European shares closed the week mostly higher. Investors were cautious about France s credit rating. Healthcare stocks saw losses, with Novartis and Zealand Pharma declining. Aerospace and defence stocks rose due to geopolitical tensions. Banks rebounded after a weak period. French stocks outperformed despite political concerns. Ocado shares fell after Kroger s review of warehouse investments.

Oil prices experienced a surge following a Ukrainian drone strike that halted loadings at a key Russian port. However, concerns about U.S. demand, fueled by a revised jobs report and rising inflation, limited gains. While attacks on Russian energy infrastructure could curb exports, potential tariffs on India and China, along with increased global supply, added to market uncertainty.

Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey confirmed NSE’s IPO no-objection certificate (NOC) will be granted soon after settlement proceedings, clearing the way for a potential Q4 FY26 listing, expected to be among India’s largest ever.

Sebi has reclassified Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as equity, enabling greater mutual fund participation and index inclusion, while InvITs retain their hybrid status. The move aligns with global best practices and boosts liquidity, growth, and investor access.

Sebi has eased minimum public shareholding norms for large companies, giving Bajaj Housing Finance more time to dilute promoter stakes. Firms between ₹50,000 crore and ₹1 lakh crore now get extended timelines, reducing market pressure and improving fundraising flexibility.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India approved reforms. These reforms relax norms for public offers and shareholding. Foreign investors will have easier market access. Real Estate Investment Trusts now have equity status. Exit load for mutual funds is reduced. There are changes to related party transactions. A new website, India Market Access , is launched for Foreign Portfolio Investors.

The initial public offer of app-based beauty and home services platform Urban Company Ltd received overwhelming investor participation, with the issue getting a huge 103.63 times subscription on the last day of bidding on Friday.

Groww’s parent, Billionbrains Garage Ventures, plans to file for a $650–800 million IPO in Mumbai, aiming at an $8 billion valuation, backed by Satya Nadella. If successful, Groww will surpass Angel One as India’s most valuable brokerage.

Ray Dalio warns U.S. markets face rising risks due to growing federal debt, recommending 10–15% gold in portfolios as protection. Standard Chartered highlights similar pressures in Europe.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is considering changes to weekly options expiry. The regulator plans to release a consultation paper soon. This follows concerns about retail investor losses in the options market. Sebi has already implemented measures to strengthen market rules. These include delta-based open interest calculations. Exchanges have also swapped weekly expiries.