Author: Shelly M

Despite the global trend of SUVs and GST 2.0 era, hatchbacks will maintain their market relevance across the auto industry, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) said.

“This ‘SUVisation’ of the industry is happening throughout the world. It is not because India has bad roads…this whole thing about SUVs is not going to go away. It is going to be there for quite some time to come,” FADA President CS Vigneshwar said.

He also added that while SUVs give a purpose of comfort, style and safety, “hatches will have their own space because some people still want the hatches”.

Vigneshwar said many car makers are still offering multiple products in small car segment which in turn keep the market alive through competition unlike in the mid-size sedan segment, which has been squeezed.

“SUVs in every category, and hatchbacks in one or two categories, you will have literally every OEM with multiple products sometimes. So, this is going to happen. Hatches will exist, and SUVs will exist,” Vigneshwar said.

India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India, which grabs a top position in the small car segment, expects about 10 per cent growth in the segment after the GST rate reduction, its rival Hyundai Motor India feels that micro SUVs like Exter and Punch will grow at the cost of hatchbacks as consumer preference has evolved.

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After a sharp sell-off last week, which analysts said was sentiment-driven since US tariffs target branded and patented drugs while Indian exports are largely generic, pharma stocks recovered.

Out of the 20 index stocks, 15 advanced, led by Sun Pharma, Lupin, Cipla, Zydus Life, Biocon, Granules India, Torrent Pharma, Laurus Labs, Aurobindo Pharma, and Glenmark Pharma, which gained up to 2 percent.

The sell-off was triggered by US President Donald Trump’s announcement of 100 percent tariffs on branded and patented drugs starting October 1, part of its broader push to onshore pharma manufacturing, create jobs, and cut foreign reliance.

Also Read: Sensex rises 200 pts, Nifty above 24,700 after 6-day slide

After a six-day losing streak, Indian markets opened higher on September 29 with gains in IT and pharma stocks supporting sentiment.

The market recovery comes despite continued Foreign Institutional Investor selling, with FIIs offloading equities worth ₹5,687 crore on Friday and ₹30,143 crore in September so far.

Analysts, however, remain cautious as volatility persists and resistance levels weigh on the Nifty’s upside momentum

Support came in from IT, auto, pharma, and metal stocks. The rebound follows last week’s nearly 3 percent fall when tariffs and visa hike news dampened sentiment.

The Sensex rose 240.87 points, or 0.30 percent, to 80,667.33, while the Nifty gained 81.50 points, or 0.33 percent, to 24,736.20, on Monday.

Also Read: Pharma stocks rebound as tariff fears ease; Sun Pharma, Lupin, Cipla lead gains

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has opposed former stock market operator Ketan Parekh’s application seeking permission to travel abroad for four months.

Parekh, who was barred from the markets for 14 years for his role in the 2000-2001 securities scam, requested permission to travel to the UK, UAE, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the European Union, and Georgia for a family vacation and to attend two weddings.

SEBI cited Parekh’s “history of misusing” foreign travel permissions to carry out fraudulent trades via WhatsApp groups. It alleged that Parekh harbours a “sinister motive” to evade surveillance, skip court proceedings, and “settle in a foreign country” to execute plans that could harm the country’s economy and investors.

Parekh, who continues to face criminal charges before a special SEBI court in Mumbai, also cited the health condition of his elder daughter, saying both his daughters live in the UK and that he wished to spend quality time with them.

In a response filed earlier this month, SEBI opposed the plea, referring to an ex parte interim order issued in January 2025 by a whole-time member of the regulator that again debarred Parekh, along with two others, for alleged front-running. The order said Parekh had passed on time-sensitive, non-public information within minutes to Singapore-based associate Rohit Salgaocar, enabling illegal profits for the frontrunners.

Special Judge R M Jadhav is expected to pronounce an order on Parekh’s plea on Tuesday.