Indian latest finance news today is being dominated by the Reserve Bank of India’s first repo-rate hike in nearly four years, continued pressure on equities and a busy start to the September-quarter earnings season. The RBI raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% on Wednesday and shifted its policy stance from neutral to calibrated tightening. Indian benchmark indices extended losses on Thursday, with the Nifty 50 opening around 22,546 and the Sensex near 72,455 as investors assessed the impact of higher borrowing costs. Meanwhile, Brent crude moved above $102 a barrel, the rupee remained close to record-low levels and foreign investors continued to withdraw money from Indian equities. At the corporate level, TCS, HCLTech, Jubilant FoodWorks, Senco Gold and Diamonds, and PC Jeweller are in focus today.
TCS Q2 Results in Focus as Earnings Season Begins
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is among the biggest companies in focus today as India’s largest IT services company is scheduled to announce its September-quarter results. Investors will be watching revenue growth, margins, deal wins, artificial intelligence-led demand and management commentary on the global technology spending environment.
Brokerage estimates cited by The Economic Times indicate that TCS could report around 13% year-on-year revenue growth and approximately 9% growth in profit. However, sequential constant-currency growth is expected to remain modest at around 0.5–0.6%.
The results are particularly important for the wider India's IT sector because TCS is among the first major technology companies to report September-quarter performance. Investors will also look for indications of whether demand for digital transformation and AI-related services is translating into stronger deal conversion.
HCLTech Expands AI Presence in South Africa
HCLTech has expanded its South African operations with a new regional headquarters in Johannesburg featuring an Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence. The facility is designed to allow enterprises to explore HCLTech’s full-stack AI portfolio, including AI-led service transformation, industry-specific AI solutions, AI engineering, AI factory and AI advisory services.
The company also plans to use the facility as a training hub to develop technology talent and strengthen South Africa’s digital workforce.
Sandeep Saxena, Chief Growth Officer, Growth Markets 2 at HCLTech, said South Africa has been a strategic market for the company for more than 15 years and that the new facility will deepen its commitment to the region through full-stack AI solutions and local talent development.
The development comes as Indian IT companies increasingly expand their AI capabilities and international delivery infrastructure.
Jubilant FoodWorks Reports 11.9% Q2 Revenue Growth
Jubilant FoodWorks is another company attracting investor attention after reporting an 11.9% year-on-year increase in consolidated revenue to Rs 2,608.7 crore for the September quarter.
Standalone revenue increased 11.6% to Rs 1,885.8 crore. Domino’s India reported like-for-like growth of 4.1%, while the business added 88 new Domino’s India stores during the quarter. Across its brands and markets, Jubilant FoodWorks added a net 108 stores, taking its overall network to 3,820 outlets.
The company’s latest update comes at an important period for the quick-service restaurant industry, with investors assessing consumer demand, store expansion and same-store sales growth amid changing consumption patterns.
Senco Gold and Diamonds Posts 31% Q2 Revenue Growth
Senco Gold and Diamonds remains in focus after reporting a 31% year-on-year increase in revenue during the second quarter of FY27. Retail revenue increased 29%, supported by 19% same-store sales growth, while the company also opened six new showrooms during the quarter.
The jewellery retailer said it achieved its highest-ever topline of more than Rs 5,000 crore during the first half of FY27 and crossed Rs 10,000 crore in trailing-12-month sales.
The company expects festive demand and the upcoming wedding season to support performance in the second half of the financial year. Senco Gold said that improving rural sentiment, the festive season and the wedding calendar are expected to provide a more supportive demand environment in H2 FY27.
PC Jeweller Achieves Debt-Free Status
PC Jeweller is also among the stocks in focus after reporting 28% year-on-year growth in consolidated revenue during the September quarter.
The company received Rs 142 crore in remittances from outstanding export debtors and said it has achieved debt-free status following repayment of its outstanding debt.
