Alexandria Real Estate Equities lowered its annual adjusted funds from operations forecast, missing Wall Street estimates due to persistent macroeconomic uncertainty and high interest rates. The life science REIT reported negative net absorption and a quarterly net loss, impacting its share price. Pharma clients also face potential cost increases from proposed tariffs.

Lenskart’s FY25 profit of Rs 297 crore marks a sharp turnaround from a loss a year earlier, but much of the jump stems from a one-time accounting gain linked to its Owndays acquisition. Adjusted profits are closer to Rs 130 crore, analysts say, warning that thin margins and premium IPO valuations leave little room for upside.

Veteran economist Andrew Freris dismisses gold and silver as safe havens, advocating for income-generating assets like defense stocks. He highlights South Korea and Taiwan as top Asian picks due to their AI and tech strengths, while cautioning against overvalued U.S. indices and uncertain bond markets.

Vodafone Idea gained fresh hope after the Supreme Court allowed a review of its AGR dues, sparking optimism over government relief, though analysts warn high debt and execution risks remain.

Bitcoin fell 1.4% to $113,873, retreating from $115,000 as traders turned cautious ahead of the FOMC meeting. Ethereum dropped 3.6% to $4,096, and major altcoins slid over 4%, dragging the global crypto market cap down 1.35% to $3.84 trillion.

Metal stocks extended their rally, lifting the Nifty Metal Index for a fifth consecutive session amid strong global prices, renewed foreign inflows, and bullish technical signals. Analysts cite resilient domestic demand, policy support, and company-specific upgrades as key drivers, though some caution that overbought conditions could prompt short-term profit-taking.

MCX shares fell 2.2% to ₹9,105 after the exchange halted trading due to technical issues. The start time was revised multiple times, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, but trading hadn’t resumed as of 11:53 am, according to company updates.

Mutual Funds have steadily increased holdings in 221 BSE-listed firms since December 2024, focusing on companies above Rs 2,000 crore market cap. Forty-seven stocks gained over 25%, with ten soaring between 65% and 190%. Gabriel India, Lumax Industries, RBL Bank, and L&T Finance led the multibagger list, reflecting strong institutional conviction.

Indian IPOs are experiencing a slowdown in post-listing gains, with median one-month returns dropping significantly in 2025. While the primary market remains active, investors are becoming more discerning, favoring companies with strong fundamentals and reasonable valuations. This shift is leading to more pragmatic pricing and a return of discipline to the market.

Market expert Sandip Sabharwal sees the current consumption slowdown as a temporary phase, calling it the "worst quarter of bad results" and an opportune time to buy. He anticipates a strong revival in consumption and believes the auto sector has entered a long-term growth cycle.