Shares in Japan, which was negotiating with the US for a deal to lower levies, jumped 1.1% while a regional gauge made moderate gains. Treasuries were little changed at the open after yields surged in the prior session, with traders paring bets on interest rates. Bitcoin extended its rally, rising 0.4% to around $103,000. Gold rebounded early Friday after falling in its two previous sessions. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index rose 1% during US trading.
Mahindra & Mahindra's stock has surged following a strong March quarter, driven by market share gains and margin expansion across its automotive and tractor segments. The company plans to boost capacity to 85,000 units per month by FY27 and launch 17 new vehicles by 2030, including five BEVs.
By midday, bitcoin was trading at $101,402.19, a 4.8% gain on the day. The world's biggest cryptocurrency has clawed its way back into positive territory for the year, although it remains off the all-time high above $109,000 reached in January.
Promoter ownership in India's top 500 companies has declined to a record low of 49.5% in the March quarter, driven by high valuations and strong investor demand prompting stake sales. Non-banking finance, telecom, and public sector banks experienced the most significant drops in promoter holdings.
State Bank of India and Yes Bank boards are convening Friday to finalize the sale of stakes to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. SMBC will acquire a 20% stake initially, potentially increasing to a majority, with SBI retaining a 10% share. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, could be India's largest bank M&A, with SMBC possibly gaining two board seats.
India's Volatility Index surged over 10% on Thursday due to escalating India-Pakistan military conflict concerns, triggering a late sell-off in equities. The Sensex and Nifty both experienced declines, with the Nifty falling 140 points and the Sensex dropping 412 points. Heightened uncertainty among traders led to profit-taking, as the VIX jumped nearly 40% since April 15.
