09/04/26, In a raw and emotionally charged address, media personality and influencer Mia Khalifa took to social media on Thursday to denounce the escalating violence in Lebanon.

Referring to the country as her "homeland," Khalifa described the current humanitarian crisis as "dystopian" and questioned the ethics of global powers involved in the conflict. The video, which has quickly gone viral, serves as a stark commentary on the human cost behind recent headlines as the diaspora watches the regional surge in military activity with growing alarm.

Mia Khalifa Reacts to Lebanon Strikes

Mia Khalifa voiced concern over the reported scale of destruction across Lebanon, highlighting the intensity of attacks that allegedly included 160 air strikes within just ten minutes. She pointed to reports that residential buildings and schools were hit, displacing thousands of civilians, while hospitals were also targeted, severely affecting the region's ability to treat the injured. Khalifa also expressed shock over strikes reportedly impacting cemeteries and funeral gatherings, calling attention to the humanitarian toll as civilians mourned their losses. Her remarks came amid ongoing international discussions around a possible ceasefire, further underscoring the urgency of the situation and the growing concern over civilian safety.

Mia Khalifa Gets Emotional Over Lebanon

For Khalifa, the crisis is deeply personal. She expressed a painful internal conflict regarding her role as a taxpayer in the West, noting her distress that her own tax dollars are being used to fund military actions against the region she calls home. "We've watched a genocide play out before our eyes for decades," she stated, adding that the intensity has surged to "insane" levels in recent years. During the address, Khalifa suffered a visible emotional breakdown, admitting that despite her fortunate circumstances abroad, the sense of helplessness is overwhelming.

Mia Khalifa Speaks on Lebanon Crisis

Khalifa also drew a sharp contrast between the world's technological aspirations and the persistence of warfare. She questioned a global society that prioritises "scoping out living on the moon" while simultaneously failing to prevent the "overt bombing of sovereign nations." "My thoughts are with everybody in Lebanon right now," she concluded, struggling to find the words to articulate her grief.

Mia Khalifa's Controversial Statement

The most provocative portion of Khalifa's message came in the video's caption, where she levelled serious accusations against the United States and Israel. She categorised the military actions as terrorism and labelled both nations as fascist states. "This is nothing less than TERRORISM enacted by two countries whose war crimes go bar for bar," she wrote. "America and Israel are terrorist, fascist states with trials at The Hague waiting for both of them one day." As the international community debates the next steps in the region, Khalifa's plea ends with a haunting question shared by many, "When will it stop?"

Report by Latestly,  source: Dailyhunt 

09/04/26, PostMarket Report by PressTrust of India

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty buckled under heavy selling pressure to close with deep cuts on Thursday after investors pared exposure to financial, banking, and IT stocks as renewed tensions in West Asia faded the ceasefire-led optimism.

Weak trends in Asian and European markets, a jump in crude oil prices and uninterrupted foreign fund outflows also made investors jittery in the domestic market.

Snapping its five-session winning run, the 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 931.25 points or 1.20 per cent to settle at 76,631.65. During the day, it dived 1,215 points or 1.56 per cent to 76,347.90.

The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 222.25 points or 0.93 per cent to end at 23,775.10.

The ceasefire deal appeared to be at risk after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

"After Wednesday's relief rally following the ceasefire announcement, domestic markets ended the volatile session in the red, driven by ceasefire uncertainty. Markets followed global cues as most of the markets ended in red due to crude oil gains and global uncertainty.

"Focus now will be on domestic company earnings, and sectors getting impacted due to surging crude prices. Investors will wait for more clarity on whether the ceasefire will translate into meaningful discussion and help end the war before taking any major equity exposure," Ankur Punj, MD and Business Head at Equirus Wealth, said.

From the 30-Sensex firms, InterGlobe Aviation, Larsen and Toubro, Eternal, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the major laggards.

On the other hand, Bharat Electronics, Power Grid, NTPC and Tata Consultancy Services were among the gainers.

The BSE SmallCap Select index climbed 0.26 per cent, and the MidCap Select index went up by 0.15 per cent.

Among sectoral indices, BSE Top 10 Banks tumbled 1.86 per cent, Private Banks index (1.75 per cent), Bankex (1.58 per cent), Financial Services (1.41 per cent), PSU Bank (1.21 per cent), Services (1.04 per cent) and MidSmall Private Banks Quality Tilt (0.88 per cent).

However, Capital Goods jumped 1.64 per cent, Metal (1.30 per cent), Power (1.27 per cent), Hospitals (0.75 per cent), Healthcare (0.74 per cent), Utilities (0.69 per cent), Telecommunication (0.42 per cent).

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 3.27 per cent to USD 97.85 per barrel.

In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended lower after a sharp rally in the previous trade.

European markets were quoting in the negative territory in mid-session deals.

"Ceasefire-led optimism faded as renewed US-Iran tensions and ongoing restrictions at the Strait of Hormuz pushed crude back up, reviving concerns around India's inflation.

"Domestically, profit-booking, rising 10-year bond yields, and rupee weakness reduced near-term risk appetite. Financials led the decline after the previous session's sharp rally amid sustained FII selling, while broader markets held relatively steady," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,811.97 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), however, bought stocks worth Rs 4,168.17 crore.

