Business
High Potential: Brokerages bullish on TCS, Escorts, Relaxo, HUL stocks for 2022

For 2022, brokerage houses are bullish on a variety of stocks including TCS, Escorts, Relaxo, HUL for 2022.
Accordingly, Motilal Oswal Financial Services has given a buy call for large-cap stocks such as TCS, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, L&T, Godrej Consumer Products, Divi’s Labs, Titan, Tata Motors and Reliance Industries.
In the mid-cap space, Angel One, Macrotech Developers, Ramco Cement, Zensar Tech and Devyani International are some of the top picks from MOFSL.
Further, HDFC Securities has given a ‘buy’ recommendation for these ten stocks — Aditya Birla Capital, Gail India, Hindustan Zinc, Ipca Labs, Mahindra & Mahindra, Max Financial, Max Healthcare, State Bank of India, Tech Mahindra and Zee Entertainment.
Aditya Birla Capital is the holding company of all the financial services businesses of the Aditya Birla group, and is expected to continue its credible makeover journey over the next three years.
According to Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research, Escorts, Relaxo, and Deepak Nitrite shares have better potential in 2022.
For Escorts, target price is seen at Rs 2,400 per share, against Rs 1,904 on Friday’s close.
The agricultural machinery maker has an annual capacity of 120,000 units of tractors. Escorts has a presence in a variety of product segments, including tractors, agri-machinery, construction equipment, and railway equipment.
In case of Relaxo, a footwear brand, the target is expected at Rs 1,800, against Rs 1,305 currently.
Relaxo has nine plants spread across three cities, with an annual production capacity of more than 20 crore pairs. Over the last ten years, the firm has had impressive revenue and profit growth of 13 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively.
Target for Deepak Nitrite is pegged at Rs 3,400, against Rs 2,491 at present.
Deepak Nitrite is a specialty chemicals producer, and is currently one of the fastest-growing in the world (second only to China), with an annual average growth of 13 per cent over the previous five years totalling $25 billion. It has a large customer base serving over 900 clients in over 40 countries and has good competitive positioning in most of its product categories.
Further, Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services is bullish on HUL, HDFC Bank, Biocon, Tata Power, Tech Mahindra, and L&T.
“We are positive on HUL considering its pricing power, distribution expansion and product innovation. Revival in urban demand given opening of markets, and resilient rural demand aided by good monsoon & sowing, higher minimum support prices and government’s initiatives to revive the economy including production-linked incentives schemes will support HUL,” Nair said.
“Margin pressure due to surge in input costs is expected to reduce owing to price hikes, operational efficiency, and improvement in product mix.”
For Biocon, Nair said that new product launches and higher operational efficiency should support long-term earnings growth prospectus.
“The company’s recent agreement with the Serum Institute of India to market Covid-19 vaccines further bolsters business prospects for Biocon. We expect a revenue CAGR of 20 per cent over FY21-23E as the earnings outlook remains positive backed by Biocon’s focus on building a large portfolio of biosimilars and scaling up of biologics business in the emerging markets.”
Tata power is well placed to capture the opportunities across the green portfolio, he said.
On its part, Sunil Nyati, Managing Director of Swastika Investmart, said he was bullish on Action Construction, Kajaria Ceramics, KPIT Technologies shares.
“I have a very bullish view of the capital goods and infrastructure sector for the next two-to-three years where my top pick is action construction equipment which is a perfect player for both capital goods and infrastructure themes. It is a debt-free company with strong growth prospects,” Nyati said.
“IT sector is the leader of this bull run and it may continue to do well as management of the companies are sounding very confident for the next five years. KPIT is one of the fastest-growing midcap IT companies which is going to be a key beneficiary of the EV theme because it is working aggressively towards software solutions for the EV industry.”
Business
Stock market ends lower as investors take cautious approach on US tariffs

Mumbai, April 3: The Indian stock market closed lower on Thursday as investors remained cautious following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs.
The new tariff structure includes a 10 per cent tax on all US imports, with higher tariffs on countries with a trade surplus. India will now face a 27 per cent tariff.
The Sensex fell 322.08 points, or 0.42 per cent, to close at 76,295.36. During the day, the index fluctuated between an intraday high of 76,493.74 and a low of 75,807.55.
The Nifty also ended lower, down 82.25 points, or 0.35 per cent, at 23,250.10.
“The primary catalyst for today’s decline was deteriorating global sentiment, exacerbated by US President Trump’s announcement of a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian imports, which prompted a cautious stance among investors,” said Sundar Kewat of Ashika Institutional Equity.
Tech stocks led the losses, with TCS, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, and Tata Motors declining by up to 4.02 per cent.
On the other hand, Power Grid Corporation, Sun Pharma, Ultratech Cement, NTPC, and Asian Paints were among the top gainers, rising as much as 4.57 per cent.
The IT sector was the worst performer, with the Nifty IT index dropping 4.21 per cent, dragged down by Persistent Systems, Coforge, TCS, and Mphasis. Auto, oil & gas, and realty stocks also struggled.
However, pharma stocks performed well, with the Nifty Pharma index climbing 2.25 per cent. Banking, healthcare, FMCG, and consumer durables stocks also saw gains, rising up to 1.94 per cent.
Despite the overall market decline, smallcap stocks outperformed, as the Nifty Smallcap100 index gained 0.58 per cent.
Market analysts stated that investors are expected to remain watchful of global developments and their impact on market trends.
“The domestic market initially showed signs of recovery but ended with modest losses after the announcement of a relatively lower 26 per cent tariff on US imports,” said Vinod Nair of Geojit Investments Limited.
“Although the tariff presents short-term challenges, India’s economic resilience and bilateral trade agreement may help mitigate the overall impact,” he stated.
The rupee ended flat but traded in a volatile range between 85.75 and 85.35, as markets reacted to Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy.
Business
India’s GDP growth projected at 6.7 pc for FY26, cyclical recovery expected

