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Six students from Afghanistan and one from East Africa have been asked to vacate the Gujarat University's hostel rooms for overstaying, an official said on Sunday, in a move coming weeks after some foreign students were attacked for offering namaz on the premises. An Afghan and a Gambian delegation had visited the university days after the March 16 attack and held a meeting with the vice-chancellor over safety measures. Talking to PTI, the university's vice-chancellor Neerja Gupta said, "Six students from Afghanistan and one from East Africa were asked to vacate their hostel rooms after they were found overstaying." These persons had completed their studies and were staying in the hostel as ex-students due to some pending administrative work, she said. The university has ensured that they are no longer required to stay in the hostel and arranged for them to return to their respective countries, Gupta said. "We have completed the required paperwork and they can now safely return to their native countries. We don't want to keep any former students in our hostel. We have informed the consulates of the respective countries, and they have also directed these students to vacate the hostel," the vice-chancellor said. More than 300 international students are enrolled in Gujarat University, she said. Around two dozen people barged into the government-run university's hostel on the night of March 16 and assaulted students from foreign countries for offering namaz at one of the blocks during the ongoing month of Ramzan, police said. Two students from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan were hospitalised following the incident.

Four of the top 10 valued firms added Rs 1,71,309.28 crore to their market valuation last week with HDFC Bank and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) emerging as the biggest gainers in line with an overall positive trend in equities.On the other hand, six companies from the top 10 pack took a Rs 78,127.48 crore hit to their market valuation with index major Reliance Industries accounting for the majority of the losses.Last week, the BSE benchmark climbed 596.87 or 0.81 per cent. It hit an all-time high of 74,501.73 on April 4.While Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, State Bank of India and LIC were the gainers from the top 10 pack, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, ITC and Hindustan Unilever faced losses in their valuation.The market valuation of HDFC Bank jumped Rs 76,880.74 crore to reach Rs 11,77,065.34 crore. LIC added Rs 49,208.48 crore, taking its valuation to Rs 6,27,692.77 crore.The market capitalisation (mcap) of TCS climbed Rs 34,733.64 crore to Rs 14,39,836.02 crore and that of State Bank of India went up by Rs 10,486.42 crore to Rs 6,82,152.71 crore.However, the valuation of Reliance Industries tanked Rs 38,462.95 crore to Rs 19,75,547.68 crore. The mcap of Bharti Airtel eroded by Rs 21,206.58 crore to Rs 6,73,831.90 crore and that of ICICI Bank dived Rs 9,458.25 crore to Rs 7,60,084.40 crore.The market valuation of Infosys declined by Rs 7,996.54 crore to Rs 6,14,120.84 crore and that of ITC dipped by Rs 873.93 crore to Rs 5,34,158.81 crore.The mcap of Hindustan Unilever went lower by Rs 129.23 crore to Rs 5,32,816.81 crore.Reliance Industries remained the most valued domestic firm by market valuation followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Bharti Airtel, LIC, Infosys, ITC and Hindustan Unilever.

