Since last Diwali, the benchmark Sensex index has surged by around 22%. Amid this impressive rally, several penny stocks have transformed into multibaggers. ETMarkets identified 10 penny stocks that have gained between 100% and 300% during this period. The selection focused on stocks with a market capitalization below Rs 1,000 crore, a share price under Rs 20, and a last trading volume of over 5 lakh shares. (Data Source: ACE Equity)

Nine out of 10 stocks have declined in the past three weeks. Little wonder that doubt, confusion, and fear are the overwhelming feelings on the street. This is the exact opposite of what was happening just a couple of months back. In that extremely bullish period, even cats and dogs were flying with half-billion-dollar market caps. That optimism did not last, and neither will the current pessimism. Equilibrium will return to the market. So what should you do in this phase of pessimism (which might last a while longer)? The simple answer: Look for stocks with the comfort of “management with ability”. This is very different from “management’s ability”.

The Indian market closed in the red for the fifth consecutive day on Friday. The BSE Sensex fell by more than 600 points, while the Nifty50 closed below the 24,200 level.

Nifty fell 2.7% over the week, ending at 24,180.80, amid global and domestic factors. Investors await key Q2 earnings, with companies like Adani Power and Bharti Airtel set to report. Market sentiment remains cautious due to technical trends, FII/DII activity, and fluctuations in crude oil prices.

The markets have entered a technically challenging environment with a risk-off setup. It's crucial to stay invested in stocks with strong relative strength against broader markets for greater resilience. A cautious approach is advised for the coming week.

India is set to revolutionize its semiconductor sector with extensive government support and substantial investments, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and enhance local manufacturing. Key projects by companies like Micron Technology and Tata Electronics are already underway, supported by initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission.

In the last five trading sessions preceding October 25, the Sensex index fell approximately 2.23%, or 1,822 points, to reach 79,402, experiencing losses in all five sessions. Amid this ongoing market decline, ETMarkets identified 14 stocks from the BSE 100 index that consistently decreased in price during this period.

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have been net sellers of Indian equities at Rs 85,790 crore in October so far, wiping out a substantial portion of the overall inflows in 2024. In September, FPIs bought domestic equities worth Rs 57,724 crore. However, they were net sellers in April, May, and January.

Reduce, Re-use, Re-purpose, Re-cycle. These words are not only useful for the environment but there are times when they become equally applicable in stock markets. Especially in some sectors where the valuations are not only high but there are headwinds which are probably not visible to all. Real estate, a sector which after remaining in the dump for ages has done extremely well. Now given the fact that there was too much money which was chasing the Indian paper, in a short period of time valuations have reached extremely high. Valuations for business which is an asset heavy business, where regulatory tangles are very common and has a history where things have turned bad very quickly without even the best of the management realizing it. So, probably it is time to have re-look at the real estate stocks in one's portfolio and reduce, reuse and repurpose this part of the portfolio.

Reliance Industries, Tech Mahindra, and Mazagon Dock, among others, are in focus due to upcoming record dates for dividends, bonus issues, and stock splits. Shareholders need to hold shares on the record date to be eligible. Buying the stock one day before the ex-date ensures eligibility for dividends, while buying on the ex-date excludes such benefits.

The benchmark Sensex index fell about 2.23% over the past week. Amid this market downturn, ETMarkets spotlighted 10 large-cap stocks from the BSE 100 index that saw double-digit declines during the week. (Data Source: ACE Equity)

Never forget us. That is the message bears have for the street since the beginning of October. Be that as it may, should one equate what is happening on the street with businesses? The answer is no. When there is a strong sentiment on the street – whether bullish or bearish – we tend to forget one simple thing: Owning stocks means owning part of a business. At this point, if you sell a stock where the underlying business is doing fine, the chances are you will regret the decision. Stock prices are impacted in the short term by many things that have nothing to do with the underlying business. Businesses, on the other hand, are impacted by factors which are very different. So before taking any decision, focus on the business.

Indian stock markets delivered strong returns over the past 3-5 years. Mid-cap and small-cap indices outperformed, offering 12-20% returns. Real estate showed moderate growth, while gold and debt offered lower but stable returns. Equities clearly outperformed. However, Diwali 2024 brings a reminder to re-evaluate and refresh investment portfolios, letting go of the old and non-performing elements for a fresh start.

The recent Nifty 50 downturn has raised concerns. Historically, the Nifty has shown a pattern of retracing to its moving averages before resuming its uptrend. However, the current decline below the 100-day moving average raises questions about a deeper trend. An analysis of past occurrences reveals an optimistic outlook. When the market has corrected by 5% or more over four consecutive weeks, the Nifty has shown strong forward returns over the subsequent months.

