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Indian equity markets ended the first trading session of the New Year on a positive note on 1 January 2026, supported by steady buying in banking and technology stocks. Benchmark indices closed marginally higher, reflecting cautious optimism as investors began the year with selective positioning rather than aggressive risk-taking.
The overall tone of the market remained stable, with sector-specific strength helping indices maintain gains through the session.
At the close of trade today, key indices settled as follows:
The closing data highlights modest but broad-based strength, led primarily by IT and banking stocks.
The Nifty 50 closed marginally in the green, indicating a steady start to the New Year. Buying interest was visible in select large-cap stocks, while others remained range-bound. The index continued to consolidate near higher levels, suggesting that investors are waiting for stronger triggers such as earnings updates and global cues before taking decisive positions.
The muted yet positive close reflects disciplined participation rather than speculative momentum.
Bank Nifty outperformed the broader market, closing with healthy gains. The index benefited from selective buying in banking and financial stocks as investors remained confident about credit growth, asset quality stability, and regulatory clarity under RBI norms.
The strength in Bank Nifty also helped support the broader indices, reinforcing the role of financial stocks as market anchors during early-year sessions.
The standout performer today was the Nifty IT index, which closed significantly higher. IT stocks gained traction on the back of stable global technology cues, currency comfort, and expectations of steady demand visibility from overseas clients.
IT stocks often attract interest during periods of cautious market sentiment due to their defensive nature and export-linked earnings, which was clearly visible in today’s trade.
The first trading session of 2026 was marked by controlled volatility and selective participation. There were no major global shocks, allowing domestic factors to guide price action. Investors appeared focused on portfolio alignment rather than chasing quick gains.
Lower volumes, typical of early January sessions, also contributed to a measured market move.
As the market settles into the New Year, investors may keep an eye on:
For traders, disciplined risk management remains key, while long-term investors may continue to accumulate quality stocks gradually.
Navigating daily market movements requires timely insights and reliable research. Swastika Investmart, a SEBI-registered brokerage, empowers investors with:
Whether markets are trending or consolidating, having structured research and tools can make a meaningful difference.
The Indian stock market closed the first trading day of 2026 on a positive note, with gains led by Bank Nifty and Nifty IT. The calm and constructive close sets a steady tone for the days ahead, as investors focus on fundamentals and long-term opportunities.
If you’re planning to approach 2026 with a disciplined and informed strategy, Swastika Investmart is here to support your investing journey.
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• Coforge raised around $550 million through a QIP to fund growth and acquisitions.
• The Encora acquisition strengthens Coforge’s presence in digital engineering and global delivery.
• The move signals a clear shift toward scale, higher value services, and overseas expansion.
• For investors, execution, margins, and integration will be key to tracking long term value creation.
In a sector where organic growth has moderated and global clients are becoming selective with IT spending, Coforge has made a decisive move. The company’s $550 million Qualified Institutional Placement followed by the acquisition of Encora is a clear signal that management is betting on scale, capabilities, and global reach to drive the next phase of growth.
For Indian IT services investors, this is not just a capital raise or a routine acquisition. It reflects how mid tier IT companies are repositioning themselves in a competitive and evolving global technology landscape.
A QIP allows listed companies in India to raise capital from institutional investors under SEBI regulations. Coforge’s decision to tap this route suggests confidence in long term growth opportunities and investor appetite.
Raising capital through equity gives Coforge financial flexibility. Instead of stretching leverage, the company has chosen to strengthen its balance sheet, which is crucial when pursuing overseas acquisitions and scaling operations.
For investors, this approach lowers financial risk while enabling strategic expansion.
Large QIPs are often interpreted as a signal of management intent. Coforge’s fund raise indicates that the company sees meaningful opportunities ahead, rather than focusing only on incremental growth.
Encora is a global digital engineering services firm with a strong presence in product engineering, cloud, data, and emerging technologies. These are areas where client spending remains relatively resilient despite broader IT budget pressures.
Traditional IT services are increasingly commoditised. Growth is shifting toward digital transformation, platform engineering, and specialised technology solutions.
