Asian markets rose Friday to build on the latest global rally after a jumbo US interest rate cut this week, while the yen reversed earlier gains after the Bank of Japan decided against another hike. The yen strengthened to 141.74 per dollar after the BoJ announcement, but later reversed to hit 143.77 in afternoon Asian trade.

U.S. stocks face a challenging period with economic data, political uncertainty, and corporate earnings tests ahead. The S&P 500 recently hit an all-time high following a Federal Reserve rate cut but remains vulnerable to market swings, especially with the upcoming election and key economic reports on the horizon.

Adani Total Gas, a joint venture between Adani Group and Total Energies, has secured ₹3,131 crore ($375 million) from several international banks. This funding will accelerate the expansion of its city gas distribution network across 34 areas in 13 states, potentially benefiting up to 14% of India's population.

U.S. stocks closed nearly unchanged on Friday after a strong rally fueled by the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cut. The Dow hit a record high, supported by Nike's gains. Major averages secured weekly gains of at least 1%. Utilities surged, while FedEx plunged after lowering its revenue forecast.

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European shares declined on Friday following a previous rally driven by the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate cut. Novo Nordisk dropped due to disappointing obesity pill data, while the auto sector led declines. British retail sales and euro zone consumer confidence showed positive trends, but German producer prices fell less than expected.

The Federal Reserve's big interest rate cut this week is not a sign that the US economy is "falling behind," Fed governor Christopher Waller said in an interview on Friday. Citing a speech he made earlier this year, Waller stressed that the Fed could cut rates even if the economy was doing fine.

Wall Street's main indexes opened slightly lower on Friday as investors held back after a jump in the previous session that was sparked by an oversized interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

UBS sold holdings in Concord Biotech, Five Star Business Finance, IIFL Securities, and Marksans Pharma through block deals, totaling Rs 480 crore. The largest sale was in Concord Biotech, worth Rs 192 crore at a 15% premium.

A proposal to revise US bank-capital regulations faces strong opposition from the FDIC, where at least three of five directors, including Democrat Rohit Chopra and two Republican members, are against the changes. This bipartisan pushback raises concerns about the timeline for aligning all three bank regulators, targeting completion by mid-2025.

Shares were down 4.3% at 1330 GMT, the lowest since August 8, after the company announced headline results from its trial of monlunabant, an experimental drug it acquired as part of its $1 billion purchase of Canadian biotech company Inversago Pharmaceuticals last year.

Five international lenders participated in the initial financing -- BNP Paribas, DBS Bank, Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

Cantor initiates coverage on the company with a bullish "Overweight" rating and a price target of Rs 2,251, suggesting a potential 129% upside by FY26. They project a 20% CAGR revenue growth and a 28.8% CAGR adjusted EBITDA growth for the company from FY24 to FY27E.

Shares of FedEx slumped 15% on Friday, on track for their worst day in two years, after dismal first-quarter results, in what analysts attributed to a combination of broader economic concerns and an unfavorable shift in the company's sales from higher-priced deliveries.

Markets regulator Sebi on Friday proposed that listed entities should make all payments, such as dividends, interests and redemptions, through electronic mode only.

The board has established a fundraising committee and granted them the authority to manage all aspects of raising funds, such as deciding the terms for issuing and allotting NCDs and CPs, and handling other relevant tasks.

Markets regulator Sebi on Friday allowed mutual funds to both buy and sell Credit Default Swaps (CDS), a move aimed at increasing liquidity in the corporate bond market. This flexibility to participate in CDS would serve as an additional investment product for mutual funds, Sebi said in a circular.

The cases where SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch recused herself due to potential conflict of interest is not "readily" available and collating them would "disproportionately divert" its resources, the securities market regulator said in an RTI response on Friday.

On Friday, India’s benchmark index, the Sensex, rallied by approximately 1359 points, closing at 84,544. During this rally, nine stocks in the BSE FMCG index reached their highest prices in the past year. Achieving a 52-week high is notable as it indicates the highest price a stock has reached in the last 12 months, offering valuable insights for traders and investors. This milestone is crucial for assessing a stock's current value and forecasting potential price trends.

