Mutual funds significantly reduced their holdings in nine out of ten major IT stocks in January, driven by concerns that AI will disrupt the traditional outsourcing model. Despite this selling pressure, the sector still holds substantial value, with managers offloading stakes in giants like Infosys and TCS, while showing some interest in Wipro.
Indian markets are shifting focus to company earnings and liquidity. The India-US trade deal has eased pressures. Investors are recalibrating strategies for 2026. Small and midcap stocks offer opportunities but require careful selection. Earnings visibility and balance sheet strength are key. Global trade and liquidity will guide market direction.
In the Nifty500 pack, 12 stocks' closing prices crossed above their 200 DMA (Daily Moving Averages) on February 16, 2026, according to stockedge.com's technical scan data. The 200-day daily moving average (DMA) is used by traders as a key indicator for determining the overall trend in a particular stock. As long as the stock is priced above the 200-day SMA on the daily timeframe, it is generally considered to be in an overall uptrend. Take a look:
Crude oil prices rose amid heightened geopolitical risk as Iran conducted naval exercises near a key shipping corridor ahead of US talks. Asian stocks saw modest gains with light trading volumes, while investors awaited economic data. The US dollar fluctuated as traders anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts.
New RBI draft norms to curb mis-selling of financial products are poised to impact private sector banks more significantly due to their higher reliance on insurance income. These banks have seen a notable increase in insurance income's share of their 'other income' over recent years, a trend less pronounced in public sector banks.
Unrated and lesser-known issuers are increasingly tapping the debt capital market, raising 1.5 lakh crore in FY26, driven by investor appetite for higher yields. These issuers prefer unrated structures to bypass procedural delays and regulatory disclosures, with private credit funds and AIFs emerging as key buyers.
The RBI has tightened norms for bank loans to brokers and capital market intermediaries, mandating 100% collateral for credit facilities. These changes, effective April 1, aim to increase transparency and will impact proprietary trading desks significantly by reducing leverage and increasing borrowing costs for brokers.
New RBI guidelines effective April 1, 2026, mandate 100% collateral for bank funding to capital market intermediaries, including significant cash margins. This will likely push equity brokers towards bond markets and commercial papers, increasing funding costs and potentially impacting sector profitability and market liquidity.
