INDIAN MARKETS:

On October 18, The BSE Sensex closed 218.14 points higher to 81,224.75 on October 18. Sensex rebounded over 800 points in today's trading session from its day's low of 80,409.25. The NSE Nifty rose 104.20 points to 24,854.05.

US MARKETS:

 S&P 500 rose 23.20 points, or 0.40%, to 5,864.67 points, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 115.94 points, or 0.63%, to 18,489.55. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 36.86 points, or 0.09%, at 43,275.91

ASIAN MARKETS:

The Topix increased by 0.01%, while the Nikkei increased by 0.06%. Taiwan's increased by 0.55%, and the Kospi was up 0.63% from the previous close.

OIL & GAS UPDATES:
US West Texas increased 0.43%, while Brent Crude increased by 0.40%.

KEY QUARTERLY EARNINGS:

HDFC Bank's Q2 profit rose 5.3% to Rs 16,821 crore, with net interest income up 9.9% at Rs 30,107.9 crore. Gross NPA slightly increased to 1.36%, while net NPA rose to 0.41%. Provisions fell to Rs 2,700.5 crore (YoY). The bank plans to sell Rs 10,000 crore worth of HDB Financial Services shares in a Rs 12,500-crore IPO and completed the sale of a 91% stake in HDFC Education for Rs 174.72 crore.

Kotak Mahindra Bank's Q2 profit grew 4.8% to Rs 3,343.7 crore, and net interest income rose 11.5% to Rs 7,019.6 crore. Provisions surged to Rs 660.4 crore. Gross NPA increased to 1.49%, while net NPA rose to 0.43%. The bank is set to acquire Standard Chartered Bank India’s personal loan portfolio.

Tech Mahindra's Q2 profit soared 46.8% to Rs 1,250.1 crore, with revenue up 2.4% at Rs 13,313.2 crore. Margin improved to 9.6%, and deal wins stood at $603 million.

Multi Commodity Exchange posted a profit of Rs 153.6 crore (compared to a loss of Rs 19.1 crore) with a 73% jump in revenue.

Jio Financial Services' profit grew 3.1% to Rs 689.07 crore, with revenue from operations up 14.05%.

KEY STOCKS TO WATCH:

JSW Steel's subsidiary, Jsquare Electrical Steel Nashik, has agreed to acquire 100% of thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel India for Rs 4,051.4 crore.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals received USFDA approval for its Diltiazem Hydrochloride extended-release capsules for hypertension treatment.

Dodla Dairy completed the acquisition of 35.23 acres in Maharashtra for a new plant.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders received a Rs 491 crore contract from the Ministry of Defence for an Acoustic Research Ship.

PTC Industries will acquire 100% of Trac Precision Solutions, a UK-based company specializing in aviation, defence, and power components.

HMA Agro signed an MoU with Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation, Malaysia, for the supply of frozen boneless buffalo meat.

FII/DII DATA:

1. FIIs net SOLD Rs 5,485 crore worth shares on 18 October

2. DIIs net BOUGHT Rs 5,214 crore worth shares on 18 October.