20/05/26, Gold Price Today

Gold prices edged higher on Wednesday, May 20, supported by weakness in the US dollar. However, the yellow metal has remained under pressure, declining in five of the last seven trading sessions amid rising oil prices, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and changing expectations around US interest rates.

Gold Prices Today

As of 5:15 am, spot gold was trading 0.3 per cent higher, gaining USD 11.8 to reach USD 4,493.71 per ounce. Despite the uptick, bullion prices remain near their lowest levels since March 30.

In the domestic market, gold futures on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) settled 0.4 per cent higher, rising by Rs 56 to Rs 1,59,136 per 10 grams.

Why gold prices are rising today

The primary support for gold came from a slightly weaker US dollar. The dollar index slipped to around 99.29, making gold more affordable for overseas buyers. Since gold is priced in dollars globally, a weaker greenback generally boosts demand for the precious metal.

Middle East tensions boost crude prices

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East also remained in focus after US President Donald Trump reportedly warned Iran it has "two or three days" to reach a deal to end the conflict or face renewed attacks.

The current situation has also pushed crude oil prices sharply higher, limiting gains in bullion.

WTI crude oil was trading near USD 104 per barrel, while Brent crude futures moved above USD 111 per barrel.

Higher crude oil prices increase inflationary pressures globally and reduce expectations of near-term interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve. Elevated interest rates tend to strengthen the US dollar and raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as gold, creating downward pressure on bullion prices.

Fed rate cut expectations weigh on bullion

Market participants are also reassessing expectations for US Federal Reserve rate cuts. According to a Reuters report, traders now see limited chances of rate reductions through most of 2026, with some expectations shifting toward a prolonged pause or even tighter monetary policy later in the year.

This outlook has capped gains in gold prices despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

Silver Prices Today

Silver prices also moved higher on Wednesday. Spot silver gained 0.7 per cent, or USD 0.5, to trade at USD 74.19 per ounce.

Fed meeting minutes in focus

Investors are now closely watching the release of the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting minutes later in the day. The commentary from policymakers could provide fresh clues on future interest rate decisions and determine the near-term direction for gold and silver prices.

22K Gold Rates at Major Jewellers (Per Gram)

Jewellery Brand	Price (Rs per gram)
Tanishq	14420
Malabar Gold & Diamonds	14375
Kalyan Jewellers	14375

City-wise 24K, 22K and 18K Gold rate (Per 10 Grams)

City Name	24k gold price India (10 grams)	22k gold price India (10 grams)	18k gold price India (10 grams)
Gold Price in Chennai	162220	148700	124100
Gold Price in Noida	157190	144100	117930
Gold Price in Delhi	157190	144100	117930
Gold Price in Mumbai	157040	143950	117780
Gold Price in Kerala	157040	143950	117780
Gold Price in Kolkata	157040	143950	117780
Gold Price in Hyderabad	157040	143950	117780
Gold Price in Patna	157090	144000	117830
Gold Price in Lucknow	157190	144100	117930

Gold prices are highest in Chennai across 24k, 22k, and 18k categories, while most other cities show nearly identical rates. Delhi, Noida, and Lucknow are slightly costlier than Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Kerala markets.

Today gold rate by IBJA

The India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) sets the daily "base price" of gold in India, which serves as the national benchmark for bullion rates. In simple terms, IBJA rates act as the reference price across the country. Below is a breakdown of gold prices based on different purity levels (carats) as defined by IBJA.

Purity by carat	Morning Rates	Evening Rates
24 carat gold	Rs 1,58,907 per 10 grams	Rs 1,59,077 per 10 grams
23 carat gold	Rs 1,58,271 per 10 grams	Rs 1,58,440 per 10 grams
22 carat gold	Rs 1,45,559 per 10 grams	Rs 1,45,715 per 10 grams
18 carat gold	Rs 1,19,180 per 10 grams	Rs 1,19,308 per 10 grams
14 carat gold	Rs 92,961 per 10 grams	Rs 93,060 per 10 grams

IBJA Prices updated here are as of May 17

Source: EconomicTimes

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. We suggest its readers/investors to consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.)

20/05/26, National Stock Exchange's (NSE) electronic gold receipts (EGRs)

 The Wealth Company, part of the Pantomath Group, has become the first asset management company to sign up, in principle, for the National Stock Exchange's (NSE) electronic gold receipts (EGRs), subject to the applicable regulatory guidance being made available.

The participation is intended to broaden the investor access to gold through institutional investment vehicles and contribute to the development of a deep and vibrant EGR ecosystem in India, as per an NSE release.

EGRs are exchange-traded instruments backed by physical gold of standardised purity and are stored in vaults accredited by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. These can be bought or sold through a demat account.