US markets ended significantly higher on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 2.85 per cent, the Nasdaq Composite surged 2.80 per cent, and the S and P 500 climbed 2.51 per cent.

"Indian markets witnessed a pullback, snapping the recent five-session gaining streak as sentiment turned cautious amid fading confidence around the US-Iran ceasefire. After a sharp rally in the previous session, today's decline appears largely driven by profit-booking, with participants choosing to lock in gains rather than carry fresh risk in an uncertain environment," Hariprasad K, Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth, said.

On Wednesday, the Sensex jumped 2,946.32 points or 3.95 per cent to settle at 77,562.90. The Nifty soared 873.70 points or 3.78 per cent to end at 23,997.35

Report by PTI

Source:Dailyhunt

09/4/26, Today's Stock Market Highlights:

Indian equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended sharply lower on Thursday, April 9, snapping their five-day winning streak as profit booking set in after a strong rally.

Other factors that drove the markets lower included fresh tensions in West Asia threatening the ceasefire reached between the US and Iran, weak trends in Asian markets and unabated foreign fund outflows.

30-share BSE Sensex declined by 931.25 points or 1.20 per cent to settle at 76,631.65, while NSE Nifty50 plummeted 222.25 points or 0.93 per cent to end at 23,775.10, respectively, dragged by weakness in heavyweights like Larsen & Toubro and Jio Financial Services, which fell around 3 per cent each.

Dilip Parmar - Senior Research Analyst, HDFC Securities, said, "The Indian rupee's five-day rally came to a grinding halt, retreating in tandem with its Asian peers. The currency faced a double whammy of rising crude prices and relentless selling by foreign investors. Domestic equities saw a 23rd consecutive session of net selling by Foreign Institutional Investors, maintaining steady pressure on the local rupee."

On Wednesday, the Sensex jumped 2,946.32 points or 3.95 per cent to settle at 77,562.90. The Nifty soared 873.70 points or 3.78 per cent to end at 23,997.35.

Report:EconomicTimes

09/04/26, Market Anticipation

The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to open lower on Thursday, following mixed global market cues, as the initial euphoria over a two-week fragile US-Iran ceasefire faded amid reports of breaching of the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Asian markets traded lower, while the US stock market ended sharply higher overnight, with the Dow Jones registering its largest single-session percentage gain in one year.

On Wednesday, the Indian stock market ended with strong gains buoyed by the US-Iran ceasefire deal and after the RBI policy announcement.

The Sensex jumped 2,946.32 points, or 3.95%, to close at 77,562.90, while the Nifty 50 settled 873.70 points, or 3.78%, higher at 23,997.35.

"While the sharp rally is encouraging, its sustainability will depend on continued follow-through buying and stability in crude oil prices and global cues. Traders may focus on stock-specific opportunities across sectors, with a preference for rate-sensitive segments, while maintaining prudent position sizing amid elevated volatility," said Ajit Mishra - SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd.

Here are key global market cues for Sensex today:

Asian Markets

Asian markets traded lower on Thursday, amid doubts over the two-week US-Iran ceasefire deal. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.59%, while the Topix dropped 0.42%. South Korea's Kospi declined 0.90% and the Kosdaq fell 0.74%.

Gift Nifty Today

Gift Nifty was trading around 23,940 level, a discount of nearly 117 points from the Nifty futures' previous close, indicating a negative start for the Indian stock market indices.

Wall Street

US stock market ended sharply higher on Wednesday after the two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran lifted investor sentiment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 1,326.33 points, or 2.85%, to 47,910.79, while the S&P 500 jumped 165.98 points, or 2.51%, to 6,782.83. The Nasdaq Composite closed 617.15 points, or 2.80%, higher at 22,635.00.

Nvidia stock price gained 2.23%, AMD shares jumped 4.64%, Amazon share price surged 3.50%, Apple stock price advanced 2.13%, while Tesla stock price fell 0.98%. Delta Air Lines gained 3.8%, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines spiked 6.7% and 7.9%, respectively.

Carnival shares jumped 11.2%, Norwegian Cruise Line stock rallied 7.6%, and Levi Strauss share price surged 10.7%.

US-Iran Ceasefire

The White House announced the US would hold direct talks with Iran and Vice President JD Vance would lead the US delegation to Islamabad. The first round of talks will take place Saturday morning local time.

However, sporadic fighting continued in the Middle East, including Iranian strikes on Gulf states, and the Strait of Hormuz remained largely blocked. Israel launched its heaviest strikes yet on Lebanon, prompting threats of retaliation from Iran.

Dollar

The dollar steadied after sinking to a one-month low. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, rose 0.03% to 99.09. Euro fell 0.07% to $1.1654, while Sterling eased 0.04% to $1.3387. The Japanese yen weakened 0.06% to 158.7 per dollar.

Gold Rate Today

Gold prices were steady, as investors stayed on the sidelines awaiting clearer signals on the US-Iran ceasefire talks. Spot gold price was little changed at $4,715.42 per ounce, while US gold futures for June delivery fell 0.8% to $4,739.20. Spot silver price fell 0.4% to $73.83 per ounce.

Crude Oil Prices

Crude oil prices rose amid doubts that the US-Iran ceasefire will hold and as the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted. Brent crude futures gained 2.73% to $97.34 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rallied 3.17% to $97.40 a barrel.

