Latest Stock Market News

HFE has scaled up its IPO fundraising ambition to ₹5,000 crore after initial positive feedback from ESG investors. Backed by KKR and IFC, HFE has appointed JM Financial, Axis, Nomura and Bank of America, said multiple people aware of the development.

Shares in South Korea gained 1.1% after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US may reach an “agreement of understanding” on trade as soon as next week. Equities in Japan advanced 1% after the S&P 500 jumped Thursday to the highest since the day President Donald Trump announced his tariff offensive. Gold and a gauge of the dollar edged up.

U.S. stocks surged for a third consecutive day, fueled by technology shares and optimism surrounding potential de-escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions. The Nasdaq led gains, boosted by AI-driven software firm ServiceNow s strong results.

Oil prices saw a slight increase on Friday but are heading for a weekly loss due to potential OPEC+ output increases and hopes for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire. These factors could boost supply while conflicting U.S. tariff signals create uncertainty about demand. Successful talks with Iran and Europe could also lead to increased oil exports.

Gold prices edged higher on Friday, poised for a third consecutive week of gains, as investors keenly observed developments in U.S.-China trade negotiations. Spot gold saw a rise of 0.2% to $3,354.29 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures also gained. The market remains sensitive to trade tensions and U.S. economic data, with traders anticipating potential rate cuts by 2025-end.

The dollar experienced a volatile week, initially dropping due to President Trump s criticism of the Federal Reserve, then surging on hopes of trade de-escalation with China. However, uncertainty persists as Beijing denies ongoing trade talks. The dollar rose against the yen and Swiss franc, while the euro and sterling weakened.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva lauded Germany, Britain, and Argentina for their significant policy shifts, calling it a "new era" for the global economy. Germany s fiscal expansion is expected to positively impact Europe. Britain s efforts to boost its economy and trade ties with the EU were also praised.

Alphabet announced a $70 billion share buyback and a 5% dividend increase, exceeding first-quarter earnings expectations. Shares surged 4% in extended trading, adding approximately $75 billion to its market value. Google s advertising revenue grew by 8.5%, offsetting slower growth in its cloud computing unit, while total revenue reached $90.23 billion, surpassing analysts estimates.

Alphabet, Google s parent company, reported a $34.5 billion profit, driven by strong cloud and AI growth. However, it faces major US antitrust battles that could force it to divest Chrome or Android. Despite strong earnings, legal pressures threaten Google s dominance in search and advertising, with appeals ongoing