Latest Stock Market News

Madhusudan Kela calls the Budget progressive and pragmatic, balancing fiscal discipline with growth. The ₹1 lakh crore tax relief boosts consumption, shifting focus from infrastructure to consumer spending. While global uncertainties persist, selective stock picking remains key for investors.

Asian Paints Q3 Preview: Three brokerages estimate a 0.5% to 5% decline in the paint maker’s topline for Q3FY25, with profit after tax falling 17% to 29%. JM Financial projects the highest PAT and revenue, while Nuvama is the most conservative. Lower volumes and adverse pricing trends are cited as key factors behind the expected weak performance.

Japan s Nikkei index dropped over 2% on Monday, marking its worst session in four months due to global economic concerns heightened by U.S. President Trump s tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Automakers led the decline, with significant losses for Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, reflecting their dependency on North American markets.

Prashant Jain from 3P Investment Managers believes the current market environment is challenging, especially for small and mid-cap stocks. He emphasizes a focus on Nifty companies and notes that government capex is expected to align with nominal GDP growth. Discretionary consumption may rise due to the Budget s impact, but consumer staples might not see a significant boost.

In FY21, subsidies were 3.82% of GDP, now down to 1.19%, reflecting a 40-basis-point annual contraction — no small feat. This decline, alongside reduced income tax, signals a shift from targeted benefits to broader economic impact. While subsidies aid lower-income groups, the focus now leans towards policies fostering overall growth and long-term financial stability.

Divi s Labs Q3 Results: Divi s Laboratories reported a significant 64% year-on-year increase in its December quarter net profit, reaching Rs 589 crore. The revenue from operations saw a 25% rise, standing at Rs 2,319 crore. Following the earnings announcement, the company s shares climbed 3% to a new high on the NSE.

So, the big change now is the start of the trade wars and the impact and the uncertainty it creates is actually quite significant.

HUDCO shares fell 11% to Rs 192.5 following the government’s Rs 19,794 crore allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Urban in the Union Budget for 2025-26. This marks a 34.4% reduction compared to the previous year’s allocation of Rs 30,171 crore. However, it reflects a 44.8% increase over the revised estimate for FY 2024-25.

CLSA has reiterated its "Outperform" ratings on builders L&T, HAL, NCC, and JKIL, expecting a recovery in orders and execution in 2025 that could surprise the markets.

Jefferies: Jefferies remains positive on Adani Power, citing its aggressive expansion plan. The company aims to nearly double thermal capacity from 17.6 GW to 30.7 GW by 2030. Backed by a strong project pipeline, land acquisitions, and secured financing, the expansion is progressing on schedule, reinforcing confidence in its long-term growth potential.