#hsbc

Bajaj Finance Shares Surge Over 3% Amid Q4 Results, Brokerages Remain Bullish Despite Minor Earnings Miss Bajaj Finance’s stock surged over 3% in early trading on Thursday, extending gains from the previous day, following the NBFC’s Q4 financial results. Despite a slight miss on key earnings metrics, most brokerages retained bullish ratings on the stock, citing strong growth prospects and improving credit cost outlooks. The stock was trading at Rs 962.6, up 3.5% from Wednesday’s closing price of Rs 930. The company reported a 22% year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 5,465 crore for Q4FY26, slightly below the CNBC-TV18 poll estimate of Rs 5,524 crore. Net interest income (NII) grew 20% to Rs 11,781 crore, also marginally below expectations of Rs 11,853 crore. Assets under management (AUM) rose 22.4% to Rs 5.1 lakh crore, crossing the Rs 5 lakh crore milestone, while new loans booked increased 20.5% to 12.89 million. Brokerages largely maintained positive outlooks, with HSBC, Nomura, Jefferies, and JPMorgan issuing “buy” or “overweight” ratings. HSBC highlighted management guidance of a 15-30 basis points decline in credit costs for FY27, projecting a 26.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in earnings per share (EPS) over FY26-28. Nomura emphasized improving asset quality trends and higher profitability targets, with return on assets expected to range between 4.3-4.7%. Jefferies noted that lower credit costs and stronger fee income supported earnings, while AUM growth remained robust at 22%. JPMorgan, which assigned an “overweight” rating with a target price of Rs 1,080, stated the performance was largely in line with expectations, citing healthy asset quality and benign early delinquency trends despite external disruptions.#hsbc #bajaj_finance #jefferies #nomura #nbfc

NuScale Power Stock Surges on DOE Loan Support for Nuclear Reactors NuScale Power Corporation’s shares surged 5.73 percent after securing a key small modular reactor (SMR) project contract, driven by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantees that are expected to boost financing for advanced nuclear projects. The stock climbed to around $11.80–$11.90, reflecting heightened investor optimism about the company’s position in the nuclear revival and its potential to benefit from federal support. The DOE’s recent testimony before Congress highlighted that the first 5–10 new reactors, including SMR designs, will likely receive loan guarantees, a development that directly impacts companies like NuScale Power. This policy shift has improved financing visibility for advanced reactor projects, positioning NuScale as a central player in the emerging nuclear energy sector. Analysts and traders have interpreted the news as a catalyst for the stock, with recent sessions seeing SMR rise 15–16 percent amid heavy momentum trading. Financially, NuScale Power remains a development-stage company with minimal revenue. Its quarterly revenue stood at approximately $31.5 million, yet its price-to-sales ratio exceeded 130, indicating that investors are pricing in future growth potential rather than current earnings. The company operates at a significant loss, with negative profit margins and returns on equity and assets in the red. However, its balance sheet provides a buffer, holding about $836 million in cash and no long-term debt. Liquidity ratios of 4.3 suggest strong short-term financial health, though operating cash flow remains sharply negative, with over $200 million in losses reported in the latest quarter. Analyst coverage reflects a mix of cautious optimism and risk warnings.#hsbc #tennessee_valley_authority #department_of_energy #nu_scale_power #small_modular_reactor

Mistral secures $830 million in debt financing to fund AI data center French AI startup Mistral has secured $830 million in debt financing to fund the construction and operation of a data center near Paris. The funds will be used to power the facility, which will house thousands of Nvidia GB300 graphics processing units (GPUs) and support the training of Mistral’s AI models as well as provide inference services. The data center, selected in 2025, is expected to become operational in the second quarter of this year. Mistral, founded in 2023, is one of the few European startups developing foundational AI models, aiming to compete with U.S.-based giants like OpenAI and Anthropic. Despite its ambitions, the company has historically operated with a smaller financial footprint compared to its American counterparts. However, its recent fundraising efforts have positioned it as the most well-funded large language model (LLM) builder in Europe, having raised $2.9 billion in total, according to Dealroom. The $830 million debt financing was supported by a consortium of seven global banks, including Bpifrance, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole CIB, HSBC, La Banque Postale, MUFG, and Natixis CIB. This transaction underscores the growing interest in European AI infrastructure, as Mistral continues to expand its compute capacity. The data center near Paris will initially feature 13,800 Nvidia GPUs, providing a total capacity of 44 megawatts (MW). Mistral aims to increase its European capacity to 200 MW by the end of 2027. The company has increasingly prioritized infrastructure investment, with a notable example being its 1.2-billion-euro plan announced in February 2026 to build data centers and compute facilities in Sweden.#hsbc #mistral #bnpparibas #crdit_agricole_cib #la_banque_postale

