Stock market recommendations: Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd recommends TCS and Coal India Limited for stock investments, highlighting TCS's shift to modernization and cloud initiatives, and Coal India's dominant market position and growth prospects due to increasing power demand and thermal capacity expansions.
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L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan, facing backlash for supporting a 90-hour work week, received Rs 51 crore in compensation last year. His comments about working Sundays have drawn widespread criticism, including from actress Deepika Padukone.
Coal India Ltd. has invested Rs 5,570 crore in corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects over the last ten years, focusing on education, healthcare, sports, skill development, and women's empowerment. West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose and Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt commended the company's efforts, particularly in tribal areas and coal-bearing regions.
Corporate profits increased by 15.3% in FY24 due to cost rationalisation despite a sales growth of 5.5%. The services sector outshone manufacturing in both sales and profit growth. Additionally, both sectors reported an increase in operating profits and improved profit margins.
Axis Securities recommends buying V-Mart Retail, anticipating an 8% growth, while Yes Securities sees a 33% potential rise for Godawari Power following its acquisition in the metal recycling sector. Elera Securities suggests investing in Indigo Airlines due to expected demand increase by FY26. ICICI Securities maintains a positive outlook on Emami, citing acquisitions as a growth driver.
Bank loans continue to show no stress at the macro level, remaining well below the long-term trend as a percentage of GDP. By Dec 2024, the growth in overall bank credit slowed to 7.7% due to higher lending rates and increased capital requirements. Asset quality has improved with the GNPA ratio dropping to a 12-year low of 2.6%.
Dhaka has been behind on payments to Adani Power since supply started in July 2023. It owes several hundred million dollars for energy that has already been supplied, though the two sides dispute the exact size of the bill.
India is set to welcome over 120 new mid-market global capability centres (GCCs) by 2026, driven by medium-sized companies leveraging the country’s digital expertise. Over 800 mid-market GCCs currently employ 220,000 people, and the U.S. and Europe dominate the space. Emerging cities are attracting new GCCs, which are vital for sustainable growth and technological advancement.
The European Central Bank has cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.5% to boost economic activity in the eurozone. Amid low inflation and stagnant growth, the ECB aims to ease borrowing costs for consumers and businesses. Increased defence spending and potential US trade tariffs add uncertainty to future economic outlook.
Latest Post Office Small Savings Schemes Rates: The government has announced that interest rates for small savings schemes will remain unchanged for the first quarter of FY 2025-26. PPF will continue at 7.1%, NSC at 7.7%, and both SCSS and SSY at 8.2%. Quarterly reviews determine these rates based on guidelines ensuring competitiveness.
Indian equity market shows promise as the Nifty 50 ends a three-week slide, closing nearly 2% higher. Key factors include positive macroeconomic indicators, a drop in the dollar index, and RBI's liquidity support. As markets anticipate volatility in a shortened week due to the Holi festival, FII activity, global market dynamics, and technical levels will be critical.