India’s economy grew 8.2% in FY24 and 6.4% in Q1FY25, with a positive outlook supported by strong macro indicators. Despite a 7% recent correction, the Nifty has gained 26% in Samvat 2080 (14th Nov 2023 to 24th Oct 2024), fueled by strong earnings, political stability, and resilient domestic inflows.However, corporate earnings are beginning to moderate after four consecutive years of robust double-digit growth, pressured by rising commodity costs and waning benefits from BFSI asset quality improvements.Expecting sectors linked to domestic structural and cyclical themes to do well, domestic brokerage firm Motilal Oswal has highlighted 10 stocks for Samvat 2081 with upside potential of up to 47%:

U.S. stocks face volatility due to upcoming events including tech company earnings, a crucial employment report, and the nearing presidential election. Elevated stock valuations could lead to significant market reactions. Major tech firms like Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Amazon will report results next week, potentially influencing the broader market indices.

Economic recessions, while challenging for investors, also present opportunities. By employing strategies like diversification, asset allocation, investing in high-quality defensive stocks, and maintaining cash reserves, investors can protect and position their portfolios for long-term growth despite market volatility.

Gold prices have surged by 23% over the past year, outperforming other asset classes. Key factors include Middle East tensions, US interest rate cuts, and reduced import duties in India. Both urban and rural demand for gold is expected to rise during the festive and wedding seasons, driven by optimistic market conditions and economic recovery.

India is set to revolutionize its semiconductor sector with extensive government support and substantial investments, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and enhance local manufacturing. Key projects by companies like Micron Technology and Tata Electronics are already underway, supported by initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission.

The Nasdaq rose on Friday, driven by gains in megacap shares, including Tesla, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. Investors await next week's major tech earnings and U.S. employment data for Federal Reserve rate guidance. Banking shares and McDonald's faced setbacks, contributing to the Dow's decline.

Europe's STOXX 600 index ended a turbulent session flat, recording weekly losses due to weak earnings from major firms like Mercedes-Benz, Valeo, and Electrolux. While Signify and Sanofi reported positive results, the overall corporate earnings landscape is underperforming, with only 35.3% beating estimates.

Global stocks ended the week lower due to U.S. election uncertainties, with the S&P 500 falling nearly 1%. Oil prices rose on Middle East concerns, while U.S. Treasury yields edged higher. Investors remain anxious about a contested election impacting global markets.

The second quarter earnings season sees 63 companies disclosing their July-September 2024 results. Key players like YES Bank, ICICI Bank, and IDFC First Bank are among them. ICICI Bank is expected to show an 8-11% rise in net interest income, while YES Bank might report up to a 115% increase in net profit.

U.S. stocks face volatility due to upcoming events including tech company earnings, a crucial employment report, and the nearing presidential election. Elevated stock valuations could lead to significant market reactions. Major tech firms like Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Amazon will report results next week, potentially influencing the broader market indices.

Indian stocks experienced a significant downturn, with the Sensex and Nifty plunging due to sluggish demand, high input costs, and increased competition affecting company margins. Major selloffs by overseas investors exacerbated the fall, highlighted by a sharp decline in IndusInd Bank shares following weak earnings.

U.S. indexes rose on Friday as Treasury yields fell, easing pressure on megacap stocks. Apple, Tesla, and other key firms saw gains. Investors are cautious ahead of crucial earnings reports next week, including major technology firms and nonfarm payrolls data.

Nvidia has surpassed Apple to become the world's most valuable company. This shift is due to the high demand for Nvidia's supercomputing AI chips. Nvidia's stock soared and its market capitalization briefly reached $3.53 trillion, compared to Apple's $3.52 trillion. The company's gains are also bolstered by strong demand from AI companies like OpenAI.

On Friday, India’s benchmark equity index Sensex dropped 663 points, ending at 79,402. However, eight stocks from the BSE smallcap index reached their 52-week highs. A 52-week high indicates the peak price a stock has achieved over the past year, providing important insights for traders and investors. This benchmark is useful for evaluating a stock’s current worth and predicting its future potential.

Financial services company Societe Generale on Friday sold private sector lender IndusInd Bank's shares for Rs 421 crore through an open market transaction. According to the bulk deal data available on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Paris-headquartered Societe Generale offloaded 39.30 lakh shares or 0.50 per cent stake in IndusInd Bank.

Capri shares slumped nearly 46% on Friday after a U.S. judge blocked its pending $8.5 billion merger with Coach parent Tapestry, hurting the Michael Kors owner's chances of navigating challenges at the luxury brand.

Long unwinding refers to the selling of positions or stocks owned for a longer period either to book profit or to exit it in anticipation of impending bearishness. In Friday's trading session, five stocks witnessed a long unwinding. Here's the list:

Brokerage firm Angel One on Friday settled a case related to an alleged violation of regulatory norms with the capital markets regulator Sebi after paying Rs 5.74 crore towards settlement charges. The settlement order came after the applicant (Angel One Ltd) proposed to settle the instant proceedings initiated against them, "without admitting or denying the findings of facts and conclusions of law".

