Reported Standalone quarterly numbers for Ishan Dyes and Chemicals are: Net Sales at Rs 14.53 crore in December 2023 up 41.02% from Rs. 10.30 crore in December 2022. Quarterly Net Loss at Rs. 1.47 crore in December 2023 down 166.59% from Rs. 2.21 crore in December 2022. EBITDA stands at Rs. 0.04 crore in December 2023 down 98.99% from Rs. 3.97 crore in December 2022.

The Alpex Solar IPO has attracted significant interest from investors, subscribing more than 300 times on February 12, the final day of bidding, supported by retail and non-institutional investors. Investors have picked 139.7 crore equity shares in three days of bidding period, which were 301.45 times the IPO size of 46.34 lakh equity shares, as per the subscription data available.

Kiri Industries reported a 6.34% increase in net sales of Rs 140.99 crore in the December 2023 quarter compared to the same quarter in 2022. However, they also saw a 19.1% increase in net loss and a negative EBITDA of Rs 12.99 crore. The company's shares closed at 378.65 on February 12, 2024, with a return of 35.74%.

Reported Standalone quarterly numbers for Generic Pharmasec are: Net Sales at Rs 6.38 crore in December 2023 down 0.33% from Rs. 6.41 crore in December 2022. Quarterly Net Profit at Rs. 0.06 crore in December 2023 down 73.09% from Rs. 0.24 crore in December 2022. EBITDA stands at Rs. 0.15 crore in December 2023 down 40% from Rs. 0.25 crore in December 2022.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced an interest rate of 8.25 percent for the financial year 2023-24, higher than the previous years. This applies to both employees and employers' contributions, as well as any additional voluntary contributions made by employees. Voluntary Provident Fund is an extension of EPF and allows employees to save more for retirement.

Retail investor confidence remains strong in India, as they continue to increase their holdings in over 300 stocks for three consecutive quarters, with many of these stocks providing significant returns. Among the top performers are public sector companies, renewable energy firms, and infrastructure companies, which have seen increased buying from retail investors.

ITC's shares rose up by 0.41% after reports that its largest shareholder, BAT, is planning to sell a portion of its stake. This would reduce BAT's shareholding from 29.03% to 25.03%, worth around Rs 20,320 crore. However, the sale may face regulatory hurdles due to restrictions on FDI in tobacco companies. Jefferies downgraded ITC's stock due to potential challenges faced by BAT.

Governor Shaktikanta Das of the Reserve Bank of India is confident that they can manage the increased foreign inflows into Indian government debt once it is listed on JPMorgan's bond indices. The central bank has a good track record in managing inflows and outflows, and is expecting around $25 billion in inflows over 10 months after Indian government bonds are included in the index.

LIC has seen a dip in its holdings in India Inc to an all-time low of 3.64% in the December quarter. This could be attributed to the company taking advantage of the bull market to book profits and reduce stake in several smallcaps with market capitalization of less than Rs 10,000 crore. However, this has left some retail investors concerned about the future of riskier bets.

Paytm, India's leading fintech company, is facing a potential crisis as the central bank has placed restrictions on its business activities. This could lead to a loss of customers and put its business model in jeopardy. According to Macquarie analysts, Paytm's shares have already fallen significantly and they have downgraded their rating on the company.

In a response to the recent report by Muddy Waters, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited on February 12 denied and refuted all allegations and insinuations made against the company. The 72-page report from Muddy Waters, a forensics-based activist investment firm, had raised concerns and questions about Fairfax's financial standing, prompting a review by the management, Fairfax said in its statement.

HFCL's share price rose after it received a Rs 141-crore order from BSNL, part of a larger Rs 179-crore order. The company will supply Unlicensed Band Radios and provide support for BSNL's 4G network. HFCL's Q3 profits fell by 19% compared to last year, but its order book grew to Rs 7,678 crore. In January 2023, the company also secured an order.

India's Securities and Exchange Board has rejected the National Stock Exchange's settlement application in a case involving alleged collusion between NSE employees and a brokerage firm. The case pertains to preferential access to NSE servers, giving the firm an advantage over other traders. SAT remitted the matter back to Sebi and they are expected to pass an order soon.

The Indian rupee slightly appreciated against the US dollar after the Finance Minister announced a revised fiscal deficit target for FY24 and increased capex outlay. The RBI kept rates unchanged in its policy meeting and projected inflation to be 4.5% for FY25, while GDP forecasts were raised. The rupee closed the week lower amid selling in domestic equities.

India's weightage in the MSCI Emerging Market index is set to increase to 18.2% after the February 2024 rebalancing, bringing it closer to China's weightage of 25.4%. This is due to the country's strong performance in the stock market, especially in the midcap segment. The MSCI has also increased India's stock count in its Standard index to 131.