Varsha Chandnani

India's 12% monsoon deficit and widespread drought are raising Rabi risks. Here's how El Nino could impact NBFCs, tractors, fertilisers, FMCG and building materials.

Coromandel International, Chambal Fertilisers and Paradeep Phosphates could be among the listed names in focus. Other listed companies to watch include RCF, NFL, FACT and Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals (GSFC).

Semiconductor production requires photoresists, ultra-pure cleaning agents, etchants and other electronic-grade chemicals, creating a potential new market for Indian specialty chemical companies.

Bliss GVS Pharma has surged 362% over the past year, while Ind-Swift Laboratories, Sakar Healthcare, Shilpa Medicare and Kwality Pharmaceuticals have jumped 281%, 217%, 149% and 282%, respectively.

The stock pared some gains to come off its intraday high level of Rs 2,364.10, and traded 0.98% higher at Rs 2,383 apiece as of 9:50 a.m.

The CDMO/CRDMO outsourcing pipeline, rupee weakness supporting export realisations, continued demand for oncology, peptides and injectables, and upcoming patent expiries could provide further growth opportunities.

With the signing of the deal, shares of Orchid Pharma surged 10% in trade to hit an intraday high of Rs 1,047, nearing the 52-week high mark of Rs 1,094 apiece on the NSE. The triple-digit PE pharma stock traded above the Rs 1,000-mark with the surge in the intraday share price, defying the Nifty 50 benchmark index.

According to media reports, the regulator has communicated through the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) to identify companies that can immediately supply ifosfamide injection, a generic chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of several cancers, including testicular, bladder and lung cancer.

Cipla share price opened at Rs 1,372 against a previous close of Rs 1,351.80 and extended gains by over 4% to hit an intraday high of Rs 1,409 apiece so far on the NSE.

Zaynich, approved for complicated urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis, is aimed at treating infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria — an area where doctors globally are facing shrinking treatment options as antimicrobial resistance rises.

Developers had pushed back hard, citing fears of a domestic solar cell shortage, higher procurement costs and execution delays.

The stellar numbers for Gland Pharma were largely driven by a combination of factors, including strong US traction led by new launches.

Vohra's track record at Cipla makes him a strategic fit for Cohance, which is itself navigating a similar transition, from volume manufacturing toward value-based partnerships with innovator and specialty pharma clients.

Currently, IEX acts as India's leading platform for spot electricity price discovery.

China's move to curb exports of sulphuric acid—particularly the by-product from copper and zinc smelting—signals a shift toward domestic prioritisation ahead of its peak crop planting season.

Acutaas shares have soared 85% over the last six months. The company is finding massive market success by pivoting to electric vehicle battery solvents.

Among the standout performers, State Bank of India led the charts with its highest-ever quarterly profit, buoyed by a sharp rise in non-interest income.

These heavy underperformers between January and November posted notable gains in December.

With most big names failing to impress, the year turned into a classic stock-picker’s game, proof that even in a dull market, the right pills can still cure portfolios.

Lower US sales of gRevlimid are a major drag for Dr. Reddy’s, Zydus, Aurobindo, and Cipla.