Business
Why Did Stock Market Fall Today? Key Factors Behind Sensex, Nifty Decline On November 21
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Equity benchmark indices slip on Friday, ending a two-day winning run, as weak global cues dampened investor sentiment.
Why Is Stock Market Down Today?
Equity benchmark indices slipped on Friday, ending a two-day winning run, as weak global cues dampened investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex declined 400.76 points to settle at 85,231.92, while the NSE Nifty fell by 124 points to end the day at 26,068.15.
Among the 30 Sensex shares, 17 stocks closed in the red. Among the top losers were Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finserv, and BEL falling by up to 2.58%. On the other hand, the gainers were Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors PV, ITC, and Asian Paints rising by up to 1.17%.
Key factors behind Friday’s market decline
1. Nifty Metal index slides
The Nifty Metal index fell 1.4% after the government extended exemptions from mandatory quality-control rules for certain steel and stainless-steel grades — a move expected to increase imports and pressure domestic prices. Except for Adani Enterprises, all constituents traded lower, with Hindalco leading the decline.
Hindalco was also the top loser on the Nifty 50, dropping over 2% to ₹783.45, after a fire at its Novelis aluminium plant in Oswego, New York, on November 21. Novelis — which contributes nearly 60% of Hindalco’s revenue — had already recorded a $21 million charge in Q2 due to an earlier fire. The Oswego unit supplies aluminium for Ford’s F-150 truck line.
2. Selling pressure hits IT stocks
IT shares also declined as concerns over stretched valuations resurfaced. The slump in US tech stocks overshadowed Nvidia’s better-than-expected quarterly results, adding further pressure to domestic IT counters.
3. Weak global cues
Asian markets were broadly lower on Friday, tracking the sell-off on Wall Street. South Korea’s Kospi plunged more than 3%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped over 2%. Markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong also opened weak, extending the negative global sentiment. Overnight in the U.S., all major indices closed in the red, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 2.15%, the S&P 500 down 1.56%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.84%.
Currency movements further weighed on sentiment. The yen hovered near a 10-month low, though it saw a brief rebound after Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama hinted at possible intervention to limit excessive volatility. The U.S. dollar continued to strengthen and was on track for its strongest week in more than a month. Meanwhile, Japan’s latest stimulus package is projected to have an overall economic impact of $265 billion, adding another factor for markets to consider.
4. Fading hopes of a U.S. rate cut
Renewed uncertainty over US monetary policy also weighed on sentiment. Stronger-than-expected September job growth reduced the likelihood of a December rate cut. Higher U.S. rates typically pull capital away from emerging markets like India.
Adding to the caution, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, in a speech at Georgetown University, flagged risks to the financial system — including the rapid expansion of private credit and hedge-fund activity in the Treasury market — without providing clarity on near-term rate moves.
5. Volatility spikes
The India VIX jumped 13% to 13.68, signalling heightened uncertainty and potential for wider market swings.
Despite the early decline, analysts noted that markets remain close to record highs, and buying on dips could emerge later in the session, supported by improving earnings and firm domestic flows.
Nifty Technicals
On the technical front, Anand James, Chief Market Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said the breakout above a month-long range keeps Nifty’s 26,550 target intact. However, Thursday’s move above the upper Bollinger band — followed by a close below — points to limited upside in the near term.
A failure to hold above 26,237 or a drop below 26,160 could shift momentum to the bears, with downside levels at 26,028–25,984, he added.
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
November 21, 2025, 11:19 IST
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HDFC Bank now offers airport lounge access via digital vouchers for debit cards, with a doubled Rs 10,000 quarterly spend. Physical card swipes are discontinued.
HDFC Bank Doubles Spend Requirement for Complimentary Lounge Access
HDFC Bank Airport Lounge Access Rules 2026: HDFC Bank has revised the rules for complimentary airport lounge access on its debit cards, shifting to a voucher-based access system and increasing the minimum spending requirement. The changes have come into effect from today, January 10.
Until now, eligible debit cardholders could enter airport lounges by swiping their physical card. Under the new system, lounge access will be granted only through digital vouchers, issued to customers who meet the spending criteria.
Once eligibility is confirmed, the bank will send an SMS or email with a link to claim the voucher. Customers will need to complete OTP verification using their registered mobile number. After successful verification, a voucher code or QR code will be issued, which must be shown at the lounge for entry.
Minimum Spend Doubled For Most Cards
HDFC Bank has doubled the quarterly spend requirement for complimentary lounge access on most debit cards.
Customers must now spend Rs 10,000 or more per calendar quarter from Rs 5,000 earlier. The spend can be through single or multiple transactions, online or offline. The revised spending condition does not apply to the Infiniti Debit Card, which continues to offer lounge access without any minimum spend.
