Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an index that measures changes in the level of prices of goods and services that households acquire for the purpose of consumption over time. 

The Treynor ratio adjusts excess return for systematic risk which is computed by dividing a portfolio's excess return by its Beta. 

A hurdle rate is the minimum acceptable rate of the required return on investment or project by an investor or a fund manager. It is also known as break-even yield. 

The primary market is a market where funds are raised by companies from investors, who are not associated with the promoters through an offer of securities. The secondary market is where securities once issued are bought and sold between investors. 

Sharpe ratio is the risk-adjusted return, which measures reward to variability. Firstly, a portfolio’s return in excess of the risk-free return is calculated and then this excess return is divided by the portfolio’s standard deviation. This ratio is named after William Sharpe.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index, which measures changes in industrial activity or growth rates in various industry groups with reference to a base year.

Financial risk is the type of risk primarily associated with the risk of default on the loan taken by any entity. To evaluate any company’s capital structure and debt levels, as a part of quantitative analysis, financial risk ratios are used.

The most commonly used strategies in hedging are asset allocation, portfolio structuring, and using put/call options.

The turnover ratio shows how efficiently any company uses its assets to generate sales. It is also known as the efficiency ratio where sales play an important role in the calculation while it is taken differently for every turnover ratio.

The liquidity ratio measures how liquid the company’s assets are in comparison to its current liabilities. In simple words, it evaluates any company’s ability to meet its short-term obligations. 

The option buyer has the right but no obligation with regards to buying or selling the underlying asset, while the option writer has the obligation to its commitment in the contract.

The money market is a part of the financial market where instruments with short-term maturities are traded providing an avenue for ultra-short-term to short-term lending along with borrowing of funds with maturity ranging from overnight to one year.

Any company while making a public issue of shares i.e. IPO has to file with SEBI, a document which is known as a prospectus, giving all the information of itself and the proposed issue.

The objective of a book-building process is to identify the price that the market is willing to pay for the securities being issued by the company.

The value associated with the same sum of money received at various points on the timeline is called the time value of money. 

Any industry passes through various stages in its lifecycle. The performance of industries is related to the stage of the business cycle. Different industries perform differently in their respective stage of the business cycle. 

In the primary market, investors purchase the security directly from the issuer, which is called the ‘new issue market’ since these securities are issued for the first time by the company.

Do you think equity market and sentiments have any impact on each other or are co-related by any chance? 

Risk is commonly known as a situation involving exposure to danger or harm. When it comes to investment decisions, the deviation between actual and expected returns is the risk in investment.

The index-based market-wide circuit breaker system applies at three stages of the index movement, either way at 10 per cent, 15 per cent, and 20 per cent.

Enterprise value (EV) shows a company’s total valuation. EV is used as a better alternative to market capitalisation because it is calculated by adding more vital components to the value of market capitalisation.

A bull market is when buyers are willing to pay higher prices as the overall optimism for better future performance of the stocks is high. This happens when businesses are expanding, growing at an above-average rate, face favourable as well as growing demand for their products & services and are able to price them profitably.

The price-earnings ratio or the PE multiple is a valuation measure that indicates how much the market values per rupee of the company's earnings.   

A stock split is a corporate action, where the face value of the existing shares is reduced in a defined ratio.

Oriental Aromatics Limited (OAL) has touched an all-time high level of Rs 1,017.90 on BSE. Today, it surged 16.5 per cent from its previous close of Rs 873.45. On a YTD basis, the stock has given approximately 83 per cent returns to the investors.

The stock of Steel Strips Wheels Ltd (SSWL) has given approximately 61 per cent returns to the investors in the last two weeks. On a YTD basis, it has given a stellar return of nearly 167 per cent.

India Grid Trust, which is India’s first power infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) has informed the bourses that it has completed the acquisition of a 100 per cent stake in two solar assets with the cumulative capacity of 100 MW (AC) from Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) at an enterprise value of approximately Rs 660 crore. 

Aegis Logistics Limited and Vopak (Netherlands) have decided to join forces in India with an aim to grow together in the LPG, chemicals storage and handling business. The transaction is expected to close by early 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.

Essar Shipping Limited has informed the bourses that two of its handysize vessels, Tvisha and Tuhina, weighing 13,000 DWT, have been engaged in exports of rice from India to Bangladesh as per the recent bilateral trade agreement signed between the two neighboring countries.

Tata Power Company , Limited has won a contract worth Rs 400 crore from Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL) to develop 64 MW solar rooftop project for domestic consumers across all districts of Kerala. 

Ducon Infratechnologies Limited has informed the bourses that in a reverse auction conducted for flue gas desulphurisation system (FGD) package for Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station, Stage – II (2 x 195 MW), Kanti, Bihar by NTPC Limited, where Ducon’s proven wet limestone FGD technology would be deployed, its partner EPC organisation has emerged as the lowest bidder (L-1). 