(Report by Mint with inputs from Agencies)

09/04/26, The war in West Asia has put the credibility of the US on the line. But one person stands to gain or lose the most: J.D. Vance, a key member of Donald Trump's cabinet and the country's number two.

Amid the conflict, President Trump has assigned Vance the toughest diplomatic mission with Iran. Trump said clearly: "If the deal works, credit goes to me; if it fails, J.D. Vance will be responsible." The question now is whether Vance could be next on Trump's firing list.

Ceasefire Phase One Ends, Phase Two Begins

The first two-week ceasefire is over. The Strait of Hormuz has reopened, and ships are passing after paying tolls. But the real challenge starts now. In the second phase, J.D. Vance will directly meet Iran during talks in Islamabad on Friday, mediated by Pakistan. This is the biggest and riskiest responsibility of Vance's political career. Trump has admitted that if these talks fail, Vance will be held accountable. While he joked about it, he has a history of blaming others for failures.

Vance Pushes Hard in Iran Talks

Vance has already been active in the Iran negotiations. He has been talking to Pakistani mediators over the phone and coordinating efforts from Hungary to advance the deal. Now, the full burden rests on his shoulders. Sources say Trump has instructed Vance to secure guarantees that Iran will stop its nuclear program, end uranium enrichment, and halt ballistic missile threats. He will attend the talks starting April 10 in Islamabad, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. On Iran's side, Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf will participate.

Pressure from Democrats and Diplomats

Meanwhile, Democrats are pushing for the 25th Amendment. Following Trump's statements and controversial Easter posts, several Democratic senators - and even some Republicans - question Trump's mental fitness. They want Vance and the cabinet to apply Section 4 of the 25th Amendment and remove Trump, making Vance president. One Democratic senator said that if Trump ruins this deal too, Vance should step in. Some conservative commentators and Republicans have also urged Vance to support the 25th Amendment.

Report by News24

09/04/26, Crude Oil

 

08/04/26, Shriram Finance share price:

Shares of NBFC Shriram Finance settled 10% higher on Wednesday, April 8, after Japan's MUFG Bank acquired a 20% stake in the company for ₹39,618 crore on Wednesday.

Intraday, the stock rose as much as 11.26% to ₹1,035.45 apiece on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). It closed 9.94% higher at ₹1,023.20.

Its market capitalisation stood at ₹1,92,860.45 crore.

The stock had hit its 52-week high of ₹1,108 per share on February 26, 2026, while its 52-week low of ₹566.50 apiece was recorded on August 29, 2025.

The transaction represents the largest cross-border investment in India's financial services sector.

"This follows the approval by SFL's Board of Directors, at its meeting held today, of the allotment of equity shares to MUFG Bank through a preferential issue," SFL said in a statement.

MUFG Bank has subscribed to 471,121,055 equity shares at an issue price of ₹840.93 per share, with the total investment amounting to approximately ₹39,618 crore, it said.

Market Wrap, April 8:Indices jump 4%, SENSEX posts biggest single-day gain in 6 years, NIFTY50 at 23,997 level; VIX tanks 20%

The investment has been undertaken after obtaining all requisite regulatory and statutory approvals, including approval from the Competition Commission of India.

Upon completion of the allotment, MUFG Bank will hold a 20 per cent equity stake in SFL on a fully diluted basis, it said.

It further strengthens MUFG's presence in India and enables SFL to leverage MUFG's global expertise and capabilities to accelerate its long-term growth strategy, it said.

The completion of this transaction marks a significant milestone for both MUFG and SFL, strengthening their long-term strategic collaboration and reinforcing their shared commitment to driving sustainable growth and financial inclusion in India, it said.

SFL Executive Vice Chairman Umesh Revankar said this collaboration will open new avenues for innovation, enhance access to diversified and cost-effective funding, and support adoption of global best practices in risk management and governance.

"The investment significantly strengthens our capital base and positions us to accelerate growth across key business segments. As we move forward, our focus remains on delivering consistent and responsible growth while creating long-term value for all stakeholders," he said.

MUFG President and Group CEO Junichi Hanzawa said SFL is a leading financial institution in India with a strong business foundation and significant growth potential in the MSME and retail segments.

"This investment represents an important step that underscores MUFG's long-term commitment to the Indian market, and we believe it will contribute to India's sustainable economic growth and the advancement of financial inclusion. Going forward, we will support SFL's sustainable growth by leveraging MUFG's customer network and experience cultivated through partner bank management," Hanzawa added.

In December, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MUFG) signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 20% minority stake in non-bank lender Shriram Finance Ltd for ₹39,618 crore (around USD 4.4 billion).

Report by Upstox,  source:Dailyhunt

08/04/26, Market Cheers

The Indian stock market cheered the US-Iran ceasefire as the equity benchmark indices settled higher on Wednesday, April 8, with SENSEX posting its biggest single-day gain since March 13, 2020. A sharp decline in oil prices also lifted the investors' sentiment.

President Donald Trump has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure, in which he had threatened 'a whole civilisation will die'.

The S&P BSE SENSEX had touched an intraday low of 77,042.15 and a high of 77,635.54 on Wednesday before closing at the 77,562.90 level, surging 2,946.32 points, or 3.95%.