Complimentary Lounge Visits Remain Unchanged
The number of free lounge visits will continue to depend on the debit card variant:
Millennia Debit Card: 1 visit per quarter
Platinum Debit Card: 2 visits per quarter
Times Points Debit Card: 1 visit per quarter
Business Debit Card: 2 visits per quarter
GIGA Debit Card: 1 visit per quarter
Infiniti Debit Card: 4 visits per quarter
Only purchase transactions made using the debit card will count toward the quarterly spend. The following are excluded, Moneycontrol noted:
ATM Cash Withdrawals
- UPI or wallet payments (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.)
- Credit card bill payments via debit card
- Debit card EMI transactions
- New debit cardholders will also need to meet the Rs 10,000 spend threshold to become eligible.
Voucher Validity And Lounge Rules
Once issued, lounge vouchers will remain valid until the end of the next calendar quarter.
For instance:
Voucher generated on November 15, 2025 → valid till March 31, 2026
Voucher generated on January 10, 2026 → valid till June 30, 2026
Lounge access will continue on a first-come, first-served basis, with lounges retaining the right to impose stay limits—typically two to three hours—or deny entry due to operational, safety or regulatory reasons.
What this means For Customers
HDFC Bank’s updated lounge access programme places greater emphasis on higher card usage and digital verification. Customers who rely on complimentary lounge benefits will need to closely track their quarterly spending and note that physical debit card swipes will no longer work from January 10.
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January 10, 2026, 14:26 IST
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Business
What Is Core-and-Satellite Strategy And How Can It Help Investors Navigate Market Volatility?
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The ‘core’ typically makes up around 60–70% of a portfolio and is meant to deliver stable returns while serving as its foundation.
Small and mid-cap stocks produced 14-17% returns in the last 20 years. (representative image)
Navigating financial markets often seems like an uphill task as investors need to balance the desire for growth with the fear of sudden downtrends. When markets fall, people struggle to find the right direction while chasing high returns and protecting their wealth from volatility. Too much risk can lead to panic mode, while excessive caution could leave your portfolio lagging behind inflation and long-term goals.
A practical solution here is the core-and-satellite strategy emerges as a practical solution. Under this, investors get to combine a stable “core” of diversified, low-cost investments with the dynamic “satellite” portion to target higher-growth opportunities. Not only does it allow them to achieve resilience and flexibility, but the strategy also ensures steady progress even during turbulent times. By following this dual approach, people can cushion portfolios against market downfalls.
How Does It Work?
According to Moneycontrol, the “core” usually accounts for nearly 60-70 per cent of the portfolio. It is specifically designed to provide steady returns and act as the anchor of your portfolio.
It comprises stable, low-cost funds:
1. Large-cap equity funds: Your hard-earned money gets invested in established companies having proven business models. Often, it is seen that they appear to fall less compared to mid and small-cap funds.
2. Flexi-cap funds: The fund managers keep shuffling the investment between large, mid and small caps, depending on the ongoing condition of the market. In simple terms, these add flexibility and diversification to the portfolio.
3. Hybrid funds: A combination of equity and debt, these are meant for growth and stability.
However, investors must note that even the “core” is not free from risk. Moneycontrol report highlights how markets fell nearly 14 per cent between October 2024 and February 2025.
The Role of Satellite Investments
Keeping core aside, the remaining 30-40 per cent is what makes up satellite investments.
“The satellite portfolio allows tactical exposure to high-growth sectors, themes, or strategies,” the report quoted Kirang Gandhi, a Pune-based financial mentor, as saying.
This includes mid-cap and small-cap funds that hold higher growth potential. Also, it features international equity funds.
This highlights that it is the growth engine of the portfolio, but also carries substantial risk.
A key part of the core-and-satellite approach is “balance,” where the core allows the money to grow steadily and the satellite portion adds more potential without putting the portfolio at risk.
In the last 20 years, the small and mid-cap indices have generated nearly 14-17 per cent returns on an annual basis, leaving behind large-cap indices. Investors must note that falls are more frequent in mid and small-cap stocks.
Using the core-and-satellite strategy, investors get to diversify their portfolio without making it too complicated.
Kirang Gandhi said this strategy combines safety with smart opportunity for Indian investors and avoids overexposure.
“It brings structure, discipline, and clarity to long-term wealth building without chasing trends,” Gandhi concluded.
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January 10, 2026, 13:40 IST
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BENGALURU: Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank Group pared its holding in Ola Electric Mobility to 13.5% from 15.6%, in what appears like a staggered exit from the electric 2-wheeler maker that was once among its marquee India bets. SVF II Ostrich (DE), a SoftBank affiliate and Ola Electric’s second-largest shareholder after founder Bhavish Aggarwal, sold 9.4 crore shares through open market transactions between Sept 3, 2025, and Jan 5, 2026, according to a regulatory filing.
HDFC Bank Changes Debit Card Lounge Access Rules From Today: What Cardholders Must Know
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