PRE-MARKET REPORT
The domestic equity market indices Sensex and Nifty 50 are expected to open lower on Monday, following mixed cues from global markets.
Gift Nifty was trading around the 24,780 level, a discount of nearly 50 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close, indicating a negative start for the Indian stock market indices.
The US stock market ended mixed on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Dow posting weekly declines, while the Nasdaq secured its fourth consecutive week of gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 86.06 points, or 0.20%, to 43,828.06, while the S&P 500 eased 0.16 points, or 0.00%, to 6,051.09. The Nasdaq Composite ended 23.88 points, or 0.12%, higher at 19,926.72.
Asian markets traded mostly higher on Monday, before the release of key economic data from China. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.16%, while the Topix gained 0.21%. South Korea’s Kospi rallied 0.83% and the Kosdaq surged over 1%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures indicated a slightly weaker open.
STOCKS TODAY
Vedanta: Mining major Vedanta Limited is set to convene a board of directors’ meeting on Monday, December 16, 2024. As per an exchange filing on December 11, the board will deliberate the release of the fourth interim dividend for the financial year 2024-25. The company stated, “The Board of Directors of the Company (the ‘Board’) is proposed to be scheduled on Monday, December 16, 2024, to consider and approve the Fourth Interim Dividend on equity shares, if any, for the Financial Year 2024-25.” If approved, the dividend issue date has been set for Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
Reliance Industries: RIL has announced the acquisition of a 74 percent stake in an industrial area developer based in Mumbai for ₹16.28 billion (USD 192 million). The developer, Navi Mumbai IIA, was formerly known as Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (NMSEZ). This transition occurred after the Maharashtra state government approved its conversion into an integrated industrial area in 2018. The remaining 26 percent stake will be held by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) of Maharashtra.
Lupin: The pharm firm has expanded its diabetes care portfolio by acquiring three anti-diabetes trademarks—GIBTULIO, GIBTULIO MET, and AJADUO—from Boehringer Ingelheim. The acquisition is expected to strengthen the company’s presence in the diabetes care market in India. Lupin aims to secure full rights to these trademarks by March 2024.
RITES: Navratna company RITES Limited has secured a project implementation service order from the Ministry of External Affairs to construct an Integrated Check Post. The project, valued at ₹297.67 crore, will enhance India’s border infrastructure. The construction is scheduled for completion over 59 months, reflecting RITES’ commitment to bolstering national infrastructure projects.
Aurobindo Pharma: Aurobindo Pharma received an order from the Additional Commissioner (ST), Appellate authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, passed under relevant provisions of the CGST Act, 2017 and APGST Act, 2017 for the financial years 2017-18 (from July 2017) to 2019-20 demanding reversal of ITC and payment of GST amounting to ₹5.68 crore along with an interest of ₹4.80 crore.