The 50-share index NIFTY50 closed at the 23,997.35 level, soaring 873.7 points, or 3.78%. During the intraday period, the index had hit an intraday low of 23,828.50, while its day's high was at the 24,025.15 level.

Rate-sensitive stocks like banking, auto, and realty also saw a sharp rally after the Reserve Bank of India's rate decision on Wednesday. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), headed by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, unanimously decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% for the second straight meeting and maintained its neutral policy stance.

According to exchange data, on Tuesday, the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth ₹8,692.11 crore, while the domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth ₹7,979.50 crore on a net basis.

On the global front, equity markets across Asia were trading sharply higher on Wednesday after Trump said Iran had ‌presented a ⁠10-point proposal that was a "workable basis" for negotiations, and he expected an agreement to be "finalised and consummated" during the two-week window.

Japan's Nikkei jumped 5%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index gained 2.5%, China's Shanghai Composite index surged 1.7%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index advanced 2.6% and South Korea's KOSPI index rose 6%.

Overnight, US stocks ended on a flat note ahead of the ceasefire announcement. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.18%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.08% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq ended 0.1% higher.

Here are the key developments of Wednesday's session that you need to know

Market statistics

As many as 3,370 stocks traded on the NSE on Wednesday. Out of these, 2,960 advanced and 341 stocks declined, while 69 scrips remained unchanged.

This indicated that the market breadth was in favour of advances.

A total of 55 stocks hit their 52-week highs, while 12 stocks touched their one-year lows. Besides, 275 stocks hit their upper circuit limits, and 17 touched their lower circuit bands on Wednesday.

The market capitalisation of NSE-listed firms stood at ₹444.63 lakh crore at the close of the session, reflecting a gain of ₹16.26 lakh crore in investor wealth. Meanwhile, the market capitalisation of companies listed on BSE rose by ₹17.07 lakh crore.

India VIX, the volatility gauge, stood at 19.70 levels, tanking 20.23%.

Broader market

The broader market outperformed the main equity benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 rising 4.03% to close at 56,799.50, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 surged 4.39% to end at the 16,538.05 level.

Sectoral watch

All the sectoral indices ended the session in green, with Nifty Realty taking the lead, rising 6.75%, followed by Nifty Auto (6.69%), Nifty Private Bank (5.56%), Nifty PSU Bank (5.46%) and Nifty Consumer Durables (5.23%).

Top gainers and losers

On the NIFTY50 index, 41 stocks closed higher, and only 9 declined by the end of the session.

Shriram Finance was the most contributing stock, zooming 10.14%. Tata Motors (8.75%), Adani Enterprises (8.65%), Eicher Motors (8.55%) and IndiGo (8.09%) were the other top gainers.

On the other hand, Coal India (-3.02%), Tech Mahindra (-1.35%), Nestle India (-0.67%), Wipro (-0.55%) and Sun Pharma (-0.29%) were the laggards on the 50-share index.

Report: Upstox

08/04/26, Vedanta vs Hindustan Zinc:

 Metals have emerged as a key market theme this quarter, with most stocks in the segment witnessing a sharp rally in recent weeks

As the metal pack takes centre stage, two prominent players,Vedanta Limited and Hindustan Zinc, continue to remain investors' favourites, as they are backed by consistent dividend payouts, strong industry positioning, and a robust long-term growth outlook.

Vedanta Limited and its subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc, have seen heightened volatility in recent trading sessions amid fluctuations in silver and steel prices, coupled with rising geopolitical uncertainties. These developments have kept both stocks in focus as investors closely track their near-term trajectory.

Vedanta share price ended 1% higher at Rs 720.95 per share on BSE with a market capitalisation of Rs 2,81,919.43 crore at 3:20 pm. Hindustan Zinc share price today closed 3.66% higher at Rs 559.05 per share on BSE.

Vedanta vs Hindustan Zinc: MCap, ROE, Other Details

Vedanta share price has a return on equity (ROE) of 16.26%, whereas Hindustan Zinc share price has an ROE of 152.98%. Vedanta stock's standalone and consolidated price to earnings ratio stood at 23.01% and 13.62% respectively. The Anil Agarwal-led metal conglomerate stock has an Mcap of 2,82,623.30 crore.

Hindustan Zinc stock's standalone and consolidated price to earnings ratio stood at 20.17% and 19.98% respectively. Hindustan Zinc's Mcap stood at Rs 2,35,793.93 crore.

Vedanta vs Hindustan Zinc: Share Price Trend

Vedanta share price ended higher on Wednesday. The stock touched a 52-week high mark of Rs 770 per share on January 29, 2026. The stock dipped to its 52-week low mark of Rs 368.10 per share on April 8, 2025. Vedanta stock has delivered 20% returns since the beginning of the year 2026. Its share price value has jumped close to 52.93% in six months and 92% in one year.

Hindustan Zinc share price also ended higher during Wednesday's trading session. The stock had touched its 52-week high mark of Rs 732.60 per share on BSE on Janjuary 28, 2025. The stock dipped to its 52-week low mark of Rs 397 per share on April 9, 2025.