FY24 was an interesting year with strong gains across markets caps and sectors. While the Nifty 50 Index was up 29%, the Midcap Index was up 60%, the Smallcap Index was up 70%, Nifty 500 Index was up 39%. The best performing sector was Realty, with the Nifty Realty sector gaining 133%, coincidentally this was the best performance by this sector in a financial year ever since its origin.This sector was for long considered an extension of the Construction sector. However, several changes have taken place over the last few years:Introduction of RERA ensured that wide-spread delays and incomplete projects would be reduced. This ensured quality and the organized sector gained market share steadily – thereby also increasing investor/buyer confidence.COVID-19 had multiple effects on the public. One of the major ones was the priority placed on having more space at home, if possible. According to data from property consultant Anarock, the average size of new houses offered by builders in India increased to 1,300 square feet in 2023 from 1,050 square feet in 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for larger living spaces.The luxury segment of the Indian real estate market has significantly outperformed the value segment in recent years. It has seen strong growth in demand, average home sizes, and new project launches. This trend appears to be driven by changing consumer preferences and the growing middle class in India.Our interaction with builders and prospective home buyers reflected one more key change. Earlier a person wanting to buy a 2-BHK house looked for 800-1,000 sq ft space, while ensuring availability of parking, electricity, water and gas. Now, in the aftermath of COVID-19, the society, location, club house, amenities have started playing a major role in decision making. As one of the buyers nicely put – “I want to buy 1000 sq ft but want full access to an operational 25,000 sq ft club house”. This is a major change in mindset.The above factors and their potential structural nature, make us believe that the Real Estate sector in India is steadily morphing itself into a Consumer Discretionary sector – where brand, pride of ownership, pricing power, and barriers to entry are all important ingredients.The medium-term Real Estate upcycle is anticipated to continue strong. Strong structural factors are driving India's housing demand: 2.4% annual growth in the number of households (although population growth is slowing, average household size is shrinking) (Source: Axis Securities);growing average house size, which is still much smaller than in China and the US; and rising construction value per square foot. Between 2012 and 2021, home building was slow, with its share of GDP falling by almost 6 percentage points and its annual growth being slowed by about 1 percentage point. This has recovered over the past two years and will probably continue to be strong for a few more years. In the top 8 cities, demand has increased, and inventory levels have decreased due to lower sales-to-income ratios. According to a report by Jefferies, low inventories and mid-cycle affordability should support ~20% residential sales growth in 2024. 109104302with the current BSE500 Index market cap share of 1.6%, real estate stocks are significantly less than their peak of 6.2% in 2008. 109104341Moreover, the cohort of stocks in January 2008 is not the same as the cohort of stocks today. Furthermore, operating cash flow has replaced land banks as the primary valuation metric. Regulations and accounting procedures have also changed in the industry. With the advent of RERA, the entry barriers have become quite stiff as the delivery timelines are strict. A catalyst in the transition came in the form of COVID-19, which made people in general realize their priorities and required space per family started inching up.In the past two years, 12-month forward earnings for the current set of NSE200 Real Estate stocks have almost doubled. Moreover, the high growth rate is expected to continue for a few more years. The consensus earnings estimates suggest an earnings CAGR of 28% over the next 2 years, despite a high base. This is significantly higher than the 16% earnings growth estimates for the market in itself. Despite a strong run in the last one year, the sector has significantly underperformed the broader markets since January 2008 peaks.Volumes in the Indian housing market doubled in the last three years, with a YoY increase of about 25% in 2023. A seven-year weak phase for residential implies a large headroom for medium-term volume increases. In 2024, when the housing boom enters its fourth year, volume growth may slow down but still register a 10% YoY increase. Changes in the pattern are visible with premium segment leading the housing upcycle. Since 2019, the share of premium residential houses has increased by 14 percentage points. The affordable segment was hampered by rising rates and income losses, but those days are gone. A benefit could be potentially lower mortgage rates in 2024. 109104361 With low rental yields, disciplined price increases (5–10% p.a.) are necessary for the residential cycle to continue. Sharp price increases, however, cause end users to flee as affordability drops and also result in a lower-quality supply. It might also run the risk of drawing regulatory attention; the RBI's recent tightening of its regulations on consumer lending is one such example.Disciplined expansion by developers is crucial for multiples. Developers are finally becoming more willing to take on more risk as they place bets on the strength of the market and possible consolidation. In 2023, a few large developers expanded geographically – success in this expansion may improve visibility for a number of them.Though still about 6-7 percentage points higher than pre-COVID, the leasing uptick for offices in late 2023 is driving down vacancy levels. NCR and MMR, the domestic demand-driven cities, are expected to fare better in 2024 due to robust local demand as opposed to IT outsourcing and rising underlying land prices. Large office holders should have more flexibility as a result of SEZ rule relaxation. While the outlook is quite positive, a word of caution comes from the fact that the Nifty Realty Index rallied about 136% in FY24 (Source: Bloomberg). Good development discipline and growth are encouraging, but there is little room for disappointment due to high expectations. (The author iAlok Agarwal, is Head - Quant & Portfolio Manager, Alchemy Capital Management.)

