Stock Market Today: All You Need To Know Going Into Trade On Jan. 23

Stocks in the Asia-Pacific region opened mixed following a Wall Street rally driven by optimism over artificial intelligence plans by US President Donald Trump.

Japan's Nikkei was 97 points, or 0.23%, higher at 39,739, while Australia's S&P ASX 200 was down 25 points, or 0.29%, at 8,404.7, as of 6:35 a.m. Futures contracts pointed to gains in Hong Kong with China stock poised to open cautious.

Stocks in China closed lower on Wednesday as traders digested Trump's plans to impose a 10% levy as early as Feb. 1. China rolled out a slew of measures to stabilize the stock market on Wednesday, including plans to increase the pension amount that can be invested in companies.

Japan will release trade data, while the United States updates its weekly jobless claims on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is on track to raise interest rates to the highest level since 2008 on Friday, according to Bloomberg.

A rally fueled by technology companies sent stocks on Wall Street to the brink of their all-time highs. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.61% and 0.30%, respectively. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.28%.

Gains in information technology stocks helped lift Indian benchmarks in the final two hours of trading, as US President Donald Trump's plans for artificial intelligence alleviated concerns over trade tariff risks.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended the day 566 points or 0.75% up at 76,404, while the NSE Nifty 50 gained 130.7 points or 0.57% higher to close at 23,135.5.

Trump's push to make the US an AI superpower, with fewer regulatory constraints, fuelled optimism. He halted the implementation of key safety and transparency measures for AI developers.

Nifty Earnings To Watch: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and UltraTech Cement.

Other Earnings To Watch: Adani Energy Solutions, Adani Green Energy, Amber Enterprises India, Capri Global Capital, Cyient, Greaves Cotton, Hindustan Petroleum Corp., Indian Energy Exchange, Indus Towers, ION Exchange (India), Jayaswal Neco Industries, Kfin Technologies, Mankind Pharma, Menon Bearings, Mphasis, MPS, Nippon Life India Asset Management, Nath Bio-Genes (India), NDL Ventures, Pil Italica Lifestyle, Rajratan Global Wire, Senores Pharmaceuticals, Sona Blw Precision Forgings, Spandana Sphoorty Financial, Suryoday Small Finance Bank, Syngene International, Tara Chand Infralogistic Solutions, Tejas Networks, Thyrocare Technologies, Tokyo Plast International, Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra), Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, United Spirits, V2 Retail, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Aarnav Fashions, Automobile Corp., Alivus Life Sciences, Asian Flora, Capricorn Systems Global Solutions, Consecutive Investment & Trading Co., Dai-Ichi Karkaria, EFC (I), Fervent Synergies, Futuristic Securities, Gujarat Inject (Kerala), Jumbo Bag, LKP Finance, LKP Securities, Meenakshi Steel Industries, Naperol Investments, National Peroxide, Restile Ceramics, SG Mart, Shantanu Sheorey Aquakult, Tokyo Finance, Universal Arts, Vandana Knitwear, and WSFx Global Pay.

Pidilite Industries Q3 Earnings (Consolidated, YoY)

• Revenue up 7.6% at Rs 3,369 crore versus Rs 3,130 crore (Estimate: Rs 3,333 crore).

• Ebitda up 7.5% at Rs 798 crore versus Rs 742 crore (Estimate: Rs 801 crore).

• Ebitda margin at 23.7% versus 23.72% (Estimate: 24%).

• Net profit up 8.2% at Rs 552 crore versus Rs 510 crore (Estimate: Rs 565 crore).

Go Digit Q3 Earnings (YoY)

• GWP at Rs 2,677 crore versus Rs 2,428 crore.

• Total income up 7% at Rs 2,372 crore versus Rs 2,214 crore.

• Net profit at Rs 118 crore versus Rs 42.9 crore.

• Combined Ratio at 108.1% versus 110.3%.

Hindustan Unilever Q3 Earnings (Consolidated, YoY)

• Revenue up 1.6% at Rs 15,818 crore versus Rs 15,567 crore (Estimate: Rs 15,791.4 crore).

• Ebitda up 0.8% at Rs 3,695 crore versus Rs 3,666 crore. (Estimate: Rs 3,651.5 crore).

• Ebitda margin at 23.4% versus 23.5% (Estimate: 23.1%).

• Net profit up 18.9% at Rs 2,984 crore versus Rs 2,509 crore (Estimate: Rs 2,657.5 crore)

Acquisitions

• To acquire 90.5% stake in cosmetic brand 'Minimalist' at an enterprise value of Rs 2,955 crore.

• Approves demerger plan between the company and Kwality Walls India for the ice-cream business.

• Exceptional items at Rs 507 crore versus loss of Rs 30 crore (Cons, YoY).

Persistent Systems Q3 Earnings (Consolidated, QoQ)

• Revenue up 5.7% at Rs 3,062 crore versus Rs 2,898 crore (Estimate: Rs 3,023 crore).

• EBIT up 12.2% at Rs 456 crore versus Rs 406 crore (Estimate: Rs 441 crore).

• Margin at 14.9% versus 14% (Estimate: 14.59%).