These gold receipts were launched by the NSE earlier this month, and live trading of these digital, physically-backed gold units began on Monday. "The participation of asset managers is central to building scale, depth and investor confidence in this segment…," said NSE Managing Director and CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan.

What do experts say?

A few experts said higher cost of physical gold due to the recent hike in import duty may gradually drive volumes of EGRs, as investors, over time, may prefer easy liquidity, transparency, and lower transaction costs compared to physical ownership of gold. However, in the near-to-medium term, they are likely to prefer physical gold due to distrust towards digital formats and long-standing behavioural patterns.

Source: The Financial Express 

20/05/26, Nifty Prediction Today,

Domestic equity markets ended with marginal losses on Tuesday as investor sentiment remained cautious amid concerns over inflationary pressures, elevated crude oil prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Analysts believe the market may remain range-bound on Wednesday, May 20, unless the key benchmark index Nifty decisively crosses the crucial 23,700-23,800 resistance zone.

The Nifty 50 index closed at 23,618 with a decline of 31.95 points or 0.14 per cent, while the BSE Sensex ended at 75,200.85, down by 114.19 points or 0.15 per cent.

Among the major laggards in the Nifty index were Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan Company, UltraTech Cement and Tata Consumer Products. On the other hand, Infosys led the gainers pack. HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Eternal and TCS were among top gainers on the same index.

👀Nifty Prediction for Wednesday, May 20 by experts

Going into Wednesday's trading session, technical analysts warn that the short-term outlook leans toward continued consolidation or further correction, driven by the bulls' persistent inability to conquer key overhead resistance levels.

👀Nifty Prediction for Wednesday, May 20 by Nagaraj Shetti

According to Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities, the market was not able to sustain the hurdle around 23800 again on Tuesday and Nifty closed the day off the highs. "After opening on a positive note, the market shifted into a range bound action near the resistance for better part of the session. Selling pressure has emerged from the highs in the later part and Nifty closed at the lows," he said.

Shetti noted that a small negative candle was formed on the daily chart with upper shadow, signalling resistance at higher levels.

"This market action indicates inability of bulls to surpass the crucial resistance at 23800. Nifty is placed within a broader high low range of around 23800-23200 levels in the last 4-5 sessions," he said.

"Having declined again from near the upper range resistance around 23800 on Tuesday, Nifty is expected to consolidate or decline further in the short term. Immediate support is placed at 23350 levels," Shetti added.

👀Nifty Prediction for Wednesday, May 20 by Sachin Gupta

Sachin Gupta, VP - Research, Technical Research, at Choice Broking Private Limited, said the Indian equity markets ended on a muted note on May 19, 2026. "The Sensex declined by 114.19 points, or 0.15%, to close at 75,200.85, while the Nifty slipped 31.95 points, or 0.14%, to settle at 23,618.00. Meanwhile, the Nifty Bank index remained nearly unchanged, losing just 127.85 points (0.24%) to end at 53,409.15, reflecting subdued participation and cautious sentiment in the banking sector," he stated.

He further stated the Nifty index opened 25 points higher at 23,675.30 and initially witnessed buying momentum, rising to an intraday high of 23,782.30. "However, profit booking during the first half of the session wiped out early gains, dragging the index lower to touch an intraday low of 23,587.20. The index eventually settled at 23,618.00, down by 31.95 points or 0.14%," Gupta said.

From a technical perspective, Gupta said the 23,800-23,850 zone continues to act as a major resistance area, whereas the 23,350-23,400 range is expected to provide strong support.

The daily RSI at 44.70 indicates weakening momentum and limited bullish strength, Gupta stated.

• 20 Day EMA - 23,834.54
• 50 Day EMA - 24,046.55
• 100 Day EMA - 24,432.05
• 200 Day EMA - 24,659.8

"Bank Nifty opened marginally positive at 53,553.75 and initially moved higher to touch an intraday high of 53,770.65. However, selling pressure at higher levels triggered profit booking, causing the index to decline nearly 434 points to an intraday low of 53,337.05. The index finally settled at 53,409.15, down 127.85 points or 0.24%, reflecting a cautious undertone in the market. Technically, the 53,800-53,900 zone remains a key resistance area, while 52,900-53,000 is likely to serve as strong support. The daily RSI at 40 suggests weak momentum with a mildly bearish bias," Gupta added.

"India VIX fell by 4.87% to 18.67, signalling easing volatility and lower fear among market participants. In the derivatives segment, significant put writing at the 23,500 strike along with aggressive call writing at the 23,700 strike indicates a likely range-bound movement in the near term. Overall, the market setup remains cautious, and traders are advised to closely monitor important support and resistance levels for further directional cues," the analyst concluded.

