The latest market moves underscored the relentless noise that has shaped the year. The whiplash across markets was a resounding reminder to investors that taking big bets during the thinned holiday trading comes with significant risks.


Global Markets & Economic Health Check

Indian stocks reversed deep losses from earlier in the week to end Friday with gains for the second straight session. Now, bets are for stock benchmarks to extend those gains into the coming week. Investors expect the government's latest reforms to turn the table on recent losses in markets, including the record low rupee.


Will Insurance, Pension Fund Reforms Boost Investor Confidence?

This week, the biggest cue for Indian markets was the reserve bank of India’s decision to cut borrowing rates by 0.25 percent on Friday. The move followed a multi-year slowdown in price hikes with retail inflation edging below one percent in October.


What Moved Indian Markets This Week?

That's it on this news bulletin. But before we let you go, we leave you with some news in numbers. Today, we look at how often does the stock market decline.


How often does the stock market decline?

Last week saw significant turbulence on wall street, triggered by a crypto crash that unsettled broader risk assets. As Bitcoin plunged, market makers faced additional pressure in an already fragile trading environment. From stocks, to gold, to oil, almost every asset class ended the week deep in the red.


Wall Street Plunges Amid Crypto Crash, What to Expect From Markets This Week? 

Asian markets started the week on a cautious tone as investors focus on September's delayed U.S. Jobs report and the release of October's more hawkish federal reserve's meeting minutes. In this next report, we decode the cues to watch in the week ahead. 


Post-shutdown, Investors to Focus on U.S. Jobs & Fed Minutes

Japan’s Stock Market Boom : Japan Stock Market: Put the spotlight on the Japanese stock markets, which have outperformed most other emerging markets in the region. The index continues to rally to record highs after gaining close to 30%.


Japan’s Stock Market Boom : Why Japanese Markets Are Booming?|

As November earnings season kicks off, resilient stocks have rallied, buoyed by investor optimism and strong sector fundamentals. Market watchers anticipate robust quarterly results from major companies, with the “Magnificent 7” tech giants expected to lead growth. Despite some sector-specific setbacks, overall earnings growth projections trend higher, supporting continued market momentum. 


Resilient Stocks Rally Ahead of Earnings Wave Amid Positive Market Sentiment 

After months of bliss, financial markets have started to turn extremely volatile. After the crash on friday last week, a subsequent reversal this week saw markets oscillate between gains and losses. Six days of volatility across assets show a deeper anxiety taking hold amidst credit fragility fears.

Global Markets & Economic Health Check (Oct 13 Week)

The value of a country's stock market reflects its economic strength and investment appeal. The United States dominates global markets with a $31.7 trillion valuation, followed by China, Japan, and India. 

<p>The value of a country's stock market reflects its economic strength and investment appeal. The United States dominates global markets with a $31.7 trillion valuation, followed by China, Japan, and India.&nbsp;</p>

Top 10 countries with the most valuable stock markets in 2025

The long-standing corporate saga continues as the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group publicly calls for Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, to be listed on the stock market. What’s behind this move? What could it mean for India’s most iconic conglomerate?


SP Group vs Tata Sons: Shapoorji Pallonji Group Urges Tata Sons Listing in Stock Market

 Indian markets remain volatile as global trade tensions and a weakening rupee add pressure on equities. Despite the macro challenges, both the nifty and the sensex rebounded sharply this past week. The week’s overall performance reflected a consolidation phase, with gains concentrated in a few key sectors.

Retail Investors Show Resilience As Foreign Investors Sell

 In financial markets, the surprise of the year has been the surge in African stocks into the global top 20.
Wall Street has seen repeated record highs and so have many of the well-known stock markets.
However, the dramatic rise in African benchmarks is drawing investor attention.

Stock Markets Across Africa Soar

Global Market Update: Nothing seems to stop the everything rally. Once again, the reflation trade boomed in the big federal reserve meeting week.
On Friday, the story was one of cautious optimism for global trade, as both Washington and Beijing struck a more constructive tone. President trump described the call with Xi Jinping as “positive and constructive.”
He added that progress had been made on “several important issues."
That shift in rhetoric provided a relief bid across risk assets, even as broader market themes remained volatile.