The development is significant because balance-sheet strengthening can improve financial flexibility and reduce interest costs. Investors will now track whether the company can sustain revenue growth and improve profitability as demand for jewellery remains closely linked to gold prices, weddings and festive consumption.
Key RBI Announcements
The RBI Monetary Policy Committee raised the benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% on October 7, marking the first rate hike in nearly four years.
The central bank also changed its monetary policy stance from neutral to calibrated tightening. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra indicated that future policy action would depend on evolving inflation and growth conditions, while near-term rate cuts are effectively off the table.
The RBI raised its FY27 inflation forecast to 5.2% and increased its GDP growth forecast to 7.1%. The decision reflects the central bank’s concern over higher energy prices and imported inflation while recognising continued strength in domestic economic activity.
Also Read: RBI Repo Rate Hiked by 25 Bps; Shifts to Calibrated Tightening Stance
Indian Stocks Extend Losses After RBI Decision
Indian benchmark indices opened lower on Thursday after the Sensex and Nifty declined on Wednesday following the RBI policy announcement.
The Nifty 50 fell around 0.23% to 22,545.85 in early trade, while the Sensex declined 0.24% to 72,455.17. Fifteen of the 16 major sectors were trading lower, while small-cap and mid-cap indices also weakened.
The IT sector was a notable exception, gaining around 1.9%, with TCS rising ahead of its September-quarter results.
Higher domestic interest rates, rising oil prices and elevated US Treasury yields are likely to keep volatility high as investors assess the outlook for corporate earnings and economic growth.
FII Selling Accelerates
Foreign institutional investors remained significant sellers in Indian equities on October 7, offloading Rs 6,121.40 crore, according to NSE cash-market data. Domestic institutional investors, meanwhile, bought Rs 4,596.60 crore.
The FII outflow was the second-largest monthly selling figure in October so far, following Rs 9,484.22 crore of selling on October 1.
Persistent foreign selling is adding pressure to Indian equities and the rupee. Domestic institutional buying continues to provide some support, but investors remain concerned that sustained global risk aversion could keep foreign capital outflows elevated.
Crude Oil Climbs Above $102
Crude oil prices are another major concern for Indian markets today. Brent crude climbed around 2% to approximately $102 a barrel amid concerns about potential supply disruptions in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Higher oil prices are particularly important for India because the country relies heavily on imports to meet its energy requirements. An extended rise in crude can increase the import bill, pressure the rupee and raise inflationary risks.
The combination of higher oil prices and the RBI’s more hawkish policy stance could therefore remain a key market risk during the coming sessions.
World Bank Raises India Growth Forecast to 7.1%
The World Bank has raised its forecast for India’s FY27 economic growth to 7.1% from its earlier estimate of 6.6%, citing resilient domestic demand, investment and exports.
The upgrade provides a positive counterpoint to concerns around inflation, crude oil and financial-market volatility. The World Bank expects industrial and services activity to remain supportive of growth.
However, the institution has also flagged risks from elevated energy prices and El Niño-related weather conditions. These risks could affect inflation and household purchasing power if they persist.
Market Outlook
Indian financial markets are entering a crucial phase as the RBI’s rate-hike cycle, September-quarter earnings and global commodity prices increasingly influence investor sentiment. The repo rate increase to 5.50% and the shift towards calibrated tightening have made interest rates a key market theme, particularly for banks, NBFCs, real estate and other rate-sensitive sectors.
At the corporate level, TCS’s September-quarter results will provide the first major indication of the health of India’s IT sector, while HCLTech’s AI expansion highlights the continued investment in artificial intelligence and digital services. Jubilant FoodWorks, Senco Gold and Diamonds, and PC Jeweller offer a view of consumer demand across food services and jewellery.
Investors will also track the rupee, crude oil, FII-DII flows, US Treasury yields and upcoming corporate earnings. While the World Bank’s 7.1% growth forecast highlights the resilience of the Indian economy, elevated oil prices and tighter monetary policy could continue to create volatility in the near term.
