Asian stocks saw a slight dip from their peak levels. This followed a downturn in Wall Street markets. Investor sentiment was impacted by a subdued response to Nvidia's earnings report. Despite this, Asian equities continue to outperform global benchmarks this year. Investors are focusing on companies involved in the artificial intelligence supply chain.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has revamped mutual fund scheme classifications, mandating uniform naming conventions and eliminating the solution-oriented category. New rules also cap portfolio overlaps for thematic equity funds, potentially leading to consolidation and impacting arbitrage fund returns. These changes aim for investor clarity and scheme uniformity.
The National Stock Exchange has invited 15 investment bankers to pitch for managing its upcoming IPO, with JPMorgan Chase and Kotak Mahindra Capital among those in contention. The exchange is expected to file its draft red herring prospectus in April, with existing shareholders likely to offload 4-4.5% of equity. This move follows SEBI's no-objection certificate, ending a decade-long regulatory hurdle.
Capillary Technologies India's stock has fallen 35% from its peak due to AI threats and a muted December quarter. The company, which offers a SaaS platform for customer engagement, faces potential revenue and profit contraction. Despite management's optimism about AI's role in analytics and campaign management, investors are concerned about its impact on the business model.
Motilal Oswal Alternates has achieved the first close of its maiden private credit fund, India Credit Excellence Fund-I, at 1,700 crore. The fund aims for a 3,000 crore corpus and will provide secured lending and customized solutions to profitable, growing mid-market businesses. This strategic move leverages the firm's existing capabilities to tap into a rapidly expanding private credit market.
Domestic institutional investors' stock purchases in February dropped to their lowest since April 2025, with inflows cut by over half compared to the last six months. This decline is attributed to lackluster market returns over 18 months and a shift in investor interest towards outperforming precious metals like gold and silver.