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. slumped to their lowest level ever at the opening bell Friday, the first day that its biggest shareholder, former President Donald Trump, is free to sell his stake in the company behind the Truth Social platform.

Wall Street's main indexes opened slightly lower on Friday as investors held back after a jump in the previous session that was sparked by an oversized interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Friday relaxed rules governing financial disincentives imposed by the regulator on Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) and individuals for omissions and commissions leading to technical glitches.

Nifty's short-term trend is strongly bullish after Friday's significant surge. A brief consolidation or pause is possible before further upward movement. The next upside target, based on Fibonacci extension, is around 26,250. Immediate support is at 25,650, according to Nagaraj Shetti of HDFC Securities.

Indian headline indices smashed fresh record highs on Friday catapulted by heavyweights ICICI Bank and HDFC bank which had the biggest contribution to the respective index. They took positive cues from global and Asian markets amid the onset of a monetary easing policy by the US Fed.

"The MPC was thus of view that this environment creates space for a lower policy rate, without compromising on other macroeconomic objectives."

Indian headline indices smashed fresh record highs on Friday catapulted by heavyweights ICICI Bank and HDFC bank which had the biggest contribution to the respective index. They took positive cues from global and Asian markets amid the onset of a monetary easing policy by the US Fed.

In a recent analysis by ETMarkets, a focused evaluation of stocks that have exhibited robust financial health over the past three fiscal years was conducted. The criteria included companies with sales and profit growth exceeding 15% while maintaining a Return on Equity (RoE) of over 15%. This analysis was limited to stocks with a market capitalisation of over Rs 1,000 crore.From the BSE universe, around 52 stocks qualified under these parameters. To refine the list further, only those stocks that have seen gains of over 50% in the current fiscal year were considered. Remarkably, this filter revealed 11 standout stocks. One notable trend among these companies is their financial prudence — most of them are either low debt or entirely debt-free as of the last fiscal year. (Data Source: ACE Equity)

JM Financial initiated coverage on Ami Organics with a buy rating and a target price of Rs 1,965. The brokerage firm believes Ami is poised for growth due to its successful execution of the Nubeqa contract and the upcoming manufacturing of electrolytes. Ami has a portfolio of 570+ products catering to 500+ customers across 45 countries.

Automobile shares led sectoral losses with a 2.9% fall, hurt by a 7.6% drop in Mercedes-Benz after the carmaker cut its full-year profit margin for the second time in less than two months, as overall sales volume fell in China.

Bajaj Housing Finance shares reversed a two-day decline, rising 5% on the BSE to reach an intraday high of Rs 168, sparking renewed investor interest. The stock has gained 140% since its listing at an issue price of Rs 70 per share.

BSE Ltd.'s stock in India is set for its best weekly performance ever, driven by speculation of NSE's potential IPO listing. Shares surged 9% on Friday, extending weekly gains to about 38%. If NSE lists publicly, it will drive up volumes and improve BSE's market share.

Axis Capital is exploring legal options against Sebi's order restricting it from new assignments as a merchant banker for the debt segment. The company clarified that all other business activities will continue as usual, and the debt segment accounted for only 5% of its revenue in FY 2023-24.

The shares have advanced by an impressive 246% over the last year, while in the past six months, the stock has surged by 110%. Year-to-date, the shares have gained 170.7%, according to BSE analytics.

Domestic benchmarks extended their record run with the Sensex surpassing 84,400 and Nifty breaching 25,800. The market capitalization of BSE-listed stocks rose by Rs 4 lakh crore. Metal stocks rallied on positive global cues. IT stocks remained weak. Analysts expect Nifty to trade within the 25,000-26,000 range.

Japan's Nikkei share average rose by 1.53% on Friday, marking its best week since mid-August. Gains were limited as the yen strengthened following the Bank of Japan's hint at future interest rate hikes. The broader Topix index also advanced, with chip-sector stocks rallying and Tokyo Electron shares soaring 5.32%.