By acquiring Encora, Coforge strengthens its positioning in high value services that command better pricing and longer client engagements.
Encora brings a stronger presence in North America and Latin America, along with a diversified client base. This helps Coforge reduce dependence on a limited set of geographies and industries.
For Indian IT companies, geographic diversification is becoming critical to manage regional demand cycles.
Clients increasingly prefer vendors that can offer scale, domain expertise, and end to end solutions. Mid sized IT firms often struggle to compete with larger peers on breadth.
The Encora acquisition helps Coforge bridge this gap by adding both talent and capabilities.
With an expanded service portfolio, Coforge can cross sell Encora’s digital engineering services to its existing clients and vice versa. This can improve wallet share without relying solely on new client wins.
Capital raises can initially create dilution concerns. However, markets often look beyond short term impact and focus on how effectively the capital is deployed.
In Coforge’s case, the combination of a QIP and a strategic acquisition positions the move as growth oriented rather than defensive.
The Indian IT sector is navigating slower global growth, cautious client spending, and pricing pressure. In such an environment, companies that invest in differentiated capabilities and global reach may be better placed to outperform over the cycle.
Coforge’s move aligns with this broader trend.
Both the QIP and acquisition fall under SEBI’s regulatory framework for listed companies. Transparency in fund utilisation, disclosures, and shareholder communication plays a key role in maintaining investor trust.
Indian markets generally reward companies that follow clear governance practices while pursuing growth.
No strategic move is without risk. Investors should monitor a few key factors closely.
Merging teams, cultures, and systems across geographies can be complex. Smooth integration of Encora will be critical to realise synergies.
While digital services offer higher margins, integration costs and talent retention can pressure margins in the short term.
Global technology spending cycles still matter. Even with strong capabilities, sustained growth depends on client demand trends.
Coforge’s strategy reflects a larger shift within Indian IT. Mid tier companies are no longer content with incremental growth. They are actively using capital markets to fund scale and specialisation.
For investors, this underscores the importance of company specific research rather than broad sector calls.
Corporate actions like QIPs and acquisitions need careful evaluation. Headlines alone do not capture long term impact.
Swastika Investmart, a SEBI registered financial services firm, supports investors with strong research tools, detailed company analysis, and tech enabled investing platforms. Its focus on investor education and responsive customer support helps investors assess such developments with clarity rather than speculation.
Why did Coforge choose a QIP instead of debt?
Equity funding strengthens the balance sheet and provides flexibility without increasing leverage, which is important for overseas acquisitions.
What does Encora add to Coforge’s business?
Encora enhances Coforge’s digital engineering, cloud, and product development capabilities along with a stronger global presence.
Is dilution a concern for existing shareholders?
Short term dilution is possible, but long term impact depends on how effectively the capital is deployed and integrated.
Does this signal confidence from management?
Yes. Raising capital and pursuing acquisitions typically reflects confidence in future growth opportunities.
Coforge’s $550 million QIP and the Encora acquisition mark a decisive step toward building scale and strengthening global competitiveness. In an IT sector undergoing structural change, this strategy positions the company to move up the value chain rather than compete on price alone.
For investors, the real story will unfold over the coming quarters through execution, integration, and margin performance. A research led approach is essential to separate short term noise from long term value creation.
If you want to track such corporate developments with deeper insights, robust tools, and a trusted platform, consider opening an account with Swastika Investmart.
• Copper prices are showing strong momentum due to global supply tightness and rising demand from EVs and infrastructure.
• India’s capex push, renewable energy expansion, and power sector growth are key domestic drivers.
• MCX copper prices are closely tracking global cues like China demand and USD movement.
• Copper’s rally has broader implications for metals, power, capital goods, and infrastructure stocks.
Copper has quietly moved into the spotlight of India’s commodity market. Over recent months, the red metal has displayed strong and consistent momentum, attracting traders, investors, and industry participants alike. While gold and crude oil often dominate headlines, copper’s rally carries deeper economic signals.
Often called the metal with a PhD in economics, copper reflects the health of industrial activity. Its recent strength is not accidental. It is backed by a mix of global supply constraints, structural demand growth, and India’s own infrastructure and energy transition story.
