GIFT Nifty Jumps 340 Points Ahead Of Market Opening; HUL, Colgate, BEL, HCL Among Stocks In Focus

Stocks To Watch Today, October 23: The Indian stock market is poised for a strong start on Wednesday, October 23, as global cues remain mixed but domestic sentiment turns upbeat. The GIFT Nifty is trading 1.33% higher, up nearly 340 points at 26,262.5, indicating a firm opening for benchmark indices. Investors’ focus today will remain on key quarterly earnings, bulk deals, major corporate developments, and management changes across several companies.

Q2 Earnings Today

A string of prominent companies, including Hindustan Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive (India), Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra), Laurus Labs, PTC India Financial Services, Sagar Cements, South India Paper Mills, Vardhman Textiles, Andhra Cements, Fabtech Technologies, and Jumbo Bag, are

scheduled to announce their quarterly results today.

Q2 Highlights

Epack Prefab Technologies reported a stellar performance in Q2FY25, with its consolidated net profit jumping 104.2% year-on-year to Rs 29.5 crore, compared to Rs 14.4 crore a year ago. Revenue rose 61.9% to Rs 433.9 crore from Rs 268 crore, reflecting strong operational momentum.

Meanwhile, Jain Resource Recycling posted a 77.7% surge in profit to Rs 99.2 crore from Rs 55.8 crore last year, as revenue climbed 51.8% to Rs 2,113.7 crore. The company also announced a joint venture with C&Y Group Investments, Inc. for setting up a recycling and manufacturing facility in Gujarat.

Stocks to Watch

Kirloskar Ferrous Industries has bagged an order worth ₹358 crore from ONGC for the supply of EUE tubing, pup joints, and crossovers.

Bharat Electronics (BEL) secured an order valued at Rs 633 crore from Cochin Shipyard for supplying items for sensors, communication, and weapon systems.

HCL Technologies announced a strategic partnership with Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the world’s first Islamic bank, to drive AI adoption across the bank’s ecosystem.

Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services entered a five-year agreement with Megha City Gas Distribution for its fleet management program.

Fusion Finance received a Certificate of Registration from IRDAI as a Composite Corporate Agent, allowing it to distribute insurance products.

Nectar Lifesciences has completely settled its secured debt of Rs 1,338.35 crore with banks, resulting in the removal of the consortium charge over its assets.

Lloyds Metals and Energy completed the acquisition of a 49.99% stake in Thriveni Pellets, while also issuing over 19.5 lakh equity shares worth ₹285.88 crore on a preferential basis to Adler Industrial Services.

Filatex India signed an MoU with Revti Business and Wastewear Inc. to collaborate on textile waste recycling and product innovation.

Gulshan Polyols bagged a contract from oil marketing companies for the supply of 1.75 lakh kilolitres of ethanol, valued at approximately ₹1,185 crore for ESY 2025–26.

Rubicon Research‘s subsidiary Advagen Holdings Inc. entered into an agreement with GEn1E Lifesciences Inc. to invest up to $3 million in preferred stock, marking a strategic minority investment.

NMDC revised its iron ore prices effective October 22 — Baila Lump (65.5%, 10-40 mm) at Rs 5,550 per tonne and Baila Fines (64%, -10 mm) at Rs 4,750 per tonne.

In the beverages segment, United Breweries reported a mid-single-digit decline in beer volumes for Q3CY25, while its organic net revenue grew by a mid-single digit. The company noted strong premium segment growth led by Kingfisher Ultra Max and the launch of Amstel Grande.

Meanwhile, LTIMindtree announced the resignation of Whole-time Director & President (AI Services) Nachiket Deshpande, effective October 31, as he moves on to pursue new opportunities.

At Bharti Airtel, Shivan Bhargava, Director – Customer Experience, has also tendered his resignation and will transition out of senior management over the next few months.

Bulk Deals

In major block transactions, Alchemy Emerging Leaders of Tomorrow, an AIF managed by Alchemy Capital Management, purchased 90,000 shares (0.78%) of Shilchar Technologies at Rs 4,347.43 per share, amounting to ₹39.1 crore. Promoter Alay Jitendra Shah, however, offloaded 1.17 lakh shares (1.02%) in the company at Rs 4,350.26 per share for Rs 50.89 crore.

Separately, Ovata Equity Strategies Master Fund, managed by Hong Kong-based Ovata Capital Management, exited 1.38 lakh shares (1.2%) of Silicon Rental Solutions at Rs 191.11 per share, totalling Rs 2.64 crore.

Stocks Trading Ex-Dividend Today

ICICI Lombard General Insurance, Uniparts India, and Ksolves India will trade ex-dividend today.

F&O Ban List

Sammaan Capital remains under the F&O ban segment for today’s trading session.