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The Indian market advanced on Friday, supported by gains in financial heavyweights amid renewed foreign portfolio investor (FPI) inflows over the past three sessions. Optimism ahead of the quarterly earnings season added to the upbeat sentiment, although Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) capped broader gains after reporting weaker-than-expected September-quarter results.The S&P BSE Sensex rose 328.72 points, or 0.40%, to close at 82,500.82, while the NSE Nifty 50 gained 103.55 points, or 0.41%, to settle at 25,285.35.Here's how analysts read the market pulse:Indian equities closed higher, led by strong gains in banking and pharmaceutical stocks, as investor sentiment improved following the government’s invitation to private sector professionals to lead the State Bank of India. Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments, noted that this marks a broader policy shift toward private participation in public sector enterprises, aimed at enhancing efficiency and governance."Pharma stocks rallied after the US revived the Biosecure Act, aimed at limiting biotech ties with flagged foreign firms, particularly from China, giving a strong boost to Indian CDMOs. With the earnings season underway, investors are closely watching quarterly results for cues on market direction," Nair added.Also read | 5 Wall Street moguls who dismissed Bitcoin as a fad — Guess what they’re saying now!US marketsWall Street slumped on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his trade confrontation with China, announcing plans late in the day to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports and new export controls on critical U.S.-made software. The move followed Beijing’s tightening of restrictions on rare earth exports, deepening fears of a renewed trade war and sending Big Tech shares tumbling after hours.Nvidia, Tesla, Amazon, and Advanced Micro Devices each fell more than 2% in late trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 878.82 points, or 1.9%, to 45,479.60, while the S&P 500 sank 182.60 points, or 2.71%, to 6,552.51. The Nasdaq Composite slid 820.20 points, or 3.56%, to 22,204.43.European MarketsEuropean stocks were little changed on Friday but remained on track for a third consecutive weekly gain, as investors focused on French politics ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s expected announcement of a new prime minister.The pan-European STOXX 600 hovered near the flat line at 571.2 points by 0906 GMT, putting the benchmark on course for a modest 0.1% weekly rise.Tech ViewThe Nifty remained strong on Friday, breaking out of its recent consolidation range, said Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, adding that the trend continues to stay positive as it sustains above critical moving averages.“The setup looks favorable for further short-term gains. Any dip would provide a good opportunity to enter long trades. On the upside, the Nifty may move towards 25,500–25,550, while support is placed at 25,150. A fall below 25,150 could slightly weaken the trend,” said De.Also read | Warren Buffett’s biggest investment isn’t Apple, BofA or Coca-Cola — it’s a stock hidden in plain sightMost active stocks in terms of turnoverTata Communications (Rs 2,720 crore), TCS (Rs 2,674 crore), BSE (Rs 1,737 crore), Tata Investment (Rs 1,674 crore), Netweb Technologies (Rs 1,501 crore), HDFC Bank (Rs 1,352 crore), and YES Bank (Rs 1,312 crore) were among the most active stocks on BSE in value terms. Higher activity in value terms helps identify counters with the highest trading turnover of the day.Most active stocks in volume termsVodafone Idea (70.17 crore shares), YES Bank (55.12 crore shares), Reliance Power (11.98 crore shares), JP Power (6.61 crore shares), Suzlon Energy (5.89 crore shares), PNB (4.08 crore shares), and Sagility India (3.84 crore shares) were among the most actively traded stocks by volume on NSE.Stocks showing buying interestShares of Tata Communications, Reliance Power, Redington, YES Bank, PG Electroplast, Divis Labs, and Jyoti CNC Automation witnessed strong buying interest from market participants.Also read | Explained: What is China's anti-involution shift and how it impacts Indian stocks52-week highOver 171 stocks hit their 52-week highs today, while 105 stocks slipped to their 52-week lows. Stocks hitting their 52-week highs included SBI and Eternal.Stocks seeing selling pressureStocks that witnessed significant selling pressure included Tata Steel, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Titan, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Motors, and Bharti Airtel.Sentiment meter bullishMarket sentiment was bullish. Out of the 4,343 stocks traded on BSE on Friday, 2,424 stocks advanced, 1,766 declined, and 153 remained unchanged.Also read | Ola Electric vs Ather Energy shares: Which EV bet looks stronger for your portfolio right now?(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

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)