New Delhi, April 3: India’s economy is set to grow at 6.7 per cent in FY26, driven by a cyclical recovery and steady market performance, a new report said on Thursday.
Cyclical recovery refers to the phase in an economic cycle that follows a recession or slowdown, during which economic activity, consumer spending, and business investments start to rise.
Over the past five years, India has witnessed strong earnings growth, with the NIFTY index recording a 20 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to a Lighthouse Canton report.
As the economy moves forward, the next phase of growth will depend on key factors such as government capital expenditure, tax benefits for the middle class, and improved consumer demand.
These elements are expected to support earnings recovery and market confidence in 2025, the report said.
India’s investment-led expansion has played a crucial role in economic growth. While the government continues to focus on fiscal discipline, private sector investments are expected to gain momentum, contributing to long-term stability.
The Reserve Bank of India’s recent 25-basis-point rate cut — the first in nearly five years — signals a supportive stance for economic growth.
“India’s economic engine continues to offer long-term promise, however, 2025 will require greater selectivity and discipline,” said Sumegh Bhatia, Managing Director and CEO of Lighthouse Canton in India.
He added that the investors will need to navigate shifting cycles, watch for inflection points in earnings, and remain anchored in fundamentals as the global order undergoes further transformation.
On the global front, market trends and currency movements will influence India’s financial landscape, as per the report.
The strength of the US dollar and rising global trade activity are shaping investment flows, while gold remains a preferred asset due to its resilience amid global uncertainties.
“Additionally, crude oil prices are expected to remain stable, benefiting India’s import-dependent economy,” the report noted.
In 2025, the focus remains on sustainable growth, disciplined market strategies, and long-term investment opportunities, it added.
Business
Institutional investments in Indian real estate up 31 pc at $1.3 billion in Q1

New Delhi, April 3: Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector saw a strong start to 2025, with total inflows reaching $1.3 billion in the first quarter, a new report said on Thursday.
This marks a 31 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, driven largely by domestic investors, according to the report by Colliers India.
Domestic investments played a significant role in this growth, contributing $0.8 billion, which is a 75 per cent rise on a year-on-year (YoY) basis.
These investments were mainly directed toward industrial, warehousing and office spaces. The office segment alone attracted $0.4 billion, making up one-third of the total investments.
Hyderabad emerged as a key market in this segment, drawing more than half of the office-related inflows. The residential sector also witnessed a remarkable rise, with investments almost tripling compared to the first quarter of 2024.
The segment attracted $0.3 billion, accounting for 23 per cent of total investments, a figure comparable to the industrial and warehousing sector.
Interestingly, foreign investors led the residential investment surge, contributing over half of the total inflows in this segment.
The industrial and warehousing sector continued its strong performance from 2024, recording over $0.3 billion in investments during the first quarter of 2025.
This represents a 73 per cent increase YoY, supported by rising investor confidence.
Positive macroeconomic indicators, such as India’s manufacturing purchasing manager’s index (PMI) reaching 58.1 in March 2025 — the highest level since mid-2024 — have reinforced optimism in this sector.
The robust demand, higher production, and improved business confidence have all contributed to this growth, the report said.
Mumbai emerged as the top investment destination, accounting for $0.3 billion, or 22 per cent of the total inflows in Q1 2025.
Bengaluru followed with a 20 per cent share, while Hyderabad secured 18 per cent of the investments, according to the report.
In Mumbai, mixed-use assets attracted over half of the total inflows, whereas Bengaluru saw a majority of investments in the residential sector.
City-wise data show a massive 841 per cent rise in investments in Mumbai, compared to Q1 2024, while Delhi-NCR also experienced significant growth with a 145 per cent increase.
The report also found that Bengaluru saw a steady 26 per cent rise in investments during the same period.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra6 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra6 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra6 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News6 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Crime6 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
Maharashtra5 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News6 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface