Not all mutual funds get the spotlight, especially those without famous fund managers. However, many mutual funds aim specifically for stocks that pay good dividends. In a rising market, these funds may struggle to find suitable stocks. But when the market turns downwards, these funds not only discover great investment opportunities but also help raise the value of those stocks.
Category: News
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Market Update: Airtel Rises While Reliance Takes a Hit!
Last week, five of the biggest companies in India gained a total of Rs 1,13,117.17 crore in their market value. Bharti Airtel stood out with the biggest rise. The companies that gained are Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, and Infosys. On the other hand, Reliance Industries, State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), ITC, and Hindustan Unilever saw their market values drop.
During this time, the BSE index went up by 623.07 points (0.76%) and the Nifty index increased by 90.5 points (0.36%). Bharti Airtel’s market value jumped by Rs 47,836.6 crore, reaching Rs 9,57,842.40 crore. Infosys gained Rs 31,826.97 crore, making its value Rs 8,30,387.10 crore. HDFC Bank’s value rose by Rs 11,887.78 crore to Rs 14,31,158.06 crore, and ICICI Bank increased by Rs 11,760.8 crore to Rs 9,49,306.37 crore. TCS’s market cap climbed by Rs 9,805.02 crore, reaching Rs 16,18,587.63 crore.
However, Reliance Industries lost Rs 52,031.98 crore, bringing its value down to Rs 17,23,144.70 crore. LIC’s value dropped by Rs 32,067.73 crore to Rs 5,89,869.29 crore, and Hindustan Unilever fell by Rs 22,250.63 crore to Rs 5,61,423.08 crore. State Bank of India’s value dropped by Rs 2,052.66 crore to Rs 7,69,034.51 crore, while ITC fell by Rs 1,376.19 crore to Rs 5,88,195.82 crore. Despite the losses, Reliance Industries remains the most valuable company, followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, Infosys, State Bank of India, LIC, ITC, and Hindustan Unilever.
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19-Year-Old Student Sues School for $3 Million After Bullying Claims
A 19-year-old student named Aleysha Ortiz, who went to Hartford Public School and has a disability, says she graduated without being able to read or write. She has now filed a lawsuit because she was bullied and neglected by the school staff, including her special education case manager.
Aleysha is asking for $3 million in damages. Her lawyer, Anthony Spinella, said, “We’re not asking for help to learn reading and writing. We’re suing to get back the emotional pain she felt while trying to get the school to help her and how badly some teachers and staff treated her.”
This is Aleysha’s second lawsuit against the school and its staff. In her first suit, she asked for help learning basic skills she missed in school, and that case is still ongoing.
In the new lawsuit, she claims her special education case manager, Tilda Santiago, bullied her for months. Aleysha says Santiago tried to control who could help her and even argued with teachers. According to the lawsuit, Santiago embarrassed her in front of others, scared her, and changed her attendance records.
The Hartford Board of Education employees are also accused of not doing their jobs to stop the bullying against Aleysha.
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Styrenix Stock Soars! Last Chance for Rs 31 Dividend Today!
Shares of Styrenix Performance Materials, a stock that has gained over 108% this year, are in the spotlight today because the company is giving out a special payment called an interim dividend of Rs 31 for each share by December 17. This means today is the last day to buy these shares if you want to receive this dividend.
The company announced in a meeting on December 9, 2024, that the interim dividend is for the financial year 2024-25. To benefit from this dividend, you need to make sure the shares are in your demat account by the record date, which is December 17.
It’s important to remember that if you want to qualify for the dividend, you need to buy the shares at least one day before the ex-date. This is because of how stock trading works, where it takes a day to settle transactions. If you buy the shares on the ex-date, you won’t get the dividend.
Styrenix Performance Materials has performed well, showing a 97% return over the past year and a 45.2% return in the last six months, according to Niftystat. On Friday, the stock closed up by 1.2% at Rs 3,017.
