Stocks to Watch: December 26 Highlights

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continue to show confidence in the Indian market, with an impressive inflow of ₹8,250 crores over the last seven days. Meanwhile, easing tensions in the US-China trade war and India's potential trade deal with the US add to the positive sentiment. Om Mehra, a technical analyst, believes that the Bank Nifty Index remains on an upward trend, suggesting a healthy consolidation ahead. Key support levels are at 54,200 and 53,500, while resistance is at 55,400. Investors should stay cautious due to possible market volatility from geopolitical factors.

Smartphones are now essential in our daily routines, making tasks like shopping and banking easier. However, they can also be distracting, especially when working, studying, or driving. Instead of switching your phone to airplane mode, which cuts you off completely, using Do Not Disturb (DND) mode can help manage distractions. This mode allows you to silence notifications while still receiving important calls. Setting up DND varies by phone brand, but it generally includes options for customizing settings, scheduling, and emergency bypass for select contacts. Learning to use these features can greatly enhance focus and productivity.

Apple has released a significant study by Professor Viswanath Pingali from IIM Ahmedabad, revealing the economic impact of its App Store in India. The report states that the App Store has generated an impressive Rs 44,447 crores ($5.31 billion) in sales, with 94% of this revenue going directly to developers. Over the past 15 years, Indian developers have thrived, creating successful apps in various categories like games and health. Interestingly, 80% of their earnings in 2024 came from users outside India. The App Store continues to support small developers, with their earnings rising by 74% since 2021, showcasing a vibrant and growing app ecosystem in India.

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal recently responded to criticism over the company's policies for delivery partners and restaurants. He strongly denied claims that Zomato is losing market share or forcing employees to order from their platform. Goyal emphasized the importance of freedom of choice for employees and expressed gratitude to those who raised concerns. However, some former employees brought up issues like a rule against ordering from competitor Swiggy. Goyal's statements highlight the ongoing debate about Zomato's practices and its impact on partners and delivery workers in India’s competitive food delivery market.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is taking a strong step to fight digital payment fraud by introducing the exclusive ‘.bank.in’ domain for Indian banks. This new internet domain aims to enhance security and build trust in digital banking by ensuring that only RBI-regulated banks can register under it. Banks must complete the migration to this domain by October 31, 2025. Currently, many banks use generic domains like ‘.com’ or ‘.co.in’, which can be easily imitated by fraudsters. This initiative will significantly reduce cyber threats and protect customers from phishing scams, making online banking safer for everyone.

In a recent interview, Martin Wolf from the Financial Times shared insights on the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. He believes that China is likely to emerge stronger than America from this conflict. For countries like India, which have vital trade ties with both nations, the challenge is to maintain a balanced approach. India’s historical ability to navigate complex situations gives it an edge, allowing it to avoid taking sides. Wolf emphasizes the importance of not turning China into an outright enemy, as the future of U.S.-China relations remains unpredictable.

Virat Kohli, the star batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), emphasized the significance of their recent win against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2025 season. This victory marked RCB's seventh win, placing them at the top of the points table. Kohli and Krunal Pandya forged a crucial 119-run partnership, with Kohli scoring 51 runs and Pandya impressing with an unbeaten 73. Kohli highlighted the need to adapt to challenging conditions and praised his teammate's performance, showcasing strong team communication. With a powerful batting lineup and skilled bowlers, RCB looks promising as the tournament progresses.

Donald Trump is about to complete the first 100 days of his second term as U.S. President on April 29. However, a recent CNN poll reveals that many Americans have a negative view of his performance. Trump's approval ratings have declined significantly, especially among women and Hispanic Americans. Only half of the respondents believe he can manage the economy effectively, marking a low point in his career with a 39% approval rating. Critics argue that his “America First” policy has damaged relationships with allies and strengthened adversaries, leaving uncertainty in international relations.

Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur is known for its balanced pitch, supporting both batters and bowlers. In previous matches, chasing teams have triumphed 38 out of 59 times, so the team winning the toss will likely choose to bowl first. A target of 175-190 runs is considered average for the upcoming match. The weather forecast indicates a hot day, starting at 38 degrees Celsius and cooling to 31 degrees by the end, with little chance of rain. Historical data shows Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans have faced off multiple times, with Gujarat winning most of their encounters.