On the back of record exports last fiscal, Maruti Suzuki India is confident of its overseas shipments crossing 3 lakh units in FY25 as part of gradual scaling up to meet the target of up to 8 lakh units by 2030, according to a senior company official. The company plans to launch more models in its various export markets that span over 100 countries while also enhancing distribution network, having taken best practices from India such as making bank finance available at dealerships, strengthening service facilities and parts availability to the export markets. "Till about three years ago our exports were in the range of 1 to 1.2 lakh cars a year. Both as a national vision and as a business ambition, we decided to scale up drastically and from those levels and in 2022-23 we reached about 2.59 lakh units exports and in 2023-24 we completed 2.83 lakh," Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director Corporate Affairs Rahul Bharti told PTI. He further said, "The interesting part of this is that it bucked the trend of industry. While the rest of the car industry exports actually shrunk by 3 per cent, Maruti Suzuki was able to grow by about 9.3 per cent to 2.83 lakh units a year. With this 42 per cent of all cars exported from India are from Maruti Suzuki." Bharti said the company's strategy is aligned with the government's vision under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step up India's exports for the country to capture a larger share of the global trade to meet the ambitions of 'Viksit Bharat'. "We are not only doing this with existing models. Even for the EV, the start of production of which will be in FY25, we would start export, and export it to advanced markets like Japan and Europe," he noted. On the road ahead for exports, he said, "We hope to keep improving it steadily and by 2030 we have a target of 7.5 lakh to 8 lakh units total exports." When asked if the company can cross the 3 lakh units mark in exports in FY25, Bharti said, "Yes certainly. It is possible barring any major surprises." Sharing the company's strategy for increasing exports, Bharti said, "We don't have all the models in all the 100 markets now. Therefore, the way to enhance exports is more model launches in more countries of the world and at the same time more distribution network." On the qualitative side, he said, "What we are doing is taking a lot of best practices from India to these export markets." He cited examples of making bank finance available at the dealerships, how to give confidence to the customer once the car is sold by providing after-sales service, making easy availability of parts and setting up of customer complaint handling system in order to have more buyers in the overseas markets. "So all these best practices help in giving more confidence to the customer and it reflects in the number of exports," he said. In FY24, Maruti Suzuki posted record exports of 2,83,067 units, up from the previous best of 2,59,333 units in FY23. In FY22 its exports were at 2,38,376 units. Prior to that in FY21 the company's overseas shipments were at 96,139 units, while in FY20 it was at 1,02,171 units and in FY19 it stood at 1,08,749 units. In FY24, Maruti Suzuki's top ten export markets were South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Chile Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia and Ivory Coast. Its top export models were Baleno, Dzire, Swift, S Presso, Grand Vitara, Jimny, Celerio and Ertiga.

There are a host of corporate actions scheduled for this week. Sun TV Network, Vesuvius India, and DCM Shriram Industries will trade ex-dividend, while Grauer & Weil will trade ex-bonus this week.On Monday, 8 April, Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys (Rs 15/share), Prima Plastics (Rs 2/share), and Sun TV Network (Rs 3/share) will trade ex-dividend. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 10 April, DCM Shriram Industries (Rs 2/share) and Vesuvius India (Rs 12.75/share) will trade ex-dividend.Goodluck India (Rs 2/share), Mold-Tek Packaging (Rs 2/share), Mold-Tek Technologies (Rs 2/share), and SH Kelkar and Company (Rs 0.75/share) will trade ex-dividend on Friday, 12 April. The ex-dividend date is when the price of the equity shares of a company gets adjusted for the dividend payout. It is one or two working days before the record date. All the shareholders whose names appear in the company's list by the end of the record date will be eligible to receive dividends.Shares of Sprayking (Rs 10 to Rs 2) on Friday will ex-split.A stock split is usually done to increase the liquidity of the stock in the market. On the ex-split date, investors who are holding the stock until the record date will receive the new shares in demat accounts, and the stock price will be adjusted according to the split ratio.Shares of Promax Power (1:1) on Monday, while Grauer & Weil (India) (1:1) on Wednesday will also be ex-bonus.A company issues bonus shares for their shareholders in order to increase the liquidity of the stock as well as with the aim to decrease its stock price to make it affordable for investors.Bonus shares are fully paid additional shares issued by a company to its existing shareholders. When a firm issues bonus shares, its shareholders do not have to incur any extra costs to get them. The number of bonus shares you receive depends on the number of shares of the firm you already hold.The bonus shares once allotted will rank pari‐passu in all respects and carry the same rights as the existing equity shares and will be entitled to participate in full in any dividend and other corporate actions recommended.