Vedanta vs Hindustan Zinc: Q4 Preview

Vedanta Limited is likely to see 4% sequential surge in its net consolidated profit for the fourth quarter of financial year 2025-26. The conglomerate's net revenue is likely to jump 20% on a year-on-year basis. Whereas, Vedanta's EBITDA is likely to jump 55.4% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis during the quarter, as per Nuvama report. The firm's net profit is likely to see a sharp 120% returns.

Hindustan Zinc's Q4 revenue is likely to jump 11.2% on a quarter on quarter (QoQ) basis. The silver producer's EBITDA may jump 52.2% on an annual basis during the quarter. Its net profit is likely to jump nearly 50% on a yearly basis in Q4, as per Nuvama report.

Vedanta vs Hindustan Zinc: Dividend Payout

Vedanta Limited's board of directors paid an interim dividend of Rs 11 per share in March 2026. Before that, the company had announced Rs 16 dividend to eligible shareholders in August 2025. Another dividend announced in 2025 was of Rs 7 per share in June.

Vedanta has announced 49 dividends since July 2001. The stock has a dividend yield of 4.71%, as per Trendlyne. Hindustan Zinc has announced around 44 dividends since June 28, 2001. The metal producer has declared an equity dividend amounting to Rs 10 per share in the past 12 months. At Wednesday's closing price, the stock has a dividend yield of 1.79%.

Report by Sharmila Bhadoria of goodreturns.in

08/04/26, PostMarket REPORT

Indian equity markets staged a strong rebound on April 8, 2026, with benchmark indices ended higher, supported by easing geopolitical tensions and a sharp decline in crude oil prices that lifted investor sentiment.

The BSE Sensex jumped over 2,800 points during the session, while the Nifty 50 crossed the key 24,000 level, indicating a broad-based recovery across sectors.

The surge marked one of the most robust single-day performances in recent months, driven by positive global cues and a renewed appetite for risk among investors.

Stock Market Today: Sensex, Nifty Rally on April 8; All Sectors Ended in Green

The BSE Sensex surged by 2,983 points to settle at 77,599.66, marking a gain of 4.00%, while the Nifty 50 climbed 889 points to close at 24,012.95, up 3.85%. Out of a total of 4,789 stocks traded during the session, as many as 4,178 stocks, accounting for 87.20%, ended in the green.

Markets had opened on a strong note and maintained momentum throughout the day, supported by heavy buying in frontline stocks and sustained institutional participation.

US-Iran Ceasefire Boosts Stock Market Sentiment, Oil Prices Slide

Investor confidence strengthened after the United States (US) and Iran agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire, easing fears of further escalation in the Middle East. The development led to a sharp decline in global crude oil prices, which dropped below the 100 dollar per barrel mark.

Lower oil prices are seen as a positive for India, as they help reduce inflationary pressures and improve macroeconomic stability. The announcement of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz further calmed supply concerns, adding to market optimism.

"Global equity markets have staged a strong recovery following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran. This triggered a sharp ~14% decline in Brent crude prices, bringing them below $95/bbl and significantly improving sentiment. Indian equities mirrored the global rally," said Mr. Ajay Menon, MD & CEO - Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

Banking, Realty and Auto Stocks Lead Gains

Sectoral performance remained robust, with banking, auto and real estate stocks leading the uptrend. The Nifty Realty index emerged as the top gainer, surging nearly 7 percent, as improved liquidity outlook and falling yields boosted interest in the sector.

Auto stocks gained on hopes of lower input costs amid easing crude prices.

RBI Keeps Repo Rate Unchanged

Alongside global cues, domestic factors also remained in focus. The Reserve Bank of India kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent, maintaining a cautious stance amid ongoing global uncertainties.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated that India's GDP growth is projected at 6.9 per cent, signalling a stable economic outlook despite external headwinds.

Financial stocks also witnessed strong buying interest, supported by stable policy signals and expectations of steady credit growth.

Nifty Outlook Ahead After US-Iran Ceasefire For 2 Weeks

"Technically, the Nifty has decisively crossed its critical 20-DMA as well as the key psychological level of 23,500. This bullish breakout opens the door for further upside, with an immediate target of 24,300. A sustained move above 24,300 could trigger stronger momentum towards the next resistance zone. On the downside, 23,500 is now expected to act as a strong support level," said Santosh Meena, Head of Research at Swastika Investmart.

Movement in Crude, Rupee & FII To Trigger

"The near-term outlook remains positive, supported by stable macros, improving sentiment, and liquidity conditions. However, the sustainability of the rally will depend on progress in geopolitical negotiations, easing of supply disruptions, and normalization of energy shipments. Movements in crude oil prices, the rupee, and FII flows will remain key determinants of near-term market direction," said Mr. Ajay Menon, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

Report by: Harshika Yadav of goodreturns.in

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations expressed are solely those of the individual analysts or entities. We do not guarantee, endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any content, nor do we provide any investment advice or solicit the purchase or sale of securities. All information is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should be independently verified from licensed financial advisors before making any investment decisions.

08/04/26, Indian Rupee Outlook

 India's currency outlook is increasingly tied to the trajectory of crude oil price, Axis Bank's chief economist Neelkanth Mishra said, cautioning that the rupee could weaken to 100 per dollar if oil stays above $110 per barrel.

In a worst-case scenario, the rupee's depreciation could be significant. However, the central bank's recent intervention in currency markets is expected to delay rate-based support for the currency by 1-2 months, Mishra said at a Kotak Private event in Mumbai on Tuesday.

