic logic to it. For more than 40 years, The Bank of Japan has been keeping its interest rate low, it is and probably in all conditions a kind of reservoir, where literally anyone could go and raise money at zero percent interest rate and use that to invest across the globe, make some returns and give the money back to Japan. But there are times, when things turn volatile and make the markets behave the way they did in early August. It was not the first time that it happened, not the last time, it will reoccur.

Wall Street’s rapid descent into volatility has been matched by an equally swift recovery. The S&P 500 saw its largest weekly gain since November, junk bonds made a week of gains, and Treasury yields stabilized. Illustrating this dramatic turnaround, the VIX Index, a key measure of market fear, experienced both the quickest surge of 25 points or more and the fastest recovery from that peak, according to UBS Group AG.

The market is anticipated to open steady on Monday, with potential resistance levels at 24,700 and 24,850. On the downside, support levels are expected at 24,250 and 24,050. The weekly Relative Strength Index currently sits at 69.71, indicating a neutral market sentiment without any divergence from the price. The MACD remains bullish, although the narrowing histogram suggests a slowdown in upward momentum despite the index's continued rise.

Within the largecap segment, 15 companies saw substantial block deals amounting to Rs 5,077 crore. IndiGo topped the list with 4 block deals valued at Rs 1,351 crore. Other notable deals involved Infosys (Rs 786 crore), HDFC Bank (Rs 402 crore), TCS (Rs 398 crore), Reliance Industries (Rs 390 crore), TVS Motor Company (Rs 294 crore), and Cholamandalam Investment & Finance (Rs 255 crore).

Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services points out a key trend in recent FPI activity. He notes that FPIs are increasingly selling through the exchange while simultaneously investing via the 'primary market & others' category. This pattern has become particularly evident in August, highlighting a notable shift in FPI investment strategies.

A recent report suggested that for the first time, the AUM of Midcap mutual fund schemes have gone above the AUM of large cap mutual fund schemes. There are two ways to look and interpret this. First, that too much money has gone into mid-cap mutual funds and it is time to be cautious. The other way to look at it is that finally mid-cap stocks have reached a level where institutional investors are able to find opportunities to invest and that is why they are coming with more schemes and more money is being collected in mid-cap schemes. Beside the above two, there is a third way to look at it, which is pragmatic: India's growth story is incomplete without mid-cap as these are the companies which are either emerging or re-emerging with their operating matrix turning better due to a couple of factors.

Within the largecap segment, 15 companies saw substantial block deals amounting to Rs 5,077 crore. IndiGo topped the list with 4 block deals valued at Rs 1,351 crore. Other notable deals involved Infosys (Rs 786 crore), HDFC Bank (Rs 402 crore), TCS (Rs 398 crore), Reliance Industries (Rs 390 crore), TVS Motor Company (Rs 294 crore), and Cholamandalam Investment & Finance (Rs 255 crore).

ETMarkets' analysis of BSE stocks with a market capitalization exceeding Rs 500 crore reveals that during the last three sessions (August 13-16), four stocks have consistently risen in price, trading volume, and delivery volume. This indicates higher investor interest in these stocks. (Data Source: ACE Equity)

The dividend yield is the annual payment to shareholders expressed as a percentage of the stock's current price. According to Trendlyne data, as many as 10 BSE smallcap and midcap index stocks have paid up to a 30.17% dividend yield in the past one year. Here is the list:

A notable trend this quarter was the shrinking disparity in domestic consumption between high-end and mass markets. This was observed as growth in luxury segments like passenger vehicles, hotels, and jewellery decelerated. In contrast, the FMCG sector stabilised, and durables experienced a robust quarter, largely attributed to the heatwave, according to the Nuvama note.

While it might not appear on face it, the fact is a large majority of businesses have an element of cyclicality in it. Would you call the FMCG business a cyclical business or a secular business? Largely it would be called secular because, the demand of products is through all the year but the fact is a good or a bad monsoon brings in an element of cyclicality in business because rural demand gets impacted. That is why this concept of YoY and QoQ came to market, so that element of cyclicality is taken care of. But there are some sectors and industries, which were cyclical ten years back, though they are still cyclical but the element of cyclicality has come down. The overall demand has increased which has made their balance sheet look much better than what they used to be and with every passing year the element of secular demand is increasing.