Understanding why copper is on fire helps investors decode where the broader economy may be heading.
Copper is a critical input across sectors. From power cables and transformers to electric vehicles, renewable energy projects, housing, railways, and data centres, copper demand cuts across the modern economy.
In India, copper consumption is closely linked to economic growth. When capex spending rises and industrial activity improves, copper demand tends to follow. This makes copper not just a commodity trade, but a macroeconomic indicator.
Copper mining is capital intensive and time consuming. New mines take years to come online, while existing mines face declining ore grades and regulatory challenges. Disruptions in major copper producing regions have further tightened global supply.
At the same time, inventories on global exchanges have remained relatively low. This imbalance between supply and demand has created a supportive price environment for copper.
China remains the world’s largest consumer of copper. Any improvement in Chinese manufacturing, infrastructure spending, or power sector activity quickly reflects in copper prices.
Even marginal signs of stabilisation in global manufacturing activity have provided strong support to copper prices, especially when supply remains constrained.
India’s focus on infrastructure development is a major tailwind for copper. Power transmission lines, metro rail projects, smart cities, and housing all require significant copper usage.
The government’s continued emphasis on capital expenditure has created steady demand visibility for industrial metals, including copper.
India’s transition towards renewable energy is copper intensive. Solar installations, wind farms, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure all rely heavily on copper for conductivity and efficiency.
Electric vehicles, in particular, use significantly more copper than conventional vehicles. As EV adoption increases, copper demand is expected to rise structurally rather than cyclically.
India is a net importer of refined copper. This makes domestic prices sensitive to global trends and currency movement. A weaker rupee can further amplify copper prices in the Indian market, adding to the momentum seen on MCX.
MCX copper prices have reflected this strong global and domestic setup. Traders have observed sustained buying interest, supported by both fundamentals and technical factors.
Rising open interest along with price strength often indicates fresh participation rather than short covering. This suggests confidence in the underlying trend.
For market participants, copper has shifted from being a short term trade to a theme driven by structural demand visibility.
Higher copper prices can improve margins for global producers and benefit domestic downstream players involved in copper products, wires, and cables.
Strong copper demand signals healthy order flows for power equipment manufacturers, EPC players, and capital goods companies linked to infrastructure and energy projects.
While rising copper prices reflect growth, they can also increase input costs for certain industries. Investors often track whether companies can pass on higher costs or face margin pressure.
Commodity trading in India is regulated by SEBI, ensuring transparency, risk management, and fair price discovery. MCX plays a central role in providing a platform for hedging and price discovery in copper.
For businesses, copper futures offer a way to manage price risk. For investors and traders, they provide an opportunity to participate in global commodity trends within a regulated framework.
Copper is influenced by multiple variables such as global growth expectations, currency movement, interest rates, and policy developments. While momentum is strong, commodities remain volatile by nature.
A disciplined approach that combines fundamental understanding with risk management is essential. Tracking global cues, inventory trends, and domestic demand indicators can help navigate copper’s price movement more effectively.
Themes like copper require more than surface level analysis. Understanding whether a rally is cyclical or structural makes a significant difference in decision making.
Swastika Investmart, a SEBI registered financial services firm, supports investors with strong research tools, tech enabled trading platforms, and responsive customer support. Its focus on investor education helps clients understand not just what is moving, but why it is moving.
This approach is especially valuable in commodities, where global linkages and volatility demand informed participation.
Why is copper called an economic indicator?
Copper demand rises with industrial and infrastructure activity, making its price movement a reflection of economic health.
Is copper’s current rally driven more by global or Indian factors?
Both play a role. Global supply constraints and China demand support prices, while India’s infrastructure and energy push adds domestic strength.
How can Indian investors participate in copper momentum?
Through MCX futures or by tracking equity sectors linked to copper consumption, while maintaining proper risk management.
Does currency movement affect copper prices in India?
Yes. Since India imports copper, a weaker rupee can push domestic prices higher even if global prices are stable.
Copper’s strong momentum is not just a short term spike. It reflects deeper shifts in global supply dynamics and India’s long term growth priorities. From infrastructure to clean energy, copper sits at the centre of multiple structural themes shaping the Indian economy.
