Author: Sreelatha M

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Corporate

Sensex Falls 150 pts, Nifty Below 25,750, Hitachi Up, Reliance Down

The Indian equity market closed largely unchanged on Monday as investors paused after the Sensex and Nifty capped their strongest monthly rally in seven months. Mild profit-booking following October’s surge was countered by selective buying in stocks buoyed by robust earnings, helping indices hold steady.

The S&P BSE Sensex inched up 39.78 points, or 0.05%, to close at 83,978.49, while the NSE Nifty 50 gained 41.25 points, or 0.16%, to end at 25,763.35.

Across global markets, cues were mixed. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.4% as of midday Tokyo time, while Japan’s Topix advanced 0.4%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.9%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.2%, and the Shanghai Composite edged down 0.1%. Euro Stoxx 50 futures were also marginally lower at 0.2%.

At the domestic market opening, top gainers included 3AM India, Hitachi Energy, TBO Tech, City Union Bank, and RR Kabel. On the downside, Reliance Power, Affle (India), Power Grid Corporation, Hero MotoCorp, and Gland Pharma were among the top losers.

Also Read: Sensex, Nifty Hold Steady, Realty, PSU Banks Lead

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Corporate

Sensex, Nifty Hold Steady, Realty, PSU Banks Lead

India’s benchmark indices ended Monday’s session almost unchanged after a volatile day of trade, with gains in realty and PSU bank stocks offset by weakness in IT and auto counters.

The Sensex rose 40 points to 83,978, while the Nifty added 41 points to 25,763. Broader indices outperformed, with midcaps and smallcaps gaining up to 0.7%.

Realty, telecom, pharma, and PSU bank stocks led the advance, each rising 1–2%. IT, FMCG, and auto shares slipped on profit-booking.

Top gainers on the Nifty included Shriram Finance, M&M, Apollo Hospitals, SBI, and Tata Consumer, while Maruti, ITC, TCS, BEL, and L&T declined.

Analysts said markets are consolidating after recent highs. The Nifty faces resistance near 26,100, with support at 25,650.

The Bank Nifty showed strength, holding above 57,600, with potential to move toward 58,500.

Global sentiment stayed mixed as investors tracked the US Fed’s next move and geopolitical cues. Experts expect the market to stay range-bound, with buying interest in realty, PSU banks, and midcaps likely to continue.

Also Read: Sensex falls 100 pts, Nifty below 25,750

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Corporate

Urban Company Shares Drop 6% as Q2 Loss Hits ₹59 Cr

Urban Company shares fell nearly 6% on Monday after the home-services marketplace reported a wider consolidated net loss of ₹59.33 crore for the second quarter ended September 2025 (Q2 FY26), compared to ₹1.82 crore a year earlier. The loss came despite robust revenue growth, as elevated spending on new verticals, partner onboarding, and marketing weighed on margins.

Revenue from operations rose 37% year-on-year to ₹380 crore, reflecting continued momentum across beauty, home repair, and cleaning segments. However, total expenses surged to ₹462 crore from ₹384 crore in the same quarter last year, leading to an adjusted EBITDA loss of ₹35 crore.

A major drag on profitability was the company’s newly launched Insta Help vertical, which reported an EBITDA loss of ₹44 crore in the quarter. Excluding Insta Help, Urban Company’s core business delivered an adjusted EBITDA profit of ₹10 crore, or 0.9% of net transaction value (NTV).

Within India’s consumer services segment, excluding Insta Help, NTV grew 19% to ₹762 crore, while revenue increased 24% to ₹262 crore. The segment reported an adjusted EBITDA of ₹18 crore, equivalent to 2.4% of NTV, compared with 3.1% a year ago.

The company’s Native product category, featuring appliances such as water purifiers and smart locks, continued to expand rapidly. NTV jumped 164% year-on-year to ₹97 crore, while revenue climbed 179% to ₹75 crore. Despite this, the segment posted a smaller loss of ₹9 crore, indicating improved efficiency.

Urban Company’s international business, operating in the UAE and Singapore, also showed encouraging progress, with NTV rising 73% and revenue up 66% year-on-year, achieving near breakeven levels.

The company, which debuted on the stock exchanges earlier this year, reiterated its focus on long-term value creation through technology, service quality, and category diversification. Management said near-term losses reflect ongoing investments in scaling operations and enhancing partner experience.

