REC Revised Market Borrowing Programme to ₹1.8 Lakh Crore

On March 7, 2025, REC Ltd through an exchange filing stated that its board of directors had approved the revision of its market borrowing programme from ₹1.6 lakh crore to ₹1.8 lakh crore for FY25 from ₹1.6 lakh crore. The company further stated that the the funds under the revised market borrowing programme will be raised, from time to time, during the 2024-25 financial year, with the approval of the competent authority.

Revision in Market Borrowing Programme

“The Board of Directors of REC Limited (“REC” / “the Company”) in its meeting held on March 7, 2025 inter-alia approved the revision in Market Borrowing Programme of the Company under different debt segments with interchangeability amongst various instruments including Bonds/ Debentures, Term Loans, External Commercial Borrowings, Commercial Papers etc. on private/ public placement basis from ₹1,60,000 crore to ₹1,80,000 crore for financial year 2024-25. The funds under the said revised market borrowing programme will be raised, from time to time, during the financial year 2024-25, with the approval of the Competent Authority as per powers delegated in this regard by the Board of Directors.”

Management Take on Future Business

Vivek Kumar Dewangan, Chairman and Managing Director of REC Ltd said, “Our exposure to the state sector has come down from 89% to 88% and the exposure to the private sector increased from 11% to 12%. There is not a substantial increase. But a number of renewable energy projects we have sanctioned for the private sector where disbursement is going to happen in the current financial year and next financial year”

He further added, “The share of private sector lending is 12%. It will gradually increase to 30% by the end of 2030. As more and more disbursal in respect of renewable energy projects takes, the share of the private sector will increase because most of the renewable energy projects, which we have sanctioned are in respect of the private sector.”

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Nazara Technologies Sold Its Entire Stake in OpenPlay For ₹104.33 Crore

On March 7, 2025, Nazara Technologies Limited announced that it had successfully sold its 94.85% stake in OpenPlay Technologies Private Limited (OpenPlay) to its subsidiary, Moonshine Technology Private Limited (Moonshine), the parent company of India’s biggest Poker platform, PokerBaazi. Moonshine runs the popular Rummy platform, Classic Rummy.

Value and Benefit of Stake Sale

The said transaction was valued at ₹104.33 crore and will be executed through the issuance of Moonshine’s Compulsory Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) to Nazara and other sellers.

Through this acquisition, Moonshine enhances its presence in India’s Real Money Gaming (RMG) market by incorporating OpenPlay’s Rummy platform into its current Rummy portfolio. OpenPlay, a prominent midsized Rummy operator, has consistently remained profitable, even amidst recent regulatory changes in the industry.

By integrating OpenPlay’s operations, Moonshine plans to capitalize on its technological, marketing, and data-driven expertise—particularly from its flagship PokerBaazi brand—to drive substantial growth in India’s Rummy market. This collaboration is expected to:

  • Increase player engagement through cross-platform strategies.
  • Enhance user acquisition by leveraging shared data insights.
  • Improve cost efficiencies with unified infrastructure and marketing efforts.

Following the GST regulatory changes, OpenPlay effectively optimised costs and bolstered VIP retention, showcasing resilience in a challenging market. This acquisition paves the way for a scalable and sustainable RMG business model under Moonshine’s leadership.

Management Take on Transaction

Navkiran Singh, Founder & CEO of Moonshine Technology, added: “The acquisition of OpenPlay is in line with Moonshine’s vision of building a holistic made-in-India RMG ecosystem. We look forward to leveraging OpenPlay’s strong foundation and accelerate the growth by enhancing user experience with our best-in-class technology and product innovations we are poised to accelerate growth and enhance user experience by integrating best-in-class technology and product innovations. We look forward to leveraging OpenPlay’s strong foundation and driving synergies that will redefine India’s real-money gaming landscape.”

Deepak MV, CEO of OpenPlay Technologies, commented: We at OpenPlay are excited to join forces with an industry leader like PokerBaazi/Moonshine and this marks a significant step in creating a more formidable RMG powerhouse. We are confident that Moonshine’s proven expertise in RMG will enable us to unlock substantial value in the Rummy segment. We look forward to leveraging the synergy between platforms to drive innovation and exponential growth in the real-money gaming space.

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Nestle Share Price in Focus After Receiving Warning Letter From SEBI

On March 10, 2025, Nestle share price will be in focus as the FMCG giant received a warning from SEBI on March 7 for violations of insider trading regulations by a senior company official. A Nestle India spokesperson stated that the SEBI order would not affect the company.

“The Compliance Officer of the Company has received an administrative warning letter from the Deputy General Manager of SEBI for violation of SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 (‘PIT Regulations’) by a designated person of the Company.” Nestle India added,” There is no material impact on financials, operations or other activities of the Company on account of above.”