For investors, copper offers insights into where economic momentum is building. Participating in such themes requires research driven decision making and a reliable trading ecosystem.
If you are looking to explore commodity opportunities with strong research backing, advanced platforms, and investor focused support, consider opening an account with Swastika Investmart.
• India is accelerating its ambition to become a global shipbuilding hub through policy reforms and strategic incentives.
• Government initiatives aim to reduce import dependence and boost exports in the maritime sector.
• Shipbuilding growth can benefit infrastructure, metals, logistics, and capital goods sectors.
• Investors should track policy execution, order inflows, and global trade trends closely.
India’s manufacturing story is entering a new phase, and shipbuilding is fast emerging as a strategic focus area. With rising global trade, supply chain diversification, and India’s own maritime ambitions, the government has intensified efforts to position the country as a competitive global shipbuilding hub.
The key question for investors and industry watchers is simple: can India realistically challenge established shipbuilding giants and convert policy intent into execution? Let us break this down from an economic, market, and investment perspective.
Shipbuilding is not just about building vessels. It has deep linkages with steel, heavy engineering, power equipment, electronics, ports, and logistics. Countries with strong shipbuilding capabilities often enjoy strategic advantages in trade, defence, and employment generation.
For India, the opportunity is significant. Nearly 95 percent of India’s trade by volume moves through sea routes, yet a large portion of vessels used are foreign-built. This dependence leads to foreign exchange outflow and limits domestic value creation.
A stronger shipbuilding ecosystem aligns directly with broader national goals such as Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and export-led growth.
The government has rolled out targeted policy measures to revive and scale up shipbuilding and ship repair. This includes financial assistance schemes aimed at reducing cost disadvantages faced by Indian shipyards compared to global peers.
Shipbuilding is capital intensive and long gestation in nature. To address this, the policy framework focuses on improving access to financing, reducing project risk, and enhancing long-term visibility of orders.
Alongside new shipbuilding, ship repair and ship recycling are receiving attention. India already has a strong presence in ship recycling, particularly in Gujarat. Expanding repair capabilities helps generate steady cash flows and positions Indian yards as service hubs for global shipping routes passing through the Indian Ocean.
Defence shipbuilding remains a critical anchor. Indian Navy and Coast Guard orders provide scale, learning, and technological capability. At the same time, growth in coastal shipping, inland waterways, and energy transportation creates incremental domestic demand.
Countries like China, South Korea, and Japan dominate global shipbuilding due to scale, technological depth, and state-backed financing. India does not aim to replicate their volume leadership overnight.
Instead, India’s approach appears focused on niche segments such as specialised vessels, defence ships, offshore support vessels, and green energy-linked shipping.
India’s labour cost advantage, improving port infrastructure, and strategic geographic location are structural positives. With the right policy execution, these factors can help Indian yards win regional and export orders over time.
A sustained shipbuilding push benefits capital goods manufacturers, heavy engineering firms, and equipment suppliers. Order inflows in shipyards often translate into demand for domestic ancillaries.
Shipbuilding is steel intensive. Any structural increase in ship orders supports domestic steel consumption, benefiting upstream metal producers.
A stronger maritime ecosystem improves port utilisation, coastal trade, and logistics efficiency. This has long-term positive implications for port operators and logistics companies.
Defence-linked shipyards and suppliers align with India’s broader defence indigenisation theme, which has been gaining investor attention in recent years.
Shipbuilding operates under multiple regulatory touchpoints including maritime authorities, defence procurement frameworks, and environmental norms. Policy clarity, faster approvals, and consistency remain key execution variables.
India’s regulators have been gradually improving transparency and timelines, which supports investor confidence. However, project execution and cost discipline will remain under close market scrutiny.
Shipbuilding is a long-cycle industry. Short-term volatility should be expected, but structural policy backing improves long-term visibility.
Emerging policy-led themes require disciplined research rather than headline-driven investing. Understanding sector cycles, company-specific execution, and regulatory nuances is critical.
