Market Overview - Indian equity markets opened sharply lower, with the Sensex falling 790.71 points to 82,884.21 and Nifty declining 254.95 points to 25,552.25, influenced by a global tech sell-off due to concerns over AI disruption to traditional business models [1][5] IT Sector Performance - The Nifty IT index experienced a significant decline of 4.72 percent, dropping to 31,594.70, marking its sharpest single-day decline in ten months [2] - Major IT companies faced substantial losses, with Infosys down 6.11 percent to ₹1,301.30, TCS down 4.59 percent to ₹2,624.00, HCL Technologies down 4.38 percent to ₹1,411.50, and Wipro down 3.55 percent to ₹211.31 [2][6] - The sell-off in IT stocks was attributed to a sharp decline in US technology stocks, with the Nasdaq falling 2.03 percent as investors reassessed the impact of AI startups on established tech companies [2] Broader Market Trends - The broader market showed mixed signals, with select financial stocks like Bajaj Finance and SBI Life Insurance witnessing buying interest, while Hindalco faced significant selling pressure, declining 5.78 percent to ₹908.70 [7][8] - Foreign Institutional Investors continued to buy equities worth ₹108 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors invested over ₹276 crore, providing some support to the markets [9] Investor Sentiment - Concerns over AI-led disruption and fading optimism regarding near-term global rate cuts are expected to weigh on market sentiment [5] - Experts advised caution, suggesting that panic selling in IT stocks may not be prudent and that investors should consider accumulating high-quality growth stocks, especially those with strong Q3 results [8]

Group 1: Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCC) - HCC secured a railway contract valued at ₹577.89 crore from the Northeast Frontier Railway, awarded to the HCC-VCCL Joint Venture, where HCC holds a 65% stake [1] - The project scope includes construction of four tunnels (Tunnel No. 9: 600 m, Tunnel No. 11: 350 m, Tunnel No. 13: 400 m, Tunnel No. 16: 600 m), cut-and-cover works, earthwork for railway alignment, and ancillary works between Piphema and Zubza sections under the Dimapur–Kohima New BG Line Project [2] Group 2: Savita Oil Technologies Limited (SOTL) - SOTL signed a strategic multi-year partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Farm Equipment Business, enhancing a relationship built over 25 years [3] - This partnership aims to strengthen product quality, customer confidence, and long-term value creation for India's farming and rural mobility ecosystem [3] Group 3: AION-Tech Solutions Ltd - AION-Tech Solutions Ltd announced the appointment of Biju Mathews as President and CEO, marking a strategic step towards organizational growth and long-term value creation [4] Group 4: Aries Agro - Aries Agro inaugurated a manufacturing unit at GIDC Sayakha Industrial Estate, Bharuch, Gujarat, with an investment of ₹34.99 crore, expected to commence production by the end of March 2026 [5] - The company currently has a capacity of 95,400 taps, with a utilization rate of 76.32% [5] Group 5: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) - The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with HAL for the acquisition of eight Dornier 228 Aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard at a cost of ₹2,312 crore under the Buy (Indian) category [6] Group 6: J Kumar Infraprojects - J Kumar Infraprojects received a Letter of Acceptance worth ₹615.53 crore from NBCC (India) for the redevelopment of the GPRA Colony at Netaji Nagar, New Delhi [7] Group 7: Ceigall India - Ceigall India secured a new road project from NHAI for the construction of a four-lane highway in Bihar, involving the four-laning of the Sahebganj–Areraj–Bettiah section of NH-139W, totaling 78.942 km [8]

A resurgent yen has been the main focus for the foreign exchange market this week, particularly as its rise confounded initial expectations that a selloff in the currency could gather pace if Takaichi secured ‌a strong mandate.It ⁠was last ⁠steady at 152.86 per dollar, but was set to gain nearly 3% for the week, which would mark its largest advance since November 2024.Against the "The election outcome might be seen as marking an end to the political instability that has persisted since July last year, sugg ...

Key TakeawaysAI "Scare Trade" Hits Logistics: A former karaoke company, AlgoRhythm Holdings Inc., sparked a sell-off in the trucking sector after announcing AI-driven efficiency gains, causing the Russell 3000 Trucking Index to drop 6.6%.Rivian's Strong Outlook: Rivian Automotive Inc. (RIVN) shares jumped after reporting a smaller-than-expected Q4 loss and forecasting strong vehicle deliveries for 2026.Nvidia's Nevada Expansion: NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) will lease a 200-megawatt data center in Nevada, financed i ...

