Asian equities fell Thursday after US stocks and government bonds dropped as robust economic data blurred the picture for imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts. Shares in Australia and Japan opened lower, and a gauge of US-listed Chinese companies slipped in New York trading on Wednesday. US futures declined, weighed down by post-market losses for Microsoft Corp. shares, which fell around 4%.

Oil prices rose for a second day after US crude inventories decreased, with West Texas Intermediate trading near $69 a barrel and Brent above $72, amid ongoing Middle East tensions and anticipation of two key events next week, including the US election and a Chinese legislative meeting that may impact oil demand.

Swiggy co-founders could see gains of nearly Rs 180 crore during the company’s initial public offering between November 6 and November 8. Sriharsha Majety and Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul stand to book Rs 68 crore in gains each when the company goes public next week. Both have pledged up to 0.78% of their current shareholding for the IPO.

Bengaluru-based upskilling platform Simplilearn is targeting an initial public offering (IPO) by the end of FY26, after establishing a track record of profitability, according to co-founder and chief operating officer, Kashyap Dalal. The Blackstone and GSV-backed company is currently evaluating both Indian and US markets for the potential listing.

The reduction in the import duty from 15% to 6% has led to huge buying of gold jewellery and encouraged investment during the third quarter of the calendar year 2024, according to the Gold Demand Trends Q3 2024 report, released on Wednesday by the World Gold Council. Sachin Jain, regional CEO, India, World Gold Council, said: “India’s gold demand in Q3 ended September 2024 witnessed an 18% yoy.

US markets ended lower in mid-week trading as traders digested a slew of economic data and ahead of results from megacap names like Microsoft and Meta Platforms, which reported after the bell. The Dow Jones declined 0.2%, S&P 500 fell 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.6%, led lower by a fall in chip companies like Nvidia, AMD and a 33% drop in shares of Super Computers.

Exchange traded funds tracking gold and silver prices witnessed a five-fold surge in turnover on October 29 - when Dhanteras, which marks the start of Diwali, was celebrated. Better tax structure for these products and strong returns in the recent past prompted investors to buy gold and silver ETFs on that day, considered auspicious for buying precious metals.

Venture Debt firm Alteria Capital on October 31 has announced a Rs 200-crore debt investment in Gurugram-based direct-to-home food essentials brand  Country Delight as demand for fresh food delivery and quick commerce is increasing in the Indian market. This strategic funding comes at a time when Country Delight is preparing for significant expansion and an impending IPO.

Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services plans to raise ₹950 crore through equity shares and securities to fund strategic growth and operational enhancements, following a 112% revenue growth in Q1FY25 with a 10.7% EBITDA margin. The company also appointed a new Non-Executive Director and saw its shares close 0.3% lower at ₹439.

Nazara Technologies saw its stock rise 4.2% to intraday high of ₹949.5 on the BSE, buoyed by its subsidiary Datawrkz acquiring 100% of UK growth marketing agency Space & Time. The acquisition, valued at approximately ₹52.3 crore in cash and stock, is expected to strengthen Datawrkz's growth across Europe and North America, positioning it as a significant player in the global digital advertisement.

India's fiscal deficit for the first six months of FY25 stands at 29.4%, lower than last year's 39.3%. Capital spending remains slow, reaching only 37.3% of the full-year target, while total spending is at 43.8% of the FY25 Budget target. Experts predict a lower fiscal deficit ratio than the 4.9% target, thanks to a higher-than-expected RBI dividend.

Meme coins are designed to skyrocket in price within a very short period. That is the key to their ongoing appeal: If you pick the right meme coin, you theoretically have a chance of adding a few zeros to your bankroll. Add in the fact that most meme coins are based on a funny internet meme, and you can understand why they are so popular with crypto investors.

Given the dramatic rise of artificial intelligence, it’s no shock to see big data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (PLTR) swing higher. Palantir Technologies' stock has risen 171% this year, but valuation concerns exist; a Bull Call Spread strategy can help investors profit from the AI narrative while managing risk, by leveraging unusual options activity to offset premium costs.

The market regulator has proposed that mutual funds deploy funds collected through new fund offers (NFOs) within 30 days from the date of allotment of units. In exceptional cases, if the asset management company (AMC) is not able to deploy within this time frame, then it will need give the reasons in writing for the delay to the Investment Committee.

Renewable energy power producer ACME Solar Holdings will open its Rs 2,900-crore initial share sale for subscription on November 6. The company has filed red herring prospectus with the Registrar of Companies on October 29. This will be the third public issue hitting the Dalal Street next week along with Swiggy and Sagility India. The price band for the public issue is expected to be announced.