Also Read: Ambuja Cements Q2 Profit Rises 364% to ₹2,302 Crore

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Corporate

Sensex falls 100 pts, Nifty below 25,750

Indian stocks traded with high volatility on Monday, opening slightly lower as investors took profits after a strong rally in October. Weakness in private banks and FMCG shares pulled the markets down, though positive quarterly results and encouraging auto sales data helped limit the fall.

The mood in global markets also stayed cautious. A stronger U.S. dollar and the Federal Reserve’s cautious outlook on interest rate cuts made investors less willing to take risks.

On Friday, Indian markets had already ended lower for the second day in a row as traders booked profits following mixed corporate earnings. Financial stocks, especially HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, faced pressure after the market regulator tightened some eligibility rules.

At close on Friday, the Sensex had fallen 465.75 points (0.55%) to 83,938.71, while the Nifty 50 lost 155.75 points (0.60%) to end at 25,722.10.

Analysts said the market could stay choppy in the short term as investors look for direction from global cues, crude oil prices, and upcoming earnings reports.

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Beyond

BCCI Awards ₹51 Crore to Women’s Team

India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup victory has not only made history on the field but also inspired a record-breaking gesture off it, with the BCCI announcing a ₹51-crore reward for the triumphant team.

The reward will be shared among players, selectors, and support staff, making it one of the most significant financial recognitions in Indian women’s sports. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the amount would come entirely from the Board’s own resources, “without touching the ICC’s share.”

India lifted the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 after defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, a victory that marked a defining chapter in Indian cricket. The BCCI’s ₹51-crore reward also exceeds the ICC’s official prize purse of about ₹40 crore, signalling the Board’s readiness to lead by example in promoting women’s cricket.

Saikia attributed the success to the team’s consistent performance and the BCCI’s recent initiatives, including equal match fees and enhanced support structures, aimed at bringing parity and professionalism to the women’s game.

“Women’s cricket reached the next level when our team beat Australia in the semi-final,” Saikia said, acknowledging the performance that set up India’s historic win.

The BCCI’s decision goes beyond the cricket field. It highlights how recognition, fairness, and investment can drive both performance and reputation. For India, it is a moment to celebrate excellence helps build a stronger culture of aspiration and trust.

With this record reward, the BCCI has set a new standard for recognition, proving that women’s cricket is not just a sporting triumph but a growing symbol of leadership and progress.

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1 Minute-Read

Indian-Origin CEO Brahmbhatt Accused in BlackRock Fraud

Indian-origin businessman Bankim Brahmbhatt, founder of the Bankai Group, faces allegations of orchestrating a $500 million loan fraud that has rocked the global private-credit market.

The US court filings claim his firms, Bridgevoice Inc. and Broadband Telecom Inc., obtained loans from investors like BlackRock and BNP Paribas using fabricated invoices and fake client emails.

This alleged scam, which ran for four years, collapsed in mid-2025 after auditors detected irregularities. Brahmbhatt’s firms have filed for bankruptcy, his offices are shut, and his whereabouts remain unclear as investigators probe the widening financial scandal.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Q2 Net Profit Rises 7% to ₹3,293 Crore

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Technology

Google, Reliance Announce Free AI Pro Access

Google and Reliance Jio have announced a major partnership to offer free access to Google’s premium AI Pro plan, worth ₹35,100, to millions of Jio users across India. The offer provides 18 months of complimentary access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google’s most advanced AI model, along with premium tools for image and video generation, Notebook LM, and 2 TB of cloud storage.

The rollout begins with Jio’s 18–25-year-old users on unlimited 5G plans, and will later expand to other customers. Eligible users can activate the offer directly through the MyJio app upon receiving a notification.

The partnership aims to accelerate digital empowerment and make artificial intelligence accessible to every Indian. Beyond consumer access, Reliance Intelligence Limited, which is Reliance’s AI arm, will work with Google to introduce Gemini Enterprise solutions and bring AI computing hardware like Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to India.

Industry leaders see the collaboration as a pivotal move that could redefine India’s AI landscape by combining Google’s innovation with Jio’s massive reach, enabling millions to experience the next generation of intelligent tools without any cost.

