Indian equities are poised for a cautious yet potentially rewarding 2026, with the Sensex and Nifty projected to gain between 8% and 14%. While near-term volatility is expected due to domestic liquidity and currency pressures, a rebound in earnings for FY27 is anticipated to sustain valuations. Investors are advised to deploy capital systematically, with large caps being the preferred segment.
Banking sector profitability strengthened and asset quality improved in FY25, reaching a multi-decadal low GNPA ratio of 2.2%. Banks significantly increased sales of stressed assets to ARCs, with private and foreign banks leading the trend. Non-bank lenders, including NBFCs and HFCs, also reported growth and improved profitability.
Varun Beverages' acquisition of South African brand Twizza is set to double its market share in the region to 20% by 2027. Analysts have raised target prices, citing VBL's consistent domestic performance and international expansion potential. The deal is expected to yield cost synergies and enhance VBL's manufacturing and distribution capabilities in South Africa.
Multi-asset allocation funds led performance in 2025, driven by a significant surge in gold and silver prices. These diversified funds delivered an average return of nearly 17%, outperforming equity-oriented categories. Equity funds, including large-cap, midcap, and small-cap, struggled to beat their benchmarks, with small-cap funds experiencing losses.
Japanese memory chipmaker Kioxia Holdings Corp has seen its stock surge by an astonishing 540% this year, becoming the top performer on Japan's Topix index. This remarkable gain is fueled by the insatiable demand for data storage driven by the AI boom, with Kioxia's NAND flash memory chips being crucial for AI training and data centers.
Some Federal Reserve officials who supported cutting a key interest rate earlier this month could have instead backed keeping the rate unchanged, minutes released Tuesday show, underscoring the divisions and uncertainty permeating the central bank.