Global Markets & Economic Health Check for September

Global Market Update: Nothing seems to halt the ongoing rally, as reflation surged during a pivotal Federal Reserve meeting week on Friday. The mood was marked by cautious optimism for global trade, with both Washington and Beijing signaling a more constructive approach.


Global Markets & Economic Health Check for September 

Next up, we track India’s evolving ties with the US And the European Union. Both the US And EU worry about Russia’s war in Ukraine, but their approach to India's purchase of russian oil is diverging.


Tracking India's Trade Ties With The West

Nepal’s stock market opened lower amid ongoing Gen Z-led protests, which led to a temporary trading halt. The unrest reflects growing youth dissatisfaction with the government’s policies, impacting investor confidence and market stability.


Nepal stocks trade in the red on reopen | Trading halted amid Gen Z-led protests

Nepal stock market falls over 6% | Trading halted amid Gen Z-led protests

This holiday season,
U.S. Retailers and the tourism industry are bracing for a slowdown.
Shoppers are pulling back as inflation, tariffs, and economic uncertainty weigh on spending.
This next report examines the key trends shaping the U.S. economy.
Take a look...

US Holiday Sales Growth Loses Festive Spark 

Indian stock markets surged after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced tax cuts, helping to offset fears stemming from ongoing trade tensions. Investors reacted positively, boosting market confidence and economic optimism.


PM Modi's tax cut plan offsets trade tension-led sell-off

Indian Stocks Rally as Modi’s Tax Cuts Ease Trade Tension Concerns 

European Defence and energy markets are in focus this week, after U.S. president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin ended their Alaska summit without securing a Ukraine ceasefire. analysts warn the U.S. may scale back support for Ukraine and instead move closer to Russia on energy cooperation.


Investors Balance Peace Prospects With Market Risks

<p>Global equities traded flat but hovered near record highs on Friday as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held high-stakes talks in Alaska over the war in Ukraine. According to Reuters, investors largely stayed on the sidelines as the outcome of the meeting could shape the prospects of a ceasefire in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly touched an intraday record, becoming the last of the major US indexes to set a new peak this week. By the close, the Dow was up 0.08 per cent, while the S&amp;P 500 slipped 0.29 per cent and the Nasdaq fell 0.40 per cent, dragged down by technology, financials, industrials and utilities.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Talley Leger, chief market strategist at The Wealth Consulting Group in New Jersey, told Reuters that “this market continues to move higher and the story is just earnings and margins,” adding that stronger services inflation was boosting profit margins in the US economy. Fresh data showed US retail sales rose 0.5 per cent in July from the previous month, signalling resilience in consumer demand even as producer price data earlier in the week reignited inflation concerns.</p><h2><strong>Europe and Asia stay cautious</strong></h2><p>In Europe, the STOXX 600 index touched a near five-month high before closing flat at 0.06 per cent. Investors drew support from a largely upbeat earnings season but remained cautious ahead of the geopolitical talks.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The MSCI All Country World Index also steadied, trading at 951.70, just shy of Wednesday’s record 954.21.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Japan posted stronger-than-expected GDP growth, with the economy expanding at an annualised 1.0 per cent in the April–June quarter, as per Reuters.</p><h2><strong>Bonds and currencies react</strong></h2><p>US Treasury yields edged higher as traders reassessed the outlook for Federal Reserve policy. The two-year note yield rose to 3.751 per cent, while the benchmark 10-year yield climbed to 4.32 per cent.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In currency markets, the dollar weakened 0.38 per cent against the Japanese yen to 146.72, slipped 0.15 per cent against the Swiss franc to 0.806, while the euro gained 0.48 per cent to $1.1702. The dollar index was last down 0.34 per cent at 97.85.</p><h2><strong>Oil and gold diverge</strong></h2><p>Energy markets saw a sell-off, with Brent crude down 1.5 per cent at $66.85 a barrel and US crude falling 1.8 per cent to $62.80. Analysts told Reuters that a breakthrough in Trump-Putin talks could affect future commodity prices.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Spot gold edged up 0.09 per cent to $3,338.65 an ounce, while US gold futures settled almost flat at $3,382.60.</p><h2><strong>Bitcoin cools after record run</strong></h2><p>Meanwhile, cryptocurrency markets stabilised after bitcoin briefly hit a record $124,480.82 on Thursday. By Friday, it had eased 0.78 per cent to $117,033.52, according to Reuters.</p><h2><strong>Stakes high in Alaska</strong></h2><p>The Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska was closely watched by investors. Trump has suggested that a second summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could follow if talks with Putin progress.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ukraine’s government bonds have stalled at a distressed 55 cents on the dollar, reflecting investor caution. Shaniel Ramjee, co-head of multi-asset at Pictet Asset Management, told Reuters that markets have learnt “not to expect too much from these negotiations,” noting that Europeans and Zelenskiy must eventually be part of any final settlement.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i>(With inputs from the agencies)</i></p>

