Christine Lagarde said coercive trade policies cannot fix financial imbalances. She spoke in Beijing and urged policy adjustments to ease tensions. Lagarde noted a sharp rise in industrial policies boosting domestic capacity. She highlighted the surge in global demand from the United States. Lagarde suggested respecting global rules and forging mutually beneficial agreements. These steps can resolve the conflict.
In Gaza, desperate Palestinians seeking aid faced renewed violence, resulting in 36 deaths and 207 injuries, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry. Amidst a dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Israel's blockade, civilians are killed while trying to obtain essential food supplies. Ceasefire negotiations show progress, but the situation remains critical, with the UN rejecting the new aid system.
Oriental Carbon & Chemicals shares saw a rise. This happened after Bank of America purchased shares via a block deal. The deal involved 53,428 shares at Rs 289.53 each. The total deal value reached approximately Rs 1.5 crore. The company's stock is currently showing low volatility. However, analysts suggest a potential downside based on target prices.
Aniruddha Naha of PGIM India AMC remains positive on Indian markets, particularly financials, citing strong macro fundamentals and reasonable valuations. He anticipates FII inflows to initially benefit largecaps, eventually spreading to mid and smallcaps. Naha favors financials (especially NBFCs), capital goods, and discretionary consumption, driven by rate cuts, liquidity, and improved consumption trends.
Ganga Bath Fittings is set to list on the NSE SME platform after its IPO aimed to raise Rs 32.65 crore. However, the grey market premium indicates a discounted debut, with expectations of opening below the IPO price. The company, a manufacturer of bathroom accessories, plans to use IPO proceeds for capital expenditure and working capital.
A federal appeals court has allowed President Trump's tariffs to remain in effect while it reviews a lower court decision that blocked them. The court will consider whether Trump exceeded his authority by imposing the tariffs under an emergency economic powers act.
Gold and silver prices have recently surged, attracting retail investors. Now, investing in these precious metals is possible through mutual funds. Gold and silver ETFs offer a convenient way to gain exposure without physical ownership. These ETFs trade like stocks and mirror the metals' performance. For those without demat accounts, gold or silver funds provide an alternative.