Swastika Investmart, a SEBI-registered financial services firm, supports investors with in-depth research, robust trading platforms, and strong customer support. Its tech-enabled investing tools and focus on investor education help market participants make informed decisions, especially in evolving sectors like maritime manufacturing.
Is shipbuilding a long-term opportunity for India?
Yes, given India’s trade growth, defence needs, and policy focus, shipbuilding has long-term strategic relevance.
Which sectors benefit most from shipbuilding growth?
Capital goods, steel, ports, logistics, and defence manufacturing are key beneficiaries.
Can Indian shipyards compete globally?
India may not lead in volume immediately but can compete in specialised and regional segments.
Is this theme suitable for retail investors?
It can be, but investors should focus on fundamentals, execution capability, and long-term horizon.
India’s ambition to become a global shipbuilding hub is no longer just a vision statement. With policy support, strategic demand, and improving infrastructure, the foundations are being laid. While challenges remain, the direction is clearly positive.
For investors, this theme underscores the importance of staying aligned with structural economic shifts rather than short-term noise. A research-driven approach can help identify sustainable opportunities within this evolving landscape.
If you are looking to explore such policy-driven investment themes with professional research support and a reliable trading platform, consider opening an account with Swastika Investmart.
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Indian equity markets closed lower today, 26 December 2025, as investors remained cautious amid profit booking at higher levels. Both benchmark indices, Nifty 50 and Nifty Bank, ended the session in the red after opening weak and failing to build meaningful intraday momentum.
The broader market tone reflected consolidation after recent gains, with traders opting to reduce risk exposure ahead of the year-end.
Indian equity markets opened on a cautious note on 26 December 2025, reflecting subdued investor sentiment at the start of the session.
The initial weakness was largely influenced by mixed global cues and mild selling pressure in select heavyweight stocks.
Selling pressure picked up as the day progressed, preventing any meaningful recovery and resulting in a weaker close for benchmark indices.
The softer close indicates the absence of fresh positive triggers and continued profit booking near higher index levels.
After a strong run in recent weeks, investors chose to book profits, especially in index heavyweights. This capped upside momentum and dragged indices lower through the session.
With the calendar year nearing its end, many market participants preferred to stay light on positions. Reduced participation and selective selling are common during the last trading sessions of December.
Banking stocks underperformed slightly, keeping Bank Nifty under pressure. PSU and private bank stocks saw limited buying interest, impacting overall index strength.
Overall market breadth leaned negative, indicating cautious sentiment across segments.
From a technical perspective:
A decisive move above resistance or below support may guide the next short-term trend.
For long-term investors, short-term market fluctuations should not distract from asset allocation and disciplined investing.
For traders, it is important to:
Markets are likely to remain range-bound unless fresh triggers emerge.
At Swastika Investmart, investors benefit from:
Our focus is on helping investors navigate both volatile and consolidating markets with confidence.
On 26 December 2025, Indian markets closed lower, reflecting cautious sentiment and profit booking at higher levels. With year-end approaching, markets may continue to consolidate in the near term.
Staying informed, disciplined, and aligned with long-term goals remains key.
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Smart investing starts with staying updated.
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As Indian markets become more active and settlement cycles faster, many investors in 2026 are encountering a new term more frequently settlement holiday. It often creates confusion because, unlike market holidays, trading may still continue.
So what exactly is a settlement holiday, and why does it matter to investors?
A settlement holiday is a day when the clearing and settlement process is paused, even though the stock market may remain open for trading.
Let’s break this down in simple terms.
A settlement holiday is a non-working day for clearing corporations, banks, and depositories, during which:
Unlike a stock market holiday, buying and selling may still happen, but the actual exchange of money and securities does not.
In India, settlement holidays are aligned with bank holidays, as settlements depend heavily on the banking system.
This distinction is important for every investor.
In simple words, trades happen, but completion of trades waits.
Settlement in Indian markets involves multiple institutions:
If banks are closed due to a national or regional holiday, settlements cannot be processed. To avoid partial or failed settlements, exchanges declare a settlement holiday.
This structure protects investors and ensures system-wide stability.
The impact depends on your investing style.
