China’s smallest stocks are flashing a warning about the potential downside for the world’s second-largest equity market if Beijing fails to follow through on a highly anticipated rescue campaign. While the country’s large-cap CSI 300 Index eked out a 0.7 percent gain on Monday after a renewed pledge from regulators to support the market, a gauge of small-cap shares sank more than 6 percent.

Oil prices remained steady as the U.S. Secretary of State visited the Middle East to discuss a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. The potential truce is being negotiated by Qatari and Egyptian mediators but awaits a response from militants. Crude futures were down slightly, with the U.S. continuing airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthis and attacks on Russian oil facilities affecting exports.

Despite market volatility and upcoming events, the number of demat accounts opened in January reached a record high of 46.84 lakh, surpassing the previous high set in December. Analysts remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of the Indian economy and believe that factors such as increased financial literacy and FOMO among new investors are driving the growth of demat accounts.

Global cues are negative as US and China market news weighs on investor sentiment. China has implemented trading restrictions which have reduced confidence of investors. US Fed is tough on inflation and interest rates, with economic data showing a solid economy. Indian markets also turning cautious with profit booking advised and upcoming monetary policy announcement.

Haryana-based Entero Healthcare Solutions will be launching an initial public offering (IPO) worth Rs 1,600 crore, with a price band of Rs 1,195-1,258 per share. The IPO will open for subscription from February 9 to 13, with bidding for the anchor book taking place on February 8. This will be the fifth IPO to hit the market this month, and the company plans to raise Rs 1,000 crore.

The Nifty, India's benchmark index, recently hit a record high of 22,126 but struggled to maintain its momentum. It has been trading within an expanding triangle pattern for the past four weeks without a clear direction. On February 2, a bearish candlestick pattern was formed on the daily chart, indicating caution for investors. However, important support levels have not been breached yet.

Around 70% of individually owned demat accounts in India have no nominations, making it difficult for legal beneficiaries to claim their financial assets. This is due to lethargy on the part of account holders and discount brokers waiving off the nomination process. This leads to a rise in unclaimed assets and difficulty in the transmission process for the deceased investor's family.

Equities ended lower on Monday, and the overall trading set up suggests that consolidation is likely to continue and action will remain stock specific amid a slew of corporate earnings. “Indications are in favor of consolidation to continue, and we expect Nifty to respect the 21450-21600 zone, in case the profit taking extends,” said Ajit Mishra, SVP - Technical Research.

China's smallest stocks are flashing a warning about the potential downside for the world's second-largest equity market if Beijing fails to follow through on a highly anticipated rescue campaign. While the country's large-cap CSI 300 Index eked out a 0.7% gain on Monday after a renewed pledge from regulators to support the market, a gauge of small-cap shares sank more than 6% to the lowest level.

The Magnificent Seven group of megacap tech stocks need to deliver stellar earnings to keep outperforming the broader market, according to a growing consensus on Wall Street.The group - comprised of Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Nvidia Corp., Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. and Tesla Inc. - doubled in value in 2023, outperforming the broader Nasdaq 100 Index's 54% rise.

Many women in India initially showed a strong interest in investing in the stock market during the Covid-19 pandemic, but this enthusiasm is now declining. Women tend to be more risk-averse and are shifting towards safer investments like fixed deposits, gold bonds, and real estate. The number of demat account openings by women has decreased, possibly due to the return of normalcy.

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Indian benchmark indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 are expected to open positively on Tuesday, with GIFT Nifty ending up by 0.10%. The US Fed’s indication of no immediate rate cuts and rise in bond yields contributed to the overall weakness in local shares. Nifty’s biggest support is at 21407 mark while trading above 21137 mark will have aggressive targets at 22127 mark.

📊 Amid positive global cues, benchmark indices started on a positive note today. 📢 At 9:16 AM, the Sensex gained 62.25 points or 0.09% at 71,793.67. Nifty is higher by 23.70 points or 0.11% at 21,795.40. 📈 Bharti Airtel (⬆️2.10%), UPL (⬆️0.00%) and Nifty Auto(⬆️0.45%) appeared as the top performers on the Nifty50 at the open. IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank, Airtel stocks are in focus today.

A group of founders have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and the Reserve Bank of India urging them to reconsider the recent sanctions against Paytm and engage in constructive dialogue with the Fintech ecosystem. The letter, which Moneycontrol has seen, has been signed by at least a dozen founders.