Mizuho Adjusts Accenture's Price Target to $280 From $309, Keeps Outperform Rating Mizuho Securities has revised its price target for Accenture plc, lowering the estimate from $309 to $280 while maintaining its Outperform rating. The adjustment reflects the firm’s updated outlook on the company’s stock valuation, though it retains confidence in Accenture’s long-term growth prospects. The change was announced on March 23, 2026, and follows recent developments in the IT services and consulting sector. Accenture, a global leader in management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing, reported strong performance in its fiscal Q2 results, which were described as "solid" and ahead of expectations by RBC analysts. The company’s diversified business model, spanning consulting services (50.4% of net sales) and outsourcing services (49.6%), has positioned it to navigate economic uncertainties. Its client base spans multiple sectors, including healthcare, financial services, and technology, with significant geographic presence in the Americas (50.3%), Europe/Middle East/Africa (35.4%), and Asia/Pacific (14.3%). Recent analyst activity has highlighted mixed but generally positive sentiment toward Accenture. In addition to Mizuho’s price target adjustment, HSBC upgraded the stock to Hold, while JPMorgan and BMO Capital adjusted their targets to $247 and $230, respectively. Despite these revisions, the majority of analysts continue to recommend the stock as an outperformer, citing Accenture’s ability to adapt to evolving market demands, particularly in the adoption of AI-driven solutions. The firm’s recent investments, such as its partnership with DaVinci Commerce to advance agentic AI-led shopping, underscore its focus on innovation.#hsbc #mizuho_securities #accenture_plc #da_vinci_commerce #rbc_analysts

HSBC Plans Major Workforce Reductions as AI Overhaul Begins HSBC is considering significant job cuts over the next several years as part of a sweeping transformation driven by artificial intelligence. The bank’s strategy could result in up to 20,000 layoffs, representing approximately 10% of its total workforce. While the decision-making process is still in its early stages, the plan signals a major shift in the bank’s operational model. The majority of the job cuts are expected to target non-client-facing roles within global service centers. These positions, which support back-office functions, may not be fully replaced by AI technology, according to reports. Additionally, some reductions could stem from business divestitures or closures as part of the broader restructuring. The changes are outlined as part of a medium-term strategy spanning three to five years, as detailed by Bloomberg. This restructuring effort is part of a larger initiative led by HSBC’s CEO, Georges Elhedery, since he took over in 2024. Under his leadership, the bank has already implemented thousands of job cuts, sold off businesses, and consolidated operations through mergers or closures. As of the end of 2025, HSBC employed around 210,000 workers. Despite these changes, the bank recently announced it expects to achieve a $1.5 billion cost-saving target six months ahead of its original schedule. The AI integration is also driving a cultural shift within the organization. HSBC aims to enhance customer service and transaction monitoring through automation, but the changes extend beyond technology. The bank is restructuring its reward system, with top performers set to receive a larger share of the bonus pool while underperformers may be encouraged to seek opportunities elsewhere.#hsbc #ai_integration #bloomberg #georges_elhedery #global_service_centers

