Biocon shares: The board approved a hike in the company’s authorised share capital from Rs 625 crore to Rs 700 crore, along with a corresponding amendment to the capital clause in its Memorandum of Association.

India s stock and gold markets are simultaneously surging, defying traditional investment strategies. The Sensex and Nifty have soared, while gold prices have skyrocketed due to a weakening US dollar and global uncertainty. Experts advise investors to maintain a long-term asset allocation, stagger investments, and avoid chasing short-term highs, suggesting profit booking if gold holdings exceed 20-25% of the portfolio.

JM Financial maintains a buy call on HDFC Life, revising the target price to Rs 850. The brokerage anticipates continued growth in banca and agency channels, projecting 15% APE growth and 100bps margin expansion over FY25-FY27e. This valuation is based on 2.4x FY27e EVPS of Rs 349, with a reiterated BUY rating.

UBS has strategically moved away from globally exposed markets, opting instead for those driven by local dynamics. Its revised scorecard favors economies with stable earnings, minimal vulnerability to global trade disruptions, and strong bottom-up analyst sentiment—making China and Indonesia key beneficiaries of this shift in capital allocation.

ICICI Securities maintains a buy call on Eternal (formerly Zomato), setting a target price of Rs 310. The company reported a consolidated total income of Rs 5,657 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, marking a significant increase from previous periods. With a strong financial performance and positive outlook, ICICI Securities reaffirms its confidence in Eternal s growth potential.

Persistent Systems reported a 25.5% YoY rise in Q4 FY25 PAT to Rs 395.76 crore, with revenue up 25.2% at Rs 3,242.11 crore. The board proposed a final dividend of Rs 15, taking FY25 s total to Rs 35 per share. TCV stood at Rs 4,312.95 crore. CEO Sandeep Kalra emphasised AI-led growth, targeting $2 billion in revenue by FY27.

HUL Q4 Results: Hindustan Unilever (HUL) reported a 3.7% YoY increase in net profit, reaching ₹2,493 crore for Q4FY25. Revenue from operations grew by 2.4% to ₹15,214 crore. The company announced a final dividend of ₹24 per share. CEO Rohit Jawa highlighted a turnover surpassing ₹60,000 crore in FY25.

Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood warns that the U.S. market has peaked, forecasting further declines in equities, Treasury bonds, and the dollar. He urges investors to diversify into Chinese, Indian, and European assets. With U.S. valuations at extremes and global dominance shrinking, Wood sees a long-term shift favoring emerging markets, especially India, which remains under-owned globally.

Syngene International s shares plummeted 10% following a reported 3% year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit for Q4 FY25, despite an 11% increase in revenue. The company s EBITDA rose, but margins slightly decreased. Despite the dip, Syngene is optimistic about long-term growth, driven by its biologics CDMO business and research division, further supported by a recent acquisition in the US.

Eternal, Zomato s parent company, experienced a 1.7% stock dip following CEO Rakesh Ranjan s resignation, though he will remain in a different role. Founder Deepinder Goyal will temporarily oversee the food delivery vertical amid an internal reshuffle and broader sector slowdown. Concerns linger about Zomato s market share as competitors expand rapid delivery services, despite a modest GOV increase.