His comments come at a time when the local unit has fallen by 4.5% against the dollar since the war in West Asia began on 28 February, and 11% in FY26, hitting an all-time low of 95.1250 per dollar on 30 March. It later pared some losses following measures by the Reserve Bank of India to limit banks' currency positions, curb derivative market trades and tighten offshore rupee market bets to reduce speculative pressures and limit spillovers to the onshore market.

"Given that they (RBI) managed to get back $40 billion because of those recent interventions, it potentially delays rate-related defence of the INR by at least two months," he said, suggesting that immediate rate hikes may not be necessary.

The Reserve Bank of India is set to announce its first policy decision of the current financial year on Wednesday. A Mint poll of 10 economists and market participants expects the central bank's monetary policy committee to keep the repo rate steady at 5.25% as it shifts its focus to rising inflation and a possible slowdown in growth due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

According to Mishra, the government's broader response to the ongoing global disruption has also been assessed positively, particularly if the shock proves temporary. However, some degree of currency adjustment is inevitable if oil sustains above $100 per barrel.

"…don't let the currency weaken a lot, because the currency will need to weaken… if oil prices are going to be $100, then the INR may need to go to 98, 99," he said, cautioning against premature moves if prices ease.

The Indian rupee closed at 93.10 against the greenback on Tuesday.

The current macro shock, he said, is not permanent but involves adjustments across key variables.

"There is a one-time adjustment on growth, there is a one-time adjustment on inflation, there is a one-time adjustment on currency," he said.

However, India is better positioned than in past crises, he emphasized.

"Compared to any other time in our history, I think we are the best prepared that we can imagine," he said.

Therefore, the currency outlook hinges on oil: if prices stay elevated, a gradual, RBI-managed depreciation towards 98-100 appears likely; if not, pressure on the rupee could ease just as quickly.

Source: Mint

08/04/26, INFOSYS

IT services firm Infosys entered into a strategic partnership with AI software delivery platform company Harness on Tuesday, April 7, for agentic AI-led software delivery transformation for enterprises globally.

This collaboration aligns the combined capabilities of Infosys Topaz Fabric and Infosys Cobalt with the Harness Software Delivery Platform to drive improvements in productivity, software engineering, AI governance, and time-to-market at scale," Infosys said in a statement.

Infosys Topaz Fabric is a purpose-built agentic services suite-a multi-layer AI fabric that unifies infrastructure, models, data, applications, and workflows into a composable, agent-ready ecosystem.

Infosys and Harness aim to address challenges faced by engineering teams spending a significant amount of their time on downstream activities like testing, deployment and others. Together, both the companies will standardise and automate the end-to-end path from code to production by applying AI to everything after code across the software delivery lifecycle.

Infosys and Harness will offer integrated solutions designed to support large-scale modernisation and transformation programmes, with a focus on complex, high-scale, and regulated environments.

"As AI accelerates change, enterprises need delivery systems that are faster, more reliable, and governed by design. Together, we are enabling a more disciplined path from innovation to production, embedding security, compliance, and resilience into how software is delivered across complex environments. This is an important step in helping enterprises adopt AI responsibly, accelerate outcomes, and sustain long-term advantage," said Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys.

Infosys said that Harness' delivery intelligence, built on real-world signals, enables enterprises to apply AI in a safer, more governed, and auditable manner and, when integrated with its Cobalt cloud offerings, is designed to support consistent deployment across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Jyoti Bansal said that as AI accelerates code generation, enterprises face the challenge of ensuring innovation reaches production safely and efficiently, creating what he described as the "AI Velocity Paradox", where faster development outpaces downstream processes such as testing, security, compliance, and deployment, leading to increased risk and complexity.

Bansal added that by combining Harness's intelligent delivery platform with Infosys' deep enterprise expertise, the collaboration aims to help organisations deliver AI-driven software innovation with greater speed, predictability, and control.

On Tuesday, Infosys shares settled at ₹1,339.40 apiece on the National Stock Exchange, gaining 2.54%.

Report: Upstox

08/04/26, Stocks to Watch Today

Developments with the latest stock market news and top stocks to watch today, April 8. Key developments across sectors such as banking, finance, technology, steel, jewellery, pharmaceuticals, energy, real estate, and defence are expected to influence market trends.

Investors should watch for corporate announcements, including strategic partnerships, regulatory approvals, production milestones, and financial transactions that could impact stock performance.

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

Company	Headline
Tata Steel	Record Annual Steel Production in India
Kalyan Jewellers	Q4 Revenue Surges 64 per cent on Strong Demand
Bank of Baroda	Launches AI Platform 'bob SAMVAD'
Punjab National Bank	Partners with GeM to Boost Seller Financing
Infosys	Ties Up with Harness for AI-Led Software Delivery
Aditya Birla Capital	CCI Clears Stake Buy in Housing Finance Arm
Aurobindo Pharma	US Nod for Diabetes Drug Generic
Alembic Pharmaceuticals	Gets US Approval for Diabetes Drug Generic
GAIL	Signs LNG Carrier Deal with Alpha Gas
IDBI Bank	Government May Seek Revised Bids for Sale
Vodafone Idea	AGR Reassessment Likely by June
Lodha Developers	Pre-Sales Rise 23 per cent, Misses Annual Target
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries	Wins Order for Ammonia Bulk Carriers

Tata Steel

Record Annual Steel Production in India

Tata Steel reported its best-ever annual crude steel production in India at 23.48 million tonnes for FY 2025-26, marking an 8 per cent increase over the previous fiscal.

