Asian equities advanced on Friday as cooling US inflation data strengthened expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts and easing tech concerns lifted sentiment on Wall Street.

Wall Street's major indexes finished higher on Thursday after softer-than-expected US inflation strengthened hopes of upcoming Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, while a strong outlook from chipmaker Micron boosted optimism around AI-driven demand.

Here's a table showing how US stocks performed on Thursday:

Source: Equitymaster

At present, the BSE Sensex is trading 475 points higher, and the NSE Nifty is trading 151 points higher.

Infosys, Reliance Industries, and Bajaj Finserv are among the top gainers today.

Bharti Airtel, on the other hand, is among the top losers today.

The BSE Midcap index is trading 0.3% higher, and the BSE Smallcap index is trading 0.3% higher.

Sectoral indices are trading positively today, with stocks in the realty and healthcare sectors witnessing buying.

The rupee is trading at Rs 90.00 against the US dollar.
 

HCLTech Strengthens Telecom Leadership with Acquisition

HCLTech, a global technology company, has signed an agreement to buy HPE's Telco Solutions business. This deal will strengthen HCLTech's position in the telecom sector.

This follows an earlier deal in 2024, where HCLTech acquired some telecom assets from HPE. With this new acquisition, HCLTech will gain valuable intellectual property, strong product engineering and R&D capabilities, and long-standing relationships with major telecom operators worldwide.

The Telco Solutions business was early part of HPE's Communications Technology Group. The assets acquired by HCLTech in 2024 from this group have already been integrated successfully and are growing.

With this expanded portfolio, HCLTech plans to speed up network modernization, offer Network-as-a-Service solutions, and build AI-driven, self-operating telecom networks.

As part of the deal, around 1,500 telecom and engineering professionals from 39 countries will join HCLTech. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in about six months.
 

Vodafone Idea Funds Operations Via NCDs

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has successfully raised Rs 33 billion (bn) by issuing secured non-convertible debentures (NCDs) through its subsidiary, Vodafone Idea Telecom Infrastructure Limited (VITIL).

The fundraise received strong interest from well-known investors, including NBFCs, foreign portfolio investors, and alternative investment funds.

The money raised will be used by VITIL to repay it due to Vodafone Idea. This will help Vi strengthen its capital spending plans and support future business growth.

Commenting on the development, Vi CEO Abhijit Kishore said the successful fundraise shows investor confidence in the company's long-term strategy. He added that the funds will help Vi expand its network and improve services, and that talks with banks about additional long-term funding are ongoing.
 

Reliance Acquires Majority Stake in Udhaiyam

Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), the FMCG arm of Reliance Industries, has acquired a majority stake in Udhaiyams Agro Foods Private Limited.

Under this joint venture, RCPL will own most of the company, while the existing owners of Udhaiyam will retain a smaller stake. With this deal, Udhaiyam, a well-known nutrition and food brand from Tamil Nadu, becomes part of RCPL's FMCG portfolio, strengthening its presence in branded food staples.

This acquisition supports RCPL's focus on promoting India's traditional and heritage brands while offering good-quality products at affordable prices to consumers across the country.

Udhaiyams Agro Foods, known for its flagship brand Udhaiyam, has over 30 years of experience and a strong presence in Tamil Nadu. The brand sells products such as rice, spices, snacks, and idli batter through a wide distribution network.

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