Wall Street's main indexes opened higher on Friday, as Treasury yields eased and investors looked ahead to quarterly results from some of the biggest companies.

Short covering happens when traders buy back shares they previously sold short, often due to a shift in market sentiment or new information. This usually results in a decrease in open interest and can drive the stock price higher. In Friday's trading session, five stocks saw short covering. Here's the list:

ETMarkets is offering a four-day workshop on Value and Valuation, featuring experienced finance professionals Himanshu Goel and Manoj Goel. The workshop will delve into value investing principles and their real-world applications, using case studies of Tata Motors and Zomato.

Markets regulator Sebi on Friday came out with a standardised format for periodic reporting for research analysts (RAs) and proxy advisers (PAs). The regulator has recognised the Research Analyst Administration and Supervisory Body (RAASB) for the administration and supervision of RAs under the RA Regulations.

Tejas Shah, Technical Research Analyst at JM Financial & BlinkX, noted that Nifty has support at 24,100 and 24,000, with immediate resistance at 24,450-500 and a key resistance at 24,700-750 levels.

Capital markets regulator Sebi on Friday imposed penalties totalling Rs 16 lakh on Edelweiss Asset Management Ltd, its CEO Radhika Gupta and fund manager Trideep Bhattacharya for violating mutual fund rules.

October has turned into a rough month for Dalal Street, marking its worst period since the pandemic crash in 2020. The Sensex is down about 5% this month alone, outpacing the record fall of 4.58% in June 2022. One of the worst market falls in recent years was in February and March of 2020, when the Sensex lost 6% and 23%, respectively. The broader market is feeling the pain, too, with the BSE market capitalization shedding a staggering ₹29 lakh crore so far.

Yes Bank is anticipated to show significant growth in its Q2 FY25 results, with net profit potentially increasing by up to 145% and net interest income rising by up to 23% year-on-year. Brokerages such as JM Financial, Nomura, and Kotak Institutional Equities have provided these estimates.

The company will set the record date for the purpose of split after obtaining shareholders' approval.

Nifty, Sensex, or for that matter any index – all are trading in the red, with extremely negative market breadth to boot. Don’t panic: We witnessed pretty much similar conditions back in March. So what to do? Sell, buy, or hold? Here’s a story about a small-cap company. For decades its performance was mediocre at best. But it is now a success, making batteries used in EVs and other new energy ecosystems. The stock has seen a rerating in the last couple of years. What should you do? So, to reiterate yet again: Rather than taking decisions based on the ups and downs of the Nifty, look at the business a company is doing. Will that business grow in the next two years? If yes, stay with it if you already own it – probably even increase exposure.

State-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) reported a 97.5% year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit, dropping to Rs 142.67 crore from Rs 5,826.9 crore in the same quarter last year. However, HPCL's revenue rose 5.3% year-on-year to Rs 1,07,754.9 crore, compared to Rs 1,02,288.6 crore in the previous year

The warrants allow holders to apply for shares by paying the remaining 75% of the issue price within 18 months from the allotment date. Each warrant can be converted, in one or more tranches, into one fully paid equity share with a face value of Rs 10, according to the company's release.

Epigral Ltd completed its QIP, raising Rs 333.05 crore at an issue price of Rs 2,093.13 per share. The company will deploy these funds to support its growth plans. The equity capital will help Epigral to further strengthen its financial position while expanding its market presence.

State-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) reported a 97.5% year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit, dropping to Rs 142.67 crore from Rs 5,826.9 crore in the same quarter last year. However, HPCL's revenue rose 5.3% year-on-year to Rs 1,07,754.9 crore, compared to Rs 1,02,288.6 crore in the previous year

UBS cut the target price of Hero MotoCorp to Rs 3,300, reiterating their 'sell' rating. The market appears to like Hero as a rural proxy, while expecting a rural demand revival and a turnaround in its premium 2-wheelers. UBS believes the market is too optimistic regarding Hero's rural moat.

German automaker Mercedes-Benz fell 3.7% after third-quarter earnings in core car division massively missed estimates, while Valeo shed 7.5% as the automotive supplier cut its annual sales guidance for the second time this year.

Zerodha doesn't push users to trade, which is good for customers in the long run, says its founder Nithin Kamath. This is why people trust Zerodha. Counter-intuitively, this hurts the business. With everybody chasing "engagement," many things on the internet have become annoying and unusable, he said.

Bharti Airtel's Africa unit reported a $48 million profit for Q2, down 65% year-on-year. Revenue fell to $1.21 billion, impacted by currency devaluation and rising fuel prices.