Equity Markets & Sector News Update -14 Aug, 2025

Markets & Equities

• Indian indices opened flat to modest gains:
o Nifty 50 marginally up to ~24,648–24,650,
o Sensex hovered near 80,600, up about 0.1%.

• Markets poised to break six-week losing streak, supported by positive FY25 earnings and optimism around US-Russia diplomacy.

• Stock Watch: Top picks include JSW Cement, BPCL, Infosys, ICICI Bank, ABFRL.

Breakout calls from analysts include Gujarat Apollo Industries, Vimta Labs, Skipper Ltd, Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys, and Shilpa Medicare.

2. Commodities, Currency, & Trade Outlook
• Rupee steadied at ~87.44–87.46/USD ahead of the Trump–Putin summit.

• Fitch’s CreditSights flags risk: U.S. tariffs could ripple across export-reliant sectors and strain banking credit flows.
(ET)

• S&P Ratings remains confident: Despite heightened trade tensions, India’s GDP at 6.5% and limited export exposure (2% of GDP) keep growth outlook steady.

3. Trade & Geopolitics

• U.S.–Russia Summit in Alaska: Market interest is high amid geopolitical stakes. A favorable outcome could ease the trade tension, particularly against the escalating 50% U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.

• FT explores the political strain: Analysts note a shift in U.S.–India relations, likening current tensions to the aftermath of India’s 1998 nuclear tests. Future economic and defense ties may face recalibration.

4. Economy & Trade Metrics
• India’s WPI (Wholesale Price Index) for July:
o Headline WPI inflation: –0.30%
o Food WPI: –0.26%
o Manufacturing WPI: +1.97% (annualized)

Earnings Updates – Q1 FY26

• ITI Ltd (YoY): Revenue ₹498 Cr (–4.2%), EBITDA loss ₹7.3 Cr (vs ₹12.6 Cr loss), Net loss ₹63.6 Cr (vs ₹91.3 Cr loss).

• Dredging Corp (YoY): Revenue ₹242 Cr (+60.6%), EBITDA ₹46.9 Cr (margin 19.4%), Net loss ₹23.3 Cr (vs ₹31.4 Cr loss).

• BPCL (QoQ): Revenue ₹1.13 L Cr (+1.2%), EBITDA ₹9,663 Cr (+24.4%, margin 8.6%), Net profit ₹6,124 Cr (+90.5%).

• Jubilant FoodWorks (YoY): Revenue ₹2,261 Cr (+17%), EBITDA ₹438 Cr (margin 19.4%), Net profit ₹91.8 Cr (+64.4%).

• Surya Roshni (YoY): Revenue ₹1,605 Cr (–15.3%), EBITDA ₹69.8 Cr (margin 4.3%), Net profit ₹33.6 Cr (–63.6%).

• Endurance Tech (YoY): Revenue ₹3,319 Cr (+17.5%), EBITDA ₹444 Cr (margin 13.4%), Net profit ₹226 Cr (+11%).

• Vishal Mega Mart (YoY): Revenue ₹3,140 Cr (+21%), EBITDA ₹459 Cr (margin 14.6%), Net profit ₹206 Cr (+37.3%).

• Muthoot Finance (YoY): Net profit ₹2,016 Cr (+73.2%), NII ₹3,933 Cr (+43%), Impairment down 11.7% to ₹331 Cr.

• IRCTC (YoY): Revenue ₹1,160 Cr (+3.8%), EBITDA ₹397 Cr (margin 34.3%), Net profit ₹331 Cr (+7.5%).

Corporate Actions

• ICICI Bank: Reduced minimum average balance requirement for new customers — Urban: ₹15,000 (from ₹50,000), Semi-urban: ₹7,500 (from ₹10,000).

• IRCTC: Approved winding-up proceedings for joint venture Royale Indian Rail Tours.

• Zydus Lifesciences:

o Ahmedabad facility – zero USFDA observations (inspection: Aug 11–13).

o Himachal Pradesh plant – 4 USFDA observations (inspection: Aug 4–13).

• RVNL: Received ₹90.6 Cr Letter of Acceptance from Southern Railway for Video Surveillance System.

• L&T Finance: Allotted 25,000 NCDs worth ₹250 Cr on private placement basis.

• Prism Johnson: Signed cement supply pact with Jabalpur Cement Industries; capacity in MP to rise from 1.08 MTPA to 1.38 MTPA by Sept 2025.