Latest Stock Market News

Wall Street experienced a mixed close Thursday, buoyed by Cisco s optimistic forecast but weighed down by UnitedHealth s criminal investigation report, leading to a sharp 11% plunge. Investors are optimistic about potential trade deal resolutions, despite tariff concerns. Walmart cautioned about impending price hikes due to tariffs, impacting retail stocks like Amazon.

Oil prices experienced a slight increase on Friday, recovering from a sharp decline in the previous session. This upward trend positions them for a weekly gain exceeding 1%, primarily driven by optimism surrounding U.S.-China trade relations. However, the potential return of Iranian oil supplies to the market continues to exert downward pressure, creating uncertainty in the oil trade.

Gold prices dipped on Friday, poised for their worst week in six months due to a stronger dollar and easing trade war anxieties. Spot gold fell 0.1% to $3,235.59 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures rose 0.4% to $3,239.20. Reduced U.S.-China tariffs, though posing inflation risks, and recent U.S. economic data influenced the market.

The dollar weakened alongside U.S. Treasury yields on Friday. This followed disappointing U.S. economic data. Expectations grew for Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year. Earlier in the week, a U.S.-China trade truce initially boosted the dollar. The dollar fell sharply against the South Korean won. Discussions between Washington and Seoul on the dollar/won market impacted this.

Japan s economy unexpectedly contracted in the March quarter, shrinking by 0.7%, due to weak private consumption and declining exports. This downturn, the first in a year, raises concerns about the country s fragile recovery amidst potential disruptions from U.S. trade policies. Economists suggest the data may prompt calls for increased fiscal spending to bolster growth.

Shiv Chanani of Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund suggests that while global uncertainties have lessened, a growth slowdown is expected in the short term. He anticipates a stronger second half for the Indian market, favoring domestic demand-oriented sectors due to upcoming monsoons and lower taxation benefits.

Sajjan Jindal Family Trust plans to sell JSW Infrastructure shares worth up to Rs 1,200 crore via a block deal, offering 42 million shares at a floor price of Rs 288 per share. This move aims to meet SEBI s minimum public shareholding requirements.

When the closing price rises above the VWAP, it signifies that the closing price is higher than the average price at which it was traded throughout the day, with the average being weighted by trading volume.

IndusInd Bank shares: In a regulatory filing on Thursday, the bank disclosed that a discrepancy was identified following a whistleblower complaint. The Audit Committee then instructed the Internal Audit Department (IAD) to investigate transactions recorded under both "other assets" and "other liabilities."