Steel production surged 20 per cent YoY to 2.01 million tonnes, marking a record first-quarter production and second-highest quarterly production ever. 

Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) has entered into a strategic partnership with India’s premier OTT streaming platform, SonyLIV, to help create an innovative business model enabled by digital technologies, enhance customer experience, and pave the path for future growth.

Panacea Biotec Limited surged 8.9 per cent today morning after the company announced that it has received manufacturing licence from Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 in accordance to its collaboration with Russian Direct Investment Fund (Russia’s sovereign wealth fund).

JSW Steel Limited has informed the bourses that it has received GreenPro Ecolabel certification for JSW Neosteel, the company's brand of TMT rebars. It is one of the first steel companies in India to get this certificate. 

India Glycols Limited (IGL) along with Clariant has completed the creation of their 49-51 per cent joint venture for renewable ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives after receiving all the necessary regulatory approvals. The joint venture will operate under the name, Clariant IGL Specialty Chemicals Private Limited.

Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Torrent Pharmaceuticals have announced today that these five companies will collaborate for the clinical trial of the investigational oral anti-viral drug Molnupiravir for the treatment of mild COVID-19 in an outpatient setting in India.

Power Mech Projects Limited has made a new 52-week high of Rs 767.30 today after it won a mine development & operation (MOO) project from Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, aggregating to Rs 9,294 crore over the contract period. 

Vaishali Pharma Limited has received orders from Nicaragua and a preliminary order from Madagascar for the supply of its registered products including various antibiotics and other generic medicines such as painkillers, etc.

HFCL Limited in collaboration with Telecom Infra Project (TIP) has announced setting up their second PM-WANI powered connectivity for Baidebattu village in Karnataka. 

Dabur Limited has informed the bourses that today, it has commenced the construction of its largest, most modern, and environment-friendly manufacturing facility in Indore (Madhya Pradesh).

Subex Limited has announced a strategic tie-up with Spire Solutions, which is a leading value-added distributor (VAD) of Middle East & Africa to address the steep rise in cyberattacks and associated cyber risks in the region.

Vaishali Pharma Limited has received an order in excess of 1,00,000 US dollars from Russia for the supply of its registered veterinary product. 

Cadila Healthcare Limited as a joint venture partner has signed an agreement to extend the tenure of the joint venture agreement (JVA) with Bayer (Southeast Asia) PTE Limited, one of the companies of Bayer Group, for a period of three years. 

Datamatics Global Services Limited has made a new 52-week high of Rs 179.70 today by surging 15 per cent during the early morning session. On a YTD basis, the stock has given a return of approximately 55 per cent to the investors.

Lupin Limited has received approval for its Sevelamer Hydrochloride tablets, 400 mg & 800 mg from United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to market a generic equivalent of Renagel tablets, 400 mg & 800 mg, of Genzyme Corporation. The product will be manufactured at Lupin’s facility in Nagpur (Maharashtra). 

Larsen & Toubro Infotech Limited (LTI) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cuelogic Technologies Private Limited, a Pune-based digital engineering company with a 100 per cent subsidiary in the US, Cuelogic Technologies, Inc.

Marine Electricals (India) Limited surged today by 2.1 per cent after bagging orders worth Rs 12.95 crore.

Vaishali Pharma Limited has successfully launched its series of immunity booster products worldwide. The products range includes Vipravita C (tablets and effervescent), Vipravita CZ (tablets), Vipravita D3, Viprafolic A, Vipravita, Vipramultivita, Ascorzee (tablet), herbal cough drops, Viprasure (powder), Vipra C (Gummies), Vipra B (Gummies), Vipra M (Gummies), multi-vitamin (effervescent), Women D (effervescent).

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is set to expand its strategic partnership with Virgin Atlantic, one of UK’s leading airlines, to help the latter embark on a new phase of recovery and growth. 

Affle India Limited has informed the bourses that it has approved the plan to acquire a 100 per cent stake in Jampp (a leading programmatic mobile marketing company) through its subsidiaries. 

Varroc Engineering Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Candera GmbH for a strategic association to integrate the human machine interface (HMI) technology in Varroc’s thin-film-transistor (TFT) instrument cluster. 

Creative Peripherals & Distribution Limited has announced that it has expanded its portfolio of Honeywell products to include a range of air purifiers and related parts. 

Vakrangee Ltd entered into a partnership with NSDL Payments Bank Ltd to provide banking business correspondent (BC) services on a pan-India basis via its network of Nextgen Vakrangee Kendra.

Snowman Logistics Ltd today has surged 15 per cent after it announced its strategic partnership with Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy's Laboratories to provide temperature-controlled end-to-end logistics solutions for the delivery of two-dose Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine across India. 

