Stock Market Today: All You Need To Know Going Into Trade On Jan. 16

Stocks in the Asia-Pacific region advanced on Thursday following a surge in US markets taking overnight cues from Wall Street as easing inflation increased the prospects of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 opened higher with the benchmark index advancing by 1.42%, or 116.73 points, to 8,330 as of 6:40 a.m. ahead of the release of employment data in Australia. Japan's Nikkei was up 396.19 points, or 1.03% at 38,840.77.

Future contracts in Mainland China pointed to a cautious start on Wednesday. The benchmark CSI 300 paused a two-day gain fueled by reports that the Donald Trump administration is considering gradual tariff hikes.

US markets breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday after it saw a muted session on Tuesday with slight decline in tech stocks. The S&P 500 rose 1.83% to close at 5,949.91, its biggest gains since the aftermath of the US election. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.65% to 43,221.55, Nasdaq Composite climbed 2.45% to 19,511.23.

The dollar index — which tracks the greenback's performance against a basket of 10 leading global currencies — was 0.10% lower at 109.

Brent crude was trading 2.64% higher at $82.03 a barrel as of 6:33 a.m. IST. Gold spot was trading 0.03% lower at $2,695.48 an ounce.

The NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex extend gains for the second straight session on Wednesday, ahead of the US CPI data. After a positive opening, the markets remained non-directional as traders were possibly waiting for a breakout on either side.

The Nifty 50 ended 37.15 points or 0.16%, higher at 23,213.20, and the Sensex ended 224.45 points or 0.29%, higher at 76,724.08.

Foreign portfolio investors remained net sellers of Indian equities for the ninth straight session on Wednesday and sold stocks worth Rs 4,533.5 crore.

Domestic institutional investors have been buyers for 21 consecutive sessions and bought stocks worth Rs 3,682.5 crore, according to provisional data from the National Stock Exchange.

Indian rupee strengthened by 28 paise to close at 86.36 against the US Dollar.

Reliance Industries, Infosys, LTIMindtree, Axis Bank, Havells India, Sterling And Wilson Renewable Energy, Waaree Renewable Technologies, Alok Industries, Bhansali Engineering Polymers, DB Corp, Hatsun Agro Product, Kesoram Industries, Last Mile Enterprises, Mastek, Metro Brands, National Standard (India), Pacheli Industrial Finance, Radhika Jeweltech.

L&T Technology Services Q3FY25 (Consolidated, QoQ)

• Revenue up 3.1% to Rs 2,653 crore versus Rs 2,573 crore.

• EBIT up 8.8% to Rs 422 crore versus Rs 388 crore.

• EBIT margin at 15.9% versus 15.1%.

• Net profit flat at Rs 320 crore.

HDFC Life Insurance Co. Q3FY25 (Consolidated, YoY)

• Net premium income up 10% to Rs 16,771 crore versus Rs 15,235 crore.

• 61st-month persistency improves to 57.8% from 51.1%.

• 13th-month persistency falls to 81.9% from 83.4%.

• Net profit up 13.7% to Rs 415 crore versus Rs 365 crore.

• Value of new business up 14% to Rs 2,586 crore.

• AUM stands at Rs 3.3 lakh crore as of 31 December 2024.

Aeroflex Industries Q3FY25 (Consolidated, YoY)

• Revenue up 36.4% to Rs 100 crore versus Rs 73 crore.

• Ebitda up 56.5% to Rs 22 crore versus Rs 14 crore.

• Margin up to 21.64% versus 18.85%.

• Net profit up 68.3% to Rs 15 crore versus Rs 9 crore.

Punjab & Sind Bank Q3FY25 (Standalone, YoY)

• NII up 27% to Rs 939 crore versus Rs 739 crore.

• Net profit up 147% to Rs 282 crore versus Rs 114 crore.

• Gross NPA at 3.83% versus 4.21% (QoQ).

• Net NPA at 1.25% versus 1.46% (QoQ).

Oriental Hotels Q3FY25 (Standalone YoY)

• Revenue up 15% to Rs 122 crore versus Rs 106 crore.

• Ebitda up 6% to Rs 34.88 crore versus Rs 32.65 crore.

• Margins at 28.5% versus 30.8%.

• Profit down 14.8% to Rs 13.99 crore versus Rs 16.43 crore.

Ceat Q3FY25 (Consolidated YoY)

• Revenue up 11.4% to Rs 3,300 crore versus Rs 2,963 crore.

• Ebitda down 18.3% to Rs 341 crore versus Rs 417 crore.

• Ebitda margin at 10.3% versus 14.1%.

• Net profit down 46.5% to Rs 97 crore versus Rs 181 crore.

Oracle Financial Services Software Q3FY25 (Consolidated YoY)

• Revenue down 6% to Rs 1,715 crore versus Rs 1,824 crore.