BRAMPTON, Ontario, Feb. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L; “Loblaw”) announced today that, in connection with its previously announced transaction (the “Transaction”) involving the sale of President’s Choice Bank and certain other affiliated entities to EQB Inc. (“EQB”) and long-term strategic relationship with EQB, it has entered into an automatic share purchase plan (“ASPP”) with a broker in order to facilitate the purchase of common shares in the capital of EQB (“EQB Common Sh ...

Venezuela to grant more oil drilling blocks to Chevron, Repsol, Bloomberg News reports | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]The Chevron offices are pictured in Caracas, Venezuela, December 2, 2022. REUTERS/Gaby Oraa/File Photo [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Companies[Chevron Corp]Follow[Repsol SA]FollowFeb 12 (Reuters) - Venezuela plans to grant more oil-production land to Chevron [(CVX.N), opens new tab] an ...

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is transitioning from a growth driver for technology stocks to a disruptor in traditional financial services, impacting market expectations for wealth management firms globally [1] - Major wealth management and brokerage stocks have experienced significant declines as investors assess the implications of new AI tools that automate tasks previously performed by human advisors [1] Stock Performance - The Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW) has decreased by 10.9%, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) by 13.8%, and Raymond James Financial Inc. (RJF) by 8.8% in recent trading days [2] - Other firms such as Lazard and Stifel Financial have also seen declines of nearly 4% and 4.9%, respectively, while banks with substantial wealth management exposure, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), and Wells Fargo, have dropped more than 4% [2] Trigger for Stock Selloff - The stock market reaction was initiated by the launch of an AI-powered tax planning tool by U.S. fintech startup Altruist, which is integrated into its Hazel platform [3] - This tool can process client data to generate personalized tax strategies and financial insights that previously required extensive manual work from advisors [3] Investor Concerns - Investors view the AI tool as a potential threat to traditional revenue streams in wealth advisory, particularly in fee-based services like tax planning and portfolio strategy [4] - The ability to commoditize and scale complex financial advice rapidly raises concerns about the erosion of fee margins and business models for existing firms [4] Shift in Market Focus - The market's focus has shifted from beneficiaries of the AI boom to those who might be displaced by it, affecting asset management and private capital firms [5][6] - Executives from firms like Blackstone and Apollo Global Management have attempted to reassure stakeholders that AI is unlikely to undermine their businesses, but skepticism remains prevalent [6] Reassessment of Risks - The initial optimism surrounding AI is evolving into a reassessment of risks, as investors consider the potential for AI to compress margins and alter business models [7] - The recent selloff in wealth management stocks signifies a turning point in how investors perceive AI risk within financial services [8] Implications for Wealth Management - The declines in shares of firms like Schwab, LPL Financial, and Raymond James reflect fears that AI could diminish advisory fees and disrupt established operating models [8][9] - While it is too early to label AI as an existential threat to human-led wealth advice, the rapid advancement of tools like Altruist's Hazel platform necessitates a reevaluation of defensible areas within the value chain [10] - Success for incumbents will likely hinge on the effective integration of AI into client service, compliance, and portfolio construction, where trust and judgment remain essential [10]

Vladimir Dimitrov, CFA is a former strategy consultant within the field of brand and intangible assets valuation. During his career in the City of London he has been working with some of the largest global brands within the technology, telecom and banking sectors. He graduated from the London School of Economics and is interested in finding reasonably priced businesses with sustainable long-term competitive advantages.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of ...

AI-driven market disruption could hit loans and high-yield credit, UBS says Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock The recent selloff in credit markets reflects growing concern that artificial intelligence (AI) is moving faster than many expect, and its impact may extend well beyond software, according to UBS analysts. In a note to clients, the bank’s analysts said markets have only partially priced in the risk, particularly for lower-quality credit sectors in the US. Investment-grade (IG) bonds ...

Stocks have moved sharply lower over the course of the trading day on Thursday, with the major averages all showing significant moves to the downside after once again failing to sustain an initial move to the upside. Currently, the major averages are just off their lows of the session. The Dow is down 496.77 points or 1.0 percent at 49,624.63, the Nasdaq is down 341.43 points or 1.5 percent at 22,725.04 and the S&P 500 is down 68.04 points or 1.0 percent at 6,873.43.The sell-off on Wall Street partly refle ...