(Note: The opinions and suggestions provided by experts in this area are personal views and do not reflect those of Economic Times.)
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Blinken’s Crucial Trip: Shaping Syria’s Future After Assad
Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, has just completed what might be his last trip to the Middle East as the top U.S. diplomat. His mission was to stop Syria from falling further into chaos after President Bashar Assad suddenly left the country for Russia. Blinken traveled to Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq, hoping to work together with other countries about what should happen in Syria now that Assad is gone.
During his trip, Blinken pointed out that what happens in Syria can have serious effects on the whole region, including problems like people fleeing their homes and the threat of terrorism. He spoke with leaders from Arab nations, Turkey, and important officials from the European Union and the United Nations in Jordan. They all agreed that the new government in Syria should respect the rights of everyone, especially minorities and women, and prevent terrorist groups from gaining power.
One of Blinken’s goals is to maintain stability in the region, especially since the Islamic State group remains a threat. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria, helping to fight this group and ensure they don’t regain control. After Assad stepped down, the U.S. quickly targeted around 75 terrorist positions in a bid to stop them from growing stronger.
As Blinken made these important discussions, there were concerns about how the incoming Trump administration would handle Middle East issues. Trump has been vocal about releasing hostages in Gaza and generally wants the U.S. to stay out of Syria. However, officials believe Trump might not cut U.S. military presence in Syria because he often takes credit for defeating ISIS.
The Biden administration is also focused on finding Americans missing in Syria, including Austin Tice, a journalist who has been missing for over ten years. They are working hard to locate him and return him home. Recently, another American named Travis Timmerman was found and safely transported to Jordan after being held in Syria.
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Nifty & Sensex Surge Again: Key Factors to Watch This Week
The Nifty and Sensex, two important stock market indexes in India, have had a good week, gaining 0.5% for the fourth week in a row. Investors are feeling hopeful because of the upcoming festive season, which usually makes people spend more money. This boost in consumer spending comes just in time for the holidays!
However, traders are being careful as they wait for big events this week, like the meeting of the US Federal Reserve. This is where they will discuss interest rates, which could affect the stock market.
Here are four key points to keep in mind:
1. US Fed Meeting: The stock market is closely watching the US Fed meeting on December 18, where a small rate cut (25 basis points) is expected. What the Fed says about the future will be very important.
2. Economic Data: Other banks, like the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan, are also meeting this week. The Bank of England is likely to keep interest rates the same, and Japan is not expected to raise rates either. Traders will pay attention to important reports like Manufacturing and Services PMIs.
3. Foreign Investment: Foreign investors (FIIs) have bought a lot of shares recently, totaling Rs 14,435 crore. While buying is good for the market, traders are watching closely because these investors can also sell quickly if they see better opportunities elsewhere.
4. Global Markets: The US stock market had a mixed week, with the S&P 500 and Dow going down, while the Nasdaq had a good week.
Technical Analysis: If the Nifty index moves above 24,800, it could keep rising and might reach between 25,200 and 25,500. On the downside, there is strong support between 24,300 and 24,400. Experts recommend buying selectively in stocks, especially in the IT and banking sectors.
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Tragic Death of Georgia Football Star Gleaton Jones at Just 21 Years
Gleaton Jones, a young Georgia football player, tragically passed away on December 13 at just 21 years old. He was in a serious car accident while hunting on St. George Island in Florida. Before his death, he fought hard to recover after suffering a severe brain injury in the crash on December 10 and needed emergency surgery to help him.
Jones had a bright future in sports. He joined the Georgia Bulldogs football team in 2021 and was part of their championship-winning team. Before playing for Georgia, he was a star athlete at Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany, winning many awards for football, including All-State and All-Region honors. Besides football, Jones also enjoyed track and basketball in high school.