Also Read: US signs 10-year defence pact with India

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Technology

Instagram Launches AI-Powered “Restyle” for Effortless Story Editing

Instagram has unveiled a new AI-powered editing tool called Restyle, designed to let users modify photos and videos in their Stories using simple text prompts. Powered by Meta’s artificial intelligence, the feature allows creators to make everything from subtle enhancements to dramatic visual transformations quickly and intuitively.

With Restyle, photo editing becomes as simple as describing the desired change. Users can select a photo for their Story, tap the paintbrush-like Restyle icon, and type prompts such as “remove the trash bin,” “make the sky a golden sunset,” or “turn this cityscape into a dreamy forest.” The AI interprets the instructions and automatically edits the image, eliminating the need for complex manual adjustments.

For videos, the feature works differently. Rather than freeform editing, users select from a set of presets that modify the overall tone, lighting, and style of the clip. This approach allows creators to quickly give their videos a cinematic or stylistic effect without requiring advanced editing skills.

Meta has also shared guidance on crafting effective prompts. Users are advised to include details about the subject, lighting, and mood, composition, and background to achieve more accurate results. The clearer the prompt, the closer the AI’s output matches the intended look.

Experts say Restyle represents a significant step in making AI-driven creativity accessible to everyday users. By lowering technical barriers, the tool encourages experimentation and helps creators produce visually engaging content faster. It also opens up new opportunities for storytelling, allowing users to match visuals to the mood and message they want to convey.

However, the output’s accuracy depends on how well prompts are written, and while photo editing allows for object-level modifications, video presets focus on overall style rather than detailed changes. Meta advises using the tool to enhance creativity rather than replace a creator’s original vision.

Instagram’s Restyle feature is gradually rolling out worldwide, marking a new era of AI-assisted content creation. By integrating intuitive AI tools into everyday social media, Instagram aims to redefine how users share and express their stories online.

Also Read: RIL Faces Margin Pressure Amid Fresh Russian Oil Sanctions

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Technology

Apple Slashes iPhone Air Output As Sales Stall

Apple is sharply scaling back production of its iPhone Air, following sluggish global demand for the ultra-thin smartphone. Industry reports suggest output will fall to less than 10% of initial targets, levels typically associated with discontinued models.

Launched in September 2025 as Apple’s slimmest iPhone at 5.6mm, the iPhone Air featured a 48MP rear camera, 6.5-inch OLED display, and 3149mAh battery.

However, analysts say its single-lens camera, shorter battery life, and premium pricing failed to resonate with buyers outside China. Surveys report “virtually no demand” for the model, with consumers showing minimal interest in foldable or thin-design phones.

By contrast, Apple’s iPhone 17 range, especially the base and Pro versions, continues to enjoy strong global sales. The company is now redirecting production resources toward these variants, maintaining overall iPhone 17 output at an estimated 85–95 million units in 2025.

Analysts view the iPhone Air’s underperformance as evidence that Apple’s standard and Pro models already meet high-end user expectations, leaving little appetite for a thinner handset that sacrifices features. The production cut underscores Apple’s pragmatic response to shifting market trends.

Also Read: Blackstone Backs Federal Bank With Nearly ₹6,200 Crore Investment

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Corporate

Blackstone Backs Federal Bank With Nearly ₹6,200 Crore Investment

Federal Bank has announced a significant capital-raising decision, with global private equity firm Blackstone committing an investment of ₹6,196.51 crore that could give it close to a 10% stake in the bank. The board has approved issuing 272.97 million convertible warrants at ₹227 per share, forming part of a broader fundraising plan to strengthen the bank’s balance sheet and support future growth.

Blackstone will pay 25% of the warrant value upfront, with the remainder due at the time of conversion. The warrants can be exercised within 18 months in one or more tranches. Any unconverted warrants after this period will lapse, and the upfront payment will be forfeited.

As part of the agreement, Federal Bank will also offer Blackstone the right to nominate one non-executive director to the board, provided the investor holds at least 5% of the bank’s post-conversion equity.

The bank is also exploring additional capital-raising avenues, including a rights issue, preferential allotment and a qualified institutional placement, to enhance its financial flexibility.

An Extraordinary General Meeting is scheduled for 19 November to seek shareholder approval for the proposals. Shares of Federal Bank rose modestly in early trade following the announcement, reflecting positive investor sentiment around the infusion.

Also Read: L&T Secures Major Orders from Hindalco and Tata Steel