Stocks to Watch: Vedanta, Lupin, Prestige Estates, Fertiliser stocks, and more are set for scrutiny following the GST Council’s decision to exempt fertilizers from the 5% GST bracket. Expect muted Indian market openings amid global weakness, with Asian markets down and US indices showing slight losses post-profit booking in tech stocks.
The Dollar index surged to multi-year highs at 105.8 on robust US economic data, impacting the Indian Rupee, which hit record lows. Brent crude oil prices edged higher at $85.3 per barrel after a US inventory report exceeded expectations, indicating firmness in oil markets.
Vedanta Resources denied stake sale reports, while Bank of Baroda plans to raise funds via long-term bonds for infrastructure. Prestige Estates approved a ₹5,000 crore equity issuance for expansion. Lupin received a positive USFDA report for its Somerset facility.
IRCTC will focus after GST exemptions on railway services like platform tickets and battery-operated vehicles. Paper and packaging stocks like TCPL Packaging and JK Paper are affected by GST council decisions on corrugated and non-corrugated paper boxes at 12% rates.