Global markets experienced mixed signals as investors grappled with President Trump s inconsistent stances on tariffs and Federal Reserve leadership. Asian shares dipped slightly, contrasting with Wall Street s gains fueled by hopes of easing U.S.-China trade tensions. The dollar weakened after a brief rebound, while oil prices stabilized amid discussions of potential OPEC+ output increases.

Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack suggests conditions support further balance sheet reductions, emphasizing patience with monetary policy amid uncertainty. She believes ample reserves exist, but a large balance sheet could encourage financial risk-taking.

UBS Group AG shifts its stance on Indian equities from bearish to neutral, citing its defensive nature amid global trade uncertainties and potential benefits from lower crude oil prices. This upgrade reflects a growing preference for domestically-oriented shares, while Hong Kong was downgraded due to tariff risks. Indonesia was upgraded to overweight, with India s fundamentals still appearing lackluster.

Benchmark indices surged for the seventh consecutive session, fueled by strong buying in IT, auto, and pharma stocks. LTIMindtree shares rallied 5%, while Axis Bank fell 0.89% and Hindustan Unilever rose 1%. Analysts recommend monitoring key support and resistance levels for potential breakouts and reversals in these stocks.

Thursday s earnings announcements include Tech Mahindra, HUL, and Axis Bank. Tech Mahindra anticipates strong profit growth but muted revenue. HUL expects subdued demand and flat volume growth. Axis Bank projects mid-single-digit net interest income growth with potentially muted profitability due to loan growth and stable margins.

Donald Trump s meme coin, $TRUMP, surged after an announcement promising top holders a dinner with the former president. This event, coupled with Trump s crypto ventures and promises to be a "crypto president," raises conflict of interest concerns. Ethics watchdogs criticize the initiative as potential "grifting.

Cantor Fitzgerald, Tether, and SoftBank are launching a $3.6 billion crypto venture, Twenty One Capital, to acquire bitcoin, anticipating increased interest under President Trump. Tether and Bitfinex will hold majority ownership, while SoftBank will have a minority stake. Twenty One aims to replicate Strategy s success and will trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol "XXI".

According to data compiled by ET Bureau and insights from Jefferies Equity Research, the period from FY21 to FY25 witnessed market share realignments among the top four manufacturers — Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle, TVS Motor, and Bajaj Auto — reflecting the broader transformation underway in the industry.

Maruti Suzuki held a market share of 48% in FY21. This declined to 43% in FY22, remained steady at 43% in FY23, slightly dropped to 42% in FY24, and further declined to 41% in FY25.