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LIC expected to be pinned on global watchlists, says Avener Capital

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Once listed on the exchanges, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is expected to be pinned on global portfolio watchlists, said financial services provider Avener Capital.

The insurer’s long-awaited Initial Public Offering (IPO) is likely to open for investors on May 4 and will remain open to subscription till May 9.

It will be the largest and landmark public issue in the history of the Indian capital market.

The IPO values LIC at Rs 6 lakh crore.

“Amidst the volatile environment, the revision in the LIC IPO valuation demonstrates the keenness of the government to deliver on the IPO,” said Shivam Bajaj, Founder and CEO at Avener Capital.

The revised IPO valuation can potentially unlock a favourable opportunity for investors towards wealth creation, it said.

The issue offer of the LIC will be in the price band of Rs 902 to Rs 949, IANS reported on Tuesday.

Also, the policyholders will be offered a Rs 60 discount, while for retail investors, the discount will be Rs 45.

Crime

Kunal Kamra issued third summons by Mumbai Police, asked to appear for questioning today

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Mumbai, April 5: Stand up comedian Kunal Kamra has been issued a third summons by Mumbai’s Khar Police, asking him to appear for questioning on Saturday.

This summons follows two previous attempts by the police to call Kamra in for investigation, but the comedian failed to show up for either of the earlier summons.

Kamra is under investigation for an alleged controversial comment that was understood to be an indirect swipe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The video, which aired following Kamra’s performance at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, saw the comedian using a modified version of a popular Bollywood song from ‘Dil To Pagal Hai.’ “Meri nazar se tum dekho toh, gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye,” Kunal Kamra said during his show which was understood to be a jibe at Shinde.

The comments, were perceived to be made in the context of the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis, which led to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, resulted in multiple FIRs being filed against Kamra.

Following the release of Kamra’s video on March 23, Shiv Sena workers, angered by his remarks, vandalised the Unicontinental Hotel in Khar where Kamra had recorded the video. This incident led to the arrest of 12 Shinde supporters, who were later granted bail.

In response to the summons, Kamra had earlier stated he was unavailable in Mumbai due to prior commitments and offered to appear for questioning on April 2.

However, the police did not accept his request for a delayed appearance.

Kamra’s lawyer, V. Suresh, had expressed concerns about Kamra’s safety, claiming he had received threats from certain Maharashtra Cabinet ministers.

Mumbai’s Khar Police Station is investigating the matter, with two FIRs already filed against Kamra for derogatory remarks. In addition, three more FIRs filed against him in different parts of Maharashtra have been combined into the Mumbai investigation.

The police have confirmed that Kamra is not currently in contact with the Khar police station. Kamra has been granted protection from arrest until April 7 by the Madras High Court, but the latest summons indicate that the investigation is moving forward despite his earlier refusals to comply.

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Business

India-US trade negotiations key to boost stock market sentiment: Experts

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New Delhi, April 5: The new financial year (FY26) has commenced on a subdued note, largely driven by the imposition of higher-than-anticipated tariffs by the US, market experts said on Saturday, adding that any constructive developments arising from the ongoing India–US bilateral trade negotiations could serve as a supportive catalyst for the market.

Sectors like IT and metals have underperformed relative to the broader market, reflecting growing concerns over the outlook for the US economy and potential retaliatory trade actions by other countries.

According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, investors are expected to closely monitor any countermeasures implemented by global trade partners, which could further exacerbate geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

This cautious sentiment is reflected in the sustained rally in gold and bond prices, underscoring a pronounced shift toward safe-haven assets.

Meanwhile, benchmark indices extended their losing streak to a second session on Friday, falling over a per cent each, as a risk-off sentiment took over global markets amid fears of a trade war on the back of US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, according to a Bajaj Broking Research note.

Nifty was down 345.65 points or 1.49 per cent at 22,904.45. Investors fear that aggressive trade policies by US would lead to retaliatory measures from other countries, escalating into a full-scale trade war. Such an outcome could disrupt global supply chains and slow economic growth.

The broader markets witnessed sharp decline, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Small cap 100 declining by 2.91 per cent and 3.56 per cent, respectively. All the sectoral indices traded with sharp cuts, with the IT, Auto, Pharma, PSU Bank, Realty, Oil and Gas and metals gauges losing 6 per cent to 3 per cent.

Index is currently placed around the key support area of 22,700-22,800, holding above the same will be crucial for pullback to materialise towards last week high 23,565 in coming week.

“Failure to hold above the support area of 22,700 can lead to extended decline towards 22,300 levels. Along with the development on US tariff policies, market participant will also keep a close eye on the RBI monetary policy outcome and resumption of Q4 FY25 earnings season in the coming week,” said Bajaj Broking Research.

Investor attention is also firmly fixed on the upcoming MPC meeting, with the benchmark interest rate decision expected next week.

A favourable outcome could benefit rate-sensitive sectors. In addition, key macroeconomic indicators — namely India’s inflation figures and US jobless claims — will be closely watched, as they are likely to offer critical insights into the underlying economic conditions in both regions, said experts.

Meanwhile, market focus is gradually shifting toward the upcoming corporate earnings season. The initial outlook remains subdued, with the risk of further downward revisions to earnings growth, largely due to tepid demand and continued margin pressures.

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National

HM Shah to review anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh today

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Raipur, April 5: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will assess the progress of the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh on Saturday.

HM Shah’s two-day trip to the state is centred around reviewing the effectiveness of security measures in the Left Wing Extremism-affected regions of Bastar and Gariaband.

HM Shah arrived at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, where he was welcomed by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy CM Vijay Sharma, and other senior officials. From there, he headed to a hotel in Nava Raipur to prepare for his engagements.

The primary focus of his visit will be a high-level meeting scheduled for today, where he will evaluate the ongoing anti-Naxal efforts in the state.

HM Shah is expected to directly review the security situation in Bastar, a key region hit by insurgency. The meeting will specifically concentrate on operations in Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kanker, the districts most affected by Naxal violence.

In addition to meeting with security personnel involved in these operations, HM Shah will assess the strategies employed to curb the Naxal threat.

The visit comes at a time when Chhattisgarh has seen significant success in its fight against Naxalism.

In 2025 alone, at least 130 Naxalites have been killed in encounters, with more than 110 of these deaths occurring in the Bastar division.

Over 105 Naxalites have been arrested, while 164 others have voluntarily surrendered as part of the ongoing peace restoration efforts.

On Saturday, HM Shah will visit Dantewada, a key Naxal stronghold, where he will also offer prayers at the Maa Danteshwari Temple. Later, he will attend the closing ceremony of the ‘Bastar Pandum’ festival, a cultural event showcasing the rich traditions, art, and cuisine of the tribal communities in the region.

This visit underscores the government’s broader strategy to eliminate the Naxal threat by March 31, 2026.

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