Commenting on Nifty technical outlook, experts, as quoted by IANS, said that a sustained move above the 23,700-23,800 region will be essential to strengthen recovery momentum toward the psychological 24,000 mark, where stronger selling pressure is likely to emerge.

"On the downside, the 23,600-23,500 zone continues to remain a crucial immediate support area, and a decisive breakdown below this region could extend weakness toward the broader 23,300 zone," a market expert mentioned.

👀Sectoral indices on Tuesday

On the sectoral front, the NSE indices showed mixed trends. Nifty IT emerged as the top gainer with a rise of 3.23 per cent. Nifty Realty gained 1.43 per cent, while Nifty PSU Bank advanced 0.81 per cent. Nifty Consumer Durables rose 0.44 per cent, Nifty Pharma gained 0.42 per cent and Nifty Auto closed higher by 0.29 per cent. Oil and Gas index also ended with gains of 0.16 per cent.

On the losing side, banking and financial shares remained under pressure throughout the session. The Nifty Private Bank index emerged as the worst-performing sectoral index declining 0.74 per cent while Nifty Metal slipped 0.05 per cent and Nifty FMCG closed marginally lower by 0.03 per cent.

Nifty Bank and Nifty Financial Services indices also underperformed the broader market. However, some sectors managed to buck the weak trend. The Nifty IT, Nifty Realty and Nifty Chemical indices ended higher and outperformed the benchmark indices.

Broader markets showed resilience despite weakness in frontline indices. The Nifty MidCap index rose 0.91 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index gained 1.17 per cent during the session.

Rupee traded weaker by around 10 paise near 96.53, as elevated crude oil prices and continued pressure on capital flows kept the currency under stress.

Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices moderated slightly but remained elevated. At the time of filing this report, Brent crude was trading at USD 109 per barrel, down by 2 per cent.

Gold prices continued to remain firm, rising 0.26 per cent to Rs 1,59,876 per 10 grams for 24 karat gold. Silver prices stood at Rs 2,73,954 per kilogram.

Report by EconomicTimes

19/05/26, Adani Group stocks:

Shares of Adani Group are expected to trade actively on Tuesday, May 19, as the US Department of Justice has permanently dropped all criminal charges against Gautam Adani, the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, and his nephew Sagar, bringing a high-profile securities and wire fraud case in New York to a complete close after prosecutors concluded they could not sustain the allegations.

With this, multiple US regulatory and legal investigations involving the group have all closed in the last couple of days.

A look at the development in detail

Last week, the US Securities and Exchange Commission settled civil allegations against the two tied to disclosures made to investors in connection with solar energy projects in India. Court filings showed that Gautam Adani agreed to pay $6 million and Sagar Adani agreed to pay $12 million, without admitting or denying wrongdoing.

Thereafter, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) settled allegations that the Adani Group violated US sanctions on Iran through LPG imports. This followed the Indian conglomerate agreeing to pay $275 million while extending "extensive cooperation" with the investigation and making "proactive" disclosures.

Now, the US prosecutors at the Eastern District of New York have dropped all charges against Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani.

In a filing before the court, the US Department of Justice requested dismissal of the indictment against the Adanis with prejudice.

"The Department of Justice has reviewed this case and has decided, in its prosecutorial discretion, not to devote further resources to these criminal charges against individual defendants," it said.

Thereafter, the court ordered that the indictment against Adani and others "be dismissed with prejudice".

What does the closure mean?

The closure marks a dramatic turn in a case that had threatened to disrupt the Adani Group's global expansion plans. The SEC and DOJ cases, filed in late 2024, alleged that the Adanis orchestrated a $265 million bribery scheme involving Indian officials to secure solar power contracts and concealed the arrangement from US investors and lenders while raising capital.

The dismissal was "with prejudice", preventing the case from being reopened.

Such dismissals are uncommon in US criminal proceedings and typically reflect a determination that pursuing the case is no longer warranted after extensive review.

The case turned in Adani's favour after prosecutors found no clear US linkages and insufficient evidence to sustain the allegations, according to people familiar with the matter.

The anticipated decision follows months of aggressive engagement between US prosecutors and a formidable legal team assembled by the Adanis.

Five American legal counsel from Sullivan & Cromwell, alongside Nixon Peabody, Hecker Fink, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Bracewell, made a series of submissions and presentations to US authorities as part of the review process. The review failed to produce findings capable of sustaining charges against Gautam and Sagar Adani, prompting the DoJ to move towards dismissal.

In submissions disclosed publicly on April 7, 2026, before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Adani's lawyers mounted a forceful challenge to the US SEC's fraud-related proceedings, calling them an "impermissibly extraterritorial application" of US securities laws. The defence argued the case involved "Indian defendants, an Indian issuer", securities not traded on US exchanges, and alleged conduct occurring "exclusively in India".

