Market Bizzz

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continued their selling spree into 2026, offloading Indian equities worth Rs 7,608 crore in the first two trading sessions. This follows record outflows of Rs 1.66 lakh crore in 2025, driven by elevated valuations and the AI trade. Experts anticipate a turnaround in 2026, with improved fundamentals and GDP growth expected to attract net FII inflows.

Major indexes like the Dow and S&P 500 closed higher on Friday, ending a four-day losing streak to begin 2026. Chip makers, industrials, and utilities fueled the gains, while tech giants and consumer discretionary stocks saw declines.

ITC shares plummeted to a three-year low following a government excise duty hike on tobacco products. Brokerages downgraded the stock, citing fears of dampened cigarette demand and significant impact on profitability. Investors are advised to wait for clarity on price hikes and volume trends before considering buying.

IndusInd Bank announced the resignations of two senior executives, Rana Vikram Anand and Anish Behl, who are leaving to explore new opportunities. Anand will depart in April 2026, while Behl’s tenure concludes in January. These departures follow a series of senior-level exits, though the bank has simultaneously bolstered its leadership with recent appointments in wholesale banking, data, and human resources.

Indian Bank shares are set to gain attention. The bank announced robust third quarter results for FY26. Total business saw a significant jump of 13.4%. Gross advances increased by 14.5%. Deposits also grew by 12.5%. This performance follows a modest net profit rise in the second quarter. Indian Bank was a top performer among PSU Banks in 2025.

Vodafone Idea shares are likely to stay in focus after the company received a CGST order confirming a tax demand, including penalty and interest. The telecom operator has disputed the order and plans to take legal action, stating that the potential financial impact could extend to the full amount demanded by the tax authorities.

Tata Steel shares may remain in focus after CEO T V Narendran highlighted pricing pressures from global oversupply, Chinese exports and trade barriers in 2025. Despite challenges in overseas markets, resilient domestic operations and ongoing capacity expansions underline the company’s strategic focus on value-added growth and long-term operational resilience.

Vodafone Idea shares will be in focus on January 1, 2026. The company will receive Rs 5,836 crore from its promoter group, Vodafone Group. This follows an amendment to an agreement concerning contingent liabilities. Vodafone Group Promoters will release Rs 2,307 crore over the next year. The remaining amount will be secured through a share-based mechanism.

IndiGo Airlines is under scrutiny following substantial tax demand orders from the Goods and Services Tax department. The airline has received a penalty of Rs 458.26 crore for financial years 2018-19 to 2022-23. IndiGo believes these orders are incorrect and plans to contest them legally. A separate order for Rs 14.59 lakh was also received for financial year 2021-22.

The U.S. dollar is set for its largest yearly fall since 2017. Concerns over interest rate cuts and trade policies are impacting currency markets. The euro and sterling have seen significant gains. The Japanese yen is an outlier, remaining flat. Analysts expect the dollar’s weakness to continue into 2026.