Insider Trading Regulations

The SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 (PIT Regulations) prohibit insider trading in India. These regulations are designed to prevent individuals with direct access to unpublished, price-sensitive information from trading in a company’s securities.

Insider trading is an illegal practice in the stock market, where stocks or other securities are bought or sold based on confidential, non-public information about a company.

Nestle India Operational Highlights

Nestlé India has significantly expanded its distribution reach over the past twelve months among Food & Beverage companies, with an impressive outlet growth of nearly 5%, according to a Nielsen report. The RUrban strategy continues to strengthen its presence, playing a crucial role in its ‘penetration-led growth’ approach, which has been a key driver of the company’s distribution expansion.

The company’s manufacturing capacity is set for a substantial increase with the upcoming launch of the 3rd Confectionery unit at the Sanand factory, dedicated to producing KITKAT. This is part of its goal to achieve ₹5,800 crore in capital expenditure between 2020 and 2025.

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

SEBI Warns of Losses in Derivative Contracts, Imposes New F&O Rules

Ananth Narayan, a Whole-Time Member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), stated that over 90% of traders in derivative contracts, particularly those trading in index options, were incurring losses. He shared this insight during a panel discussion at the Moneycontrol Global Wealth Summit in Mumbai on March 7.

SEBI’s Caution Over Surge in F&O Volumes

The market regulator, SEBI, has been expressing concerns regarding the surge in Futures & Options (F&O) volumes and has implemented changes in the derivatives segment. A new framework for the index derivatives segment was issued on October 1, which included measures like reducing contracts with weekly expiries, increasing the contract size, and charging additional margins for contracts with zero days to expiry (0DTE). These changes came into effect on November 20, 2024, with their impact being noticed from December.

Narayan mentioned that index options trading volumes saw a 23% year-on-year decline in December, January, and February. Despite this drop, volumes have still risen by 15% compared to two years ago. He emphasized that the decrease in index options activity had not negatively impacted the overall derivatives market, which SEBI considers a positive outcome.

SEBI’s Regulatory Intent and Derivatives Market Size

Narayan stressed that SEBI is closely monitoring incoming data. He highlighted the regulator’s clear intent to ensure that the size of the Indian derivatives market, in relation to its market capitalization, remains aligned with global standards. According to Narayan, a significant portion of investors in F&O (89%) were experiencing losses, with 93% of all trades, mostly in index derivatives, losing money. He pointed out that individuals who suffered losses for two consecutive years continued to trade, and options trading had become a widespread activity. SEBI took action to redirect national resources towards more productive uses.

New Rules for F&O Trading

The updated regulations for F&O trading include raising the minimum contract value for index derivatives to Rs 15 lakh, limiting weekly expiries to one per exchange, and introducing an Extreme Loss Margin (ELM) for short options contracts.

Conclusion

SEBI’s recent regulatory measures reflect a strong commitment to ensuring the stability and integrity of the derivatives market. While the surge in F&O volumes and widespread losses among traders highlighted the need for action, the new rules aim to curb excessive risk-taking and align the market with global standards.

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Upcoming IPOs This Week: Mainboard Segment Inactive for 4th Straight Week

The Indian stock market is facing heightened volatility, and the impact is witnessed in the primary market. The IPO or primary market will remain inactive for the 4th consecutive week, as no new initial public offerings (IPOs) are scheduled to open in the mainboard segment. However, the primary market will see the launch of 2 new IPOs in the small and medium enterprises (SME) segment.

In addition to the new offering in the SME segment, the market will observe the listing of NAPS Global India Limited’s IPO.

Upcoming IPO on SME Board

PDP Shipping IPO

The PDP Shipping IPO opens for subscription on March 10 and closes on March 12. This SME IPO is a fixed-price issue of ₹12.65 crore, consisting of a fresh issue of 9.37 lakh shares. The price band for this upcoming IPO is set at ₹135 per share. Sun Capital Advisory Services (P) Ltd is the book-running lead manager for the PDP Shipping IPO, with Kfin Technologies Limited serving as the registrar. Rikhav Securities Limited is the market maker for this issue.

Super Iron Foundry IPO

The Super Iron Foundry IPO opens for subscription on March 11 and closes on March 13. This SME IPO is a fixed-price issue of ₹68.05 crore, consisting of a fresh issue of 63.01 lakh shares. The price band for this IPO is ₹108 per share. Horizon Management Private Limited is the book-running lead manager, and Link Intime India Private Ltd is the registrar for the issue. Giriraj Stock Broking Private Limited is the market maker for the Super Iron Foundry IPO.

New Listings

NAPS Global India IPO

The allotment for NAPS Global India IPO was finalised on Friday, March 7. The IPO will be listed on the BSE SME, with the tentative listing date set for Tuesday, March 11.