Kalyan Jewellers

Q4 Revenue Surges 64 per cent on Strong Demand

Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd posted a 64 per cent jump in consolidated revenue for Q4 FY 2025-26, driven by strong wedding and discretionary jewellery demand despite volatile gold prices.

Bank of Baroda

Launches AI Platform 'bob SAMVAD'

Bank of Baroda introduced "bob SAMVAD," an AI-powered multilingual conversational platform aimed at enhancing customer interactions across its branches.

Punjab National Bank

Partners with GeM to Boost Seller Financing

Punjab National Bank signed an MoU with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to improve financial access for sellers.

Infosys

Ties Up with Harness for AI-Led Software Delivery

Infosys announced a strategic collaboration with Harness to accelerate agentic AI-led software delivery transformation for global enterprises.

Aditya Birla Capital

CCI Clears Stake Buy in Housing Finance Arm

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved Advent International's proposal to acquire a 14.3 per cent stake in Aditya Birla Housing Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital.

Aurobindo Pharma

US Nod for Diabetes Drug Generic

Aurobindo Pharma received final approval from the US health regulator for its generic dapagliflozin tablets used in managing type 2 diabetes.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals

Gets US Approval for Diabetes Drug Generic

Alembic Pharmaceuticals also secured final approval from the US health regulator for its generic dapagliflozin tablets for type 2 diabetes treatment.

GAIL

Signs LNG Carrier Deal with Alpha Gas

GAIL (India) Ltd signed a long-term charter agreement with Greece-based Alpha Gas for an LNG carrier named Energy Fidelity.

IDBI Bank

Government May Seek Revised Bids for Sale

The government may seek revised financial bids from two prospective buyers of IDBI Bank, as initial offers were below the reserve price set for its strategic sale.

Vodafone Idea

AGR Reassessment Likely by June

The telecom department is expected to complete AGR reassessment for Vodafone Idea by June, following recent government relief on dues and liabilities.

Lodha Developers

Pre-Sales Rise 23 per cent, Misses Annual Target

Lodha Developers reported a 23 per cent rise in pre-sales to Rs 5,890 crore in the last quarter but missed its annual target due to the West Asia conflict.

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries

Wins Order for Ammonia Bulk Carriers

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited secured an order from Energy ONE Ltd to build four dual-fuel ammonia bulk carriers.

Report by EconomicTimes

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

08/04/26, Crude Oil

 Crude oil prices in the global market dropped to under $95 per barrel (bbl) level during the early market hours on Wednesday, April 8, after US President Donald Trump announced a two week 'double sided ceasefire' deal with Iran in the sixth week of the US-Iran conflict

I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!" said Trump in his recent post on Truth Social.

Data showed that Brent crude oil prices dropped to a low of $91.72 per bbl during the early hours on Wednesday after Trump's key announcement related to the US-Iran conflict. The oil prices remained highly volatile as the key energy source hit a high of $111.8 per bbl during Tuesday's commodity market session.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures dropped to a low of $94.09 per bbl during the early hours on India time Wednesday. The prices hit a record high of $117.57 per bbl during Tuesday's commodity trading hours on the backdrop of the heightened tensions over Trump's military strike deadline.

Crude oil prices today

As of 7:23 am (IST), the Brent crude oil prices were trading 9.79% lower at $94.84 per bbl on Wednesday, compared to $105.13 per bbl at the previous commodity market close, according to Investing.com data.

The US-based WTI crude oil futures were trading 13.89% lower at $97.26 per bbl as of 7:24 am (IST), compared to $112.95 per bbl at the previous market close, as per the exchange data.

(This is a developing story, awaiting for more updates.)

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.

07/04/26, Tyre Sector Watch:

 India's tyre sector is expected to witness healthy domestic demand in the financial year 2026-27, while the exports for the companies are set to remain under pressure due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and the rising crude oil prices in the global market.

The conflict has created a supply concern in the market for key commodities like crude oil, which is used extensively in the rubber industry to make tyres for commercial and passenger vehicles in India.

Iran's blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and the escalation of the conflict are factors that create a sense of uncertainty for global market investors. Considering these factors, along with the market demand, will result in an increase in freight costs for the companies exporting out of India.

"Tyre exports are under pressure as escalating West Asia conflict impacts shipping routes and results in an increase in freight costs," according to an ICRA report.

Rising rubber prices

Data collected from Ace Equity suggests that the RSS-4 grade rubber prices have risen more than 6% in the global market (Bangkok) since the beginning of the US-Iran conflict to ₹273 per 100 kilograms (kg) as of the first week ended in April 2026, compared to their around ₹257 per 100 kg level before America attacked Iran on February 28.

In the Indian market, the RSS-4 grade rubber (Kottayam) prices have risen more than 3% to ₹22,800 per 100 kg as of April 4, compared to ₹22,100 per 100 kg at the beginning of the US-Iran conflict.

