Business
Muhurat Trading 2025 Live Updates: Special One-Hour Market Session Today; RIL, HDFC Bank, SBI In Focus
Diwali Muhurat Trading 2025 Time Live Updates: The special one-hour Muhurat trading session on both the BSE and the NSE will take place between 1:45 pm and 2:45 pm on October 21, with a pre-opening session from 1:30 pm to 1:45 pm, as per exchange notifications. The new session also ushers in Vikram Samvat 2082, the Hindu New Year that begins on Diwali. Traditionally, trading during the ‘Muhurat’ session, the auspicious hour, is believed to bring prosperity and financial growth to investors.
According to official schedules, all trades executed during the Muhurat session will carry regular settlement obligations, meaning delivery and payment duties for buyers and sellers will be settled as on any normal trading day.
V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments Ltd, said, “The important takeaway from Samvat 2081 is India’s huge underperformance. Even though there are many reasons, including Trump tariffs, for this underperformance, the single major factor is the sharp decline in India’s earnings growth to 5 per cent in FY25 from average 24 per cent during the three years before that. Since ‘in the long run, the market is a slave of earnings’ the major trend, going forward, will depend on how earnings growth pans out. The fiscal and monetary reforms implemented this year has started showing results.”
Particularly, the sales of automobiles and white goods have shot up early this festive season and, if this trend sustains, earnings growth will be good at around 8 per cent to 10 per cent in FY 26, accelerating to around 15 per cent in FY27. If this expectation materialises, the market will rally in Samvat 2082 compensating for the underperformance of Samvat 2081. In the short run the market may get a leg up from a possible India- US trade deal, but the long-term trend will be dictated by earnings growth, he added.
Muhurat trading is a long-standing Diwali tradition first introduced by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in 1957, and later adopted by the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1992.
Historically, brokers performed Chopda Pujan, a ritualistic worship of account books, during this auspicious hour to mark the beginning of the new financial year with prosperity and good fortune.
Technical View
Rupak De, senior technical analyst at LKP Securities, said, “The market started with a gap-up (in the previous session on Monday) and remained volatile throughout the day. On the higher end, Nifty touched a high of 25,926 before closing around 25,850. Though there was some profit-taking at higher levels, the overall sentiment is likely to remain strong, with the potential to reach 26,000-26,200 in the short term. The technical setup remains positive as long as the index stays above 25,700, below which it may move back into consolidation.”
Still from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Netflix
Netflix is partnering with both Hasbro and Mattel to bring “KPop Demon Hunters” toys to shelves.
The animated film, which debuted on the streaming service in June, has become Netflix’s most popular film of all time, with more than 325 million views worldwide. Its popularity has spurred Netflix to release it twice in theaters — once in August for a two-day weekend event and again next week around Halloween.
Partnering with Mattel and Hasbro will allow Netflix to offer a suite of consumer products based around the film.
Mattel will handle dolls, action figures, accessories and playsets, while Hasbro will focus on plush, electronics, roleplay items and board games, the companies announced Tuesday. There will likely be some overlap in product categories between the two toy makers, however.
Mattel is currently taking pre-orders for a three-pack of dolls featuring Rumi, Mira and Zoey, the members of the fictional KPop trio HUNTR/X. And Hasbro’s first product is a “KPop Demon Hunters” themed Monopoly Deal game.
Merchandise and toys from both companies will be available at retail in spring 2026.
“Netflix, Mattel and Hasbro joining forces on this first-of-its-kind collaboration means fans can finally get their hands on the best dolls, games, and merchandise they’ve been not-so-subtly demanding on every social platform known to humanity,” said Marian Lee, Netflix’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement Tuesday.
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These reforms highlight EPFO’s attempt to modernise pension services and make retirement planning more secure, transparent and flexible
EPFO has revised pension calculation based on average salary of last 5 years.
In a move that could significantly impact the retirement savings of millions of salaried employees, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced five changes to the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS). These revisions are intended to simplify pension access, increase benefits, and improve portability for members across the country.
Pension To Be Calculated On Average Salary
The most crucial change concerns the method of pension calculation. Earlier, the pension was determined based on the employee’s last drawn salary. Under the revised rule, it will now be calculated on the average salary of the last 60 months of employment. This ensures a fair and realistic computation, especially for employees whose salary increased gradually over time. Though this provision has been in effect since September 1, 2014, EPFO has now issued a clear clarification for its implementation.