The filings stated the SEC "lacked necessary jurisdiction", failed to establish actionable misstatements, and could not tie either defendant to the bond offering. The lawyers asserted the SEC had "recast" unviable anti-bribery allegations into securities fraud claims. The submissions noted there were "no investor losses"; all bond obligations were honoured; and Gautam Adani "did not authorise the issuance of the bonds."

The case had faced mounting scrutiny from legal experts over whether prosecutors had stretched securities laws to pursue conduct centred overseas.

Background

Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Vneet Jaain were charged only under securities and wire fraud statutes (counts 2, 3, and 4). They were not named in the more serious Foreign Corrupt Practices Act bribery charge or obstruction-related count (counts 1 and 5), which prosecutors brought against other defendants in the wider case.

The Adani Group has consistently rejected the allegations as meritless, defending its governance and compliance standards while pledging to contest the proceedings through legal channels.

That distinction, along with no US linkages, increasingly moulded criticism of the government's legal approach. Former SEC commissioner Laura Unger argued that authorities had effectively attempted to predicate a securities fraud case on allegations of bribery that had neither been adjudicated nor formally pursued in India.

About Adani Group

The Adani Group is a major Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Founded by billionaire Gautam Adani in 1988, it started as a commodity trading business and has rapidly evolved into one of India's largest infrastructure and energy portfolios.

Recent updates

In April 2026, Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) said its step-down unit has incorporated three wholly owned subsidiaries focused on hotel and real estate development as part of its airport city expansion strategy.

Adani Airport City Ltd, a step-down wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, has set up Adani Navi Mumbai Airport City Ltd, Adani Guwahati Airport City Ltd, and Adani Ahmedabad Airport City Ltd.

The new entities will undertake real estate activities, including construction, along with hotels featuring integrated restaurants, banquets, and business centres, according to a regulatory filing by the company.

The newly incorporated entities "shall be engaged in the business of real estate activities with their own or leased property, construction of buildings carried out on their own account basis or on a fee or contract basis - hotels with integrated restaurants, banquets and business centres", it said.

It, however, did not elaborate if the plan included the construction of hotels within the vicinity of airports it operates in.

Each subsidiary has been incorporated with a paid-up capital of ₹10 lakh, with shares subscribed in cash at face value, and is fully owned by Adani Airport City Ltd.

Report by Upstox with inputs from PTI

Disclaimer: This article is purely for informational purposes and should not be considered investment advice. Please consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions

19/05/26, Market Prediction by EconomicTimes

The stock markets on Monday witnessed extreme volatility, with the benchmark BSE Sensex plunging over 1,134 points in early trade before staging a stellar recovery to finish nearly flat, supported by value buying in IT and select blue-chip counters.

However, continued concerns over elevated crude oil prices, weakening rupee, weak rupee against the US dollar and global geopolitical uncertainty capped the gains.

Market experts believe volatility is likely to continue on Tuesday, May 19, as investors closely monitor crude oil prices, rupee movement and global geopolitical developments.

Sensex close on Monday, May 18

In an extremely volatile trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex on Monday increased by 77.05 points, or 0.10 per cent, to settle at 75,315.04. During the day, it tanked 1,134.78 points, or 1.50 per cent, to 74,180.26.

A total of 3,034 stocks declined while 1,264 advanced and 194 remained unchanged on the BSE.

The 50-share NSE Nifty edged higher by 6.45 points, or 0.03 per cent, to end at 23,649.95.

Sensex losers and gainers on Monday

From the Sensex firms, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finserv, Sun Pharma, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance and Tata Consultancy Services were among the major winners. In contrast, Tata Steel, Power Grid, State Bank of India and NTPC were major laggards.

Hitesh Tailor, Technical Research Analyst - Technical Research at Choice Broking, said, "On 18th May 2026, the BSE Sensex ended almost flat at 75,315.04, gaining 77.05 points (+0.10%) after witnessing sharp volatility during the session. The index opened gap down by around 430 points amid weak global cues and initial selling pressure dragged the market lower towards the intraday low of 74,180.26. However, strong recovery was seen in the latter half of the session as buying emerged from lower levels, helping the index fill the opening gap and touch an intraday high of 75,466.60. The Sensex finally settled near the upper band of the day, indicating buying interest at lower levels despite ongoing volatility.

Sector-wise, Information Technology, Focused IT, Healthcare, and Telecommunication showed relative strength during the session. On the other hand, Auto, Capital Goods, Metal, Oil & Gas, Consumer Durables, Power, Commodities, and Realty remained under pressure, while Banking and Financial sectors traded on a mixed note with limited directional momentum, he said.

Sensex Prediction for Tuesday, May 19 by experts

Technical experts maintain that the underlying market structure remains volatile and cautious. They further stated the technical indicators suggest that while buying interest persists at lower levels, overhead supply pressure will continue to cap major gains on Tuesday.

