ET NEWS

Indian equities continued their winning streak, closing in the green for the second consecutive week, as investors found comfort in easing FPI selling pressure and renewed momentum in domestic markets.Despite lingering global uncertainties, the sentiment improved notably during the week, setting a constructive tone for the near term.The most encouraging sign came from the foreign institutional investors (FIIs), who had been net sellers for several months but turned net buyers in the cash market. The total FII net buying figure stood at Rs 3,289 crore over the last four trading sessions, suggesting that global investors may be regaining confidence in Indian equities.This moderation in outflows has provided much-needed stability to the broader market, particularly after a volatile start to October.In our previous weekly outlook, we had highlighted October 6, 7, and 9 as key dates likely to bring elevated volatility—and that prediction played out well. This kind of price action reinforces the importance of time-based analysis in identifying potential turning points in market momentum.Key Time Clusters for the Week (Oct 13 – 17, 2025)As we move into the coming week, traders should watch for the following intraday time clusters, which often coincide with short-term market reversals or momentum shifts:Monday, Oct 13: 9:20 am – 11:10 am · 12:35 pm · 2:40 pmTuesday, Oct 14: 10:35 am – 1:05 pm · 3:00 pmWednesday, Oct 15: 10:30 am – 12:10 pm · 1:30 pm · 1:55 pmThursday, Oct 16: 9:45 am – 10:35 am · 12:30 pm · 2:05 pmFriday, Oct 17: 11:10 am · 1:20 pmThese time clusters are derived from cyclical studies and have historically indicated potential zones of intraday reversals or directional accelerations.Nifty (Spot) Support & Resistance LevelsResistance: 25,322 · 25,434 · 25,566 · 25,710Support: 25,145 · 25,080 · 25,035 · 25,001 · 24,856 · 24,806 · 24,688Trading Outlook for the WeekThe upcoming week could witness heightened momentum, particularly around Friday, October 17, as key time cycles converge.Traders are advised to remain vigilant and flexible, adjusting positions dynamically in response to the unfolding price action. As intraday volatility may expand toward the weekend, managing risk through stop losses and position sizing will be crucial.Overall, the technical structure of the market remains positive, with dips likely to attract buying interest.Sustained FII inflows and strong domestic participation could help Nifty move toward higher resistance levels in the coming sessions.(Analyst Disclaimer: Harshubh Mahesh Shah is Director at Wealthview Analytics Pvt Ltd. SEBI Registration – INH000009676)(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

Afghanistan said Sunday it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight border operations, in response to what it called repeated violations of its territory and airspace.Earlier in the week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing the capital, Kabul, and a market in the country’s east. Pakistan did not claim responsibility for the assault.The Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Afghan forces have captured 25 Pakistani army posts, 58 soldiers have been killed, and 30 others wounded.“The situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented,” Mujahid told a press conference in Kabul. There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistan about casualties.Pakistan has previously struck locations inside Afghanistan, targeting what it alleges are militant hideouts, but these have been in remote and mountainous areas.The two sides have also skirmished along the border. But Saturday night's heavy clashes underscore the deepening security tensions.The Taliban government’s Defense Ministry said early Sunday morning its forces had conducted “retaliatory and successful operations” along the border.“If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation’s borders and will deliver a strong response,” the ministry added.The Torkham border crossing, one of two main trade routes between the two countries, did not open on Sunday at its usual time of 8 am. The crossing at Chaman was also closed.Pakistan accuses Afghan authorities of harboring members of the banned group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Islamabad says the group carries out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, but Kabul denies the charge, saying it does not allow its territory to be used against other countries.Before the Afghan claim of casualties, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault and said the country's army “not only gave a befitting reply to Afghanistan’s provocations but also destroyed several of their posts, forcing them to retreat.”The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement late Saturday, calling for “restraint, avoidance of escalation and the adoption of dialogue and wisdom to help de-escalate tensions and maintain the security and stability of the region.”Saudi Arabia just reached a mutual defense pact with Pakistan, which apparently put the kingdom under Islamabad’s nuclear umbrella following Israel’s attack on Qatar.A senior Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said Afghan forces opened fire in several northwestern border areas in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the districts of Chitral, Bajaur, Mohmand, Angoor Adda and Kurram.The official also said troops responded with heavy weaponry near Tirah in Khyber district and across the frontier in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.The two countries share a 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) border known as the Durand Line, but Afghanistan has never recognized it.