Pension Ceiling Raised To Rs 15,000 Per Month
In a major relief for pensioners, EPFO has doubled the maximum pension limit from Rs 7,500 to Rs 15,000 per month. This step follows a Supreme Court directive and is expected to benefit retirees whose pensions were earlier capped despite higher contributions and earnings. With this revision, eligible pensioners will receive the actual calculated amount without any upper limitation.
Minimum Pension Age Lowered To 50 Years
Responding to the needs of employees seeking financial assistance earlier than retirement, the minimum age for drawing pension has been reduced from 58 to 50 years. Members can now opt for early pension from the age of 50. However, EPFO has clarified that choosing an early pension may lead to a marginal reduction in the monthly payout. The flexibility could prove useful in cases of health issues, employment loss, or personal emergencies.
Faster Pension Claims Through Digital Platforms
In an effort to cut down processing time and enhance transparency, EPFO has strengthened its digital services. Pension claim forms, supporting documents, and approval processes can now be completed online via the EPFO website or mobile app. What earlier took months is now expected to be resolved within weeks. This shift gained momentum during the pandemic, when digital transactions became essential.
Seamless Pension Portability For Job Changers
To facilitate employees who frequently change jobs, EPFO has simplified pension portability. Under the new system, service periods from previous and current employers will be automatically consolidated while calculating pension benefits. This prevents loss of service years and ensures continuity. The unified portal enables smooth transfer of EPS data, benefiting employees in dynamic sectors like startups, IT, and freelancing.
These reforms highlight EPFO’s attempt to modernise pension services and make retirement planning more secure, transparent and flexible. The changes are applicable to EPS members earning up to Rs 15,000 per month. Those earning higher salaries may explore voluntary pension contributions through the EPFO portal. Members are advised to log in to their accounts regularly to review their pension status and contributions.
October 21, 2025, 20:21 IST
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Business
Donald Trump tariffs: US 40% trans-shipment levy intended for China could end up hitting Asean supply chains including India; Moody’s flags risks – The Times of India
The 40 per cent trans-shipment tariff recently announced by the United States is expected to create significant compliance challenges for companies in India and the ASEAN region, particularly in sectors such as machinery, electrical equipment and semiconductors, Moody’s Ratings said on Tuesday.In July, US President Donald Trump imposed the tariff on goods deemed to have been transshipped, adding to broader country-level tariffs. Moody’s noted that the administration has yet to clarify the precise definition of trans-shipment, though the measures appear aimed at products originating in China and routed through third countries with lower duties, as per news agency PTI.“The lack of clarity around the trans-shipment tariff poses risks to ASEAN economies. If the US maintains a narrow interpretation—targeting only minimally processed Chinese goods re-exported to the US—the impact may be limited. However, a broader approach, covering goods with any significant Chinese input, could damage the Asia-Pacific supply chain,” the report said.Moody’s highlighted that private sector exporters will likely face heightened due diligence and certification requirements, needing to prove “substantial transformation” of goods to avoid penalties. The sectors most exposed include machinery, electrical equipment, semiconductors, and consumer optical products, with trans-shipped goods concentrated in intermediate inputs rather than final consumer items.Trans-shipment, a legal practice involving the transfer of goods through hubs such as ports and rail terminals, supports logistical efficiency and supply chain flexibility. However, it can also be used to obscure product origin to evade tariffs—a concern the US seeks to address with this new measure.While Moody’s indicated that Asean’s manufacturing competitiveness will largely remain intact, noting lower labour costs and ongoing “China+1” diversification strategies, the rating agency warned that the tariff could disrupt regional supply chains and increase operational costs for companies heavily reliant on Chinese inputs.Countries most exposed include Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, given their deep integration with Chinese supply chains, with key sectors facing potential credit pressures spanning electronics, solar energy, automotive, machinery, and semiconductors.India could face similar compliance and operational challenges in sectors such as machinery, electrical equipment and consumer optical products, including semiconductors.The move signals the US administration’s increased scrutiny of global trade flows, especially concerning tariff evasion, and may compel companies to reassess sourcing, certification, and logistical arrangements across Asia-Pacific markets.
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