Tata Power Limited’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Tata Power Solar has received a letter of award (LoA) to build 210 MWp of solar PV projects for NTPC. The total order value of the projects is Rs 686 crore while its commissioning date has been set for November 2022. 

Bajaj Auto posted a jump in sales by 114 per cent in May 2021 with 2,71,862 units being sold as against 1,27,128 units in May 2020. The sale of the two-wheelers jumped by 113 per cent YoY while sales of commercial vehicles (CV) rose by 118 per cent YoY. 

Through this MoU, ESC shall utilise its pan India network of electronics & IT exporters and evaluate the small & medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as startups amongst these for listing on BSE SME & Startup Exchange.

J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd has informed the bourses that it has received a letter of acceptance (LoA) from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) worth Rs 1,307.88 crore.

Thirumalai Chemicals Limited (TCL) has informed the bourses about its plans to execute a project to manufacture 1,80,000 tonnes per year of Phthalic Anhydride (PA) as well as 30,000 tonnes per year of fine & speciality chemicals, at its existing site at Dahej (Gujarat) in Western India, which would be implemented in two successive phases. 

Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India, which is listed on the Indian stock exchanges as ‘ABB Power Products & Systems India Limited’ has announced a comprehensive programmme to achieve carbon-neutrality targets by 2030 in its own operations thereby, reaffirming its commitment to a sustainable energy future. 

Aurionpro Solutions Limited’s subsidiary, SC Soft Pte Ltd has been selected by an e-finance-led consortium to supply portable ticket validators for the Egyptian National Railway Project. This marks the company’s foray into the Egyptian market.

Larsen & Toubro Infotech Limited (LTI) has launched a ServiceNow-based operational technology management solution for the manufacturing industry. The solution aims to address the latent demand of the industry to have digital workflows for operational transformation (OT) service management.

Renaissance Global Limited (RGL) has informed the bourses about its partnership with the second largest Chinese jewelry retailer Lao Feng Xiang (LFX) for the Chinese market for the introduction of its highly successful ‘Enhanced Disney Fine Jewelry Collection’.

Its order book as of March 31, 2021, stood at Rs 7,040 crore. This translates book-to-bill ratio of 2.71x thereby, giving strong revenue visibility for the next 3 years.

NIIT Limited’s venture StackRoute has announced the launch of Data Science Foundation Program and Advanced Post Graduate Programme (PGP) in data science & machine learning. StackRoute has designed these programs on data science track in partnership with Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis & Information Systems (Germany).

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited has informed the bourses that it has successfully executed a digital transformation project for Coca Cola Bottling Company United for streamlining its order management with robotic process automation (RPA) in Microsoft Power Automate. 

On a YTD basis, BSE Sensex has given only 5.1 per cent return closing at 50,193.33 on May 18, 2021 as against 47,751.33 on December 31, 2020. 

Shilpa Medicare Limited via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shilpa Biologicals Private Limited (SBPL) has entered into a three-year definitive agreement with Dr Reddy's Laboratories Limited (DRL) for production-supply of Sputnik V vaccine (used for COVID-19) from its integrated biologics R&D-cum-manufacturing centre at Dharwad (Karnataka).

On a YTD basis, Carborundum Universal Limited has rallied by approximately 52 per cent, making an all-time high level recently of Rs 616.20 from Rs 405.20 as of December 31, 2020, on BSE. 

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited has signed a business transfer agreement (BTA) with Patanjali Natural Biscuits Pvt Ltd (PNBPL) to acquire its business of manufacturing, packing & labelling of biscuits, cookies, rusk and other associated bakery products.

UPL Limited has informed the bourses that its subsidiary has entered into a licence agreement with the Japanese company, Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. for exclusive access to Flupyrimin for rice in Southeast Asia.

Generic Engineering Construction & Projects Limited has bagged new work orders worth Rs 101.77 crore for various institutional projects from reputed clients, existing as well as new, which inter alia includes residential, commercial, industrial and educational projects.

TelOne, one of Zimbabwe’s largest telecom entities has deployed Tejas Networks’ 100G/100G+ coherent DWDM solution.

Tata Motors Limited has announced that it will increase prices of its passenger vehicles, averaging 1.8 per cent, depending upon the variant and model, with effect from May 8, 2021.

The electricity market at Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) entered the new fiscal year 2022 with 7,707 MU volumes in the month of April 2021, achieving a 90.2 per cent YoY growth. 

Dynacons Systems & Solutions Ltd has informed the bourses that it has been selected to be an alliance partner in the Global IT Alliance (GITA). 

Satia Industries Limited (SIL) informed the bourses about its formal association with Zume, a US-based global brand in the sourcing of packaging products used for meal boxes, beverages and face masks, etc. 

Natco Pharma Limited has informed the bourses that it has received emergency use approval for Baricitinib tablets in strengths of 1 mg, 2 mg, and 4 mg from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India. Baricitinib, combined with Remdesivir, is used for the treatment of COVID-19 positive patients.

