The market rally lost steam as the Sensex and the Nifty inched lower in the afternoon trade on February 26, with investors rushing to book profits in heavyweight counters like TCS, Infosys, RIL, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and ITC. The market had opened lower despite positive global cues and extended losses as the day progressed after profit-booking picked pace.

Walt Disney and Reliance Industries have signed a binding agreement to merge their media operations in India, a Bloomberg report quoted people familiar with the matter. The report said billionare Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries is expected to own a 61% stake in the merged entity as Disney reassesses its strategy in India amid intense competition.

High-frequency trading was seen in Vodafone Idea, Pearl Polymers, and Zuari Industries. Vodafone Idea, Pearl Polymers, and Zuari Industries touched a 52-week high. High-frequency trading firms (HTFs) – or algo firms on steroids –use complex algorithms and powerful computers to execute trades at lightning speeds. These firms typically try to capture the spread between the spot and futures prices.

Reported Consolidated quarterly numbers for Hindalco Industries are:Net Sales at Rs 52,808.00 crore in December 2023 down 0.65% from Rs. 53,151.00 crore in December 2022.Quarterly Net Profit at Rs. 2,331.00 crore in December 2023 up 71.15% from Rs. 1,362.00 crore in December 2022.EBITDA stands at Rs. 6,145.00 crore in December 2023 up 57% from Rs. 3,914.00 crore in December 2022.

The government will continue to hold on to its 33 percent stake in Vodafone Idea, despite opportunities of a windfall, according to a report in the Times of India. The company's stock has seen a surge in its share prices over the past few months, as it prepares to take the final call on raising funds on February 27. The government is the largest shareholder in Vodafone Idea Limited.

India witnessed a significant drop in merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the calendar year 2023 as per the PwC India report. Cumulatively, 1,860 deals with a total disclosed value of $75 billion were completed in CY23, according to the 'Deal at a Glance' report by PwC.In CY23, the M&A deals totalled 793, a drop of 10% compared to CY22.

ET looks at some of the latest stock recommendations by analysts. These stocks are expected to return between 16% and 38% as per analysts’ price targets.Indus Towers BROKERAGE BOFA SECURITIES Price Target: Rs 280 CMP: Rs 240.5 Upside: 16%Vodafone Idea’s potential fund raise for network expansion to be positive for Indus as it will get incremental business.

Reported Consolidated quarterly numbers for Renaissance Global are:Net Sales at Rs 655.48 crore in December 2023 down 9.45% from Rs. 723.91 crore in December 2022.Quarterly Net Profit at Rs. 27.93 crore in December 2023 up 3.45% from Rs. 26.99 crore in December 2022.EBITDA stands at Rs. 53.94 crore in December 2023 up 7.64% from Rs. 50.11 crore in December 2022.

Reported Consolidated quarterly numbers for Viceroy Hotels are: Net Sales at Rs 40.20 crore in December 2023 up 39.75% from Rs. 28.77 crore in December 2022. Quarterly Net Loss at Rs. 6.61 crore in December 2023 down 159.77% from Rs. 2.54 crore in December 2022. EBITDA stands negative at Rs. 1.28 crore in December 2023 down 392.31% from Rs. 0.26 crore in December 2022.

Reported Consolidated quarterly numbers for Shri Bajrang Alliance are:Net Sales at Rs 124.19 crore in December 2023 up 169.02% from Rs. 46.16 crore in December 2022.Quarterly Net Profit at Rs. 7.36 crore in December 2023 up 276.82% from Rs. 4.16 crore in December 2022.EBITDA stands negative at Rs. 1.96 crore in December 2023 down 223.27% from Rs. 1.59 crore in December 2022.

Reported Consolidated quarterly numbers for Palco Metals are:Net Sales at Rs 52.88 crore in December 2023 up 39.92% from Rs. 37.80 crore in December 2022.Quarterly Net Profit at Rs. 3.72 crore in December 2023 up 389.27% from Rs. 1.29 crore in December 2022.EBITDA stands at Rs. 1.07 crore in December 2023 up 233.75% from Rs. 0.80 crore in December 2022.

Reported Consolidated quarterly numbers for BF Utilities are:Net Sales at Rs 245.53 crore in December 2023 up 48.23% from Rs. 165.65 crore in December 2022.Quarterly Net Profit at Rs. 76.04 crore in December 2023 up 137.5% from Rs. 32.02 crore in December 2022.EBITDA stands at Rs. 153.99 crore in December 2023 up 18.6% from Rs. 129.84 crore in December 2022.

Reported Consolidated quarterly numbers for Prabhat Technologies are:Net Sales at Rs 0.61 crore in December 2023 up 20.05% from Rs. 0.51 crore in December 2022.Quarterly Net Loss at Rs. 0.11 crore in December 2023 up 80.64% from Rs. 0.57 crore in December 2022.EBITDA stands at Rs. 0.01 crore in December 2023 up 102.27% from Rs. 0.44 crore in December 2022.

US-based GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF has skyrocketed by 128 percent on a YTD basis. In CY2023, it gained over 431 percent when Nvidia shares were up by little over 200 percent in a similar period. GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses of two times (200 percent), the daily percentage change of the common stock of NVIDIA Corp.

Reported Consolidated quarterly numbers for Mahanagar Telephone Nigam are:Net Sales at Rs 192.24 crore in December 2023 down 15.46% from Rs. 227.41 crore in December 2022.Quarterly Net Loss at Rs. 839.03 crore in December 2023 down 8.19% from Rs. 775.50 crore in December 2022.EBITDA stands at Rs. 17.18 crore in December 2023 up 840.52% from Rs. 2.32 crore in December 2022.