Global Market Today: Asian stocks climb to record on tech, oil drops
Asian stocks hit a record high, fueled by a surge in technology shares and easing geopolitical tensions. South Korea’s SK Hynix reached a $1 trillion market cap, mirroring Wall Street’s tech rally. Hopes for a US-Iran peace deal contributed to global equity gains, despite mixed US consumer confidence data.
Rising yields put pressure on gilt funds, experts recommend tactical approach
Gilt funds invest in government securities. These funds are sensitive to interest rate changes. Rising yields have recently led to weak returns for gilt funds. Investors should consider gilt funds when bond yields are high. These funds are not ideal for those seeking stable returns or high liquidity. Understanding interest rate cycles is key for […]
Top gold loan companies expand bullion holdings to record levels in FY26
India’s top gold loan firms, Muthoot Finance, Manappuram Finance, and IIFL Finance, collectively hold a record 334 tonnes of gold. This amount exceeds the gold reserves of countries like the United Kingdom and Brazil. IIFL Finance saw a significant increase in its holdings after regulatory issues were resolved. Manappuram Finance also boosted its gold financing.
ICICI Bank adds most credit cards in April amid rising competition
Axis Bank added 63,446 cards in April, less than half its February tally. Kotak Mahindra Bank remained steady at 33,038 additions. “We are focused on growing the business and growing it with the right set of customers in a profitable way,” said ICICI Bank Group chief financial officer Anindya Banerjee. “We have been seeing reasonably […]
AI Inside: Taiwan goes past India to number 5 in global m-cap league
Taiwan has surpassed India to become the fifth largest stock market globally. This shift is driven by a strong AI-fueled rally. Taiwan’s market capitalization now stands higher than India’s. This surge is largely attributed to the performance of key semiconductor companies. Foreign investors have been reducing their exposure to India. The global appetite for AI-related […]
Sebi turns to ETFs, derivatives for debt market push
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is set to introduce bond ETFs and derivatives to boost the corporate debt market. The regulator is also reviewing listing obligations for debt-only entities and exploring a pilot for tokenizing corporate bonds to enhance liquidity and investor access.
Irdai links executive pay at insurers to elimination of unfair practices
The move is part of new KMP performance evaluation rules, under which the regulator has made 50% of key performance indicators (KPIs) mandatory and far more prescriptive than earlier, according to industry executives. For the remaining 50% weightage in performance assessment, the nomination and remuneration committee or board may assign additional role-specific parameters aligned with […]
RBI dollar-rupee swap gets almost double bids
The settlement of the initial leg of the FX swap will take place on Friday, through which the RBI will inject rupee liquidity into the banking system. The liquidity stood at a low surplus of Rs 67,285 crores as of May 25
Listed brokers, exchanges rake in profits even as war clouds linger
India’s listed brokers and exchanges reported robust March quarter earnings, driven by a surge in Margin Trading Facility (MTF) and a favorable base effect. Increased market volatility, strong commodity trading, and elevated VIX levels also boosted volumes. Brokers are diversifying income streams beyond core broking, evolving into ‘pseudo-NBFCs’ with offerings like wealth management and insurance.