Friday, August 14
JioBlackRock Mutual Fund which is a new entrant in the mutual fund industry increased its holdings in nearly 475 stocks in December whereas reduced its stake in 29 stocks in the said time period, according to the monthly data released by Prime Database.The fund house increased its exposure in 475 stocks in December which includes names such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, MCX, HAL, L&T, Titan, BPCL, ITC, Asian Paints, IndiGo (Interglobe Aviation), Yes Bank, RIL, Siemens Energy India, Adani Energy Solutions, IRFC, Trent, ONGC, HDFC AMC, Eicher Motors, Swiggy, HUL, BSE, and Eternal.Also Read | Gold rally adds Rs 117 lakh crore to Indian household wealth in 2025This new entrant AMC reduced its stake in 29 stocks which includes TCS, SAIL, Power Grid Corporation, Thomas Cook (India
Private sector lender RBL Bank on Saturday reported a massive 555% increase in its net profit to Rs 214 crore in the third quarter of FY26 compared to Rs 33 crore it reported in the same quarter of the previous financial year. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the lender reported a 20% increase in profitability.The lender earned an interest income of Rs 1,657 crore, marking a 5% increase from Rs 1,585 crore it posted in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The company’s NIM or net interest margin was 4.63%, lower by 33 basis points from 4.90% it reported in the third quarter of the previous financial year, the company said in a regulatory filing.Asset quality improved during the quarter, with the gross NPA ratio declining to 1.88% as of December 31, 2025, from 2.32% at the end of
India’s passport has improved its global mobility ranking in 2026, rising five places to 80th position in the Henley Passport Index, the annual global ranking of travel freedom. According to the index, Indian citizens can now travel to 55 countries without needing a visa in advance, or by using simplified entry options such as visa‑on‑arrival or electronic travel authorisation.The Henley Passport Index measures how many destinations passport holders can reach without a prior visa. The increase from last year reflects incremental diplomatic gains for India, and enhances ease of travel for Indian tourists and business travellers alike.Below is the list of destinations Indians can visit without applying for a traditional visa before travel, as per the Henley Passport Index 2026/Visa‑F
Walmart announced a series of executive changes on Friday as John Furner prepares to take over as CEO of the world's largest retailer on February 1, replacing Doug McMillon.The moves aim to maintain the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer's growth momentum and bellwether position in the industry by promoting four longtime executives and expanding their responsibilities.David Guggina will become CEO of Walmart's largest division, Walmart U.S., replacing Furner in that role. Currently serving as chief e-commerce officer of Walmart U.S., Guggina has spent nearly eight years at the retailer in various positions, including executive vice president of supply chain operations. The U.S. CEO position is highly coveted, as Walmart typically promotes leaders from this division, which generates aroun
As Budget 2026 approaches, the crypto or virtual digital asset sector is looking for long-awaited regulatory clarity to boost investor confidence, along with a rationalisation of the current 1% TDS on crypto transactions.In the Union Budget 2025, the finance minister kept the existing tax rules on virtual digital assets (VDAs) unchanged despite repeated calls from the cryptocurrency industry for reforms noting that the current rules are a hurdle for investors and traders.Budget 2022 marked the formal recognition of cryptocurrencies as Virtual Digital Assets with a defined tax regime.Also Read | Binance lists 12 themes that will shape crypto market in 2026. Check detailsCurrent taxation on cryptocurrencyThe Income Tax Act contains key provisions—Sections 115BBH and 194S—that govern the
India is set to anchor South Asia as the world’s brightest growth region, even as a majority of global economists brace for weaker economic conditions in 2026, according to the World Economic Forum’s latest Chief Economists Outlook, released on January 16. South Asia remains the brightest growth spot among emerging regions, with India underpinning the outlook despite mounting trade headwinds.The survey, published ahead of the annual WEF meeting in Davos next week, shows that while global sentiment has improved modestly since late 2025, uncertainty remains elevated amid high asset valuations, rising debt, geo-economic realignments, and the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence.This makes for a useful backdrop to my third note. If the last one was about how India arrived at this mo
Indian equity markets staged a mild rebound after several sessions of decline, buoyed by strong gains in select IT and banking stocks on the back of positive earnings surprises. The uptick underscored the resilience of domestic financials, even as global headwinds, particularly geopolitical and trade-related uncertainties, persisted in the backdrop.The recovery was primarily fueled by heavyweight IT counters, which rallied following robust quarterly results. This helped offset lingering concerns over potential U.S. tariff actions, including secondary sanctions tied to trade with Russia and Iran. While such trade risks continue to loom, their market impact has been relatively contained.Ongoing domestic institutional buying has played a stabilising role, mitigating the effect of moderate FII
