Big moves are happening in Indian markets today – from a major change in how IRCTC shares can be traded to HCLTech’s multi‑million‑dollar acquisitions. Here’s what you need to know.
IRCTC Stops F&O Trading from 2026
Effective February 25, 2026, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will no longer offer its shares in the futures and options (F&O) segment. Existing contracts that expire in December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 will still be tradable until they mature. New strike prices will be added for the remaining contract months.
HCLTech Expands with Two Acquisitions
HCLSoftware, the software arm of HCL Technologies, announced two purchases:
- Jaspersoft – a leading embedded analytics and reporting platform – for $240 million.
- Wobby, a Belgian start‑up that builds AI‑driven data analyst agents for data warehouses, for €4.5 million.
Both deals aim to strengthen HCLSoftware’s analytics and AI capabilities.
Large Contracts and Orders Across Sectors
- Antony Waste Handling Cell: Won a Rs 329.45 crore contract to build a 600‑800 TPD waste‑processing plant in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra.
- GPT Infraprojects: Selected as the lowest bidder for a Rs 670 crore four‑lane elevated road project in Jodhpur, Rajasthan (HAM mode).
- Saatvik Green Energy: Its subsidiary received a Rs 486 crore order for solar PV modules from a major independent power producer.
- Sanghvi Movers: Subsidiary Sangreen Future Renewables secured work orders worth Rs 428.72 crore from leading power producers.
- Prestige Estates Projects: Acquired 25 acres in Medavakkam, Chennai, with a development potential of about 5 million sq ft and an estimated revenue upside of over Rs 5,000 crore.
Corporate Changes and Appointments
- SRM Contractors: CEO Rupesh Kumar resigned on December 22 for personal reasons.
- Canara Bank: Brajesh Kumar Singh recommended as Managing Director & CEO.
- Man Industries: Income‑Tax Department completed a search on December 22; the company cooperated fully and reported no operational impact.
Operational Updates
- Supreme Petrochem: Temporary shutdown of its new mABP plant in Amdoshi, Maharashtra, due to a key equipment failure.
- Ola Electric Mobility: Used funds from a small promoter‑share sell‑down to pay off debt and taxes. All promoter‑level share pledges (about 3.93% of equity) are now released. The promoter group still holds 34.6% of the company.
Strategic Partnerships and Restructurings
- Lenskart Solutions: Its Singapore subsidiary bought 50% of Marco Optical (Thailand) from Matt Optical, creating a 50‑50 joint venture.
- Vikran Engineering: Cancelled a Rs 1,642 crore Letter of Award; the move won’t materially affect its operations or growth outlook.
- Belrise Industries: Signed an exclusive teaming and strategic agreement with Israel’s Plasan SASA for technical and business cooperation.
- Ambuja Cements: Approved two merger schemes to combine ACC and Orient Cement into a single “One Cement Platform”. Shareholders will receive 328 new Ambuja shares for every 100 ACC shares and 33 new shares for every 100 Orient Cement shares.
- Lloyds Enterprises: Proposed a composite scheme of arrangement to merge its real‑estate assets and later spin them off into a new listed entity called Lloyds Realty.
Share Transactions
- Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals: Ruby QC Investment Holdings sold its entire 4.62% stake (72.78 lakh shares) for Rs 311.5 crore to ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund.
- National Highways Infra Trust: Prazim Trading bought a 2.6% stake (5.06 crore units) for Rs 754.24 crore from Vidyaniti LLP.
These developments highlight a busy week of trading halts, acquisitions, big contracts, and corporate reshuffles. Stay tuned for how they may influence market trends.
Remember, this is perspective, not prediction. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.