Bitcoin surged towards $72,000 after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed market concerns. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum saw significant gains. Major altcoins also experienced strong upward movement. This rally added billions to the crypto market cap. Investors are watching upcoming Federal Reserve meetings and economic data for further direction. The market sentiment is improving despite some caution.
Indias updated Press Note 3 framework aims to ease foreign investment restrictions from land-border countries by clarifying beneficial ownership rules and introducing faster approvals for strategic sectors. The changes seek to balance national security with investment growth, potentially reviving FDI flows through global funds while supporting startups, manufacturing expansion and technology transfer.
Friday the 13th, a date often associated with superstition, saw Indian markets open sharply lower, with the Sensex and Nifty experiencing significant drops. This decline is attributed to geopolitical tensions between Iran and the US-Israel and rising crude oil prices, rattling investor sentiment and pushing the market towards its biggest weekly drop in over a year.
Jefferies has cut Reliance Industries (RIL) target price to Rs 1,750, citing a delayed Jio tariff hike and likely Jio IPO postponement. However, the brokerage highlights gains for the oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business amid Middle East supply disruptions, which boost refining and petrochemical margins, offsetting near-term digital segment drag.
The Indian rupee hit a record low of 92.37 against the US dollar on Friday, influenced by rising global crude oil prices and a stronger greenback. Heavy foreign institutional investor selling and weak domestic equity markets further pressured the rupee, which has remained vulnerable amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Despite the Middle East war and rising geopolitical tensions, gold prices have fallen, defying their safe-haven appeal. This counterintuitive trend is attributed to a broad risk-off sentiment, a strong US dollar, and profit-booking after earlier rallies. Experts suggest this is a short-term adjustment, with long-term fundamentals still supporting precious metals.
Shares of appliance makers Stove Kraft, TTK Prestige and others soared up to 5% as West Asia tensions disrupt cooking gas supplies. India, a major LPG importer, faces shortages. Restaurants are switching to simpler menus. Demand for induction cooktops has surged significantly. This situation impacts gas prices and availability across the country. Railway food centers are also adopting alternative cooking methods.
