Dehradun police collected a fine of Rs 1 crore from 1,015 landlords who failed to verify their tenants' as per legal provisions. This was part of preparations for the upcoming elections. 278 people were questioned and 154 were fined for not producing valid documents. The drive also collected information about 6,372 individuals and seized 17 suspiciously parked vehicles.

The benchmark Sensex and Nifty were trading near day's high with gains led by FMCG and energy stocks. Analysts believe that investors must monitor global developments, particularly since there are no major domestic events expected in the near term. These global factors are likely to have a substantial impact on market movements.

The Jefferies' power sector report states that power demand in January 2024 grew by 5% due to a high base of 14% last year. The brokerage predicts further increase in demand during the summer months. NTPC, JSW Energy and Power Grid are their top picks. North India saw the highest rise in demand at 8%, followed by West at 32%. Hydropower generation declined by 19% due to irregular rainfall.

NHPC stock rose by 2% at opening on the NSE as PM Modi laid the foundation for a 300 MW solar power plant in Rajasthan being set up by NHPC. The project, with a total investment of over Rs 1,732 crore, is expected to be commissioned by September 2024. NHPC's Q3FY24 net profit fell by 19% and total income also decreased.

NIIF, India's quasi-sovereign fund, has invested ₹207 crore ($25 million) in Amicus Capital Partners' second fund. This reflects NIIF's focus on supporting fund managers with a strong team and disciplined investment strategies. Amicus plans to raise $200 million for its second fund, with NIIF as one of the largest investors. NIIF has fully invested its Fund of Funds.

Domestic brokerage house Emkay believes that the recent surge in PSU stocks should not be taken lightly. With elections coming soon, investors are open to new ideas as long as the risk/reward balance makes sense. Emkay sees a bright future for PSU stocks, citing positive factors such as micro-level reforms and increased capital expenditure. However, some experts have raised concerns.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has authorized contracts totalling over ₹84,560 crore in order to improve India's defence needs and infrastructure. Private players across the defence value chain, such as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, are expected to benefit from this move. According to brokerage house Nuvama Institutional Equities.

Power Grid Corporation is investing Rs 656 crore in electricity transmission projects, as approved by its Board and Committee of Directors on February 18th. The projects include ULDC Phase-III at an estimated cost of Rs 514.66 crore to be completed by November 2025, and augmentation of a transformer at Bhiwani for Rs 141.09 crore to be completed by May 2025.

Shares of Schaeffler India fell 3.7% as the company reported a decline in consolidated profit and weak operating numbers for the quarter ended December 2024. Revenue from operations saw a modest growth of 4.5% compared to the same period last year. The company also announced a dividend of Rs 26 per share, with a payout ratio of 45%. Margins were under pressure due to an adverse sales mix.

Despite FIIs selling over $3.5 billion worth of shares in 2024, India's stock market has reached a record high due to strong retail inflows and high net worth individuals' bullish outlook. The sustainability of this growth is linked to domestic liquidity and positive expectations for corporate earnings. Market observers believe that global investors will continue investing in Indian markets.

PSU stocks in the Indian market have emerged as significant wealth generators, with a 300% return within a year due to increased capex and expected political stability. However, concerns over weak earnings and overbought conditions may limit further upside. Jefferies believes there is potential for a 15% increase in the PSU Index ratio.

The CBDT has announced that it has started remitting and extinguishing eligible outstanding direct tax demands up to a limit of Rs. 1 lakh for taxpayers. This is in line with the order dated February 13, 2024, and will be reflected under the "Extinguished Demands" section on the income tax portal. According to the Interim Budget of 2024, this is expected to benefit over a crore taxpayers.

Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals stock has gained 113% this year with strong monthly gains of nearly 60% in February and 33% in January. Despite downgrades from analysts, MRPL's Q3 earnings showed a net profit of Rs 310 crore. The company is on track for expansion and reduction of long-term borrowings, making it an attractive investment opportunity with a higher expected return on equity.

Over the weekend, Bitcoin saw little change while Ethereum gained over 5% amid hopes for an ETH ETF. AI-related tokens also saw gains as OpenAI's Sora launched a text-to-video generator. Some market observers predict Bitcoin to reach $55,000 in the short term and $70,000 in the long term, with more hype around Ethereum and potential for a spot ETF in the US.

Private equity firms in India participated in the Investors Cricket Cup in Mumbai, with The Mavericks emerging as champions. The tournament also saw a women's division, won by Rising Divas. A cement company is exploring offshore mineral exploration, while a central minister is preparing for upcoming elections after being asked to switch from a Rajya Sabha seat.