Friday, August 21
Mumbai: Indian equities may offer a better payoff in 2026 compared with the year that's ending, yet the outlook is marked by caution and indecision, as investors will weigh global uncertainties against a more favourable risk-reward balance. The Sensex and Nifty are likely to gain between 8% and 14%, according to most of the stock market participants polled by ET. The Sensex ended at 84,675 and the Nifty closed at 25,939 on Tuesday, the penultimate trading day of 2025. The Nifty gained 9.7% and the Sensex rose 8.4% in the year up to December 30. More than half the poll participants, which included fund managers and brokers, said the Nifty could advance to 28,000-29,500 levels, while the Sensex may touch 94,000-96,000 levels. "We expect a volatile start to 2026, with near-term downside risk
Mumbai: Multi-asset allocation funds emerged as the standout performers in 2025, powered by the sharp rally in precious metals that overshadowed returns from the equity market. Gold prices surged 76% during the year, while silver soared an astonishing 155%, giving funds with diversified exposure a decisive edge. Data from Value Research showed that multi-asset allocation funds delivered an average return of nearly 17%, ahead of equity-oriented categories. These funds benefited from their allocation to gold and silver, cushioning portfolios against the drag from equities. 126261778 Equity fund categories, meanwhile, witnessed mixed performances but struggled to beat their respective benchmarks in 2025. Large-cap funds delivered an average return of 7.42%, trailing the BSE 100 Total Returns
New Delhi: Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Wednesday outlined the conglomerate's strategic priorities for 2026, emphasising execution, teamwork, and bold innovation as key drivers amid global uncertainty. In his year-end message to staff, Chandrasekaran highlighted that companies that deliver on commitments, foster collaboration across teams, and take calculated risks will be best positioned to navigate volatility and create long-term stability. The group plans to accelerate AI and data initiatives, expand advanced manufacturing, and strengthen future-ready talent skilled in emerging technologies. Sustainability remains a priority, with initiatives like green steel production and electric mobility continuing to scale. He also underscored the importance of resilience, citing cyberse
Artificial intelligence's insatiable appetite for data storage has delivered Japanese memory chipmaker Kioxia Holdings Corp world-beating stock gains this year, a sign that the AI boom is alive and well despite recent market jitters. Kioxia's shares have risen around 540% year-to-date, outperforming all other members of the MSCI World Index and making it the top stock in Japan's Topix benchmark for 2025. The NAND flash memory maker, which only debuted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange last December, counts Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp among its clients and is now worth about ₹5.7 trillion ($36 billion).126261746 Kioxia's stratospheric climb illustrates the tech industry's booming demand for memory as hyperscalers rush to build out AI infrastructure. Chips like Kioxia's are essential for AI tra