India’s third-largest IT services company by market capitalisation, HCL Technologies (HCLT), will announce its Q2 earnings on Monday, October 13, where the tech major is set to report a net profit growth in a wide range of 0.8% to 6.1%. The bottom line is seen between Rs 4,136 crore and Rs 4,491 crore, showing muted year-on-year growth but healthy sequential improvement.The revenue in the September-ended quarter is estimated between Rs 31,252 crore and Rs 31,603 crore, reflecting 8%-9.5% YoY growth and 3-4% QoQ growth.The estimates of five brokerages have been taken into account, viz. Nomura, Nuvama Institutional Equities, Axis Securities, HDFC Securities and Choice Broking. While Japanese brokerage has the most conservative profit after tax (PAT) estimates, HDFC Securities’ adjusted PAT is the highest in the pack. As for the revenue, Axis numbers are the lowest, while Choice is the most bullish.Brokerages recommended 4 metrics to watch out for:1. PAT- Nomura: Rs 4,136 crore, down 2.3% YoY, up 7.6% QoQ- Nuvama: Rs 4,275 crore, up 1% YoY, up 11.3% QoQ- Axis Securities: Rs 4,275 crore, up 0.9% YoY, up 11.2% QoQ- HDFC Securities: Rs 4,491 crore, up 6.1% YoY, down 16.1% QoQ- Choice Broking: Rs 4,268 crore, up 0.8% YoY, up 11.1% QoQThe sequential uptick is expected to be driven by deal ramp-ups in BFSI, Hi-Tech, and ER&D verticals, although YoY growth remains constrained by ongoing restructuring costs.2. Revenue- Nomura: Rs 31,511 crore, up 9.2% YoY, up 3.8% QoQ- Nuvama: Rs 31,396 crore, up 8.8% YoY, up 3.5% QoQ- Axis Securities: Rs 31,252 crore, up 8.3% YoY, up 3% QoQ- HDFC Securities: Rs 31,418 crore, up 8.9% YoY, up 3.5% QoQ- Choice Broking: Rs 31,603 crore, up 9.5% YoY, up 4.1% QoQRevenue growth is expected to be supported by a stable services business, improvement in products & platforms (P&P), and net new deal wins exceeding $2-2.5 billion, including at least one large deal closure.3. EBIT / EBIT MarginEBIT estimates fall between Rs 5,343 crore and Rs 5,432 crore, with margins expected to expand modestly QoQ despite YoY pressure:- Nomura: EBITDA margin 16.5%, down 210 bps YoY, up 20 bps QoQ- Nuvama: EBIT margin 17%, down 160 bps YoY, up 70 bps QoQ- Axis Securities: EBIT margin 17.2%, up 87 bps YoY, down 142 bps QoQ- HDFC Securities: EBIT margin 17.3%, down 129 bps YoY, up 101 bps QoQ- Choice Broking: EBIT margin 17.1%, down 143 bps YoY, up 86 bps QoQAnalysts expect the modest sequential margin improvement to be aided by ongoing restructuring initiatives and better performance of the HCL Software unit, partially offset by higher sales investments.4. Key monitorablesStreet will watch out for FY26 guidance for revenue growth (3-5% YoY in CC terms) and EBIT margins (17-18%). Client discretionary spending trends, particularly in BFSI, ER&D, and digital segments, will remain a key monitorable.Large deal wins and pipeline updates, along with the impact of macroeconomic headwinds on verticals like healthcare, manufacturing and retail, will be watched closely by the Street. (Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)