Global markets were mixed last week, while Indian markets showed resilience despite bad job data and unchanged RBI rates. During the earnings season, FMCG stocks rallied steadily, and the Pharma sector saw significant gains. The Nifty index remained range-bound but positive, with key levels to watch at 24,250 on the downside and 24,750 as resistance.

Upcoming record dates for dividends, bonus issues, and stock splits are expected to keep companies like HAL, Reliance, and ONGC in focus. To be eligible, shareholders must have their shares in demat accounts by the record date. The list of companies, each with specific actions, highlights the slated events for the next week.

The Indian stock market rally may face disruptions if liquidity decreases. Hemant Shah of Seven Islands PMS highlighted that FIIs have been bearish due to global factors. Investors should focus on value and visibility, and stagger their investments. Sectors like large-cap IT and private banking are particularly vulnerable to selling pressure from FIIs.

The stock market experienced a bullish week, with 43 stocks posting double-digit gains. Inox Wind Energy spearheaded the small-cap surge with a remarkable 35% gain. Kitex Garments and Suprajit Engineering also impressed with gains exceeding 25%. Gravita India, Panacea Biotech, Inox Wind Ltd, and Sarda Energy delivered robust returns between 20% and 25%, contributing to a positive overall market sentiment.

Next week will be another busy one for the IPO market, with four new offerings opening for subscription. Orient Technologies and Interarch Building will be available for investment, while Brace Port Logistics and Forcas Studio will join the SME segment. In addition to these new issues, the market will also witness the listing of five companies, including Saraswati Saree Depot, which generated significant investor interest this week.

The 1QFY25 corporate earnings report revealed both growth and challenges in India’s market. The Nifty50’s earnings rose 4% YoY, aided by companies like HDFC Bank and Tata Motors, despite setbacks from Oil Marketing Companies. The auto sector displayed strong volume growth, while IT services and healthcare sectors met expectations with promising future outlooks.

Sebi planned amendments to reduce compliance costs for entities with listed non-convertible securities. Proposals include aligning financial approval processes with equity-listed entities, revising fraud and default disclosure rules, and shortening record date notification timelines. The regulator also suggested mandatory XBRL format for disclosures. Public feedback is invited by September 6.

New-age stocks surged recently, thanks to higher revenue growth and increased profitability through reduced spending. The ET E-commerce Index rose 45% in six months. Shares of Zomato, Paytm, and PB Fintech showed notable gains. Foreign institutional investors significantly increased their stakes, supporting the growth of these companies.

The S&P 500 saw a rebound of over 6% as positive economic data allayed fears of a recession. Retail sales, inflation, and producer prices reports contributed to this recovery. Investors are now less apprehensive about substantial Federal Reserve rate cuts in September. Attention shifts to Powell's next week speech for further outlook.

European stocks ended the week on a positive note, buoyed by strong U.S. economic data. The pan-European STOXX 600 index saw a 2.4% rise for the week ahead of Jerome Powell's anticipated speech at Jackson Hole. The automobile sector led the gains, with Ferrari and Stellantis performing well, while Bayer's shares surged after a legal victory.

Sebi proposed a new facility allowing debt security investors a liquidity window via stock exchanges. This facility, available for new issuances, employs put options on set dates. Issuers could offer it after one year and must state if it applies to all investors or only retail investors, according to a discussion paper.

Global markets experienced gains following promising U.S. economic data, alleviating recession fears. The Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all saw increases. European and Asian shares also improved. Moderating inflation and robust retail spending strengthened market optimism, with anticipation of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September.

U.S. stocks ended higher, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq marking their biggest weekly gains of the year. Investors' focus shifted to next week's Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, easing recession fears. Markets are particularly anticipating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments on potential rate cuts.

Warren Buffett's recent purchase of Ulta Beauty Inc. shares has sparked concerns of a possible US recession. This aligns with the 'lipstick theory,' which suggests increased cosmetic sales during downturns. As high interest rates and rising unemployment plague the economy, Buffett's cautious investment choices may signal a strategic preparation for tougher times.

Rivian suspended the production of its commercial delivery vans due to parts shortages, impacting their output for Amazon. A spokesperson indicated the company aims to recover the missed production. The shortage did not affect Rivian's other models. Amazon holds a 16% stake in Rivian, ordering 100,000 vans to be deployed by 2030.

The new rules mandate that quarterly financial results must be approved by the board of directors before submission. These results, when sent to the stock exchange, need the signature of either the chairperson, managing director, or a whole-time director. If none of these are available, any other director authorized by the board can sign the financial results.