European indices remained cautious, with the STOXX 600 closing nearly flat. US retail sales increased 0.5% in July, reflecting consumer resilience. Treasury yields rose and the dollar weakened against several currencies.

Global equities traded flat but hovered near record highs on Friday as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held high-stakes talks in Alaska over the war in Ukraine. According to Reuters, investors largely stayed on the sidelines as the outcome of the meeting could shape the prospects of a ceasefire in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly touched an intraday record, becoming the last of the major US indexes to set a new peak this week. By the close, the Dow was up 0.08 per cent, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.29 per cent and the Nasdaq fell 0.40 per cent, dragged down by technology, financials, industrials and utilities. Talley Leger, chief market strategist at The Wealth Consulting Group in New Jersey, told Reuters that “this market continues to move higher and the story is just earnings and margins,” adding that stronger services inflation was boosting profit margins in the US economy. Fresh data showed US retail sales rose 0.5 per cent in July from the previous month, signalling resilience in consumer demand even as producer price data earlier in the week reignited inflation concerns. Europe and Asia stay cautious In Europe, the STOXX 600 index touched a near five-month high before closing flat at 0.06 per cent. Investors drew support from a largely upbeat earnings season but remained cautious ahead of the geopolitical talks. The MSCI All Country World Index also steadied, trading at 951.70, just shy of Wednesday’s record 954.21. Japan posted stronger-than-expected GDP growth, with the economy expanding at an annualised 1.0 per cent in the April–June quarter, as per Reuters. Bonds and currencies react US Treasury yields edged higher as traders reassessed the outlook for Federal Reserve policy. The two-year note yield rose to 3.751 per cent, while the benchmark 10-year yield climbed to 4.32 per cent. In currency markets, the dollar weakened 0.38 per cent against the Japanese yen to 146.72, slipped 0.15 per cent against the Swiss franc to 0.806, while the euro gained 0.48 per cent to $1.1702. The dollar index was last down 0.34 per cent at 97.85. Oil and gold diverge Energy markets saw a sell-off, with Brent crude down 1.5 per cent at $66.85 a barrel and US crude falling 1.8 per cent to $62.80. Analysts told Reuters that a breakthrough in Trump-Putin talks could affect future commodity prices. Spot gold edged up 0.09 per cent to $3,338.65 an ounce, while US gold futures settled almost flat at $3,382.60. Bitcoin cools after record run Meanwhile, cryptocurrency markets stabilised after bitcoin briefly hit a record $124,480.82 on Thursday. By Friday, it had eased 0.78 per cent to $117,033.52, according to Reuters. Stakes high in Alaska The Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska was closely watched by investors. Trump has suggested that a second summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could follow if talks with Putin progress. Ukraine’s government bonds have stalled at a distressed 55 cents on the dollar, reflecting investor caution. Shaniel Ramjee, co-head of multi-asset at Pictet Asset Management, told Reuters that markets have learnt “not to expect too much from these negotiations,” noting that Europeans and Zelenskiy must eventually be part of any final settlement. (With inputs from the agencies)

<p>Global equities remained flat near record highs amid high-stakes talks between US President Trump and Russian President Putin over Ukraine. Wall Street saw the Dow reach an intraday record, gaining 0.08%, while the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq fell slightly.</p>

