Helios Mutual Fund s CEO, Dinshaw Irani, notes current market challenges due to poor quarterly results. A September rebound is expected. Trade deal progress with the US is anticipated. The market is pricing in a deal around 15-20%. Urban recovery is showing positive signs. Sideways market movement is likely before earnings dictate direction. Despite this, stock-specific opportunities exist for diligent investors.

Chemical companies are projected to experience revenue growth of 5-10% in the June 2025 quarter, fueled by increased order intake anticipating US tariffs and a weaker rupee boosting exports. Lower raw material prices are expected to protect margins. However, Chinese competition and geopolitical risks create a complex environment, with investors closely monitoring volume sustainability and pricing power.

Karanja Terminal & Logistics promoters, led by Nikhil Gandhi, have proposed a ₹472 crore settlement to Canara Bank and other lenders against a ₹590 crore debt. This revised offer surpasses Prudent ARC s ₹460 crore bid made during a Swiss auction. KTPL operates a port and logistics facility near Mumbai, benefiting from good connectivity and upcoming infrastructure.

Reserve Bank of India will conduct a variable rate reverse repo operation on Friday. The aim is to absorb ₹1.25 lakh crore from the market. This follows a recent injection of ₹50,000 crore into the banking system through a two-day variable rate repo. An overnight VRR operation was also conducted on Thursday.

Rajeev Jain of Bajaj Finance is tasked with creating a succession plan. This follows Anup Saha s exit from a leadership role. The board has given Jain six months for this task. The new Managing Director will be announced by March 2028. The board extensively discussed the matter. Jain shared this update with analysts after the results call.

SBI General Insurance in Mumbai has shown strong performance. The company increased its market share among private insurers to 6.19% in the June quarter. This represents a gain of 78 basis points. Key growth came from health and motor insurance. The insurer s market share increased by 72 bps and 47 bps in these segments, respectively.

Asian stocks experienced a downturn, ending a prolonged winning streak due to uncertainty surrounding potential Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts. Despite the S&P 500 reaching a new record, driven by tech gains, broader market weakness persisted. Strong jobs data tempered expectations for imminent Fed cuts, influencing investor sentiment and market performance.

Markets faced pressure on the weekly expiry day, reversing previous gains. Several companies reported their Q1 results, with IEX, SBI Life, Bajaj Finance, and Adani Energy showcasing profit growth. However, Cyient experienced a decline in net profit and revenue. Additionally, Cigniti Technologies saw Morgan Stanley acquire a stake, and Bajaj Consumer Care approved a share buyback.

RBI data reveals a surge in liquid demand deposits and currency with the public, indicating increased liquidity in the banking system and real economy. This rise is attributed to policy measures like liquidity easing, a pickup in rural activity, and higher disposable incomes from tax benefits.

Ajay Seth, a 1987-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the chairman of IRDAI for a three-year term, succeeding Debasish Panda. With over three decades of experience, Seth s primary focus will be on expanding insurance access and affordability in India. He assumes the role as the insurance sector faces challenges in raising penetration, currently at 3.7% of GDP.