In the last five trading sessions leading up to October 4, the Sensex index dropped by around 4.8% or 4,148 points, closing at 81,688, with declines in all sessions. Despite this sharp decline, ETMarkets identified five stocks from the BSE smallcap segment that saw consistent price increases during this period. (Data Source: ACE Equity)

The Federal Reserve initiated a surprising rate cut while the US economy shows stable growth and cooling inflation. Chinese stimulus bolstered market sentiment, lifting equities and commodities. However, Middle East tensions and upcoming US elections inject fresh uncertainties. Investors are keen on Q4 earnings, with expectations for large caps to outperform. RBI's upcoming policy decision is critical amid these dynamics.

Vedanta is set to consider and possibly approve its fourth interim dividend for FY25 during a board meeting on October 8, 2024. The record date for determining shareholder eligibility is October 16. The company has reached milestones in aluminium and zinc production. Shares closed unchanged at Rs 508.90 on Friday.

In a reflection on his career, valuation expert Aswath Damodaran advises investors to avoid taking themselves too seriously, acknowledging the unpredictability of markets and the inevitability of mistakes. He highlights the importance of accepting uncertainty and making peace with factors beyond one’s control.

The Indian tech industry is witnessing a pivotal recovery with rising demand and shifting client spending. Mid-tier firms, especially in data engineering and ERP modernization, are outperforming. Key players like HCL Tech and TCS show promising growth, bolstered by a favourable economic outlook.

Gold has surged by 4% after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate cut and is expected to continue rising. Geopolitical tensions, further rate cuts, rising inflows into gold ETFs, and central bank purchases are key drivers. Seasonal demand in India will also support the price momentum, making it a promising period for gold investments.

With the market experiencing a mild correction, this could be an opportune moment to add select stocks to your portfolio, positioning yourself for strong returns amid a generally bullish outlook.As the festive spirit of Navratri sets in, domestic brokerage firms Bajaj Broking and Choice Broking have picked certain promising stock picks to capitalize on the market's momentum. Here are 5 top picks to boost your portfolio giving up to 27% returns for a horizon of 12 months:

The US economy's surprising resilience challenges recession fears, as a report showed the biggest job gains in six months. This sparked market reversals and rethought interest rate bets. Small-cap companies and tech stocks led gains. Continued strong US activity data and expected rate cuts suggest a positive outlook for risk assets, despite inflation concerns.

Corporate earnings season is beginning next week. Investors hope strong results will support high valuations in the U.S. stock market, which is near record highs. The S&P 500 has risen 20% year-to-date. Key earnings reports from major financial firms and U.S. consumer price data next week will be crucial for the market's direction.

U.S. dividend ETFs garnered $3.05 billion in September after the Fed's rate reduction, reflecting a hunt for income amid expected yield drops. However, rising 10-year Treasury yields and the S&P 500's high valuations may influence future inflows.

Indian markets dropped over 4% this week due to middle east tensions and FII outflows. Major sectors like auto, banks, infra, and energy faced heavy selling. FIIs are moving funds to China, leading to significant cash market selling. Analysts predict continued pessimism with a possible consolidation phase ahead amidst rising crude prices.

The Federal Reserve's rate-cut campaign for 2024 may have ended due to a strong labor report, signaling economic resilience. Wall Street experts, including Ed Yardeni and Larry Summers, criticize further easing, fearing inflation risks. Investors and economists debate the central bank's future policy moves.

Domestic brokerage firm Axis Securities is optimistic about several small and midcap stocks, predicting potential rallies of up to 27%. These include Federal Bank, Aurobindo Pharma, Sansera Engineering, Dalmia Bharat, and Prestige Estates Projects. According to Axis Securities, India's economy remains in a favorable position, offering stability amidst global volatility.Here's a list of 7 small & midcap stocks that can rally up to 27%, according to Axis Securities:

The NSE Nifty fell 235.5 points or 0.9% to close at 25,014.6. The BSE Sensex declined 808.65 points or 1% to end at 81,688.45. Both indices, which were trading higher earlier in the day, slumped in a late sell-off ahead of the weekend.

In a week where the Nifty and Sensex lost more than 4%, looking at stocks from sectors facing multiple headwinds – some for over three decades – may not appear a great idea. But these are sectors that, backed by government policies, have a chance to witness a turnaround. They are not short-term bets. In fact, they may underperform for another two years. But given that policy backing can change the fate of some sectors, it might be worthwhile taking the risk. Also, some stocks are in industries that impact the lives of many – so, for the government, it makes political sense to help them recover. Don't put all your money here. But it's not a bad idea to put some money in what can be classified as high-risk exposure. And have patience.