• Operating income down 17% to Rs 700 crore versus Rs 840 crore.

• EBIT margin at 41% versus 46%.

• Net profit down 27% to Rs 541 crore versus Rs 740 crore.

Authum Investment & Infrastructure Q3FY25(Consolidated YoY)

• Revenue down 10.7% to Rs 620 crore versus Rs 694 crore.

• Net profit down 10.3% to Rs 539 crore versus Rs 601 crore.

• Axiscades Technologies: The company has appointed Alfonso Martinez Fernandez as the group chief executive officer effective from Jan. 20, 2025.

• Rashi Peripherals: The company will acquire a 70% stake in Satcom Infotech to broaden its portfolio in the cybersecurity sector.

• LT Foods: The company has incorporated its arm and step-down arm LT Foods Middle East.

• Happiest Minds Technologies: The company has partnered with Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam to implement an innovative GenAI conversational interface.

• Azad Engineering: The company has received an order worth Rs 960 crore from Ge Vernova International, USA, for supplying airfoils for advanced gas turbine engines.

• Gland Pharma: Shyamakant Giri will take over as chief executive officer, effective from Jan.16.

• RBL Bank: The company has appointed Soma Sankara Prasad as an additional non-executive independent director of the bank, effective from Wednesday.

• Puravankara: Following the appointment of the new Group CFO, Abhishek Kapoor has stepped down from his role, effective from Jan. 15.

• Hitachi Energy India: The company is considering raising funds through the issuance of equity shares, qualified institutional placement and other methods.

• GAIL India: The company has signed a settlement agreement with SEFE Marketing & Trading Singapore, under which SEFE Marketing will pay $285 million to the company and withdraw its arbitration proceedings in London.

• Rail Vikas Nigam: The company has received a letter of award worth Rs 3,622 crore from BSNL for the development of the middle-mile network of BharatNet.

• Swiggy: The company has established a wholly owned subsidiary, Swiggy Sports Pvt. Ltd. Its primary objectives include owning and managing sports teams, talent development, organizing events, operating facilities, offering career services, acquiring broadcasting and sponsorship rights, and promoting sports events through various business models.

• Zee Media Corp.: The company has approved the appointment of Aditya Tandon as the chief brand officer - Campaigns and IPs.

• Laurus Labs: The Income Tax Department has levied a penalty of Rs 3,86,40,042 on the company for the assessment year 2016-17.

• Senco Gold: The company has set the record date as Jan. 31 for the purpose of sub-division/split of its equity shares.

• Nazara Technologies: The company will convene on Jan. 20 to discuss the preferential issuance of equity shares.

• Zen Technologies: The company has secured a design registration for the "60 mm mortar training simulator," strengthening its position as a global leader in military training technologies.

• Laxmi Dental Ltd.: The public issue was subscribed to 114.2 times on the final day. QIBs bid at 110.38 times, non-institutional investors bidding was at 147.95 times, retail individual investors bidding was at 76.24 times.

• Stallion India Fluorochemicals: The company will offer shares for bidding on Thursday. The price band is set from Rs 85 to Rs 90 per share. The Rs 199.45-crore IPO issue is a combination of a fresh issue of Rs 160.73 crore and rest as offer for sale.

• TGV SRAAC: Promoter TG Venkatesh revoked a pledge on 1.11 lakh shares, while promoter TG Bharath revoked a pledge on 32,894 shares on Jan. 11.

• One Mobikwik Systems: Quant Mutual Fund Small Cap Fund sold 6.51 lakh shares (4.54%) at Rs 513.57 per share, while SSPL Securities Pvt. sold 4 lakh shares (2.79%) at Rs 497.16 apiece.

• Price Band Change from 10% to 5%: Orient Technologies

• Price Band Change from 5% to 2%: Iris Business Services

• Ex/Record Date for Interim Dividend: CESC, PCBL

• Move Out of ASM Framework: Salzer Electronics

• NBCC: To meet analysts and investors between Jan. 20 and Jan. 24.

• Globus Spirits: To meet analysts and investors on Jan. 18.

• Aether Industries: To meet analysts and investors between Jan. 20 and Jan. 22.

• BLS International: To meet analysts and investors on Jan. 20.

• Nifty January futures up by 0.02% to 23,275 at a premium of 62 points.

• Nifty January futures open interest down by 1.58%

• Nifty Options Jan. 16 Expiry: Maximum call open interest at 23,300 and maximum put open interest at 23,200

• Securities in ban period: Aarti Industries, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, Angle One, Bandhan Bank, Hindustan Copper, L&T Finance, RBL Bank, Kalyan Jewellers, Manapurram Finance.

The Indian rupee ended stronger as it strengthened by 28 paise to close at 86.36 against the US dollar.

The domestic currency had gained 15 paise to open at 86.49 against the US dollar on Wednesday, after closing at 86.64 on Tuesday.