India is on the verge of sealing a massive ₹63,000 crore deal for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft with France. This agreement, set to be signed in Delhi, involves key officials from both countries. The Rafale M jets will be tailored for Indian needs and will enhance the capabilities of INS Vikrant, acting as a temporary solution until India develops its own carrier-borne fighter jet. This deal, which includes various support services and training, will increase India's Rafale fleet to 62 aircraft, significantly strengthening its air force capabilities.

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery with the James Webb Space Telescope, identifying the most distant galaxy ever observed, named RUBIES-UDS-QG-z7. This "dead galaxy" has stopped forming stars, a surprising finding since scientists believed only active star-forming galaxies should be visible from the early Universe. The galaxy, which ceased star formation when the Universe was just 700 million years old, highlights the processes that lead to galaxy formation and "quenching." Understanding these ancient galaxies is crucial as they may hold the secrets to how massive galaxies formed in the early cosmos.

Bengaluru's Sarvam has been chosen to create India’s first sovereign large language model (LLM) under the IndiaAI Mission. This groundbreaking initiative aims to develop an AI model from scratch, capable of reasoning and designed for voice communication in multiple Indian languages. Sarvam will have the necessary resources to ensure this model meets national needs, allowing secure and efficient AI deployment across the country. The company aims to empower Indian talent to create solutions that enhance local innovation and strategic autonomy in AI, ultimately ensuring that interactions with AI feel natural for citizens while keeping data secure within India.

Gold prices have skyrocketed, increasing by ₹1,800 to surpass the ₹1 lakh-mark for 10 grams in India. This surge is driven by local jewellers and stockists buying in anticipation of a spike in demand during Akshaya Tritiya and the wedding season. The price of gold, with 99.5% purity, has reached a record high of ₹1,02,100 per 10 grams. This surge reflects a 29% rise since December 2024. Factors like global economic uncertainty and tensions in international trade are also pushing prices higher. With Akshaya Tritiya on April 30, many are expected to invest in gold, boosting its demand despite rising prices.

Adobe's Firefly AI models are making waves in creative applications, generating over 22 billion assets for users. With new features being introduced, including video generation and an AI clip maker, Adobe is enhancing its tools to compete with others like Canva. The recent Adobe Max London conference highlighted the importance of India as a growing market for Adobe Express, emphasizing tailored offerings and lower entry barriers for users. As generative AI evolves, Adobe aims to seamlessly integrate it into creative workflows, allowing users to create content more efficiently and effectively.

A significant development in India's AI landscape is underway as the government supports Sarvam, a company set to receive 4,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) for six months. This support will enable Sarvam to create a powerful AI model with 70 billion parameters, specifically designed for Indian languages. The model will not be open-sourced but will be optimized locally, showcasing the talent and infrastructure of India. With three variants aimed at different applications, this initiative aims to enhance India's position in AI and promote local innovation, ensuring that AI feels familiar and accessible to Indian users.

Canadians are set to vote on April 28 to choose their next government, following the exit of long-serving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The main candidates are Mark Carney of the Liberal Party and Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party, each presenting different economic strategies. Carney supports government action to tackle issues like the housing crisis, while Poilievre aims to cut regulations and promote private solutions. Other parties, including the NDP and Bloc Québécois, are also in the race. With 28 million voters and 343 ridings, the election will determine which party secures at least 172 seats for a majority government.

A devastating explosion at Shahid Rajaei port in southern Iran has killed eight people and injured around 750 others. The blast, which occurred near Bandar Abbas, triggered a fire that lasted for hours, leading to helicopter assistance to control the flames. The cause of the explosion is still being investigated, with potential links to mishandled missile fuel shipments. Videos captured before the blast suggested the involvement of a chemical compound, reminiscent of the Beirut port explosion in 2020. Authorities have warned of dangerous air pollution and closed schools in the area as a precaution to protect students.

The Wankhede Stadium pitch is famous for being friendly to batters, making it likely for a high-scoring match. Early on, fast bowlers may get some help from the fresh pitch conditions, but as the game continues, spinners will find it easier with more grip and turn. The weather will start at a warm 34 degrees Celsius, dropping to 31 degrees Celsius later, with humidity around 65% by the end. Clear skies mean no rain is expected. With a history of exciting games, this venue has seen 122 matches where teams often score over 200 runs, making it a thrilling place for cricket fans.