Indian equity markets are bracing for a negative opening on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, following a two-day sharp rally that had been sparked by a temporary pause on country-specific reciprocal tariffs affecting 75 nations. Early indications show that the GIFT Nifty Futures was down by 85 points, settling at 23,279 levels as of 7:38 AM. This comes on the heels of a turbulent day on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 slipped by 0.17 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.38 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite saw a slight decline of 0.04 percent. The international markets also reflected this trend, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropping about 1.8 percent, Japan's Nikkei down by 0.5 percent, and South Korea's Kospi down 0.45 percent. In contrast, Australia's ASX200 managed a modest gain of 0.16 percent.
As the day unfolds, several key stocks are expected to be in the spotlight due to a mix of regulatory challenges, financial reports, and strategic expansions.
IndusInd Bank is facing significant turmoil after an external audit revealed a ₹1,979 crore negative impact on its net worth due to discrepancies in derivative transactions. The bank reported that this issue could lead to a post-tax hit of approximately 2.27 percent by December 2024, raising concerns among investors about its financial stability.
ICICI Lombard, on the other hand, reported a 1.9 percent year-on-year decline in net profit for the March 2025 quarter, totaling ₹510 crore compared to ₹519 crore in the same quarter last year. However, the company’s profit after tax for the full fiscal year 2025 surged by 30.7 percent, reaching ₹2,508 crore, up from ₹1,919 crore in the previous year. Gross direct premium income for the quarter also saw a modest increase of 2.3 percent, amounting to ₹6,211 crore.
Gensol Engineering is under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which has issued an interim order against the company and its promoters, Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi, due to allegations of fund misappropriation and misleading disclosures. The order restricts the promoters from holding any key managerial roles or trading in securities. A forensic audit is set to take place, with results expected in six months.
Adani Total Gas faces challenges as GAIL, the Nodal Agency, has reduced its allocation of Administrative Price Mechanism (APM) priced domestic gas by 15 percent, effective today. This reduction is expected to negatively impact the company’s profitability as it will need to rely on more expensive New Well Gas (NWG) to compensate for the shortfall.
IREDA, the state-run lender focused on renewable energy projects, has reported a remarkable 48.7 percent increase in net profit for the March 2025 quarter, reaching ₹501.6 crore compared to ₹337 crore in the same period last year. This growth was attributed to a substantial rise in interest income, with net interest income growing by 47.3 percent to ₹801.3 crore.
Lemon Tree Hotels has made strides in its expansion efforts by signing a license agreement for a new hotel property, Lemon Tree Resort, in Mori Bera, Rajasthan. The property is set to begin operations in fiscal year 2027, marking another step in the company’s growth strategy.
Swiggy, the food delivery giant, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Labour & Employment. The partnership aims to create over 12 lakh job opportunities in the gig and logistics sectors over the next two to three years, with positions to be listed on the government’s National Career Service portal.
Aster DM Healthcare has received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to merge with Quality Care India (QCIL). As part of the merger process, Aster will acquire a 5 percent stake in QCIL by issuing fresh shares, and the newly formed entity will be rebranded as Aster DM Quality Care.
Dabur India is also making headlines as its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dabur International FZE, has announced plans to incorporate a new entity in the United Kingdom. This move aims to facilitate the sales and distribution of FMCG products in the UK, with the acquisition expected to be completed by May 15, 2025.
NHPC has declared the commercial operation of Unit-4 (200 MW) of its Parbati-II hydroelectric project in Himachal Pradesh, adding to the three units that have already been operational since April 1, 2025. This brings the total capacity of the project to 800 MW, enhancing the power supply to the grid.
TCS received a significant boost as the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved the allotment of 21.16 acres of land in Vishakhapatnam for a symbolic lease price of 99 paisa. TCS plans to invest ₹1,370 crore in a development center that is expected to generate around 12,000 jobs, further solidifying its presence in the region.
As the trading day unfolds, investors will be keenly watching these developments, balancing the potential for growth against the backdrop of regulatory challenges and market fluctuations. The mixed signals from both domestic and international markets suggest that caution may be warranted as traders navigate through this complex landscape.
