Market Bizzz

Indian markets brace for a busy Monday as 72 companies, including Hyundai Motor India and Bajaj Housing Finance, unveil their December quarter earnings. Analysts anticipate robust revenue growth for Hyundai, driven by a strong product mix. Bajaj Housing Finance is expected to show steady AUM growth, though NIM compression is a watchpoint. Investors await these key results.

Investors are closely watching the potential impact of Kevin Warsh’s nomination as Fed Chair, with his preference for a smaller balance sheet potentially strengthening the dollar. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi’s comments favoring a weaker yen have pushed the currency lower, with an upcoming election expected to be a key catalyst for further movement.

Indian stock markets anticipate a positive opening today. Investors await the federal budget presentation for insights into government spending and support for export sectors. The budget aims to balance growth initiatives with fiscal discipline. Expectations are for measures to boost domestic manufacturing and rural demand. This could provide a much-needed boost to equities after a challenging start to the year.

Bitcoin experienced a significant decline, falling 6.53% to $78,719.63 on Saturday, continuing its downward trend. This drop follows concerns that a potential new Fed chair might tighten liquidity, impacting speculative assets like cryptocurrencies. Ether also saw a substantial fall, reflecting broader struggles in the crypto market.

Investors holding physical securities can now breathe easy. Sebi has opened a special one-year window, from February 5, 2026, to February 4, 2027, allowing them to transfer and dematerialise shares that faced procedural or documentation issues before the April 2019 mandate. This initiative aims to resolve long-standing grievances and grant rightful access to these assets.

American Express forecast annual profit largely above Wall Street expectations on Friday, underscoring resilient spending by its young and affluent customers, but a small miss on holiday-quarter profit weighed on its shares.

Dabur India shares will be in spotlight after it reported a 7% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 560 crore for the December quarter, with revenue growing 6% to Rs 3,559 crore. The company’s FMCG business saw broad-based growth, with key brands gaining market share in India. International business also performed strongly, growing 11.1%.

The Economic Survey projects a growth outlook of 6.8% to 7.2%, with domestic consumption and investments driving growth. While the government leads, private sector participation is expected. India aims to balance stability and growth amidst global volatility, maintaining strong external buffers and focusing on domestic momentum.