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Cement producers expect net profit declines in the December quarter, leading to earnings downgrades. Despite a 7-8% increase in sales volumes, revenues will remain flat. Ebitda for these companies may drop by 20-30%, while some profits could decline by 30-60%. Larger producers like UltraTech Cement and Ambuja Cements may fare better.

In January, the Reserve Bank of India accepted almost 77% of the notified amount in buyback auctions of government securities. Banks bid aggressively due to deficit liquidity in the banking system. The auctions received bids worth ₹45,710.2 crore for a notified amount of ₹25,000 crore. The RBI accepted ₹19,217.5 crore.

Deven Sangoi and his sister Meghana Gosar settled a front-running case with the Securities and Exchange Board of India by paying ₹91 lakh. They agreed to a six-month voluntary debarment from the markets. The regulator found evidence of front-running involving 266 equity trades and 76 equity derivatives trades during its probe.

The credit market will face volatile financial conditions in FY26 due to challenges in retail lending, banking system liquidity, and growth-inflation issues. This will increase volatility and spreads for entities with weak credit outlooks. The easing of banking system liquidity and availability of risk capital will become critical to improve lending rates and financing.

The rupee weakened to a record intraday low of 85.93 per dollar on Thursday, closing at 85.848 per dollar, nearly unchanged from the previous day. Pressure on the rupee was due to risk aversion toward the US dollar and selling from foreign portfolio investors. Intervention by public sector banks curbed excess volatility in the currency.

The number of borrowers taking loans from three or more lenders was 11 million, or 13% of the total microfinance borrower base of 85 million, showed the latest data collated by credit bureau CRIF High Mark, and seen by ET. At present, the microfinance sector is reeling under severe asset quality stress. The sectoral gross nonperforming assets ratio rose to an 18-month high of 11.6% at the end of September

SRF and Navin Fluorine were the biggest gainers on the BSE 500 index, surging 13.7% and 9.6% respectively. Balaji Amines jumped 9.3% and Alkyl Amines soared 8%.

Led by small-cap, midcap and thematic funds, inflows into equity mutual funds increased to ₹41,156 crore from ₹35,943 crore in November. Investors continued to add money through systematic investment plans, making purchases worth ₹26,459 crore in December, compared to ₹25,320 crore in the previous month.

Tata Consultancy Services reported a modest sequential net profit growth of 3.9% to Rs 12,380 crore in Q3FY25 amidst reduced demand in the US and UK markets and declining discretionary tech spending. Revenue saw a 0.44% decrease, and headcount dropped by 5,370 employees. Despite the downturn, TCS remains hopeful for a better fiscal year ahead.

Tata Elxsi reported a 3% decline in its net profit at Rs 199 crore for the quarter ended December 2024. The same stood at Rs 206 crore in the year-ago period.