If you buy shares for delivery before a settlement holiday:
Example:
If you buy shares on Monday and Tuesday is a settlement holiday, the T+1 settlement shifts to Wednesday.
For intraday traders, settlement holidays usually have minimal impact, since positions are squared off the same day.
However, margin availability may be affected if funds from previous trades are not yet settled.
Mutual fund investors may notice:
This is especially relevant for equity mutual funds and ETFs.
India moved to a T+1 settlement cycle, making settlement faster and more efficient. However, settlement holidays still pause the process.
In 2026, this means:
This makes awareness more important than ever.
Consider this scenario:
Even though markets were open on Tuesday, the settlement skipped that day.
Such situations are common around festivals and national holidays.
Smart planning helps avoid surprises.
At Swastika Investmart, investors get timely updates, trade confirmations, and clear settlement timelines through tech-enabled platforms backed by SEBI-registered research.
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Though they may feel inconvenient, settlement holidays serve a critical purpose:
They are a sign of a well-regulated and disciplined financial system.
Can I trade on a settlement holiday?
Yes, trading may be allowed, but settlement is deferred.
Does a settlement holiday affect intraday trades?
Usually no, as intraday trades are squared off the same day.
Will my shares be credited late due to a settlement holiday?
Yes, delivery of shares and funds is postponed to the next working day.
Are settlement holidays announced in advance?
Yes, exchanges publish settlement holiday calendars in advance.
A settlement holiday does not stop the market, but it slows the completion of trades. Understanding how it works helps investors manage liquidity, margins, and expectations more effectively.
With SEBI registration, strong research capabilities, investor education initiatives, and tech-enabled investing tools, Swastika Investmart ensures investors are always informed and prepared.
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Knowing the rules of settlement is just as important as choosing the right stocks.
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Stock market holidays often raise common questions among Indian mutual fund investors. Will my SIP be skipped? Will I lose returns if the market is closed? How is NAV calculated on a holiday?
With mutual fund participation rising steadily across India, understanding how stock market holidays affect SIPs and mutual fund NAVs has become essential for both new and seasoned investors.
Let’s break this down in a simple, practical way.
A common misconception is that SIPs stop working on market holidays. That’s not true.
If your SIP date falls on a stock market holiday:
This system ensures that investors remain disciplined, regardless of short-term market closures.
Suppose your SIP date is 25th December, and the stock market is closed due to a holiday.
You don’t lose the SIP. It only gets deferred, not cancelled.
NAV, or Net Asset Value, represents the per-unit value of a mutual fund.
On stock market holidays:
This is because NAV calculation depends on closing prices of underlying securities, which are unavailable on holidays.
As per SEBI regulations, mutual fund NAVs are calculated only on business days when markets are operational. This ensures transparency and fairness across all investors.
If you invest a lumpsum amount on a market holiday:
For equity mutual funds, NAV allotment depends on when funds are realized, not just when the order is placed.
For long-term investors, the impact is negligible.
Trying to time SIPs around holidays is usually unnecessary and counterproductive.
Debt funds follow similar rules but with slight nuances.
This makes them suitable for short-term parking, even during holiday-heavy periods.
Many investors panic when they don’t see immediate unit allocation or updated NAVs. Knowing how holidays work helps avoid:
In a growing market like India, financial awareness is as important as financial products.
At Swastika Investmart, we focus on investor education alongside execution.
Our platforms offer:
This ensures investors remain confident, even during market holidays or volatile periods.
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Does SIP get cancelled if the market is closed?
No. SIPs are processed on the next working day.
Which NAV is applied if I invest on a holiday?
The NAV of the next business day is applied.
Should I change my SIP date to avoid holidays?
There’s no need. SIP discipline matters more than dates.
Do mutual fund returns stop during holidays?
No. Returns are calculated based on market performance over time.
Stock market holidays are a normal part of a regulated financial system. They do not disrupt SIPs or long-term mutual fund investing. Understanding how NAVs and transactions work helps investors stay confident and focused on their goals.
With strong research support, SEBI registration, and easy-to-use digital platforms, Swastika Investmart empowers investors to invest with clarity and confidence.
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