Latest Stock Market News

Kalyan Jewellers shares plunged 9.4% despite a 31% revenue surge, as India s gross margins dipped due to franchised store growth. Brokerages like Citi and Motilal Oswal remain optimistic, projecting a rally to Rs 700. The company maintains an aggressive expansion plan of 170 stores in FY26, focusing on the FOCO model.

The Reserve Bank of India has granted AU Small Finance Bank a universal banking license, the first in a decade, potentially paving the way for other small finance banks to transition. AU Bank met the RBI s stringent criteria, including minimum net worth, capital adequacy, and asset quality.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandates banks to settle deceased customers deposit accounts, safe deposit lockers, and safe custody articles within 15 days, effective January 1, 2026. Non-compliance will incur penalties, including interest on deposit delays and a daily charge for locker settlement delays. The move aims to standardize claim processes and compensate customers for inconveniences.

Weaver Services, backed by Gaja Capital, is set to acquire a 75% stake in Centrum Housing Finance for ₹600 crore. This deal values the mortgage lender at ₹800 crore, driven by Centrum s need to focus on its small finance bank as per regulatory requirements. The acquisition reflects continued investor interest in India s affordable housing finance sector, despite recent valuation adjustments.

Following the RBI s tighter regulations on co-lending, banks and NBFCs may shift towards direct assignment of assets. The new rules demand significant tech integration and credit policy alignment, potentially slowing down operationally intensive loans. While larger NBFCs might find the compliance burdensome, smaller ones could benefit from the default loss guarantee, enhancing their scaling ability.

Indian equity markets rebounded on Thursday, recovering from earlier losses fueled by tariff concerns. Optimism surrounding a potential Trump-Putin meeting spurred hopes for eased US-India trade relations, particularly regarding Russian oil purchases. The NSE Nifty and BSE Sensex both closed marginally higher, driven by short covering and positive momentum indicators, suggesting a possible continuation of the upward trend.

Indian Continent Investment, led by Sunil Mittal, plans to sell approximately 0.8% of its stake in Bharti Airtel for over ₹9,300 crore through a block deal. The sale involves five crore shares at a floor price of ₹1,862 per share, a 3% discount. This follows a similar stake sale in February, with Bharti Airtel s shares showing significant gains this year.

LIC reported a 5% increase in net profit to ₹10,986 crore, despite moderating capital gains from equity sales. The company s core insurance operating profit remained strong, with a 20.75% rise in the value of new business. LIC aims for double-digit profit expansion and is focusing on growing its non-participating business, which now constitutes over 30% of its portfolio.

Sebi has permitted Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) to conduct joint inspections of stock brokers, streamlining the process. This move aims to reduce the burden on intermediaries caused by frequent, separate inspections by stock exchanges, depositories, and clearing corporations. MIIs are also required to establish information-sharing mechanisms for inspection observations.

Signature Global s Q1 FY26 profit surged by 386% to Rs 34 crore, fueled by a 118% revenue increase to Rs 870 crore due to higher project completions. While pre-sales dipped slightly, average sales realization improved significantly. The company acquired land for further development and maintains a strong project pipeline for future growth.