World stocks steady, oil slides as Trump and Putin meet in Alaska

<p>The Indian stock markets have delivered a standout performance since March 2025. Listed Indian stocks have added a market capitalisation (m-cap) of one trillion dollars in the said duration.&nbsp;</p><p>This surge, driven by a strong rally following a five-month correction from October 2024 to February 2025, marks a 21 per cent jump, which marks the highest gain among the world’s top 10 markets. Reports suggest that India's market cap has risen above $5 trillion—that places Indian markets fifth globally.</p><p>The United States remains the largest market in the world, China is second, Japan is third while Hong Kong and India remain separated by a slim margin.</p><p>The rally in Indian markets was followed by a correction phase between October 2024 and February 2025. The Nifty and the Sensex are up over 12 per cent during that period.&nbsp;</p><p>India's market capitalisation had increased over six times in the last 11 years—from ₹74 lakh crore ($1.2 trillion) in May 2014 to around ₹450 lakh crore ($5.2 trillion) in 2025.</p><p>The broader markets have witnessed even stronger momentum. Mid-caps are up close to 20 per cent while small caps are up over 25 per cent.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Top performing markets in 2025:</strong></p><p>(As of June 11 closing bell)</p><p>- India up 20 per cent</p><p>- Germany up 14 per cent</p><p>- Canada up 11 per cent</p><p>- Hong Kong up 9 per cent</p><p>For perspective, US Markets are up just 2.7 per cent.</p><p>That makes Indian markets a rare outperformer in a challenging equity market.</p><p>While the rally has sparked optimism in Indian markets, experts say valuations have been pushed higher. They say some sectors show frothy valuations, especially in an uncertain global trade scenario.</p><p>The recent earnings season paints a mixed picture, while sectors like financials reported strong earnings, tech, and consumption-driven sectors revised their guidance lower. The outlook for future earnings in several sectors has also dimmed.</p><p>But as global capital continues its search for strong returns, India's relatively high growth forecast, strong retail investor participation, and market-friendly government policies make it one of the top markets for long-term investors.</p>

While the rally has sparked optimism in Indian markets, experts say valuations have been pushed higher.

The Indian stock markets have delivered a standout performance since March 2025. Listed Indian stocks have added a market capitalisation (m-cap) of one trillion dollars in the said duration. This surge, driven by a strong rally following a five-month correction from October 2024 to February 2025, marks a 21 per cent jump, which marks the highest gain among the world’s top 10 markets. Reports suggest that India's market cap has risen above $5 trillion—that places Indian markets fifth globally. The United States remains the largest market in the world, China is second, Japan is third while Hong Kong and India remain separated by a slim margin. The rally in Indian markets was followed by a correction phase between October 2024 and February 2025. The Nifty and the Sensex are up over 12 per cent during that period. India's market capitalisation had increased over six times in the last 11 years—from ₹74 lakh crore ($1.2 trillion) in May 2014 to around ₹450 lakh crore ($5.2 trillion) in 2025. The broader markets have witnessed even stronger momentum. Mid-caps are up close to 20 per cent while small caps are up over 25 per cent. Top performing markets in 2025: (As of June 11 closing bell) - India up 20 per cent - Germany up 14 per cent - Canada up 11 per cent - Hong Kong up 9 per cent For perspective, US Markets are up just 2.7 per cent. That makes Indian markets a rare outperformer in a challenging equity market. While the rally has sparked optimism in Indian markets, experts say valuations have been pushed higher. They say some sectors show frothy valuations, especially in an uncertain global trade scenario. The recent earnings season paints a mixed picture, while sectors like financials reported strong earnings, tech, and consumption-driven sectors revised their guidance lower. The outlook for future earnings in several sectors has also dimmed. But as global capital continues its search for strong returns, India's relatively high growth forecast, strong retail investor participation, and market-friendly government policies make it one of the top markets for long-term investors.

<p>While the rally has sparked optimism in Indian markets, experts say valuations have been pushed higher.</p>

Indian markets outperform global peers since March 2025, add $1 trillion to M-cap

