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Informist, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026                                      Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

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Equity Alert: Asian mkts open mixed; Nikkei 225 flat post Japan GDP release

 

MUMBAI--0850 IST--Asian indices opened mixed on Monday amid higher crude oil prices and uncertainty over the reopening of the key shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz. The stalling of US-Iran talks to end the war also weighed on regional indices. Japan's Nikkei 225 was flat after the release of the GDP data.  

 

Nikkei 225 traded flat as Japan's GDP for the second quarter grew 1.1% on year, missing the estimated 2% growth, as lower domestic demand offset higher exports, CNBC reported. "Japan's latest GDP data was good enough to keep the central bank's normalisation efforts on track, but the composition wasn't all that convincing," Dow Jones Newswires quoted Krishna Bhimavarapu of State Street Investment Management as saying.   

 

The broader Japanese Topix index was down 0.6%, while China's CSI 300 was up 0.7% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 1.6%. South Korea's stock markets were closed on Monday for a public holiday.

 

 

The following are the levels of key indices in the region at 0851 IST:

 

Index	Level	Change in %
Nikkei 225 Day	68721.4	0.01
TOPIX FIRST SECTION	4172.15	(-)0.6
S&P/ASX 200 Index	9085	(-)0.3
IDX Composite	6401.88	1.6
Hang Seng Index	25525.45	1.6
CSI 300 Index	4697.44	0.7
FTSE Singapore Strait Times	3953.50	0.7

 

(Vidhi Thacker)

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Equity Alert: Nifty 50 likely to be rangebound on lack of triggers; RIL eyed

 

MUMBAI--0838 IST--Nifty 50 is likely to stay in a range with no immediate trigger impacting the markets after the end of the June quarter earnings. The West Asia war continued to be the key overhang on the equity markets, with no clarity on the reopening of the key waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, and the stalled US-Iran talks to end the conflict. The GIFT Nifty suggests a slightly higher start for the benchmark index but the rise is likely to be limited.

 

"The Nifty index once again traded sideways and settled on a flat note after a lacklustre trading session, where neither the bulls nor the bears were able to drive the market in their direction," Vipin Kumar, assistant vice president-research at Globe Capital Market Ltd., said. The immediate support for the Nifty 50 is placed around 24230-24130 points, while the resistance is pegged at 24600-24700, according to Kumar. "A decisive break above the 24700 spot level is essential for a sustainable move towards 24850 and higher levels in the near term," he added. On Thursday, the Nifty 50 ended at 24366, down 29.85 points or 0.1%, and the BSE Sensex ended at 78009.25, down 70.71 points or 0.1%. 

 

Shares of the heavyweight constituent, Reliance Industries Ltd., will be in focus Monday after the conglomerate's strategic partnership with Rolls-Royce Plc to design, develop, manufacture, and deliver an indigenous engine for India's advanced medium combat aircraft programme. On the global front, indices in the US ended lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 down 0.2?ch, while the NASDAQ Composite ended 0.3% lower. Meanwhile, the markets in Asia opened mixed.  (Adhithya Aji)

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Equity Alert: Margin pressure likely for Voltas in near term, analysts say

 

MUMBAI--0829 IST--Consumer durables major Voltas' unitary cooling products business supported revenue growth in the June quarter, while its electro-mechanical projects and services segment weighed on revenue, analysts said. A low base and price hikes benefited the company's air conditioner business during the quarter, they said. However, near- to medium-term margin concerns prompted brokerages to turn cautious on the company.

 

The company is positive on growth in its room air conditioners business, but the 7% rise in the margins of its unitary cooling products will be gradual, Emkay Global Financial Services said in its report. This is likely to take place over eight quarters, the brokerage said. Voltas' electro-mechanical projects and services segment is expected to recover in the second half of 2026-27 (Apr-Mar). Given the likelihood of a delay in margin normalisation and near-term execution pressures in the electro-mechanical projects and services, the brokerage cut its earnings per share estimates for the company by 13% for FY27 and 7% for FY28, while maintaining its 'buy' recommendation on the stock with a target price of INR 1,500.

 

While a low base, price hikes, and cost optimisation supported the company's air conditioner vertical's earnings before interest and taxes, elevated input costs hurt profitability, Nuvama Institutional Equities said. However, weakness in its electro-mechanical projects and services division remains a concern, the brokerage said. The brokerage trimmed its earnings per share estimates by 7% and 6% for FY27 and FY28, respectively. Nuvama maintained its 'reduce' call and has a target price of INR 1,230.

 

Voltas "delivered the print we were waiting for," Equirus Securities said, while noting that the Tata group company's growth was ahead of the industry's and that it expanded its unitary cooling products business' margins in a difficult cost environment. The segment's consolidated EBIT increased to INR 2.02 billion for the June quarter from INR 1.04 billion a year ago, the brokerage said. Equirus Securities maintained its 'long' stance on the stock with a target price of INR 1,520.

 

For the quarter ended June, Voltas reported a consolidated net profit of INR 2.14 billion on revenues of INR 46.74 billion. Friday, shares of the company closed 2.4% higher at INR 1,320.50 on the National Stock Exchange.  (Ruchira Kagita)

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Equity Alert: US indices fall Fri; Nasdaq, S&P 500 gain for 3rd straight wk

 

MUMBAI--0700 IST--Major US indices ended lower on Friday as crude oil prices rose, investors monitored talks between the US and Iran, and US retail sales posted a decline that lowered expectations of an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Brent crude oil futures rose as much as 2% on Friday. After hitting a fresh high Thursday, the S&P 500 fell 0.2% in the last trading session for the week as shares of major chip equipment makers fell. On a weekly basis, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 ended higher for the third straight week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed lower.

 

The Dow fell 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite was down 0.3%. Shares of chip equipment maker Applied Materials and chipmakers Broadcom and Intel Corp. fell, putting pressure on the S&P 500. Most of the Magnificent Seven stocks witnessed some selling pressure Friday, with only Apple and Tesla ending in the green. "Today (Friday) is like the start of that post-earnings flattening out trade," Jay Hatfield, chief executive officer of Infrastructure Capital Advisors, told CNBC. Hatfield anticipates the S&P 500 will cross 8,100 by year-end, as 90% of its companies posted earnings growth of more than 50% from the year-ago period, assuming oil prices and interest rates remain at the same level.

 

US retail sales fell 0.6% on a monthly basis, but rose 5% on a yearly basis. Retail sales fell in July for the first time in nine months, Reuters said. "This points to a material slowdown in real consumer spending growth in the third quarter," Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

 

Following are the closing levels of major US indices Friday: 

 

Index	Level	Change in %
Dow Jones Industrial Average	53732.41	(-)0.2%
NASDAQ Composite	26729.16	(-)0.3%
S&P 500	7785.76	(-)0.2%

 

(Vidhi Thacker)

 

US$1 = INR 95.51

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

All prices from National Stock Exchange, unless otherwise specified.

All percentage changes for share prices are rounded off to the nearest whole number; percentage changes for index values are rounded off to one decimal place.

All times are Indian Standard Time.

 

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