Sensex Prediction Today by Hitesh Tailor

From a technical perspective, Tailor said the Sensex managed to recover sharply from lower levels after testing the crucial support zone near 74,000-74,250, indicating that buying interest still persists at lower levels.

However, the index continues to face resistance around 75,700-76,000, where supply pressure is visible on every rise, the analyst added.

"The overall market structure remains volatile and range-bound in the near term, and a decisive move on either side of the mentioned range could set the next directional trend for the market," Tailor concluded.

Sensex Prediction Today by Vipin Dixena

Echoing a similar technical stance, SEBI-registered analyst Vipin Dixena emphasised that the index is currently undergoing a consolidation phase.

"Sensex is attempting a short-term recovery after defending the 74,300-74-100 support zone, with price now stabilizing above the 50 EMA. The index remains trapped between 74,100 support and 75,800 resistance, indicating a consolidation phase after recent volatility. RSI has moved higher from oversold levels, reflecting improving momentum and easing selling pressure," Dixena stated.

A sustained move above 75,800 can trigger upside towards 76,300-76,500, while failure to hold above EMA 50 may bring renewed selling pressure, he further stated.

"Near-term bias has improved, but a decisive breakout is still needed for trend confirmation," said Dixena.

Sectoral performance on Monday

The BSE MidCap Select index climbed 0.17 per cent, while the SmallCap Select index dropped 1.62 per cent.
Among the sectoral indices, BSE Focused IT jumped 2.53 per cent, IT (1.95 per cent), Healthcare (0.22 per cent) and Telecommunication (0.05 per cent).

PSU Bank declined 1.81 per cent, Auto dropped 1.74 per cent, Consumer Discretionary (1.26 per cent), Metal (1.13 per cent), Consumer Durables (1.05 per cent) and Oil & Gas (1.01 per cent).

Meanwhile, the Indian rupee weakened further and touched a fresh record low of Rs 96.34 against the US dollar on Monday as pressure on the domestic currency continued.

Global crude oil prices remained elevated as Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 0.73 per cent higher at USD 110.1 per barrel, showing no signs of easing amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The rupee weakened further and closed at a record low of 96.35 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday.

In the commodity market, gold prices continued to rise on Monday and were trading at Rs 1,58,971 per 10 grams for 24 karat gold at the time of filing this report. Silver prices also remained firm, gaining 0.22 per cent to Rs 2,72,721 per kilogram.

In the previous session on Friday, the Sensex dropped 160.73 points, or 0.21 per cent, to settle at 75,237.99. The Nifty settled lower by 46.10 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 23,643.50, snapping its two-day gaining streak.

Source:Dailyhunt

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. We suggest its readers/investors to consult their financial advisors before making any money related decisions.)

18/05/26, SAIL Share Price: State-owned steel maker SAIL on Friday, May 15, posted an over 42 per cent rise in standalone net profit to Rs 1,680 crore during the March quarter of FY26, citing higher revenues.

 The company had reported a net profit of Rs 1,178 crore in the year-ago period, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) said in a statement.

During January-March, the company's revenue from operations increased to Rs 30,813 crore from Rs 29,316 crore recorded in the fourth quarter of the preceding 2024-25 financial year.

The company's board also approved a final dividend of Rs 2.35 per equity share for FY26.

Following the company's Q4 results, the brokerages shared a mixed stance on the Maharatna stock, with most of them being positive. Here's what you should know if you are looking forward to SAIL Share.

Read more: Mutual funds raise bets on large cap stocks: Adani Enterprises, ICICI Bank, SBI, Eternal & others in focus

SAIL Share Price: Emkay views on Maharatna stock - Check latest TP

The brokerage firm, Emkay, maintains a buy rating with a target price of Rs 200 per share. Here's why:

• The company's FY27 guidance appears optimistic in the absence of major capacity additions
• Lower employee headcount should support costs
• Upcoming wage revisions are likely to offset part of the cost savings from Q4FY27 onward
• With steel prices remaining firm, we expect further improvement in EBITDA/t to Rs 8,750-9,000 in Q1FY27.