<p dir="ltr"><span>Indian capital markets logged their best single-day gains in over four years on May 12, driven by the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan and favourable global cues. The easing of trade tensions between the US and China, following fresh tariff decisions, lifted investor sentiment across the board.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The United States and China jointly declared a 90-day pause on a portion of their existing tariffs, as outlined in a statement released by both countries. The ceasefire between India and Pakistan has paved the way for a sharp rally of nearly 4 per cent in India&rsquo;s benchmark indices, Nifty50 and the Sensex, which closed at 24,924.70 and 82,429.90, respectively.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The prime mover of the rally will be the foreign institutional investors (FII) who have been buying Indian equities for sixteen continuous days, except on May 09, when the India-Pakistan tensions escalated. All sectoral indices ended in the green.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>While India&rsquo;s volatility gauge plunged during Monday&rsquo;s intraday session. India VIX measures the market's expectation of future volatility based on the Nifty50 index options contracts. India VIX fell as much as 20.46 per cent to 17.79, the lowest level since the end of April, according to Bloomberg data.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Shares of information technology (IT) companies were in focus as the Nifty IT index registered a surge of 6.7 per cent, thus recording its sharpest intraday rally in over five years.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The sharp up move in IT stocks was triggered after the US decided to reduce tariffs on China to 30 per cent from 145 per cent for 90 days. Earlier, on April 7, 2020, the Nifty IT index soared 8.3 per cent in intraday trade.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In the past one month, the Nifty IT index outperformed the market by surging 15 per cent, as compared to a 6.7 per cent rise in the Nifty 50. However, thus far in the current calendar year 2025, the IT index has slipped 12 per cent due to concerns over the recession in the US and the tariff war.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Realty (up 5.93 per cent), followed by Metal (up 5.86 per cent) and IT indices, were the top gainers, while only the Pharma index (down 0.07 per cent) was trading in the red.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><span>Pakistan&rsquo;s stock market</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The Karachi Stock Exchange 100 (KSE 100), the benchmark index of the Pakistan stock market, surged over 9 per cent on May 12, sparking a one-hour trading halt.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Pakistan's stock exchange halted trading on Monday for an hour, according to an exchange notification, a Reuters report stated.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>According to data available on Bloomberg, the KSE 100 index jumped 9,751 points to 117,230. This comes after strong gains of nearly 4 per cent were seen in the May 09 trading session. With today's gains, the Pakistan benchmark index has again turned positive on a year-to-date basis.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Business & Economy: The ceasefire between India and Pakistan has paved the way for a sharp rally of nearly 4 per cent in India’s benchmark indices, Nifty50 and Sensex.

Indian capital markets logged their best single-day gains in over four years on May 12, driven by the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan and favourable global cues. The easing of trade tensions between the US and China, following fresh tariff decisions, lifted investor sentiment across the board. The United States and China jointly declared a 90-day pause on a portion of their existing tariffs, as outlined in a statement released by both countries. The ceasefire between India and Pakistan has paved the way for a sharp rally of nearly 4 per cent in India’s benchmark indices, Nifty50 and the Sensex, which closed at 24,924.70 and 82,429.90, respectively. The prime mover of the rally will be the foreign institutional investors (FII) who have been buying Indian equities for sixteen continuous days, except on May 09, when the India-Pakistan tensions escalated. All sectoral indices ended in the green. While India’s volatility gauge plunged during Monday’s intraday session. India VIX measures the market's expectation of future volatility based on the Nifty50 index options contracts. India VIX fell as much as 20.46 per cent to 17.79, the lowest level since the end of April, according to Bloomberg data. Shares of information technology (IT) companies were in focus as the Nifty IT index registered a surge of 6.7 per cent, thus recording its sharpest intraday rally in over five years. The sharp up move in IT stocks was triggered after the US decided to reduce tariffs on China to 30 per cent from 145 per cent for 90 days. Earlier, on April 7, 2020, the Nifty IT index soared 8.3 per cent in intraday trade. In the past one month, the Nifty IT index outperformed the market by surging 15 per cent, as compared to a 6.7 per cent rise in the Nifty 50. However, thus far in the current calendar year 2025, the IT index has slipped 12 per cent due to concerns over the recession in the US and the tariff war. Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Realty (up 5.93 per cent), followed by Metal (up 5.86 per cent) and IT indices, were the top gainers, while only the Pharma index (down 0.07 per cent) was trading in the red. Pakistan’s stock market The Karachi Stock Exchange 100 (KSE 100), the benchmark index of the Pakistan stock market, surged over 9 per cent on May 12, sparking a one-hour trading halt. Pakistan's stock exchange halted trading on Monday for an hour, according to an exchange notification, a Reuters report stated. According to data available on Bloomberg, the KSE 100 index jumped 9,751 points to 117,230. This comes after strong gains of nearly 4 per cent were seen in the May 09 trading session. With today's gains, the Pakistan benchmark index has again turned positive on a year-to-date basis.

