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Shares of infrastructure financing stocks such as HUDCO, Ireda, REC and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) rose over 5% on Wednesday, October 1, after the Reserve Bank of India announced a slew of measures to make infrastructure financing more efficient.Governor Sanjay Malhotra, during the RBI MPC meeting earlier today, said risk weights on NBFC lending to operational, high-quality infrastructure projects would be reduced, helping lower the cost of financing for the sector.The move is part of a larger set of 22 regulatory measures announced by the RBI to bolster the resilience and competitiveness of banks and NBFCs, ease credit flow, streamline regulations, and strengthen consumer protection. Lowering risk weights is expected to reduce capital requirements for lenders, which in turn could make borrowing cheaper for infrastructure projects.HUDCO shares touched an intraday high of Rs 235, up 5% from the last close on the NSE. Shares of Ireda gained as much as 4% to their day high of Rs 155.37 per share. REC stock rose 4.6% to a high of Rs 390.3, whereas PFC scaled a high of Rs 426.4, marking a 4% uptick from the previous close.During his speech, Malhotra said growth-inflation dynamics have shifted since the August policy, with the rationalisation of GST expected to have a cooling effect on price pressures. The overall inflation outlook has turned more benign, helped by a sharp fall in food prices. Consequently, the central bank has revised its average headline inflation forecast for FY26 downward to 2.6% from 3.1% earlier, while also trimming the estimate for the fourth quarter.The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Wednesday voted unanimously to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.5% while maintaining a neutral stance. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rates were also left unchanged at 5.25% and 5.75%, respectively.The MPC flagged global uncertainties and tariff-related developments as potential drags on growth this year.Also read: Half of 80 listings in red: India's Rs 35,000 crore IPO bash leaves investors with a hangoverDespite these risks, domestic economic momentum remains strong. Reflecting this resilience, the RBI raised its FY26 GDP growth forecast to 6.8% from 6.5% previously, while revising quarterly estimates — growth for Q2 FY26 was raised to 7% from 6.7%, while projections for Q3 and Q4 were cut to 6.4% and 6.2% respectively. The GDP growth estimate for Q1 FY27 was lowered to 6.4% from 6.6%.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Bajaj Auto on Wednesday said that it reported a 9% year-on-year growth in total sales, including exports, to 5,10,504 units in September.The automobile manufacturer had posted total sales of 4,69,531 vehicles in September 2024, Bajaj Auto said in a regulatory filing.Total domestic sales, including commercial vehicles, stood at 3,25,252 units in September 2025, compared to 3,11,887 units in the year-ago period, reporting a growth of 4%.Exports jumped 18% to 1,85,252 vehicles, from 1,57,644 vehicles in the year-ago period, the company said.Sales of two-wheelers in the domestic market rose by 5% year-on-year to 2,73,188 units in September, as against 2,59,333 units in the same month last year.