Infosys’ share buyback, though priced slightly lower than expected, is seen as a positive signal for the IT sector, with experts predicting similar moves from TCS and Wipro. The buybacks are expected to boost return ratios and benefit investors.

ICICI Securities forecasts a bullish outlook for the Indian stock market, projecting the Nifty to reach 28,500 by June 2026, a 14% increase. This optimism stems from strong technical patterns, historical trends, and supportive macro factors like GST reforms and potential global rate cuts.

HFCL shares rallied nearly 5% after the Andhra Pradesh government allotted 1,000 acres of land in Sri Sathya Sai district for setting up defence manufacturing facilities. Phase I will see 329 acres handed over, followed by 671 acres in Phase II. Broader defence stocks like Apollo Micro Systems and GRSE also surged on optimism over sectoral growth.

India’s REIT market has grown to USD 18 billion since 2019 and could surpass USD 25 billion by 2029. Backed by reforms and expansion into retail, logistics, and data centres, it is emerging among the world’s fastest-growing REIT markets.

Nomura’s Sonal Varma expects India’s inflation to stay benign despite a near-term uptick, giving the RBI room for rate cuts later this year. She forecasts FY26 CPI at 2.7% and sees a cumulative 50 bps reduction in the repo rate by December.

Infosys, India s second-largest IT firm, has approved a ₹18,000 crore share buyback at ₹1,800 per share, marking its largest ever buyback program. The buyback price represents a 19% premium over Thursday s closing price.

Asian Paints share price: The Bombay High Court dismissed Asian Paints plea to quash a CCI probe into alleged market abuse. The investigation, triggered by rival Birla Opus, accuses Asian Paints of unfair dealer practices to stifle competition.

Nikkei in Japan reached a record high today, mirroring Wall Street s performance. However, market caution limited further gains. Investors felt the market might be overheating. Wall Street saw record closes due to expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Chip-related stocks and Fast Retailing contributed to Nikkei s rise. SoftBank Group experienced a slight dip after a significant surge this week.

South Korean shares surged to a record high, marking their best weekly performance in over 18 months, fueled by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence and domestic market reforms. Chipmakers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the gains, driven by anticipated demand from the global AI boom.