Stock markets rally amid India-Pakistan truce

<div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">
<div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, markets in both countries have turned extremely volatile, with the Pakistani stock index experiencing a more significant hit.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The turmoil reached new heights on Friday, as India's equity markets closed sharply lower, and Pakistan's KSE-100 index see-sawing wildly, driven by growing geopolitical risks.</div>
<div></div>
<div>This instability largely stems from Pakistan's response to India's response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.</div>
</div>
<h2><span><b data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Indian Markets slide as conflict escalates</b></span></h2>
<div>
<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">The benchmark Sensex Index was down by over 800 points and closed at 79,925.34, still down over 800 points. Meanwhile, t</span><span>he broader NSE Nifty50 was down about 1 per cent, testing the 24,000-point mark at the closing bell.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span>The sectoral landscape also reflected weakness, with the S&amp;P BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices trading firmly in the red.</span></p>
<p><span>Interestingly, the Nifty consumer durables index stood out as the sole gainer, posting modest gains amid the broader market decline.</span></p>
<p><span>Still, experts cited India&rsquo;s economic fundamentals&mdash;driven by robust GDP growth and softening interest rates&mdash;as key factors underpinning long-term investor confidence.</span></p>
<p><span>However, the prevailing geopolitical uncertainty weighed heavily on sentiment, triggering caution among market participants.</span></p>
<p><span>On the BSE, 2,466 stocks declined while only 423 advanced, indicating a widespread sell-off.</span></p>
<p><span>Despite the weak sentiment, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) remained net buyers, pumping in ₹2,007.96 crore into equities, whereas Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) booked profits, selling shares worth ₹596.25 crore.</span></p>
<div>Amid the overall market downturn, defence stocks emerged as clear winners.</div>
<div></div>
<div>With heightened tensions and expectations of increased defence spending, stocks of companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders saw sharp gains, some climbing as much as 5 per cent.</div>
<div></div>
<div>This surge underscores investor confidence in the defence sector, with an anticipated boost in military procurement and operations.</div>
<div></div>
<div>On the global stage, companies such as Dassault Aviation, makers of Rafale jets, also saw increased buying interest, highlighting a worldwide trend toward strengthening defence capabilities amid geopolitical uncertainty.</div>
</div>
<h2>Indian rupee takes a hit</h2>
<div>On the currency front, the Indian rupee extended its slide on Friday after falling 1.1 per cent to reach ₹85.57 per dollar, marking its sharpest decline since February 2022.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The rupee's drop reflects growing investor caution amid geopolitical instability and heightened demand for the safe-haven US Dollar.</div>
<h2>Pakistan's KSE-100 gyrates wildly</h2>
<div>
<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Pakistan&rsquo;s KSE-100 index see-sawed throughout the day, eventually posting strong gains.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span>It closed 3.52 per cent higher at 107,174.64, up 3,647.82 points.&nbsp;</span></p>
<div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Over the past three sessions, the Pakistan Stock Exchange has shed over 10 per cent, reflecting growing fears of economic instability and anxiety ahead of an IMF board review.</div>
</div>
<h2>Rising tensions: India-Pakistan standoff escalates</h2>
<div>On the ground, military activity has surged on both sides of the border. In response to rising threats, India has bolstered security in New Delhi, deploying additional forces and enhancing surveillance.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In a strategic move, India has suspended trade ties with Pakistan and is actively reviewing the Indus Waters Treaty, signalling a hardening stance. Diplomatic relations remain tense, with both nations summoning each other's High Commissioners for the third time this week, emphasizing the severity of the situation.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Given the ongoing geopolitical risks, experts predict continued market volatility in both Indian and Pakistani stock markets.</div>
<div></div>
<div>While defence stocks may continue to see strong interest, aviation, tourism, and logistics sectors are expected to remain under pressure. Investors remain cautious as the situation remains fluid, with the potential for further escalation in the coming days.</div>

Business & Economy: The stock market fluctuation is primarily driven by Pakistan's response to India's actions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in casualties.