We have listed down the top five companies (listed on BSE 500 index) in which promoters increased their stake along with another set of the top five companies in which promoters have decreased their stake in the quarter ended March 2021 from December 2020 quarter. 

The board of directors of Morepen Laboratories Limited has approved the investment proposed by Corinth Group, a global private investment group, headquartered in Switzerland, to the extent of USD 32.50 million in the parent company, Morepen Laboratories Limited out of a total USD 100 million investment in the promoter group. 

Atul Limited and Nouryon have started production at Anaven, their new joint venture in Gujarat to meet the rapidly growing demand in India’s agricultural, personal care & pharmaceutical markets.

Akash Infra Projects Limited has bagged a work order from the office of the Executive Engineer, Mehsana (R&B) Division worth Rs 9.36 crore for resurfacing of the different road of R&B Sub Division Mehsana (Gujarat) package.

Biocon Limited’s subsidiary Biocon Biologics Ltd has informed the bourses that Abevmy 100 & 400 mg, a biosimilar of Bevacizumab co-developed with Viatris Inc. has received marketing authorisation approval from European Commission (EC), following the positive recommendation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency. 

In just one year, Orient Refractories Limited has rallied by approximately 147 per cent making an all-time high level of Rs 319.20 from its 52-week low level of Rs 129.50 on BSE. On a YTD basis, this stock has given approximately 27 per cent returns to the investors. 

The buildings & factories business of Larsen & Toubro Construction has secured a significant contract from Oilfields Supply Company in Saudi, owned by Dubai-based Oilfields Supply Center Ltd to design and build one of the world's largest oil & gas supply bases at King Salman Energy Park, Dammam (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). 

The BSE PSU index, which consists of 60 PSU companies, jumped 9.78 per cent to 6,346.55 as of April 19, 2021, from 5,781.29 as of December 31, 2020. During this period, the index was able to touch a higher level of around 7,354.32 recently. 

Max Ventures & Industries Limited’s (MaxVIL) subsidiary Max Speciality Films Limited (MSFL), which manufactures specialty packaging films, had announced in December 2020 that it will be installing two additional metalliser lines. MSFL has, however, commenced first of the two metalliser lines. 

Vaishali Pharma Limited has informed the bourses that it has initiated registration of 30 products in the Central African Countries with a portfolio of antibiotics, sedatives, anti-malaria, anti-inflammatory, painkillers, and multi-vitamins. 

The heavy engineering arm of Larsen & Toubro Limited has won significant contracts for its various business segments in Q4FY21. The segment has state-of-the-art, fully-integrated, world-class manufacturing facilities at Hazira & Vadodara in Gujarat as well as Powai (Mumbai). 

Ashoka Buildcon Limited has emerged as the lowest bidder (L-1) for Gujarat Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (G-RIDE) Project, which has a value of Rs 333.63 crore. 

Praj Industries Limited has bagged an order from Godavari Biorefineries Ltd (GBL) to set up India’s largest capacity syrup-based ethanol plant in Karnataka. 

JMC Projects India Limited has bagged new orders worth Rs 1,262 crore of which, orders of Rs 431 crore were received in March 2021 while orders worth Rs 831 crore were received in April 2021 till date. 

The renewables arm of Larsen & Toubro Limited’s power transmission & distribution business has secured a turnkey EPC contract, from the consortium of ACWA Power and Water & Electricity Holding Company [a subsidiary of Public Investments Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF)], for Sudair Solar PV Project of 1.5 GW capacity. This project is considered the largest solar plant in Saudi Arabia and is also, one of the largest such plants in the world. 

SREI Infrastructure Finance Ltd has zoomed and got locked in upper circuit of 20 per cent after its material subsidiary, SREI Equipment Finance Ltd received an expression of interest for up to USD 250 million capital infusion in the company. 

JSW Steel achieved crude steel production of 4.19 million tonnes in Q4FY21, registering a growth of 2 per cent QoQ and 6 per cent YoY. The company’s average capacity utilisation improved from 91 per cent of Q3FY21 to 93 per cent for Q4FY21. However, the capacity utilisation during the month of March 2021 was 96 per cent. 

The shares of Steel Strips Wheels Ltd (SSWL) have gained by approximately 95 per cent in the last one year. SSWL is a leader in designing & manufacturing automotive wheels, both under the steel & alloy category. 

Saregama India Limited has signed global music licensing deal with a popular short-format video platform, Triller.

So far in the year 2021, BSE Sensex has given a return of 4.77 per cent by closing at 50,029.83 on April 1, 2021 as against 47,751.33 as of December 31, 2020. 

We have considered the period from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, which is the financial year 2021 wherein, BSE Sensex index gave returns of whopping ~68 per cent. BSE 500 index too gave returns of 77 per cent.