SAIL Share Price: MOSL rating on Maharatna stock

The brokerage firm, Motilal Oswal Securities Limited (MOSL), maintains a buy rating with a revised TP of Rs 225 vs Rs 170 earlier. Here's why:

• Company's strong earnings in 4Q; outlook improves with better steel prices and cost controls
• NSR recovery with operational efficiency led to strong earnings for SAIL in 4QFY26.
• This earnings trend is expected to improve further in 1Q, led by steel price recovery and better volumes, backed by inventory liquidation, offsetting the input cost inflation.
• Increase our FY28 revenue estimates by 4% to reflect improving steel prices and incremental volume from RINL, translating into an EBITDA/PAT rise by 6% and 8%

SAIL Share Price: Nuvama retains reduce rating - Here's why

The brokerage firm, Nuvama Research, retains a 'reduce' rating with a target price of Rs 139 per share. Here's why:

• The brokerage expects Q1FY27 EBITDA/t to be higher by Rs 1,000 at Rs 9,200 and is likely to peak out after that
• FY27 EBITDA is expected to increase by 37% YoY with EBITDA/t of Rs 7,803/ton
• Expect net debt to rise 52% over FY26-28E to Rs 46500 cr with net debt/EBITDA at 3.1x

SAIL Q4 results

• The company's annual net profit stood at Rs 3,233 crore as against Rs 2,148 crore registered in FY25.
• Revenue from operations was at Rs 1,10,810 crore during FY 26 as against Rs 1,02,478 crore a year ago.
• In FY26, SAIL produced 19.43 million tonnes of steel as against 19.17 million tonnes in FY25.
• The company reported annual sales of 19.93 million tonnes in FY26, up from 17.89 million tonnes in 2024-25.

The company's CMD, A K Panda, stated: "The growth in sales volumes, coupled with a reduction in inventory and borrowings, has reinforced our profitability, with PBT and PAT registering growth of 44 per cent and 50.5 per cent over the corresponding previous year, respectively."

SAIL dividend 2026

The company's board also approved a final dividend of Rs 2.35 per equity share for FY26.

Also read: Flexi cap mutual fund: Why these funds are everyone's favourite again - The real winners investors are betting on

Report by EconomicTimes, source: Dailyhunt 

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. We  suggest readers/investors to consult their financial advisors before making any money related decisions.)

18/05/26, Indian Rupee Record Low

The Indian rupee opened 21 paise lower on May 18 to a fresh all-time low, as oil prices traded above $110 per barrel and fresh geopolitical tensions in West Asia signalled a deterioration in the situation, denting investor appetite.

The local currency was trading at Rs 96.17 per dollar, as compared to Rs 95.96 per dollar in the previous trading session. The rupee breached the psychological level of Rs 96 per dollar for the first time on Friday. Brent crude prices jumped more than 1 percent overnight to trade at $111 per barrel, after a nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was attacked, and further efforts to come up with a peace deal with the United States and Iran came under jeopardy. Also, there was no notable outcome in the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping.

Additionally, a rise in the US dollar following strong economic data from the US has dented sentiment for emerging market assets, including the rupee.

“Only a stoppage of the war and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz can bring about a lower demand on the dollar/rupee pair, or else Rs 100 per dollar could be on the cards if the RBI does not announce any schemes to increase dollar inflows into the country,” analysts from Finrex Treasury Advisors said.

The rupee has already been under pressure from stubbornly high oil prices and outflows from foreign investors. High Brent crude prices increase the country's import bill and widen the current account deficit.

Report by Archishma Iyer, Network18 

18/05/26, Stocks to Watch Today, May 18: Indian equities are set to remain in focus on Monday as a mix of strong Q4 earnings and key corporate announcements drives stock-specific action.

Tata Steel, Godfrey Phillips, ITC Hotels and SAIL reported robust profit growth, while Balrampur Chini and Delhivery showed mixed performance. Among corporate updates, HFCL secured an overseas order, IRFC set an ambitious lending target, and Coal India's MCL listing plan received approval, alongside key developments from Vodafone Idea, Adani Ports and UNO Minda.

Here's the full list of stocks to watch in today's trading session:

Stocks to Watch Today

Stocks in focus	Why in focus today?
Tata Steel	Profit More Than Doubles
Balrampur Chini	Profit Declines Despite Revenue Growth
Godfrey Phillips	Earnings See Sharp Rise
ITC Hotels	Strong Quarter Performance
SAIL	Profit Jumps Nearly 47%
Delhivery	Profit Remains Steady
HFCL	Bags Overseas Optical Fibre Order
IRFC	Targets Rs 1 Lakh Crore Sanctions
Signature Global	Rs 3,500 Crore Expansion Plan
Adani Ports	Acquires Maritime Stake
Vodafone Idea	Plans Rs 4,730 Crore Fundraise
UNO Minda	EV Powertrain Facility
Coal India	MCL Listing Approved

Q4 Update

Tata Steel

Profit More Than Doubles

Tata Steel reported a massive 146.9 per cent jump in quarterly profit to Rs 2,965 crore compared to Rs 1,200.9 crore last year. Revenue also posted healthy growth, rising 12.5 per cent year-on-year to Rs 63,270.1 crore.

