India's central bank is considering measures to stabilize the rupee. The currency has fallen to a record low, increasing import costs. The Reserve Bank of India is looking at past strategies to prevent further depreciation. These include interest rate hikes and attracting foreign investment. The goal is to break a cycle of currency decline and restore investor confidence.

Indian investors are watching global markets closely. A few big tech stocks, especially those in artificial intelligence, are driving the current rally. However, rising oil and commodity prices could bring back inflation. This situation puts pressure on central banks. Bond yields are also increasing, signaling future inflation concerns. The market appears strong but has underlying fragilities.

Parle Industries shares hit the 5% upper circuit for the third straight session after investors mistakenly linked the stock to Melody toffees gifted by PM Narendra Modi to Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. The viral social media moment sparked confusion between listed Parle Industries and unlisted FMCG giant Parle Products, fuelling a sharp rally in the microcap stock.

ITC Limited reported a steady March quarter. Strong operating margins were a key positive. EBITDA margins exceeded expectations. The company's diversified model cushions tobacco tax pressures. FMCG shows healthy traction. Agri and paperboards were subdued. Future quarters will show the full impact of cigarette tax hikes. Investors watch volume growth and rural trends.

SpaceX’s potential record-breaking IPO could transform global markets, combining aerospace, AI, telecom, and infrastructure businesses while strengthening Elon Musk’s control, accelerating Starlink growth, and reshaping investor expectations for future technology companies.

JSW Cement shares soared over 11% following a remarkable Q4FY26 earnings report. The company posted a staggering 2,162% year-on-year profit jump, fueled by robust revenue growth and improved operational efficiencies. Strong sales volumes across cement and GGBS segments contributed to this impressive financial performance, prompting a dividend recommendation.

Honasa Consumer shares surged over 11% on Friday after a strong Q4 FY26 performance, with brokerages including Jefferies, CLSA, ICICI Securities and JM Financial turning more optimistic. Jefferies sees up to 57% upside, citing robust multi-channel growth, improving margins and stronger execution, while other brokerages also highlight rising traction across key brands and categories.

Aditya Shah of Hercules Advisors identifies power, banking, chemicals, and real estate as promising sectors for long-term growth amidst global uncertainty. While cautious on EMS due to valuations, he sees potential in quick commerce players demonstrating disciplined execution and profitability, favoring Blinkit currently.

Shares of One 97 Communications, the parent of Paytm, fell sharply on Friday after existing investors, including SAIF Partners and Elevation Capital, likely sold shares worth Rs 960 crore. Around 86 lakh shares changed hands in a large block deal, pressuring the stock despite broader market gains.

Bitcoin and Ethereum are trading below key resistance levels, fueling cautious near-term sentiment. Bitcoin holds a crucial support zone around $76,000-$76,500, while Ethereum remains weaker than Bitcoin. Global crypto market cap dipped slightly, with the fear and greed index indicating neutral sentiment. ETF outflows continue to impact Bitcoin's recovery.

Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers shares rose sharply on Friday after the company's Q4FY26 results showed a 158% YoY surge in net profit to Rs 187 crore and a 49.6% rise in revenue. FY26 profit and revenue also grew strongly, while the company announced a Rs 1.34/share dividend, boosting investor sentiment despite muted long-term stock performance.

Rising Treasury yields are forcing investors to sell government debt. This is due to increased risks from higher interest rates and fewer mortgage refinances. Stronger inflation data has led markets to expect further Federal Reserve action. This activity is causing significant swings in the bond market.

LG India shares fell to ₹1,474 on BSE after Q4FY26 net profit dropped 8% YoY to ₹693 crore, even as revenue grew 8% to ₹8,054 crore. Sequentially, however, the picture was stronger — profit surged 672% and revenue nearly doubled QoQ from a weak Q3.

India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, is not favoring interest rate hikes to protect the rupee. Instead, it is exploring other measures. Inflation, not the currency, will guide borrowing cost decisions. Policymakers are considering options like dollar deposit schemes and tax adjustments. The RBI believes rate hikes would harm growth without significantly stabilizing the rupee.

ITC shares slipped on Friday despite a 5% rise in Q4 standalone profit and strong FMCG growth. Brokerages remained cautious, with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Nomura flagging pressure from cigarette tax hikes. While FMCG and paper segments showed resilience, analysts expect cigarette volume decline and margin stress to weigh on earnings.

Asian economies face a global energy shock. Policymakers are enacting emergency measures as currencies weaken and fuel costs surge. India urges reduced overseas travel and gold purchases. Indonesia hikes interest rates and tightens export earnings control. The Philippines also raises rates. These actions aim to stabilize economies amid rising oil prices and capital outflows.

LIC shares jumped around 5% on Friday after the state-run insurer announced its first-ever 1:1 bonus issue and a Rs 10 dividend, alongside strong Q4 results. Consolidated net profit rose 23% year-on-year to Rs 23,467 crore, while net premium income increased 12% to Rs 1.65 lakh crore. For FY26, net profit climbed over 19% and AUM crossed Rs 57 lakh crore.

Japan's core inflation eased to a four-year low in April, driven by government subsidies. However, rising energy costs due to the Iran conflict are expected to push inflation higher, prompting speculation of further monetary tightening by the Bank of Japan.

Indian stock markets surged today, with Sensex and Nifty posting significant gains driven by optimism surrounding a potential Iran-US peace deal. While banking and cement stocks led the rally, IT heavyweights saw minor declines. Broader markets experienced some weakness, but overall investor sentiment remained positive, buoyed by falling oil prices and a strengthening rupee.

Vedanta's mega demerger has created four new entities, with investors eagerly awaiting their stock market listings. Drawing parallels from recent large demergers like Tata Motors and ITC Hotels, these new companies could see listings ranging from three weeks to several months, depending on regulatory hurdles and operational progress. Analysts suggest Vedanta's demerged units might list within 4-8 weeks.