Reliance Consumer Products is expanding its Campa soft drink range to new markets at prices 50% lower than Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. This strategy has led the multinational brands to enhance consumer promotions without lowering their prices.

Stock market today: BSE Sensex and Nifty50, the Indian equity benchmark indices, called in trade on Friday, surging to new lifetime highs. While BSE Sensex crossed 84,100 for the first time, Nifty50 also hit a high of over 25,650.

Wall Street surged to record highs after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite experienced significant gains. Stocks like Tesla, Apple, and Nvidia led the rally. Positive jobless claims data also boosted investor confidence and expectations for reduced operating costs.

Reliance Infrastructure under Anil Ambani seeks to raise Rs 6,014 crore to fund its expansion. The initial phase involves raising Rs 3,014 crore through a preferential issue followed by another Rs 3,000 crore via qualified institutional placement. Investors Mathew Cyriac and Nimish Shah are set to invest Rs 1,814 crore for a minority stake.

RBI has lifted the restrictions on IIFL Finance's gold loan operations, effective immediately. These restrictions were placed in March due to irregularities in their gold loan business. IIFL Finance assures high compliance standards moving forward. As of December 2023, their gold loan portfolio was Rs 24,692 crore, representing 32% of their total loans.

The US Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by half a percentage point is expected to positively influence the Indian economy by attracting foreign investments, stabilizing the rupee, and boosting stock markets. Although it may not significantly affect capital flows immediately, it could lower borrowing costs and encourage investment. Economists predict RBI might follow suit early next year.

Labour unrest at Samsung's Chennai plant has escalated, prompting the company to seek a court injunction against worker protests. The court advised conciliatory talks between management and the union, which is pushing for registration. Workers have been on strike since September 9, raising concerns that unrest could spread to other electronics units if unresolved.

Sebi has prohibited Axis Capital from operating as a merchant banker for debt issuances and barred it from acting as an arranger or underwriter for any debt segment securities. The action follows Axis Capital’s involvement in Sojo Infotel’s non-convertible debentures offering, where it guaranteed Rs 260 crore but had to settle Rs 167 crore due to Sojo’s default.

The Supreme Court has denied Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel's curative petition seeking a re-calculation of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues totaling over Rs 1 lakh crore. The companies are required to pay the amount by March 31, 2031. Vodafone Idea owes nearly Rs 70,000 crore in AGR dues, while Airtel owes around Rs 30,000 crore.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advised banks to utilize digital footprints from UPI to grow their balance sheets. She highlighted UPI's international usage and emphasized adopting technology for risk mitigation and improved customer service. Sitharaman also urged banks to support businesses under stress rather than waiting for them to collapse.

Reacting to a steep fall in exports, the Indian government has implemented several measures aimed at easing shipping challenges. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced steps like acquiring vessels, waiving fees, and boosting container handling capacity. The initiatives are designed to lower freight rates and expedite port processes for exporters.

Indian refiners are using their substantial consumption to negotiate better terms for next year's contracts with suppliers, particularly Russia. With India's oil demand growing despite global forecasts being lowered, they aim to secure discounts and favorable conditions in a subdued market. Talks among Indian refiners and Russian suppliers are ongoing.

Indian fuel retailers are holding off on reducing petrol and diesel prices despite cheaper crude oil, citing market volatility. They prefer stable conditions before making any changes. Recently, oil prices fluctuated between $70 and $75 per barrel due to global economic factors and US interest rate cuts, impacting pricing decisions.

Sebi has modified the valuation framework for Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), aligning it with mutual fund rules for certain securities. This update follows industry feedback and takes effect immediately. Independent valuers must now belong to registered entities like ICAI, ICSI, or CFA charter. Changes in valuation methods must be disclosed to investors but are not considered material changes.

Samsung Electronics' India division has sued labor union members over an 11-day strike at its Tamil Nadu home appliances plant. Workers demand higher wages and union recognition. The court urged both parties to resolve the issue soon, while Samsung expressed concerns about potential operational disruptions and safety risks.

Analog Devices has entered into an agreement with Tata Group for the production of semiconductor products in India. Tata Electronics plans to invest $14 billion to establish a semiconductor fabrication plant in Gujarat and a chip-assembly and testing facility in Assam. The collaboration includes using ADI's products in Tata Motors' electric vehicles and Tejas Networks' telecom infrastructure.

Sebi has restricted Axis Capital from taking on new assignments as a merchant banker for debt securities. This decision comes after it was found that Axis Capital provided unauthorized guarantees for Sojo Infotel's Non-Convertible Debentures, posing credit risks. Sebi aims to ensure market stability and regulatory adherence.

The Reserve Bank of India has lifted its restrictions on IIFL Finance's gold loan business, effective immediately. These limitations were placed in March 2024 and prevented various gold loan activities. IIFL Finance has pledged to uphold high compliance standards moving forward. The company's shares declined by 5.75%, closing at Rs 498.40 on the BSE.

US unemployment benefit applications have dropped to their lowest level since May, signaling a robust job market despite a slowdown in hiring. Initial claims decreased by 12,000 to 219,000 for the week ending September 14. Continuing claims also fell to a three-month low. The four-week moving average has reached its lowest point since June.