Market Bizzz

Oil prices extended gains on Monday after ‍climbing more than 2% ​in the previous session, as tensions between the U.S. ⁠and Iran kept investors on edge even after Kazakhstan’s main export pipeline resumed full operations.

A rising yen dragged the dollar broadly lower in early trade on Monday, with markets on alert ‍about the prospect of intervention in the ​yen and investors cutting dollar positions ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting and possible Fed ⁠chair announcement.

Retail loan pricing at some NBFCs has risen, offsetting recent repo rate cuts due to climbing borrowing costs. Experts note that while many maintain rates, some are passing higher funding expenses to customers via increased lending rates or fees. The spread between NBFC and corporate borrowing costs has widened significantly.

Mala Gaonkar’s SurgoCap Partners experienced a rapid ascent, tripling its assets to $6 billion within three years of its 2023 launch. This marked one of the fastest-growing debuts in hedge fund history, with Gaonkar leveraging data science to invest across various sectors. She emphasizes a small, collaborative team size for idea generation, drawing parallels to Jeff Bezos’s “two-pizza-box” team concept.

According to VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, FPIs not only continued their selling spree in the week ended January 23 but also intensified it. The sustained outflows have wiped off Rs 16 trillion in market capitalisation for the week alone, contributing to a 2.5% decline in the Nifty index.

Markets experienced a sharp corrective move, with Nifty ending lower after a volatile week and breaking below key technical levels. India VIX surged, signaling increased risk perception. Despite a potential technical rebound due to oversold conditions, volatility is expected to remain elevated, especially with F&O expiry.

U.S. stocks experienced a mixed close on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling due to Intel’s sharp decline on a weak outlook. Despite geopolitical concerns and a volatile week, investors remain confident in the robust American economy. The upcoming “show-me” season for tech earnings, particularly from the Magnificent Seven, will be crucial for justifying current stock valuations.

IndiGo’s shares fell on Friday following a significant drop in quarterly profit. Brokerages offered mixed views, citing short-term challenges like rising costs and currency issues. However, many remain positive about the airline’s long-term growth potential. Analysts project potential upside for the stock in the coming year, despite some caution regarding immediate future earnings.

India’s securities regulator has accused current and former executives from PwC, EY, Carlyle, and Advent. They allegedly breached insider trading rules concerning a 2022 Yes Bank share sale. The regulator claims unpublished price-sensitive information was shared, leading to unlawful gains. The notice follows an investigation into Yes Bank’s share movements before a significant offering.

Indian property stocks are falling as developers struggle with construction delays and rising costs. Investors are wary after builders expanded rapidly post-pandemic. Slower project completion impacts revenue and increases risk. This situation is causing concern for the real estate sector and its investors. The industry must improve efficiency to regain market trust.