Global prices for commodities like rubber are increasing in line with the rising price of crude oil in the market amid the supply uncertainties. The RSS-4 grade rubber is mostly used for making commercial tyres across the world, and these final goods are made by using petrochemical products, which are derived from crude oil.

Hence, the rising price of crude oil is making investors cautious, who are dynamically trading these commodities with the developing events of the geopolitical conflict between the United States and Iran.

On Tuesday, crude oil prices remained elevated near the $110 per barrel region as of 2:00 pm (IST), amid Donald Trump's recent military strike threats and a nearing deadline for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz for global oil trade.

How much oil does it take to make a tyre?

According to the University of Queensland's research data, more than 25 litres of crude oil are used to make one tyre, and over a billion tyres are manufactured around the world annually.

Along with the use of natural rubber, elements like Isoprene are also used to make synthetic rubber, which is entirely made from petrochemical products.

"This compound (Isoprene) is naturally produced by some plants when under heat stress, but like natural rubber, it is not economically viable to harvest it from plants," according to the research.

Outlook for tyre sector

Gurugram-based ratings agency ICRA's recent report, released in March 2026, suggests that the Indian tyre sector is expected to witness 5-7% growth in the domestic demand in the financial year ending 2026-27 amid the rising revenue forecast due to healthy domestic demand.

The ratings agency expects the revenues of the top Indian tyre makers to grow by 6-8% in the fiscal year 2027 due to the healthy volumes in the domestic market. However, the export market for Indian tyres is likely to remain under pressure due to the West Asia conflict impact.

"Tyre exports are likely to remain under pressure, given the logistical challenges and increased freight costs owing to the West Asia conflict. Moreover, exports to West Asia account for 8-10% of India's tyre exports. While the ongoing geopolitical tensions remain an overhang, a likely diversification to other countries is expected to minimise the impact," said ICRA in its research report.

With the increasing cost of inputs over the surging crude oil prices, the operating margins for FY2027 are expected to contract on the backdrop of a limited area for price hikes in a highly competitive market.

Top tyre stocks in focus

1. MRF Ltd (MRF): MRF's share price was trading 0.28% higher at ₹1,27,400 on Tuesday's market session, compared to ₹1,27,045 at the previous stock market close, according to NSE data.

Shares of MRF have given investors more than 52% returns on their investment in the last five years and over 51% gains in the last three years. The company's stock has gained 15.34% in one year but is trading 8.26% lower in the last one-month period, as per the exchange data.

2. Balkrishna Industries (BALKRISIND): Balkrishna shares were trading 0.29% lower at ₹2,122 during Tuesday's market session, compared to ₹2,128.10 at the previous market close.

Shares of the company have delivered over 25% returns in five years and more than 7% returns in the last three years, according to NSE data. However, Balkrishna Industries stock has lost 6.62% in one year and is trading 5.64% lower in the last one-month period.

3. Apollo Tyres (APOLLOTYRE): Apollo Tyres shares were trading 0.1% higher at ₹411.30 on April 7 compared to ₹410.90 at the previous market session, NSE data showed.

The tyre stock has delivered more than 82% returns to investors in five years and over 28% gains in the last three years. Apollo Tyres' stock is up 3.46% in the past year but is trading 6.49% lower in the last one-month period.

4. CEAT Ltd (CEATLTD): CEAT shares were trading 0.95% higher at ₹3,379 on Tuesday's afternoon market session, compared to ₹3,347.10 at the previous market close, according to the exchange data.

Ceat stock has delivered more than 116% returns on investment in five years and over 135% gains in the last three-year period. The tyre stock has gained 26% in one year but is trading 2.39% lower over the last one-month period on the Indian stock market.

5. JK Tyre & Industries (JKTYRE): JK Tyre shares are trading 0.09% lower at ₹392.55 during Tuesday's stock market session, compared to ₹392.90 at the previous market close, NSE data showed.

Shares of JK Tyre have delivered more than 234% returns in the last five years and have given stock market investors over 136% gains in the last three-year period. The company's stock has risen 49.29% in one year but is trading 13.16% lower over the last one-month period.

6. TVS Srichakra (TVSSRICHAK): TVS Srichakra shares were up 1% at ₹3,518.90 during Tuesday's trading session, compared to ₹3,483.80 at the previous market close, according to the exchange data.

TVS Srichakra shares have given investors more than 92% returns on their investment in the last five years and over 30% gains in the last three-year period. The company's stock is up 43% in one year but has lost 4.92% in the last one-month period on the Indian stock market.

7. Goodyear India (GOODYEAR): Goodyear India shares were trading 0.94% higher at ₹712 as of the stock market session on April 7, compared to ₹705.35 at the previous market close, according to BSE data.

Over the last five years, the company's stock has lost around 22% and is down 12% in the last one-year period. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, Goodyear India shares were down 16% and trading 7% lower over the last five trading sessions.

8. Tolins Tyres (TOLINS): Tolins Tyres shares were trading 2.18% higher at ₹98.50 during Tuesday's market session, compared to ₹96.40 at the previous market close, according to NSE data.

The company's shares have lost 14.58% in one year, and 26.36% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, according to the exchange data. Tolins Tyres' stock is trading 5.67% lower over the last one-month period but is up 16.64% in the last five market sessions.

Report: Upstox 

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.