The data "basically tells us economic activity in the fourth quarter is likely to remain at a solid pace," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New York.

Shapoorji Pallonji Group is planning to merge SP Imperial Star and SP Port Maintenance, which hold Dharamtar and Gopalpur Ports. Dharamtar has been sold to JSW, while Gopalpur is being sold to Adani. The merger will follow Company Law Tribunal procedures, taking several months to finalize.

The Nifty IT Index surged 19.6% in the last 6 months against an up move of 11.1% in the benchmark Nifty Index in the same period. Investec said that the surge in the IT stocks has been in anticipation of a recovery despite the earning downgrades.

The Nifty IT Index surged 19.6% in the last 6 months against an up move of 11.1% in the benchmark Nifty Index in the same period. Investec said that the surge in the IT stocks has been in anticipation of a recovery despite the earning downgrades.

The eight others who have settled the case include Umesh Jain, GM Shenoy, Narayan Neelakantan, VR Narasimhan, Kamala K, Nilesh Tinaikar, R Nandakumar and Mayur Sindhwad.

In August, global index provider MSCI decided to increase the weight of HDFC Bank in two tranches - first in August, and then in November. This was contingent upon foreign investors' headroom remaining 20% at the least.

The NSE Nifty fell 235.5 points or 0.9% to close at 25,014.6. The BSE Sensex declined 808.65 points or 1% to end at 81,688.45. Both indices, which were trading higher earlier in the day, slumped in a late sell-off ahead of the weekend.

It was a week when 9 out of 10 stocks across market segments ended with cuts. So it is probably time to focus on two things – especially if you turned a bull these last few years. First, the Nifty, or for that matter any index, has nothing to do with your portfolio. So stop comparing the two. Second, review your portfolio and ask yourself a simple question: Why did I buy this particular stock? Was it friendly neighborhood advice, or was it because something positive was happening in the company or the industry to which the stock belonged? The answer to this question will help you decide whether to stay invested in the stock or not.

On Friday, India's benchmark index Sensex dropped by around 809 points, closing at 81,688. Despite this steep decline, eight stocks from the BSE 500 index reached their 52-week highs. A 52-week high is significant because it represents the highest price a stock has reached in the past year, providing valuable insights for traders and investors. This milestone helps evaluate a stock's current value and predict future price movements.

Investor Bhavook Tripathi on Friday trimmed its stake in R Systems International by divesting an 8.45 per cent stake to investors like Goldman Sachs, DSP Mutual Fund (MF), and Sundaram MF for Rs 465 crore through open market transactions. After the stake sale, Tripathi's holding has come down to 20.58 per cent from 29.03 per cent.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE), its former chief Vikram Limaye and eight others on Friday settled with markets regulator Sebi a case pertaining to alleged bypass of trading access point (TAP) system by certain brokers after paying Rs 643 crore.

The BSE Sensex Sixty 65:35 is a strategy index consisting of 60 stocks, drawn from the BSE Sensex and BSE Sensex Next 30 in a 65:35 ratio. These 60 stocks account for over 55% of the total free float market capitalization of all listed companies in India. The 65:35 ratio is structured to provide greater exposure to the Next 30 stocks compared to the traditional free float market capitalization method.

Titan reported 25% YoY growth in Q2 FY25. 75 new stores were added, bringing the total to 3,171. Jewellery domestic operations grew 25% YoY. Consumer demand picked up after the reduction in custom duty on gold imports.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE), its former chief Vikram Limaye and eight others on Friday settled with markets regulator Sebi a case pertaining to alleged bypass of trading access point (TAP) system by certain brokers after paying Rs 643 crore.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened up by 236.7 points (0.56%) at 42,248.26, while the S&P 500 gained 37.5 points (0.66%) to start at 5,737.48.

The regulatory framework issued by the relevant authority will specify how stock brokers operating on NDS-OM handle policy, eligibility, risk management, investor grievances, inspections, enforcement, and claims.

A bear candle appeared on both the daily and weekly charts, indicating a sharp reversal in Nifty's near-term uptrend. Currently positioned near the support level around 25,000, there is potential for a minor upside bounce early in the week, likely presenting a sell-on-rise opportunity. A decisive break below the 25,000-24,950 range could lead to a further decline toward 24,500. Immediate resistance is expected around 25,300, according to Nagaraj Shetti of HDFC Securities.

IndusInd Bank reported a 13% YoY increase in net advances, reaching ₹3,56,980 crore, while deposits grew 15% to ₹4,12,704 crore as of September 30, 2024, amidst stable net interest margins.

