Current Events

For the first time in four years, the average stock is beating the stock market.

Globally, market participants will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, movements in crude oil prices, and broader geopolitical negotiations involving Iran

Indian benchmark indices closed lower on Friday as closing auction sessions caused divergence between Sensex and Nifty. While Sensex fell 456 points, Nifty dropped 65 points. Market sentiment remained cautious amid Middle East tensions and crude oil volatility, though strong SBI earnings provided underlying banking sector support.

While penny stocks often attract investors with their low entry prices and potential for quick gains, they carry substantial risks. Low liquidity, high volatility and limited transparency can make them vulnerable to manipulation and sudden price drops.

Goldman Sachs expects the Nifty 50 to rebound to 26,500 by June 2027, above its current record high, as India’s macro backdrop improves. Lower commodity prices, a stable currency, resilient domestic growth and better earnings prospects are supporting its bullish view. The brokerage expects a shift towards value stocks, with large caps and banks benefiting as foreign outflows reverse.

As global investors crowd into AI-linked markets in South Korea and Taiwan, India is re-emerging as an anti-AI portfolio diversifier. Moderating long-only fund redemptions, $3.6 billion in recent foreign inflows, strong domestic SIP contributions, and potential $25 billion reallocation from underweight EM funds are supporting Indian equities' relative resilience.

Nearly 90 companies, including Jio Financial Services, Power Grid Corporation, HPCL, and Hindustan Aeronautics, will turn ex-dividend between August 10 and August 14. Investors holding these shares in their demat accounts on the respective record dates will be eligible to receive the announced corporate dividend payouts.

The report noted that the stock market is vulnerable to a lack of diversity due to the social nature of investing

Indian stock markets ended lower as benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty diverged. Investors face crucial triggers next week, including over 2,000 Q1 earnings announcements, crude oil price movements amid Middle East geopolitical tensions, US nonfarm payroll data influencing Federal Reserve interest rate policy, and ongoing foreign institutional investment trends.

The report noted that the domestic economy shows promise, with bank credit growth reaching 17-18% year-on-year, the highest in over a decade

Starlink versus fiber, cable and 5G: The smart spender’s guide to 2026 internet options.

Foreign investment flows into Indian government bonds are likely to remain muted in the near term despite the removal of taxes on overseas purchases of sovereign bonds

Indian equities faced a difficult 2025-26, with the Nifty 50 and broader indices declining around 14% in US dollar terms

Taken together, unclaimed dividend and redemption amounts in mutual funds stood at ₹3,811 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared with ₹3,452 crore at the end of the preceding financial year

Delhivery reported a 65% year-on-year decline in Q1 FY27 net profit to Rs 31.9 crore, despite a 28% rise in revenue to Rs 2,930.7 crore. EBITDA fell 4% as higher labour, fuel and operating costs weighed on margins. The logistics company expects pricing revisions and revenue growth to offset cost pressures.

India's financial markets are poised for growth, buoyed by robust domestic economic fundamentals like strong consumer demand and proactive government spending. Nevertheless, international geopolitical tensions and fluctuating commodity prices present daunting challenges. Consequently, there may be fluctuations in foreign capital inflows, which could affect market stability. Nonetheless, SEBI remains optimistic about India's potential to outperform globally, despite these external challenges.

Apollo Micro Systems reported a 43% year-on-year rise in Q1 FY27 net profit to Rs 25.2 crore, while revenue surged 88% to Rs 251.3 crore. EBITDA rose 18% to Rs 48 crore, though margins moderated. The defence company said its best-ever first-quarter performance reflects strong execution and continued sector demand.

Apollo Micro Systems reported a 43% year-on-year rise in Q1 FY27 net profit to Rs 25.2 crore, while revenue surged 88% to Rs 251.3 crore. EBITDA rose 18% to Rs 48 crore, though margins moderated. The defence company said its best-ever first-quarter performance reflects strong execution and continued sector demand.

BSE’s derivatives activity fell sharply in the first week of the Closing Auction Session, but higher premiums more than offset the decline in contracts. Premium per contract surged 74.8%, lifting average daily premium turnover 21.3% and pushing BSE’s market share to 37.1%, according to Nuvama Institutional Equities.

Investor Mukul Mahavir Agrawal’s portfolio rose 12% to around Rs 7,720 crore by June 2026. Several holdings delivered strong CY26 gains, led by Apollo Pipes, Hind Rectifiers and KRN Heat Exchanger. The portfolio also saw a new addition, Arisinfra Solutions, highlighting Agrawal’s continued focus on high-growth stocks.

Five high-dividend-yield stocks include Vedanta, Gujarat Pipavav Port, Castrol India, TCS and Infosys. As of July 29, 2026, Vedanta topped the list with a 12.9% yield, followed by Gujarat Pipavav Port at 6.9%. Investors should consider fundamentals, valuation, sustainability of dividends and risks alongside dividend yield.

Fifteen BSE 500 stocks posted gains in each of the five sessions from August 3 to 7. Apar Industries led with a 16% five-day gain, followed by Welspun Corp and Authum Investment.

LIC increased its holdings in several major stocks during Q1FY27, with Bharti Airtel, Maruti Suzuki and ITC among the biggest buys, based on Prime Database data.

Tribunal set aside 47 SEBI orders and modified 88 even as fresh appeals declined during the year

Ola Electric faced a significant downturn in its June quarter operations, reporting a steep forty-five percent decline in revenue compared to last year. The company earned four hundred fifty-five crore rupees in the first quarter, with vehicle registrations also dropping as compared to the previous year. Despite this, Ola's net loss displayed a slight improvement, narrowing by about twenty-one point five percent year-on-year, with overall unit deliveries also decreasing.

Regulator to adopt risk-based approach, conduct joint inspections and prioritise high-risk entities from FY27

Hindalco Industries achieved record profit and sales in the June quarter, driven by soaring aluminium prices and a rebound at Novelis. The company is now focused on executing ongoing projects valued at fifty thousand crore rupees while exploring further investments for future growth. Aluminium prices are projected to stay robust, despite a slight sequential dip.

Strong demand across jewellery and premium categories helped offset higher gold prices and geopolitical challenges in key overseas markets.

The Singapore Stock Exchange's recent decision to halt trading in single stock futures linked to Indian equities marks a pivotal shift, likely spurred by Indian regulators' scrutiny of derivative contract practices on SGX. This alteration may compel foreign investors to realign their approaches toward accessing Indian stocks, potentially resulting in increased trading activity at GIFT City with a revised revenue-sharing framework.

Financial stocks weakened after the RBI’s draft proposals, while robust corporate earnings and resilient broader markets limited the benchmark indices’ decline.

Gold prices on Friday rose by 0.85% per 10 grams in futures trade as speculators created fresh positions on a firm spot demand

In a week marked by volatility, Indian equity indices ended on a positive note, showcasing their ability to bounce back. The initial worries prompted by the closing auction system quickly faded, as diminishing global oil prices and easing geopolitical conflicts uplifted investor sentiment. Mid and small-cap sectors demonstrated significant strength, with institutional investors, both domestic and foreign, snapping up Indian equities.

On the BSE, 3,888 stocks were traded, 1,875 stocks advanced against 1,767 declines and 246 remained unchanged.

At 10.02 am on Friday, October Brent oil futures were at $83.91 (+1.72%), and September WTI crude oil futures were at $78.44 (+1.49%)