Balrampur Chini

Profit Declines Despite Revenue Growth

Balrampur Chini Mills posted a 30 per cent fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 159.56 crore during the January-March quarter. However, the company's total income increased 7 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,616.23 crore.

Godfrey Phillips

Earnings See Sharp Rise

Godfrey Phillips delivered strong quarterly numbers with profit surging 86.7 per cent to Rs 521.4 crore from Rs 279.3 crore a year ago. Revenue also witnessed solid growth, increasing 13.6 per cent to Rs 1,787.3 crore.

ITC Hotels

Strong Quarter Performance

ITC Hotels posted a 23 per cent increase in profit at Rs 315.9 crore compared to Rs 256.9 crore last year. Revenue rose 18.2 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,253.7 crore.

SAIL

Profit Jumps Nearly 47 per cent

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) reported a sharp 46.6 per cent rise in quarterly profit to Rs 1,835.5 crore from Rs 1,252 crore a year earlier. Revenue also grew 5.1 per cent year-on-year to Rs 30,813.5 crore.

Delhivery

Profit Remains Steady

Logistics major Delhivery reported a marginal decline in net profit to Rs 72.39 crore in the March quarter against Rs 72.55 crore a year ago. The company's total income stood at Rs 2,909 crore.

Corporate Update

HFCL

Bags Overseas Optical Fibre Order

Telecom equipment maker HFCL has secured an overseas order worth USD 11.07 million, approximately Rs 106 crore, for the supply of optical fibre cables.

IRFC

Targets Rs 1 Lakh Crore Loan Sanctions

Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) has set an ambitious target of crossing Rs 1 lakh crore in loan sanctions during the current financial year.

Signature Global

Rs 3,500 Crore Expansion Plan

Real estate developer Signature Global plans to invest around Rs 3,500 crore this fiscal year on land acquisitions in Gurugram and construction activities.

Adani Ports

Subsidiary Acquires Maritime Stake

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone announced that its subsidiary, Adani Harbour International FZCO, will acquire a 51 per cent stake in Meridian Transportes Marítimos SA.

Vodafone Idea

Plans Rs 4,730 Crore Fundraise

Telecom operator Vodafone Idea plans to raise Rs 4,730 crore from a Singapore-based entity linked to promoter Aditya Birla Group.

UNO Minda

To Set Up EV Powertrain Facility

Auto components maker UNO Minda will establish a greenfield manufacturing facility for electric four-wheeler powertrains in Maharashtra. The company plans to invest Rs 550 crore in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar plant.

Coal India

DIPAM Clears MCL Listing Plan

DIPAM has approved the listing of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India, through a fresh equity issue. The proposal also includes the disinvestment of up to 25 per cent of Coal India's stake in MCL via a public offering in domestic markets.

Source:EconomicTimes

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. We suggest its readers/investors to consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.)

17/05/26, Mid and Small Cap Stocks to Hold: In a volatile market with rising oil prices, inflation concerns, and global uncertainty, selling stocks may feel like the safest option.

For long-term investors, the bigger challenge may not be finding good stocks -- it may be holding on to them when sentiment turns negative. A recent market analysis that identifies 10 mid- and small-cap companies that could be worth staying invested in despite near-term turbulence.

The report said that investors often make the mistake of reacting to every negative headline in the same way -- by selling first and reassessing later. According to the analysis, markets tend to overreact at both extremes. In bullish phases, nearly every company starts looking like a long-term winner, while in weak phases, even fundamentally strong businesses begin to appear risky.

The current market backdrop does justify some caution. Crude oil prices have moved higher, concerns around the fiscal deficit remain, and rising fuel costs could eventually increase inflation and pressure corporate margins through higher logistics expenses. Global uncertainty may also weigh on earnings expectations, interest rates, and currency movements.

The list of 10 mid- and small-cap stocks was compiled from the Stock Report Plus report dated May 16, 2026, with companies carrying an average minimum score of 4.

Here is the list of 10 mid- and small-cap stocks

1. Transformers & Rectifiers (India): Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - 14 per cent | Ave Score - 6
2. NSDL: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - 13 per cent | Ave Score - 8
3. CDSL: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - 9 per cent | Ave Score - 6
4. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - 6 per cent | Ave Score - 7
5. Deepak Nitrite: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - (-6 per cent) | Ave Score - 4
6. Thermax: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - (-6 per cent) | Ave Score - 6
7. Avalon Technologies: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - (-7 per cent) | Ave Score - 9
8. Linde India: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - (-8 per cent) | Ave Score - 5
9. Vardhman Textiles: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - (-17 per cent) | Ave Score - 6
10. Natco Pharma: Recommendation - Hold | Upside potential - (-24 per cent) | Ave Score - 8

Also Read | Stocks to pick: SBI Life, ICICI Pru Life and more with strong buy/hold ratings and up to 27% upside potential - LIST

Source: EconomicTimes

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered as any investment advice. We suggest readers/investors consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.)