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

These Stocks to Benefit From the Growing AI Revolution in India: KPIT Tech, Persistent and More

India is currently undergoing a remarkable transformation in Artificial Intelligence (AI). For the first time in its history, the Indian government is actively building a comprehensive AI ecosystem that enables wide access to essential resources such as computing power, GPUs, and research opportunities, all at an affordable cost. This shift marks a significant departure from the past when AI was mainly controlled by a few global tech giants and a privileged few.

Government Initiatives Empowering AI Innovation

One of the most ambitious projects in this transformation is the IndiaAI Mission, a national initiative aimed at boosting AI infrastructure, research, and innovation. The Modi government is leading the charge, providing substantial funding and resources to build an AI ecosystem where homegrown solutions can thrive.

In 2024, the government approved ₹10,300 crore over 5 years to scale India’s AI capabilities. A key aspect of this initiative is the creation of a high-end, common computing facility equipped with nearly 19,000 GPUs, making India’s AI computing infrastructure one of the largest globally. This infrastructure will support indigenous AI models and applications, including those tailored to Indian languages and specific regional needs. This is a far cry from the days when AI research was mainly confined to major corporations and foreign entities.

AI Adoption in Indian Industry

AI adoption in India is growing at an exponential rate, with 80% of Indian companies considering AI as a core strategic priority. According to BCG, Indian businesses are accelerating their AI investments, with many startups seeing significant funding growth. AI is also transforming workplaces, with 70% of employees using AI technologies to enhance productivity and job efficiency.

For Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs), AI-powered solutions have made a profound impact, helping these businesses scale, personalize customer experiences, and improve operations. A Salesforce report found that 78% of Indian SMBs using AI reported increased revenues.

Sr No Name Market Cap (₹ Crore) 5Y CAGR (%)
1 KPIT Technologies Ltd 36,036.41 76.01
2 Persistent Systems Ltd 81,750.88 72.29
3 Tanla Platforms Ltd 6,277.21 47.67
4 Intellect Design Arena Ltd 9,443.66 44.68
5 Mastek Ltd 7,376.87 43.69

Conclusion

India’s advancements in AI are creating an ecosystem ripe for innovation and self-reliance. The combination of robust AI infrastructure, government-backed initiatives, an open data platform, and AI models tailored to local needs is positioning India as a global leader in AI development.

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Weekly Market Recap: Nifty and Sensex Closed in Red on Mar 7

The week ended March 7, 2025, saw the Indian stock market end flat, whereby Nifty 50 ended up, 0.03% to 22,552.50, while BSE Sensex was down 0.01% to 74,332.58. Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex closed 3 sessions in red during the week.

Roundup of Major News This Week

  • India’s GST collection rose 9.1% YoY to ₹1.84 lakh crore in February, higher than January’s ₹1.77 lakh crore. Central GST stood at ₹36,100 crore, while states received ₹44,900 crore, reflecting strong tax compliance.
  • Trump announced that the United States will introduce reciprocal tariffs on several nations including India starting April 2.
  • India’s passenger vehicle market witnessed a decline in February, with retail sales dropping 10% YoY to 3,03,398 units.

Major Q3FY25 Earnings This Week

  • During Q3FY25, Hexaware Technologies reported revenue of $372 million (₹31,544 million) in Q4 CY24, reflecting a 0.5% decline QoQ but an 18.5% increase YoY in USD terms.

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Mid-Day Top Gainers and Losers on March 7, 2025: Reliance and Bajaj Auto Led Gainers

On March 7, 2025, as of 12:20 PM, the BSE Sensex was down 0.17% at 74,224.68, while the Nifty 50 was down 0.12% at 22,518.45. The mid-day top gainers and losers for the day are:

Mid-Day Top Gainers 

Symbol Open High Low LTP %chng
RELIANCE 1,216.00 1,254.55 1,212.00 1,245.05 2.93
BAJAJ-AUTO 7,462.25 7,624.00 7,451.10 7,570.90 1.46
NESTLEIND 2,201.00 2,238.50 2,191.25 2,230.95 1.35
HDFCLIFE 618.3 633 618.15 625.1 1.11
BRITANNIA 4,690.00 4,761.15 4,660.00 4,752.15 1.05

Reliance

Reliance shares opened at ₹1,216.00 and reached a high of ₹1,254.55, showing a solid 2.93% gain to ₹1,245.05 by mid-day.

Bajaj Auto

Bajaj Auto shares started at ₹7,462.25 and hit a peak of ₹7,624.00, marking a 1.46% gain to ₹7,570.90.

Nestle India 

Nestle India shares opened at ₹2,201.00 and reached ₹2,238.50, gaining 1.35% to ₹2,230.95 by mid-day.

HDFC Life

HDFC Life shares started at ₹618.3 and peaked at ₹633, registering a 1.11% gain to ₹625.1.