The decline in smallcaps has been widespread across various sectors. However, the pharmaceutical sector, typically seen as a defensive haven during market downturns, has bucked the trend with many stocks performing well. Among the hardest hit in the 100-stock index is Birlasoft, experiencing a 23% drop. State-run shipping companies, Ircon International and Cochin Shipyard, have also suffered significant losses of 22% and 20%, respectively.

The head of India's markets regulator, Madhabi Puri Buch, continued to earn revenue from a consultancy firm during her seven-year tenure, potentially breaching rules for regulatory officials, according to public documents reviewed by Reuters.

Vedanta Limited expanded its sale of Hindustan Zinc Limited shares by including an oversubscription option. The offer increased to a total of 1.51% of HZL’s equity share capital. A portion of the equity shares is reserved for retail investors, with allocation scheduled for August 19, 2024. The sale aims to attract substantial interest from investors.

The decline in smallcaps has been widespread across various sectors. However, the pharmaceutical sector, typically seen as a defensive haven during market downturns, has bucked the trend with many stocks performing well. Among the hardest hit in the 100-stock index is Birlasoft, experiencing a 23% drop. State-run shipping companies, Ircon International and Cochin Shipyard, have also suffered significant losses of 22% and 20%, respectively.

Wall Street's main indexes declined at open on Friday, ending six-day winning streaks for S&P 500 and Nasdaq amid weak housing data. Most S&P 500 sectors traded lower, notably energy. Trading volume was low due to summer breaks.

On Friday, India's benchmark index, the Sensex, jumped by approximately 1,331 points, closing at 80,437. Amid this rise, seven stocks in the BSE FMCG index reached their highest prices in the past year. Achieving a 52-week high is significant as it marks the highest value a stock has reached over the last 12 months, offering crucial insights for traders and investors. This benchmark is important for evaluating a stock's current value and forecasting potential future price trends.

Short covering refers to the buying of shares to close an existing short position, signaling a shift from extreme bearishness to bullishness. In Friday's trading session, five stocks saw short covering. Here's the list:

Biotech firm Bavarian Nordic shares soared over 15% on Friday, another day of substantial gains which analysts have linked to the outbreak of the mpox virus.

Nifty is approaching the crucial resistance level of 24,700, which coincides with the previous downside gap from August 5th. Experts predict this gap will likely be filled soon, opening the door for further upside potential. Keep an eye on 24,700 and 25,000 as the next key targets. Meanwhile, immediate support remains at 24,350.

Ola Electric Mobility's shares rose 75% to Rs 133, catching investors off guard. HSBC set a target of Rs 140, highlighting sustained regulatory support and cost-cutting measures. The brokerage predicts lower EV manufacturing costs and successful battery production, making EVs more competitive against ICE scooters.

Indian benchmark equity indices rose on Friday, driven by gains in IT stocks, as strong U.S. economic data eased concerns about a recession in the world's largest economy. Additionally, five large and midcap stocks from the Nifty200 index reached new 52-week highs during today's trading session. Here's the list:

Foreign investors have shifted their stance on Indian shares, driven by volatility, lackluster earnings, and a surprise tax hike on equities. They became net sellers, offloading nearly $2 billion worth of stocks in August, after a period of buying in June and July. The NSE Nifty 50 Index still trades at high valuations despite recent dips.

Nifty achieved a 4% YoY growth in profit after tax (PAT), exceeding Motilal Oswal's 3% estimate, though it's the slowest growth since the pandemic quarter of 2020. Key contributors to this growth were HDFC Bank, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Maruti Suzuki, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which together accounted for 127% of the incremental YoY earnings.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders has reported a 121% YoY jump in its profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 696 crore while HAL reported a 77% increase in its net profit on a YoY basis. GRSE’s net profit jumped 14% YoY to Rs 87.2 crore for the June quarter.

The Nikkei logged its biggest weekly gain since April 2020, rising over 8%, buoyed by easing concerns about the state of the U.S. economy, a pause in the yen's rapid appreciation and a pick-up in Japan's economic growth.

Paras Defence shares rose 5% to Rs 1,207 after its associate, Controp-Paras Technologies, received a Rs 305 crore order from L&T for 244 Sight-25 HD Electro-Optics Systems. The order will be fulfilled in 47 months, with Paras Defence meeting Indian Content requirements. The stock has gained nearly 60% year-to-date.