HSBC initiated coverage on Bajaj Housing Finance with a 'reduce' rating, targeting Rs 110, citing earnings slowdown and concerns over high valuations compared to peers.

For the week, the Sensex fell by 3,883 points (4.5%), while the Nifty lost 1,128 points (4.3%). The total market capitalisation of all listed companies on the BSE dropped by Rs 16.67 lakh crore to Rs 461.26 lakh crore. At the same time, foreign institutional investors recorded significant outflows, selling shares worth $3.65 billion over the past three sessions, marking a record high on Thursday.

Share Market Crash Today: The Indian stock market faced a sharp decline with Sensex plummeting 4,100 points in five days due to the Iran-Israel war and China's economic stimulus. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have pulled out Rs 32,000 crore amid concerns about peak valuations, pushing Nifty below key support levels.

Meanwhile, CASA deposits increased by 37.6% on a YoY basis to Rs 1,09,345 crore. The CASA ratio stood at 48.9% as of September 2024, as compared to 46.4% as of September 2023.

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)

Sensex and Nifty erased all intra-day gains to trade deep in the red on Friday, remaining on course for their worst week in more than two years after a deluge of foreign outflows and on concerns about the deepening conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, in Friday's trade, five small and midcap stocks from the Nifty 500 index reached new 52-week highs. Here's the list:

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:

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:

This festive season, pick any newspaper and the chances are the front page ad would be of a jewellery brand, a large premium real estate project, or an IPO set to hit the street. The last two are not usual suspects. But ads of jewellery brands have for years dominated the festive season. And, of these brands, Titan Company is usually the leading advertiser. Today, however, there are several other jewellery brands that are transitioning from regional to national players. So, is it time to look beyond Titan? The festive season sales will answer that question.

Diffusion Engineers, a manufacturer of heavy machinery for core industries, debuted on the stock market with a 15% premium over its issue price. Following the listing, the stock gained an additional 5%, trading at Rs 197.3 against the offer price of Rs 168. Analysts highlight the company's focus on forward integration and diversification, positioning it well for future growth, alongside its steady financial performance and expanding profits.

The Indian stock market faced a sharp decline with Sensex plummeting 4,000 points in five days due to the Iran-Israel war and China's economic stimulus. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have pulled out Rs 32,000 crore amid concerns about peak valuations, pushing Nifty below key support levels.

India’s largest private sector lender HDFC Bank has originated the largest securitisation pool of Rs 9,063 crore, rated AAA by domestic rating agency India Ratings. The asset-backed securitisation transaction is backed by a pool of new car loans

The IT Services sector continues to face mixed demand trends, with no clear sector-wide tailwind as of yet. While pockets of strength remain in the US BFSI segment, expansion into adjacent areas has been limited.“Clients of big IT companies remain focused on efficiency and cost-saving deals, with ramp-downs persisting, particularly in the UK and EU markets,” JM Financial said in a report.“As a result, large-cap companies are expected to post 0-3.5% QoQ growth in constant currency (cc), while mid-caps may see slightly better growth at 2.8-4.6% cc,” the report added.Companies like Infosys, LTIMindtree, and Persistent Systems with deal ramp momentum are likely to outperform, while exposure to UK/EU may weigh on TCS and Wipro.JM Financials in a report highlighted how largecap IT companies will report their numbers for the September quarter:

Aswath Damodaran, Professor at Stern School of Business, NYU, and a renowned finance professor and valuation expert, shares his thoughts on Zomato’s evolving business model, the complexities of company valuation, and the challenges faced by family-owned conglomerates like the Tata Group in an interview with ETNow.

Positive October seasonality ties together six F&O stocks—PFC, REC, Canara Bank, GMR Airports Infrastructure, Delta Corp, and TVS Motor Company—despite each experiencing declines of up to 15% in the past month. Historically, October has produced 10 winners in the F&O segment, with these stocks, along with MGFL, ICICI Bank, NMDC, and SAIL, achieving positive returns in October on eight or more occasions over the last decade.

Sensex and Nifty rebounded on Friday due to gains in IT and banking stocks, despite their worst weekly performance since 2022. Foreign outflows and Middle East conflict escalation played key roles. Infosys and HDFC Bank led the gains, while DMart shares dropped sharply.

Sensex and Nifty rebounded on Friday due to gains in IT and banking stocks, despite their worst weekly performance since 2022. Foreign outflows and Middle East conflict escalation played key roles. Infosys and HDFC Bank led the gains, while DMart shares dropped sharply.