Latest Stock Market News

As macroeconomic uncertainties, interest rate movements, and global trade tensions shape market sentiment, Ambit has increased its allocation to defensive sectors like FMCG and healthcare.

Small & mid cap (SMID Cap) universe almost exclusively captures few themes which benefit from India’s transition through reforms, policy changes, vast demographics with rising incomes etc.

We broadly pick the top 20 companies from each of these five sectors: industrials, financials, exports, consumer staples, and consumer discretionary. When selecting them, we look for four key factors.

China has kept its benchmark lending rates steady for the fifth consecutive month in March, as expected by the market. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) remains at 3.1%, and the five-year LPR stays at 3.6%. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on these rates, influencing economic activities and mortgages.

Wall Street surged with investors expecting the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates further this year. This follows a forecast of lower growth and higher inflation. Despite fears of stagflation, investors believe current inflation is temporary. Treasury yields fell and the dollar cooled. Federal Reserve s Chair Powell reassured that long-term inflation expectations remain anchored.

The Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates unchanged as it monitors the impact of U.S. trade tariffs and the UK s employer tax hike on the economy. Uncertainties around global growth and domestic fiscal policies contribute to caution in monetary adjustments.

The Federal Reserve will slow the pace of its balance sheet drawdown starting next month due to the impasse over the government s borrowing limit. This change will see the cap for Treasury maturities reduced to $5 billion per month from the previous $25 billion cap.

Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries remained steady in January, maintaining demand for government debt. Japan remained the largest non-U.S. holder, while China s holdings slightly increased. There was a mix of inflows and outflows in major U.S. asset classes. Overall net foreign acquisitions showed a net outflow of $48.8 billion in January.