17/05/26, Market Anticipation this week

Indian stock markets are likely to remain volatile and trade with a cautious to negative bias in the week of May 18 to May 22, 2026, after benchmark indices suffered a sharp correction amid rising geopolitical tensions, elevated crude oil prices, persistent foreign fund outflows and continued weakness in the Indian rupee.

Stock Market Outlook This Week From 18 May to 22 May 2026: Sensex, Nifty Weekly Prediction

Indian equity markets witnessed a broad-based selloff during the week gone by, with risk aversion intensifying across both frontline and broader market segments. The Nifty 50 tumbled to a five-week low before closing at 23,643.50, down 2.20% on a weekly basis, while the BSE Sensex declined 2.70% to settle at 75,237.

The weakness was even more pronounced in the broader market, where mid-cap and small-cap stocks came under significant pressure. The Nifty Midcap index fell 2.20%, while the Nifty Smallcap index plunged 4.56%, reflecting widespread profit-booking and a sharp reduction in investor appetite for risk.

Sectorally, Realty, Information Technology and Automobile stocks were the worst hit. The Nifty Realty index plunged 8.17%, the Nifty IT index declined 5.71% and the Nifty Auto index fell 4.36%. In contrast, defensive and commodity-linked sectors offered some resilience. The Nifty Pharma index rose 2.18%, the Nifty Healthcare index gained 2.17% and the Nifty Metal index advanced 1.91%.

Key Factors To Trigger Stock Market Next Week

Rising Crude Oil Prices Amid Escalating Iran-US Tension

Several global and domestic factors combined to trigger the sharp decline in equities. Escalating tensions in West Asia kept investors on edge and pushed crude oil prices back to around $109 per barrel, raising concerns over India's import bill and inflation outlook.

Rising U.S. Bond Yields Make Indian Stocks Less Attractive to Foreign Investors

At the same time, the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note climbed to 4.603%, its highest level since late May 2025, making emerging market assets such as Indian equities relatively less attractive to foreign investors as per Dr. Ravi Singh, Chief Research Officer from Master Capital Services Ltd.

Indian Rupee Touches 96

The Indian rupee also came under intense pressure and touched a record low of 96.1425 against the U.S. dollar during the week before recovering marginally to close near 95.9550. A weaker rupee increases imported inflation and can weigh on sectors dependent on overseas inputs and foreign borrowing.

FII Selling Intensifies, But Strong DII Buying Helps Cushion Market Fall

Institutional flows reflected the cautious mood. Foreign Institutional Investors remained aggressive sellers, offloading Rs 13,583 crore in the cash market. Domestic Institutional Investors, however, provided significant support by investing Rs 18,524 crore, helping to absorb part of the selling pressure and prevent a steeper market decline.

Nifty Weekly Prediction, 18 to 22 May 2026; Check Technical Outlook

As per the expert, the technical structure of the Nifty remains weak and continues to favour a cautious trading strategy. The Nifty 50 closed the week in negative territory, declining nearly 2.20% amid broad-based weakness led by heavy selling in the IT pack.

"Technically, the index has once again tested the recent breakdown zone, indicating that bears continue to maintain control at higher levels. As long as Nifty trades below the crucial 23,850 resistance mark, the overall setup favors a "Sell on rise" approach for the coming sessions," Dr. Ravi Singh said.

He added, "On the downside, immediate support is seen around the 23,400-23,450 zone. A decisive break below this range may open the doors for further weakness towards the 23,100 level. Market sentiment is likely to remain cautious with consolidation and negative bias dominating the trend, while sustained selling pressure continues to keep bullish momentum under check."

The banking sector also ended the week on a distinctly bearish note. Bank Nifty declined approximately 2.89% and slipped below all major short-term and long-term moving averages, including the 21-day, 55-day, 100-day and 200-day exponential moving averages. This technical development indicates that momentum has shifted decisively in favour of the bears.

Commenting on the banking index, Dr. Ravi Singh said, "The Bank Nifty ended this week on a highly bearish note, plunging roughly 2.89% as heavy selling pressure dragged the index down. Technically, the index has weakened significantly and is now trading below all its key short- and long term moving averages, including the 21 day, 55 day, 100 day, and 200 day EMAs, signaling a strong shift in momentum toward the bears."

He further noted, "For the coming week, immediate resistance is placed at the 54,400-54,500 level. As long as prices continue to trade below this crucial zone, the overall market sentiment remains under intense pressure. On the downside, immediate support is placed at 53,100. A decisive slide below this floor is critical, as it may trigger a sharper correction and move the index further down toward the 52,500 mark."

Report by Harshika Yadav of goodreturns.in