Latest Stock Market News

Oil prices saw minor increases on Friday due to stronger U.S. economic data, raising hopes for higher crude demand. However, economic concerns in China and Japan limited gains. Brent crude rose by 7 cents to $82.44 per barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate increased by 4 cents to $78.32 per barrel.

Swedish private equity firm EQT AB sold its entire 7.89% stake in RBL Bank, amounting to 4.78 crore shares, in a bulk deal worth ₹1,091.15 crore on the BSE. The shares, sold through its entity Maple II B V at ₹228.08 per share, were acquired by Morgan Stanley’s Asia Singapore PTE and Societe General for ₹285.12 crore and ₹161.74 crore, respectively. RBL Bank shares closed 2.95% down at ₹230.4 on Thursday.

Net issuances of the sovereign gold bonds (after factoring in redemption) are now pegged at ₹15,000 crore in this fiscal, against ₹26,138 crore in the interim budget and ₹25,352 crore in 2023-24 (revised estimate). Harish Galipelli, director at ILA Commodities India, said a growing number of retail investors are now parking their investible surplus in equities, anticipating better returns.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in an interview with ET has emphasized that banks must refocus on their primary roles of mobilizing deposits and providing loans, especially amid concerns about slowing deposit growth. Sitharaman reiterated the need for banks to prioritize their core functions—mobilizing deposits and lending—while still being free to pursue other activities.

Tips is the only listed player that writes off 100% of the content cost during the quarter of the release. It has a library of over 30,000 songs across genres and languages.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% Thursday while the Nasdaq 100 declined 1.1% as tech giants including Nvidia Corp and Microsoft Corp slumped. Small caps outperformed in a further sign investors are preparing for interest-rate cuts that will support the broader economy.

LCR is a liquidity requirement for banks to maintain at all times a certain proportion of high-quality liquid assets (HQLA), including cash, reserves with central banks, and federal government bonds, which can easily be converted into cash.

Private life insurers in India have strategized to adhere to new IRDAI regulations requiring surrender value from the first year on non-participating policies. Companies like HDFC Life, ICICI Prudential Life, and SBI Life are adjusting their commission structures and product mixes to protect margins and maintain growth despite the regulatory changes.

Indian corporates found raising funds through offshore syndicated loans more affordable in 2024 due to increased global investor interest. The volume remained stable at $13.3 billion. HSBC emerged as the top bookrunner, followed by DBS Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, and Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank. Firms like Union Bank, JSW Steel, and Hero Fincorp have utilized this route.

To enhance credit flow to MSMEs, the government is urging banks to offer collateral-free term loans and additional support during financial stress. The FY25 budget includes a new credit guarantee scheme to help MSMEs in manufacturing secure loans for machinery and equipment without needing collateral or a third-party guarantee.