Trading in MCX gold and silver contracts can be a rollercoaster ride, influenced not only by market dynamics but also by the psychological factors that govern traders' decision- making processes. Delving into the psychology of trading reveals the complex interplay of emotions that can impact trading outcomes. In this article, we'll explore the common emotions that affect traders and strategies to manage emotions effectively in MCX Gold and Silver trading.1. Fear and Greed:Understanding Fear and Greed: Fear and greed are two dominant emotions that drive market participants. Fear of losing money can lead to hesitation, missed opportunities, and impulsive decision-making, while greed can cloud judgment and lead to excessive risk-taking.Managing Fear: Techniques such as setting stop-loss orders, adhering to trading plans, and maintaining a disciplined approach can help traders overcome fear and avoid making emotionally-driven decisions.Controlling Greed: Adopting a rational mindset, diversifying portfolios, and setting realistic profit targets can help curb greed and prevent traders from taking on undue risks.The emotional rollercoaster: Common culpritsFear of Missing Out (FOMO): The urge to jump on a trade you perceive as a runaway train can lead to impulsive decisions without proper analysis.Greed: Holding onto a winning position for too long, hoping to squeeze every last pip of profit, can backfire when the market turns.Fear of Loss: Panic selling after a minor price dip can lock in unnecessary losses. This stems from an aversion to losing, overshadowing rational analysis.Overconfidence: A string of successful trades can breed overconfidence, leading to neglecting risk management and making reckless decisions.Patience & discipline:The importance of patience: Patience is a virtue in trading, especially in the volatile world of MCX Gold and Silver contracts. Waiting for high-probability trade setups and resisting the urge to chase market movements can lead to better trading outcomes.Maintaining Discipline: Following a trading plan, sticking to predefined risk management rules, and avoiding impulsive trades are essential for maintaining discipline in trading. Embracing patience and discipline can help traders avoid emotional pitfalls and stay focused on long-term success.Overcoming Loss AversionUnderstanding Loss Aversion: Loss aversion is the tendency for traders to feel the pain of losses more acutely than the pleasure of gains, leading to irrational decision-making and reluctance to accept losses.Embracing Losses as Part of the Game: Accepting that losses are an inevitable part of trading and viewing them as learning opportunities rather than failures can help traders overcome loss aversion and make more rational decisions.Risk Management as a Tool:Implementing robust risk management strategies, such as proper position sizing and setting stop-loss levels, can mitigate the impact of losses and provide traders with a sense of control over their trading outcomes.Cultivating emotional resilience Building Emotional Resilience: Developing resilience in the face of adversity is crucial for successful trading. Strategies such as mindfulness meditation, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and seeking support from fellow traders or mentors can help traders cope with stress and uncertainty.Learning from Mistakes: Embracing a growth mindset and viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth can help traders bounce back from losses and improve their trading skills over time.Building Resilience: Emotional Fitness for MCX TradingPractice Gratitude: Focus on the wins, big or small, to cultivate a positive mindset.Visualization: Visualize yourself making successful trades while managing emotions effectively. This mental rehearsal can boost your confidence.Develop Healthy Habits: Prioritize sleep, exercise, and a balanced diet to manage stress levels and improve your overall well-being, which translates to better trading decisions.To ConcludeBy understanding the psychology of trading and implementing effective emotion management strategies, traders can enhance their decision-making process, mitigate risks, and ultimately achieve greater success in trading MCX Gold and Silver contracts.(The author, Jateen N Trivedi. is Vice President Research Commodities & Currency at LKP Securities)