Gleaton was born on March 12, 2003, and was very close to his family, especially his younger brother, Cole. His family remembers him as a loving son and a great older brother who always encouraged and supported Cole. They are planning to celebrate his life at Wynfield Plantation on Monday, December 16, at 2 p.m.
Jones is survived by his parents, Marlin and Kirk, and his brother, Cole. He was also excited to graduate in the spring from the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business, where he was studying marketing. He hoped to work with his dad on their family farm.
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Assad’s Regime Falls: Major Changes Ahead for Iran and the Middle East
In a big surprise, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government has fallen after 13 years of civil war. Armed rebels took over Damascus, and Assad has had to escape to Russia for safety. This shift changes the power balance in the Middle East, especially affecting Iran.
What This Means for Iran
– Loss of an Ally: Syria was Iran’s close friend and a base for its military allies, like Hezbollah. Without Syria, Iran might find it harder to influence the region.
– Nuclear Weapons Push: To protect itself and stay strong, Iran might speed up its nuclear weapons program. They may want to appear powerful to fend off threats, especially from Israel and the U.S.
– Power Changes in the Region: Other countries in the area will likely try to limit Iran’s influence, which could change the region’s power dynamics.The Future of the Iranian Regime
The Iranian government has faced protests and economic issues, but it has been tough to take down. The regime might see its survival as tied to its military strength, including its nuclear program. If it loses allies like Hezbollah, people in Iran may demand change, especially if they face more economic struggles.Wider Effects on Geopolitics
The fall of Assad’s government doesn’t just affect Iran:
– Turkey: May gain from a flow of Syrian refugees, which could help President Erdogan grow in popularity.
– Israel: Will remain watchful of threats from groups in Syria but may also find chances for stability in the region. They have already targeted Syria’s Navy and control the Golan Heights.
– Russia: Will face questions about being a reliable ally as it has weakened due to multiple conflicts, including the war in Ukraine. -
Jane Doe Accuses Jay-Z & Diddy of Rape: Shocking Claims Revealed!
An Alabama woman, now known as Jane Doe, has accused famous rappers Jay-Z and Sean Diddy Combs of a terrible crime. She claims they raped her when she was just 13 years old at a party after the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. In her interview with NBC News, she explained how she believes she was drugged and attacked by both men in a private home.
Initially, she filed a lawsuit against Sean Diddy Combs, but later she added Jay-Z as a defendant. While she strongly insists that what she says is true, she also mentioned that there are some awkward moments in her story. For example, she said her dad doesn’t remember picking her up after the party, and there are some mixed-up details about which celebrities were there.
Despite these inconsistencies, her lawyer, Tony Buzbee, supports her and says she is willing to take a lie detector test to prove her claims. Jay-Z has sharply denied these accusations, calling them silly and claiming they are part of a plan to blackmail him. He also criticized the lawsuit as being pointless. Meanwhile, Sean Diddy Combs is dealing with other serious legal problems related to sex trafficking and racketeering.
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Iranian-American Journalist Gets 10-Year Sentence for U.S. Ties
An Iranian-American journalist named Reza Valizadeh has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. A court in Iran found him guilty of working with a government that Iran considers hostile, which is the United States. Valizadeh used to work for Voice of America’s Farsi service, which is funded by the U.S. government, and also for Radio Farda.
His lawyer, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, said the court’s decision can be challenged in an appeal within 20 days. He mentioned he has not been able to meet Valizadeh since the court’s decision was made public.
Before his sentencing, Valizadeh posted messages saying he returned to Iran after being away for 13 years, without any security guarantee. He arrived in Tehran in March 2024. Aghasi mentioned that Valizadeh was free for the first six months after his return, but was then arrested.
This news comes after another former journalist, Kianoosh Sanjari, died by jumping from a building in Iran. He protested against the country’s leader and demanded the release of four prisoners.
Additionally, years of unrest in Iran have continued, especially following the 2022 protests after the death of Mahsa Amini. The economy is also suffering, with many people struggling due to the weak rial currency.