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, led by Anil Ambani, is set to receive Rs 1,100 crore from promoters and Rs 1,910 crore from two Mumbai-based investment firms. The company plans to raise Rs 6,000 crore through preferential allotment of shares and institutional buyers. Shareholders' approval is being sought via postal ballot.

Domestic benchmarks extended their record run with the Sensex surpassing 84,100 and Nifty breaching 25,700. The market capitalization of BSE-listed stocks rose by Rs 4 lakh crore. Metal stocks rallied on positive global cues. IT stocks remained weak. Analysts expect Nifty to trade within the 25,000-26,000 range.

IndoStar Capital Finance's shares surged to a three-year high after announcing a $209 million deal to sell its home finance unit to EQT. This move allows IndoStar to concentrate on vehicle finance and small business loans. EQT plans to invest 5 billion rupees in IndoStar Home Finance, focusing on affordable housing loans.

In addition to upgrading JSW Steel’s rating to outperform, Macquarie has also raised the target price of the stock from an earlier Rs 884, reflecting an upside potential of over 13% from its closing price on Thursday.

The preferential issue proceeds would be utilised for expansion of business operations directly or through investment in subsidiaries and joint ventures including meeting the long-term working capital requirements and for other general corporate purposes.

Domestic benchmarks extended their record run with the Sensex surpassing 84,000 and Nifty breaching 25,650. Metal stocks rallied following a bullish note from Macquarie. IIFL Finance shares surged after RBI lifted restrictions on its gold loan business. Global markets also saw gains, with the Dow closing above 42,000 for the first time.

The US Fed's potential interest rate cuts may influence the RBI to follow suit by December 2024. This could impact bank stocks, with falling rates affecting margins but boosting credit demand. NBFCs and wholesale-funded banks might benefit more initially, while consumption-focused lenders could see increased credit accessibility.

In 2024, Indian equity markets reached record highs, but banking, FMCG, and metals sectors underperformed. The Nifty Bank index rose by just 9%, the Nifty FMCG index gained 13%, and the Nifty Metal index increased by around 16.7%. Analysts suggest these sectors may still offer value for medium-term investors.

Domestic benchmarks extended their record run, with the Sensex surpassing 83,800 and Nifty breaching 25,600. Metal stocks rallied after a bullish note from Macquarie. IIFL Finance shares surged 12% following RBI's lift on gold loan restrictions. Global markets also saw gains, with the Dow closing above 42,000 for the first time.

Vodafone Idea shares have dropped 24% in two days, falling below Rs 10 due to the AGR ruling. The Supreme Court upheld the full AGR demand of Rs 70,320 crore. Despite this, Nomura upgraded the stock to 'buy,' while UBS suggested a fair value range of Rs 12 to Rs 24.

The US Fed's potential interest rate cuts may influence the RBI to follow suit by December 2024. This could impact bank stocks, with falling rates affecting margins but boosting credit demand. NBFCs and wholesale-funded banks might benefit more initially, while consumption-focused lenders could see increased credit accessibility.

NTPC Ltd, part of the power sector and S&P BSE Sensex index, has broken out from a Flag pattern on daily charts. Experts suggest short-term traders buy the stock for a target of Rs 458 in the next 1-2 months. The stock is trading above crucial moving averages, indicating potential upward momentum.

RITES Share Price: The company announced a final dividend of Rs 5 per share and a 1:1 bonus share issue earlier in July for its eligible shareholders, while later announcing September 20 as the record date for both in August.

At current market value, a successful deal would be pegged at 5,888.57 crore ($700 million), inclusive of a fully subscribed open offer that will follow a promoter stake purchase.

IIFL Finance Share Price: IIFL Finance shares surged 12.3% after the Reserve Bank of India lifted restrictions on its gold loan business. The company can now resume sanctioning, disbursing, and selling gold loans, following compliance with relevant laws. The restrictions were initially imposed due to deviations in gold purity assessment and breaches in loan-to-value ratios.