Asian markets traded higher on Tuesday, tracking gains in European markets. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.28%, while the Topix index rose 0.37%.

US stock markets were closed on 17 February 2025 in observance of Presidents Day.

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

Source: Equitymaster

At present, the BSE Sensex is trading 114 points lower and NSE Nifty is trading 53 points lower.

Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, and Apollo Hospital are among the top gainers today.

Grasim Industries, ONG,C, and NTPC on other hand are among the top losers today.

The BSE Midcap index and the BSE Smallcap index are trading 0.7% lower.

Sectoral indices are trading lower today with stocks in the oil & gas sector, and the energy sector witnessing selling pressure.

The rupee is trading at Rs 86.92 against the US dollar.
 

Bharti Airtel in Focus as Promoter Offloads Stake

Shares of telecom giant Bharti Airtel are set to remain in focus on Tuesday, 18 February, as promoter group entity Indian Continent Investment plans to offload 48.2 million shares, or approximately 0.8% of the company's stake, through a block deal.

The shares are expected to be offered at a floor price of Rs 1,658.80 per share, the report indicated.

As of 31 December 2024, Indian Continent Investment held a 3.31% stake in Bharti Airtel, translating to over 20.13 crore shares, as per BSE shareholding data.

Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 17 countries across Asia and Africa. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers.
 

ABB India's December Quarter Numbers

ABB India posted a robust 56% year-on-year increase in net profit for the October-December 2024 quarter, driven by higher revenue. The company reported a net profit of Rs 5.3 bn, up from Rs 3.4 bn in the corresponding period last year.

Revenue for the quarter grew 22% to Rs 33.6 bn, marking the highest December-quarter revenue in the past five years.

The board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 33.5 per share for the financial year ended 31 December 2024, subject to shareholder approval.

ABB India follows a January-December financial year.

For the full year, the company achieved its highest-ever order book of Rs 130.8 bn, with revenue reaching Rs 121.9 bn.

As of December 2024, the order backlog stood at Rs 93.8 bn, with Rs 26.9 bn in new order wins. However, new orders declined by 14% year-on-year due to the impact of large one-time orders booked in CY2023.

The company is a subsidiary of ABB Group, one of the largest integrated power equipment manufacturers globally.

ABB India operates in four business divisions - electrification, robotics and discrete automation, motion, and process automation. The electrification business is responsible for providing charging solutions, products, and services in the power industry.

Paytm Partners SBI MF

Paytm announced on 17 February its partnership with SBI Mutual Fund to introduce the JanNivesh Rs 250 SIP.

The scheme, launched by SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, aims to provide flexible investment options, including daily, monthly, and weekly contributions, catering to diverse financial preferences.

With a minimum investment requirement of Rs 250, the initiative is expected to encourage wider participation in systematic investment plans.

Paytm stated that its subsidiary, Paytm Services Private Limited (PSPL), will facilitate the offering. DP Singh, DMD and Joint CEO of SBI Mutual Fund, highlighted that the launch of JanNivesh Rs 250 SIP aligns with the objective of enhancing financial inclusion.

He emphasized that the collaboration with Paytm and other fintech players provides millions of Indians with an accessible and flexible investment avenue, supporting the broader vision of a Viksit Bharat by expanding wealth-building opportunities for all citizens.
 

Zomato Launches Nugget

Zomato has launched Nugget, an in-house artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled customer support platform designed to enhance its food delivery operations, quick commerce vertical Blinkit, and supply chain services platform Hyperpure. CEO Deepinder Goyal announced the development in a post on X.

Developed over three years by Zomato Labs, the company's internal innovation division, Nugget currently handles over 15 million customer interactions per month across Zomato's platforms. Highlighting the platform's efficiency, Zomato stated that 90% of businesses that have reviewed Nugget have signed up for the service.

The launch follows Zomato's recent rebranding to Eternal Ltd., a move aimed at reflecting its evolving business portfolio.

With Blinkit emerging as a key growth driver alongside food delivery, the leadership considered the timing appropriate for this corporate transformation. The company disclosed the rebranding in a regulatory filing on February 6, 2025.

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