Government-Owned Oil Marketing Companies' Shares Drop Amid HSBC Downgrade Shares of India's state-owned oil marketing companies, including Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), fell sharply on Monday, March 16. The stocks opened nearly 5% lower, following a report from HSBC that downgraded their ratings to "Hold." The brokerage also reduced earnings estimates and valuation multiples for these companies. Analysts warned that high crude oil prices could pressure their profits. HSBC lowered the target prices for all three companies. For IOC, the target price was cut from 200 rupees to 150 rupees. HPCL's target price dropped from 620 rupees to 360 rupees, while BPCL's target price fell from 470 rupees to 340 rupees. The brokerage noted that even if crude oil prices remain around $75 per barrel, these companies could face losses from marketing activities, which might affect their earnings. In contrast, HSBC maintained its "Reduce" rating for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), but raised its target price from 200 rupees to 240 rupees. The report suggested that upstream companies like ONGC could benefit from high crude prices, though government policies might limit their additional profits. Analysts' opinions varied. According to Bloomberg data, 23 out of 34 analysts covering HPCL recommended buying the stock. For IOC, 20 out of 34 analysts gave a "Buy" rating, while 24 out of 33 analysts covering BPCL advised purchasing shares. On Monday's trading, HPCL's shares fell nearly 4.73%, trading around 351.30 rupees. BPCL's shares dropped 2.90%, closing at 310.05 rupees, while IOC's shares fell 4.85%, trading at 148.95 rupees.#indian_oil_corporation #hsbc #bharat_petroleum_corporation #hindustan_petroleum_corporation #oil_and_natural_gas_corporation

Global Commodity Markets React to Geopolitical Tensions and Economic Data Zinc prices traded within a range of 322.4 to 328.4 during the day, according to Kedia Advisory. Meanwhile, gold prices declined in the previous session, ending at 161,789, a 0.93% drop. The U.S. Dollar Index strengthened, hovering near its highest levels since tensions between the United States and Iran escalated earlier this month. The dollar's rise reduced the appeal of gold, as investors remained cautious ahead of the upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting. Inflation in the U.S. remained stable, with consumer prices rising 2.4% year-on-year in February. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, stood at 2.5%, the lowest level since March 2021. Despite moderating inflation, markets expect the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged, with traders anticipating only one potential 25 basis point rate cut, possibly in September. China continued to support the global gold market, with the People's Bank of China extending its gold-buying streak for a 16th consecutive month. Total holdings reached 74.22 million troy ounces by the end of February. China’s net gold imports through Hong Kong surged by 68.7% month-on-month in January, reflecting strong investment demand. Technically, the market saw long liquidation, with open interest declining 0.71% to 7,552 while prices dropped by Rs1,514. Gold’s immediate support is at 160,960, with a break below potentially testing 160,135. Resistance is seen at 162,880, and a move above could push prices toward 163,975. Silver prices fell sharply, ending at 268,491, a 3.37% decline. The U.S. Dollar Index regained strength as investors assessed ongoing geopolitical tensions and fresh U.S. inflation data.#pentagon #strait_of_hormuz #hsbc #u_s_federal_reserve #people_s_bank_of_china

Cobolli will seek his first title in Acapulco Flavio Cobolli, the 20th-ranked Italian tennis player and fifth seed at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, advanced to his first final on the ATP tour after defeating Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in a closely contested three-set match. The victory, secured with a score of 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4, marks Cobolli’s fourth ATP final and his second on hard court, a surface where he has previously shown strong performance. The match, which lasted two hours and 26 minutes, will now set the stage for his pursuit of his first title in Acapulco. The first set proved to be a battle of endurance and precision. Cobolli took an early 5-4 lead, but Kecmanovic capitalized on the Italian’s unforced errors, which totaled 16 in the first set. Despite the setback, Cobolli rallied to win the tiebreak and take the first set. The second set saw a tight exchange, with Kecmanovic breaking Cobolli’s serve to take a 4-3 lead and ultimately secure the set, forcing a decisive third set. In the final set, Cobolli demonstrated resilience, overcoming a 1-3 deficit to win five consecutive games and clinch the match. His powerful serve was a key factor, as he recorded 13 aces compared to Kecmanovic’s 7. However, Cobolli’s unforced errors totaled 36, slightly fewer than Kecmanovic’s 37. The Italian’s ability to leverage his forehand speed proved critical in securing the victory. Cobolli expressed his satisfaction with the result, stating, “I’m really happy, it was a tough match, but I played very well. There’s still one match left (this Saturday) and I’m going to give it my all to fight for the title. Thanks to the crowd who also supported me throughout the match.” His focus now shifts to the final, where he aims to extend his hard-court success and claim his first ATP title.#flavio_cobolli #miomir_kecmanovic #abierto_mexicano_telcel #hsbc #acapulco