Britannia

Britannia shares opened at ₹4,690.00 and reached ₹4,761.15, reflecting a 1.05% gain to ₹4,752.15 by mid-day.

Mid-Day Top Losers

Symbol Open High Low LTP %chng
INDUSINDBK 971 976.6 937.35 938.6 -3.41
NTPC 335.85 338.75 330.15 330.15 -2.29
SHRIRAMFIN 644.35 647.65 629.65 629.85 -2.25
INFY 1,703.10 1,705.00 1,675.50 1,680.05 -2.09
HCLTECH 1,582.65 1,587.00 1,559.10 1,560.80 -1.55

IndusInd Bank
IndusInd Bank shares opened at ₹971 and dropped to ₹937.35, showing a 3.41% decline to ₹938.6 by mid-day.

NTPC

NTPC shares started at ₹335.85 and reached a low of ₹330.15, reflecting a 2.29% loss to ₹330.15.

Shriram Finance

Shriram Finance shares opened at ₹644.35 and hit ₹629.65, marking a 2.25% drop to ₹629.85 by mid-day.

Infosys

Infosys shares started at ₹1,703.10 and dropped to ₹1,675.50, showing a 2.09% decline to ₹1,680.05 by mid-day.

HCLTech

HCLTech shares opened at ₹1,582.65 and fell to ₹1,559.10, reflecting a 1.55% loss to ₹1,560.80 by mid-day.

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Stock Market Holiday: Are BSE and NSE Open on Holi March 14, 2025?

On March 14, 2025, India’s major stock exchanges, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) will be closed in observance of the Holi Festival, suspending all trading activities for the day.

Holi Stock Market Holiday

As per the NSE & BSE Holiday Calendar, there will be no trading activity on the Indian stock market. Both the BSE and NSE will remain closed on March 14, 2025, in observance of the holiday, as per the stock market holiday 2025 schedule.

On this day, Holi celebrations will take place across India, leading to a trading holiday. As stated on the official BSE (bseindia.com) and NSE (nseindia.com) websites, there will be no trading in the equity, equity derivative, and SLB segments.

Additionally, trading in electronic gold receipts (EGR) and currency derivatives will also be closed due to the Holi festivities.

Are Banks Open on March 14?

In March 2025, all private and public banks are scheduled to remain closed for a total of 14 days due to national and regional holidays. March 14 will be seen as a public holiday for banks in most states, except Tripura, Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Kerala, and Nagaland.

Conclusion

March 14, will see a suspension of trading activities on India’s major stock exchanges, the NSE and BSE, in observance of the Holi Festival. Both exchanges will remain closed for the day, impacting the equity, equity derivative, SLB, electronic gold receipts, and currency derivative segments.

 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Rise of Fresh Homes: How India’s Real Estate Market Shifted in 2024?

India’s real estate landscape underwent a notable transformation in 2024, with a striking shift toward newly launched residential projects. According to Anarock, 42% of the 4.6 lakh homes sold across the top 7 cities were from new launches, marking a sharp increase from just 26% in 2019. This trend reveals a clear preference among buyers for fresh, under-construction homes, driven by attractive pricing and higher return on investment (ROI) potential.

Bengaluru and Chennai Lead the Growth

Bengaluru and Chennai emerged as the frontrunners in this shift, with an impressive 53% of homes sold being new launches. The National Capital Region (NCR) closely followed with 44%, while Hyderabad and Pune saw 43% and 42% of their sales attributed to newly launched homes, respectively. These cities have experienced a surge in demand for new projects, a clear indication that buyers are increasingly prioritizing new homes over ready-to-move-in options.

In contrast, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) recorded a lower 36% of sales from new launches, while Kolkata lagged behind at just 31%. These cities, while still embracing the new launch trend, have not seen significant a shift compared to their counterparts.

What’s Driving the Demand?

The growing demand for newly launched homes can be attributed to several factors. Buyers are finding these properties more affordable compared to ready-to-move-in homes, which often come at a premium. Additionally, newly launched properties offer the potential for higher ROI, making them an attractive investment opportunity. As a result, many buyers are now willing to wait for construction to complete, knowing they are securing a more cost-effective deal in the long run.

In response to this growing trend, developers are increasing their land acquisitions. In 2024, there were 133 land deals amounting to a total of 2,515 acres, with nearly 1,948 acres earmarked for residential projects. This shift is being driven by financially strong developers who have a proven track record in the market, boosting confidence among homebuyers.

Conclusion

The trend toward new launches is set to continue as more well-established, branded developers enter the market. These developers are offering customised housing solutions to meet the evolving expectations of buyers, ensuring that they remain competitive in an increasingly demanding market. As we move further into 2025, this shift is expected to deepen, reshaping the way homes are bought and sold across the country.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.