• Net profit up 14.8% at Rs 373 crore versus Rs 325 crore (Estimate: Rs 346 crore).

• Declares interim dividend of Rs 20/share.

• Trailing Twelve Month TCV at $594 million versus $529 million QoQ.

Cigniti Technologies Q3 Earnings (Consolidated, QoQ)

• Revenue up 3.5% at Rs 516 crore versus Rs 499 crore.

• EBIT up 38% at Rs 77 crore versus Rs 55.8 crore.

• Margin at 14.9% versus 11.2%.

• Net profit up 20% at Rs 63.6 crore versus Rs 52.9 crore.

Laxmi Organic Industries Q3 Earnings (Consolidated, YoY)

• Revenue up 13.3% at Rs 786 crore versus Rs 694 crore.

• Ebitda up 42.9% at Rs 74.6 crore versus Rs 52.2 crore.

• Margin at 9.5% versus 7.5%.

• Net profit up 8.1% at Rs 29.3 crore versus Rs 27.1 crore.

Bharat Petroleum Corp Q3 Earnings Standalone (QoQ)

• Revenue up 10% at Rs 1.13 lakh crore versus Rs 1.02 lakh crore (Estimate: Rs 1.07 lakh crore)

• Ebitda up 68% at Rs 7,580 crore versus Rs 4,512 crore (Estimate: Rs 8,000 crore)

• Margin at 6.7% versus 4.4% (Estimate: 7.5%)

• Net profit up 94% at Rs 4,649 crore versus Rs 2,397 crore (Estimate: Rs 5,265 crore)

Gravita India Q3 Earnings (Cons, YoY)

• Revenue up 31% at Rs 996 crore versus Rs 757 crore.

• Ebitda flat at Rs 80.7 crore versus Rs 80.3 crore.

• Margin at 8.1% versus 10.6%.

• Net profit up 29% at Rs 77.9 crore versus Rs 60.3 crore.

Accelya Solutions India Q3 Earnings (Consolidated, YoY)

• Revenue up 6.8% at Rs 133 crore versus Rs 125 crore.

• Ebitda up 6.6% at Rs 48 crore versus Rs 45 crore.

• Margin at 36.2% versus 36.3%.

• Net profit up 4.6% at Rs 32.4 crore versus Rs 31 crore.

Zensar Technologies Q3 Earnings (Consolidated, QoQ)

• Revenue up 1.3% at Rs 1,326 crore versus Rs 1,308 crore.

• Ebit up 7% at Rs 183 crore versus Rs 171 crore.

• Ebitda margin at 13.8% versus 13.1%.

• Net profit up 2.6% at Rs 160 crore versus Rs 156 crore.

• Housing & Urban Development Corp: The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vadhavan Port project to explore and provide funds up to Rs 25,000 crore for the development of new ports.

• Paras Defence and Space Technologies: The aerospace and defence company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtra government to invest around Rs 12,000 crore for a proposed Optics Park project over the next 10 years. 

• MAS Financial Services: The company is to consider investment in arm Rural Housing & Mortgage.

• Waaree Energies: The company's arm Waaree Solar Americas commences commercial production of 1.6 GW Solar Module line in US.

• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders: The Navratna company clarified that there was no contract signed between them and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, as was erroneously reported by media. 

• Balmer Lawrie & Co: The steelmaker issued an undertaking in favour of PFC for infusing funds for meeting shortfall in debt servicing of loan facility.

• Zydus Lifesciences: The pharmaceutical company announced US FDA orphan drug designation to Usnoflast for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 

• Agro Tech Foods: The CCI approves the proposed acquisition of Del Monte Foods.

• Bharat Petroleum Corp: The board approved the submission of the development plan to the Indonesian regulator. An estimated investment of $121 million would commence once the development plan for the Nunukan Block, aimed at exploring oil and gas reserves, gets approved. The company is also to enter into a joint venture agreement with Praj Industries for setting up compressed biogas plants.

• Laurus Labs: The US FDA issued a Form 483 with one observation to the company's US-based arm Laurus Generics.

• Strides Pharma Science: Authum Investment & Infrastructure bought 5.18 lakh shares, or 0.6% equity at Rs 558.88 each.

• Price band change from 20% to 10%: Newgen Software Technologies.

• Nifty January futures up by 0.41% to 23,198.95 at a premium of 43 points.

• Nifty January futures open interest down by 3.34%.

• Nifty Options Jan. 23 Expiry: Maximum call open interest at 23,500 and maximum put open interest at 23,000.

• Securities in ban period: Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, Bandhan Bank, Can Fin Homes, Dixon Technologies (India), L&T Finance, Manappuram Finance, Mahanagar Gas, Punjab National Bank, and RBL Bank.

The Indian rupee closed stronger against the US dollar, gaining 26 paise to settle at 86.33. At the market's opening on Wednesday, the domestic currency saw a slight uptick, appreciating by 2 paise to open at 86.56, compared to the previous day's closing of 86.58.

This movement came as markets continued to assess President Trump's first-day actions related to tariffs and oil production, according to Bloomberg data.