12 stories from 2 sources

Bank earnings hold up as markets rebound and policy shifts

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

8:14 AMEconomic Times

Central Bank of India Q2 profit rises 21% as loans grow 30%

Summary

Central Bank of India reported a 21% increase in September 2026 quarterly net profit to Rs 1,469 crore. Net interest income grew 26%, loans expanded 30%, and net NPA fell to 0.31% as operating efficiency improved.

The bank is growing its balance sheet without a visible deterioration in asset quality, strengthening

Why it matters

Strong loan growth combined with lower bad loans suggests Central Bank of India is gaining scale while improving credit quality.

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6:14 AMEconomic Times

IDBI Bank Q2 results: Net profit tanks 39% YoY to Rs 2,205 crore; NII dips 49% YoY

Summary

IDBI Bank’s second-quarter net profit fell 39% year on year to Rs 2,205 crore, partly because the previous year included a one-off gain. Excluding that effect, profit increased 14%, while deposits and advances grew 17% and 18%, respectively, and net interest margin improved sequentially to 4.11%.

The reported decline overstates the deterioration because of the prior-year exceptional gain, but the 49%

Why it matters

IDBI’s underlying performance looks better than the headline, but weak core income keeps the turnaround incomplete.

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6:17 AMEconomic Times

ICICI Bank Q2 Results: Net profit jumps 20% YoY to Rs 14,843 crore, NII rises 18%

Summary

ICICI Bank reported a 20.1% year-on-year increase in second-quarter net profit to Rs 14,843 crore, up from Rs 12,359 crore a year earlier. Net interest income grew 18% during the period.

The combination of strong profit and net interest income growth points to continued operating momentum

Why it matters

ICICI Bank’s performance reinforces the strength of large private lenders in the current banking cycle.

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4:46 AMEconomic Times

HDFC Bank Q2 Results: Net profit rises 5% YoY to Rs 19,510 crore; NII grows 10%

Summary

HDFC Bank reported a second-quarter FY27 net profit of Rs 19,509 crore, up 4.6% from Rs 18,641 crore a year earlier. Net interest income increased 10% year on year.

The earnings show steady growth at India’s largest private lender, but profit expansion lagged the

Why it matters

HDFC Bank remains profitable and growing, but the gap between NII and net profit growth raises questions about earnings efficiency.

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3:42 AMEconomic Times

Axis Bank Q2 Results: Net profit jumps 38% YoY to Rs 7,003 crore, NII rises 12%

Summary

Axis Bank reported a second-quarter FY27 net profit of Rs 7,003 crore, up 38% from Rs 5,089 crore a year earlier. Net interest income rose 12% year on year.

Axis Bank delivered much stronger profit growth than its larger private-sector peers, with net profit

Why it matters

The result strengthens Axis Bank’s competitive position, provided its sharp profit acceleration holds without a deterioration in asset quality.

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5:49 AMEconomic Times

Nifty reclaims 200 WMA; eyes further gains as key resistance shapes next move

Summary

The Nifty rebounded 2.78% and reclaimed its 200-week moving average, a key long-term technical level. Weak momentum indicators and overhead resistance remain constraints, although banking, metal, media, pharma and IT stocks showed relative strength.

Reclaiming the 200-week moving average improves the market’s technical structure, but it does not yet

Why it matters

The index has regained an important support level, but resistance will determine whether the rebound becomes a trend.

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12:16 AMEconomic Times

IT's time to celebrate when chips are down; Nifty IT soars 11.7% to log biggest weekly rally since 2008

Summary

The Nifty IT index rose 11.7% in its strongest weekly gain since 2008, supported by better than expected quarterly results from companies including HCLTech. The rally came as Asian semiconductor stocks fell, while the rupee strengthened past 95 to the dollar after measures by the Reserve Bank of India.

Strong earnings have temporarily shifted investor focus from weak global chip sentiment to the resilience

Why it matters

The rally marks a sharp repricing of India's IT outlook, but currency strength and global technology weakness remain constraints.

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12:50 AMBloomberg Markets

India Halts Sugar Diversion to Ethanol After El Nino Hurts Crops

Summary

India has ordered state owned fuel retailers to stop buying ethanol produced from sugar and key sugarcane based feedstocks. The move is intended to protect domestic sugar supplies and limit price increases after El Nino damaged crops.

The government is prioritizing food and consumer prices over the expansion of sugar based ethanol.

Why it matters

India's policy shift could tighten ethanol supply, weaken sugar industry earnings, and put upward pressure on global sugar prices.

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Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

6:51 AMEconomic Times

ixigo Q2 profit at Rs 63 cr on robust show in hotel booking biz

Summary

Ixigo reported consolidated net profit of Rs 63.42 crore in the September quarter, compared with a net loss of Rs 3.46 crore a year earlier. Revenue reached Rs 320.96 crore, with strong hotel bookings helping drive the turnaround.

Hotel bookings have become a meaningful profit engine for Ixigo, reducing its dependence on its

Why it matters

Ixigo’s results show how hotel inventory can materially improve the economics of an online travel platform.

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4:46 AMEconomic Times

10 smallcap stocks surge up to 65% in 3 months despite market weakness

Summary

Several Nifty Smallcap 250 stocks rallied sharply over three months even as the Nifty 50 fell nearly 4%. Cupid gained 66%, while Sterlite Technologies and Welspun Corp were among the other notable outperformers.

The divergence shows that market weakness has not eliminated selective smallcap opportunities, but it also

Why it matters

Smallcap leadership is creating pockets of upside, but concentrated gains demand tighter scrutiny of fundamentals and liquidity.

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2:21 AMEconomic Times

Jio IPO’s grey market hints at 20% listing pop. What are Emkay, SBI Securities saying?

Summary

Jio Platforms’ Rs 30,200 crore IPO is trading at a grey market premium of Rs 221, implying a potential listing gain of nearly 20%. Brokerages cite its telecom leadership, earnings growth, digital businesses and technology capabilities, while warning about regulatory, competitive and financial risks.

The grey market premium signals strong investor demand before listing, but it is an informal

Why it matters

The IPO could become a major test of investor appetite for large technology and telecom listings, with early enthusiasm already pricing in substantial upside.

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1:38 AMEconomic Times

Why India's steel demand is defying global weakness

Summary

Indian steel prices are rising despite weak global markets, supported by infrastructure spending, manufacturing growth and higher input costs. Domestic consumption and capacity utilisation remain firm, although cheaper imports and Chinese oversupply pose risks.

India’s domestic demand is separating its steel market from the global downturn, giving producers pricing

Why it matters

India’s steel cycle is becoming more domestically driven, but producers remain exposed to global trade flows and import pressure.

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