Wall Street's main indexes achieved record-high closes, propelled by gains in Tesla and Micron Technology. U.S. inflation and jobless data have strengthened expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut this month. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow all reached new peaks, with materials and healthcare sectors leading the gains.
A recent Israeli strike in Qatar has sparked anger among Gulf leaders. Saudi Arabia and UAE are united in condemning the attack. They view it as a violation of international norms. The incident raises concerns about US commitment to regional security. This could complicate efforts to expand Abraham Accords. It may also affect countering Chinese and Russian influence.
Indian banks are projected to reduce dividend payments in fiscal year 2026 due to squeezed profitability from slowing loan growth, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The total dividend payout of 12 major banks is expected to decline by 4.2% to $5.98 billion. HDFC Bank and Bank of Baroda are anticipated to cut dividends, while SBI's payout will remain stable.
Indians are actively buying Apple shares, anticipating a price increase after the iPhone 17 launch. Trading volumes for Apple have significantly increased this month. Buy orders are exceeding sell orders, indicating strong investor confidence. Investors believe the iPhone's success drives Apple's stock performance. Some investors are buying now due to a recent drop in Apple's share price.
Indian equity valuations, while below historical averages, remain elevated compared to Asian peers, raising concerns amid slowing earnings growth. Foreign investors are paring exposure due to the combination of rich valuations and decelerating nominal GDP growth. Fund managers suggest considering sector weights within Indian indices for a more accurate valuation assessment, as consumer-heavy indices inflate overall metrics.
Tata Capital is planning an IPO in early October, aiming to raise up to 17,000 crore through a fresh issue and offer for sale. Tata Sons and IFC are expected to offload shares in the OFS. The IPO is driven by RBI's directive for large NBFCs to list, enhancing transparency and supporting future lending growth.
Indian indices closed higher on Thursday, with the Nifty surpassing 25,000 for the first time in three weeks, driven by positive sentiment despite mixed global cues and concerns about slowing earnings. The Nifty gained 0.1% to close at 25,005.5, while the Sensex rose 0.1% to end at 81,548.73, marking the fourth consecutive day of gains.
India saw a slowdown in demat account growth in August. Around 24.8 lakh new accounts were added, less than July's 29.8 lakh. Market caution affected investor enthusiasm. Total demat accounts are now over 20 crore, a fourfold increase since 2020. New investors are mainly young individuals from smaller cities.
