Business
HSBC Upgrades Indian Equities To Overweight From Neutral
New Delhi: Indian equities now look attractive on a regional basis, said HSBC Global Investment Research on Wednesday, upgrading the domestic market to overweight from neutral.
It said that US tariffs will have little impact on the profits of most listed companies.
Although foreign funds have withdrawn significant amounts from India in the last 12 months, a period in which the market has seriously underperformed, local investors have remained resilient, according to the report.
“While earnings growth expectations can fall a little further, valuations are no longer a concern, as the government policy is becoming a positive factor for equities, and most foreign funds are lightly positioned,” the global investment research firm said.
Foreign investors remained net sellers in Asia this year, which is typically unfavourable for regional stock markets.
Yet the market is up by an average of 20 per cent due to cash inflow from local retail investors. However, after a strong run in Chinese equities, especially in Hong Kong, further momentum is uncertain.
“Valuations are elevated, but not excessive. However, with retail investors sitting on $22 trillion in cash, some of which is gradually being re-allocated to stocks, we expect Chinese equities to grind slowly higher,” HSBC stated.
In Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, investors are interested in playing AI through these markets, especially in Korea and Taiwan, which are now very crowded trades.
Valuations have run up and in Japan, the weaker Yen has also supported equities.
Corporate governance is a positive long-term theme in Japan and Korea, but it won’t carry markets on its own. After the recent run-up in equities, we downgraded Korea to underweight in mid-August.
“Meanwhile, ASEAN’s investor confidence is low. Politics dominates the headlines in Thailand and Indonesia; for the latter, fiscal prudence is on the radar screen after a cabinet reshuffle,” the investment research firm said.
Business
India’s Forex Reserves Surge $4.36 Billion To $693 Billion, Gold Holding Rises $2.6 Billion
Last Updated:
India’s Latest Forex Reserves: The value of the gold reserves jumps $2.623 billion to $110.365 billion during the week ended December 19.
India’s Latest Forex Reserves.
India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves surged $4.368 billion to $693.318 billion during the week ended December 19, according to the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The value of the gold reserves jumped $2.623 billion to $110.365 billion during the week.
The overall kitty had increased by $1.689 billion to $688.949 billion in the previous week.
For the week ended December 19, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $1.641 billion to $559.428 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s latest ‘Weekly Statistical Supplement’ data.
Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effects of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units, such as the euro, pound, and yen, held in the foreign exchange reserves.
The special drawing rights (SDRs) were up by $8 million to $18.744 billion.
India’s reserve position with the IMF was up by $95 million to $4.782 billion in the week, according to the RBI data.
The price of the safe-haven asset gold has been on a sharp uptrend over recent months, perhaps amid heightened global uncertainties and robust investment demand.
After the last monetary policy review meeting, the RBI had said that the country’s foreign exchange reserves were sufficient to cover more than 11 months of merchandise imports. Overall, India’s external sector remains resilient, and the RBI is confident it can comfortably meet external financing requirements.
In 2023, India added around $58 billion to its foreign exchange reserves, contrasting with a cumulative decline of $71 billion in 2022. In 2024, reserves rose by just over $20 billion. So far in 2025, the forex kitty has increased by about $47-48 billion, according to data.
Foreign exchange reserves, or FX reserves, are assets held by a nation’s central bank or monetary authority, primarily in reserve currencies such as the US dollar, with smaller portions in the Euro, Japanese Yen, and Pound Sterling.
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December 27, 2025, 08:17 IST
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MUMBAI: The Irdai on Friday, fined Reliance General Insurance Rs 1 crore in Hyderabad for routing unauthorised payouts through marketing and awareness expenses that amounted to disguised commissions. The penalty follows Irdai’s examination of transactions across FY19, FY20 and FY21. According to the regulator, the insurer channeled payments to brokers, agents, corporate agents and unlicensed entities under labels such as consumer awareness, marketing and advertising.
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ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has registered 144 olive startups as part of a decade-long government initiative aimed at developing the olive sector.
Olive Promotional Programme National Project Director Dr Muhammad Tariq told Wealth Pakistan that the sector had recorded rapid growth over the past 10 years due to sustained government backing.
“Ten years ago, when the government started this programme, we had only one entrepreneur. Today, we have 144 startups and entrepreneurs. It is a very fast-growing sector,” he said.
Tariq noted that the government’s continued support had played a central role in transforming the olive sector into a viable agro-industry. The federal minister for national food security has also taken steps to strengthen the sector by pursuing Pakistan’s full membership at the International Olive Council. “Hopefully, there will be progress within three months,” he said.
India’s Forex Reserves Surge $4.36 Billion To $693 Billion, Gold Holding Rises $2.6 Billion
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