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, markets in both countries have turned extremely volatile, with the Pakistani stock index experiencing a more significant hit. The turmoil reached new heights on Friday, as India's equity markets closed sharply lower, and Pakistan's KSE-100 index see-sawing wildly, driven by growing geopolitical risks. This instability largely stems from Pakistan's response to India's response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Indian Markets slide as conflict escalates The benchmark Sensex Index was down by over 800 points and closed at 79,925.34, still down over 800 points. Meanwhile, the broader NSE Nifty50 was down about 1 per cent, testing the 24,000-point mark at the closing bell. The sectoral landscape also reflected weakness, with the S&P BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices trading firmly in the red. Interestingly, the Nifty consumer durables index stood out as the sole gainer, posting modest gains amid the broader market decline. Still, experts cited India’s economic fundamentals—driven by robust GDP growth and softening interest rates—as key factors underpinning long-term investor confidence. However, the prevailing geopolitical uncertainty weighed heavily on sentiment, triggering caution among market participants. On the BSE, 2,466 stocks declined while only 423 advanced, indicating a widespread sell-off. Despite the weak sentiment, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) remained net buyers, pumping in ₹2,007.96 crore into equities, whereas Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) booked profits, selling shares worth ₹596.25 crore. Amid the overall market downturn, defence stocks emerged as clear winners. With heightened tensions and expectations of increased defence spending, stocks of companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders saw sharp gains, some climbing as much as 5 per cent. This surge underscores investor confidence in the defence sector, with an anticipated boost in military procurement and operations. On the global stage, companies such as Dassault Aviation, makers of Rafale jets, also saw increased buying interest, highlighting a worldwide trend toward strengthening defence capabilities amid geopolitical uncertainty. Indian rupee takes a hit On the currency front, the Indian rupee extended its slide on Friday after falling 1.1 per cent to reach ₹85.57 per dollar, marking its sharpest decline since February 2022. The rupee's drop reflects growing investor caution amid geopolitical instability and heightened demand for the safe-haven US Dollar. Pakistan's KSE-100 gyrates wildly Pakistan’s KSE-100 index see-sawed throughout the day, eventually posting strong gains. It closed 3.52 per cent higher at 107,174.64, up 3,647.82 points. Over the past three sessions, the Pakistan Stock Exchange has shed over 10 per cent, reflecting growing fears of economic instability and anxiety ahead of an IMF board review. Rising tensions: India-Pakistan standoff escalates On the ground, military activity has surged on both sides of the border. In response to rising threats, India has bolstered security in New Delhi, deploying additional forces and enhancing surveillance. In a strategic move, India has suspended trade ties with Pakistan and is actively reviewing the Indus Waters Treaty, signalling a hardening stance. Diplomatic relations remain tense, with both nations summoning each other's High Commissioners for the third time this week, emphasizing the severity of the situation. Given the ongoing geopolitical risks, experts predict continued market volatility in both Indian and Pakistani stock markets. While defence stocks may continue to see strong interest, aviation, tourism, and logistics sectors are expected to remain under pressure. Investors remain cautious as the situation remains fluid, with the potential for further escalation in the coming days.

India-Pakistan tension: NIFTY, Sensex and KSE remain volatile amid escalating conflict

india's equity markets had one of their strongest weeks in years roaring back to life following a pause in tariff hikes by the us government now the nifty50 surged over 4.4% its best weekly performance since early 2021 while the sensex climbed nearly 1,700 points propelled by a rally in banking and consumer stocks cooling inflation data positive monsoon forecasts and robust foreign inflows further supported the rally in mumbai with broader participation across sectors investor optimism surged amid expectations of a more accommodative stance from the reserve bank of india.

India stocks record best week since 2021; gold continues to gain as trade wars intensify

Indian stocks markets staged a strong recovery in the past week. India is one of the first major markets in the world to reverse losses from trump's "Liberation day" announcements. What does that signal for the future of indian stocks?

Spotlight On Indian Stock Market Rally

As big tech tightens belts around the world, from layoffs to hiring freezes, one thing hasn’t shrunk—CEO paychecks. And in India, Infosys boss Salil Parekh is making headlines for all the right reasons—at least if you're on his payroll.

Infosys CEO gets fat payday in FY24

Shares of precious metals miners in South Africa surged as gold hit new all-time high. The South African benchmark stock index soared to a record close on Wednesday after the yellow metal surged past $3,300 for the first time. The South African gauge is now up more than 7% this year, compared with declines of 1.4% for the MSCI emerging market stock index and 8.3% for the S&P 500.

Gold's rally powers South African stocks to record

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