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Wednesday,07-May-2025
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WhatsApp adds new stickers for avatar pack on iOS, Android

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 Meta-owned WhatsApp has added some new stickers to its avatar sticker pack for Android and iOS, following its announcement of the ability to create personalised avatars.

In spite of the same number of stickers in the avatar pack, the changes made have given it more personality and depth by redesigning and replacing some stickers in order to improve their visual appeal and reflect the diverse range of feelings and expressions users wish to convey, reports WABetaInfo.

New stickers within the avatar pack are now available for all users on WhatsApp for iOS and Android, said the report.

With the new avatar sticker pack, users can customise the avatar right within the app settings by choosing the shape, colour, clothes, and several accessories that best express them.

Once they have created their avatar, they can use it as their profile photo.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out picture-in-picture mode for video calls, for all iOS users.

With this feature in the new update, users can now multitask during a WhatsApp call without their video being paused.

Other than the picture-in-picture mode, the new update also includes — the ability to attach a caption to the documents, and longer group subjects and descriptions to make it easier to describe the groups.

Business

Time for careful planning, not panic buying on defence stocks: Experts

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Mumbai, May 7: In the midst of rising market volatility sparked by geopolitical tensions, experts on Wednesday urged investors to remain calm and take a calculated approach, especially while buying defence stocks.

Indian defence stocks traded flat amid heightened tensions with Pakistan after India successfully carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Analysts suggested investors to adopt a wait-and-watch approach due to geopolitical risks.

“This is a time for careful planning rather than rushed decisions or panic buying,” said Dr Vikas Gupta, CEO and Chief Investment Strategist at OmniScience Capital.

Long-term investment opportunities continue to exist, especially in the defence sector.

He advised investors to avoid falling into fear or FOMO (fear of missing out) and, instead, maintain a watchlist of sectors and stocks that show strong long-term promise.

The key, according to Gupta, is to allocate capital gradually and rationally, rather than reacting emotionally to market noise.

However, Gupta emphasised that the defence sector stands out as a key area of focus.

“Defence companies, already holding strong order books, are likely to see further growth in orders due to Operation Sindoor,” he added.

“The attention now shifts to the pace of project execution, which could become more aggressive,” he stated.

According to market experts, defence stocks have already witnessed a significant run-up in recent sessions, particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Gupta suggests that the results of this push may start reflecting in financials over the next few quarters to a couple of years, potentially driving revenue and profit growth.

Beyond conventional arms and ammunition, other critical defence-related areas are poised for growth, including cyber security, strategic minerals, rare earths, oil and gas, military EPC and defence logistics.

Meanwhile, shares of Bharat Dynamics, Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Electronics, and BEML remained largely unchanged.

Shipbuilding stocks such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Garden Reach Shipbuilders, and Cochin Shipyard also reflected a similar flat trend.

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Business

Indian stock market closes higher; Adani Group shares surge

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Mumbai, May 5: The Indian equity markets opened the week with strong gains on Monday, supported by a rally in Adani Group stocks and strength in select auto and banking shares.

Sensex started the day around 160 points higher at 80,662 and climbed to an intra-day high of 81,049.

Although it gave up some of the gains later in the session, the index still ended 295 points up at 80,797.

The Nifty touched a high of 24,526 during the day and eventually closed with a gain of 114 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 24,461.

“Markets started the week on a firm footing, lifted by steady foreign inflows and optimism around an impending India-US trade deal,” said Vikram Kasat of PL Capital.

Strength in Asian currencies and easing global trade tensions added to the positive sentiment, even as activity remained muted in some global markets due to holidays, Kasat added.

The Adani Group was at the centre of investor attention, with shares jumping up to 11 per cent following reports of the company’s top executives holding discussions with officials from the US President Donald Trump administration.

Adani Ports was the top performer among Sensex stocks, soaring 6.3 per cent. Other gainers included Mahindra and Mahindra, ITC, Power Grid Corporation and Tata Motors.

On the other hand, Kotak Mahindra Bank fell 4.5 per cent, making it the biggest loser on the Sensex. SBI and Axis Bank also ended the day in the red.

The broader market outperformed the benchmark indices. The BSE MidCap index jumped 1.5 per cent, while the SmallCap index advanced by 1.2 per cent.

Among sectors, oil and gas stocks saw notable buying, with the BSE Oil and Gas index rising 2 per cent, driven by strength in oil marketing companies.

Consumer durables, energy, and FMCG sectors also posted gains of over 1 per cent each.

However, the BSE Bankex ended lower, down nearly 1 per cent due to pressure on select banking names.

“The upbeat start to the week reflects investor optimism, driven by corporate developments and select sectoral momentum,” market experts noted.

The rupee traded positive, gaining 13 paise to settle at 84.32 as sustained FII inflows continue to support the domestic currency.

“Going ahead, the rupee is expected to trade in a range of 84.00 to 84.75, with continued global risk sentiment and commodity movements guiding intraday volatility,” Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities noted.

Gold prices surged sharply as expectations of an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve this week fuelled strong buying.

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Business

Sensex, Nifty trade in green amid positive global cues

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Mumbai, May 2: The Indian stock indices opened in the green on Friday following positive cues from the global markets.

At 9:22 am, Sensex was up 350 points or 0.44 per cent at 80,592 and Nifty was up 71 points or 0.29 per cent at 24,407.

Midcap and smallcap indices were trading flat compared to largecap. Nifty midcap 100 index was up 40 points or 0.08 per cent at 54,185. Nifty smallcap 100 index was down 12 points at 16,436.

Among the sectoral indices, auto, PSU bank, private bank, financial services, metal and realty were major gainers. Pharma, FMCG and media were major laggards.

According to analysts, on the technical front, Nifty 50 continues to consolidate in a narrow range, forming a neutral candlestick pattern. On the hourly chart, a flag and pole pattern are developing, suggesting a possible bullish breakout.”

“If Nifty sustains above 24,400, it can potentially head towards 24,500 and 24,700 levels. Immediate support levels are placed at 24,200, 24,100, and 24,000, offering dip-buying opportunities,” said Mandar Bhojane from Choice Broking.

In the Sensex pack, Adani Ports, Maruti Suzuki, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, M&M, Tata Motors, TCS, Infosys, HDFC Bank, NTPC and SBI were top gainers. Nestle, Titan, Bajaj Finserv, HUL, Power Grid and Bajaj Finance were the top losers.

The international markets were trading with gains. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Jakarta and Bangkok were in the green.

The US market also closed with gains on Thursday. In the last session, the technology index Nasdaq surged more than 1.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, Brent crude was at $ 62.62 per barrel with a gain of about one per cent.

On the institutional front, FIIs continued their buying streak for the 11th consecutive session, albeit with a modest net buy figure of Rs 50 crore.

Meanwhile, DIIs showed stronger conviction, purchasing equities worth Rs 1,792 crore. The combined flow suggests a supportive undertone for the Indian equities.

Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities, said that overall trend for the Nifty remains bullish, as it continues to trade above all key moving averages.

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