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Asia
The Economic Times

MF Picks: 13 stocks surge up to 230% in just 3 months; 3 turn multibaggers

Mutual fund moves often attract attention because they are usually backed by detailed research, expert analysis, and a long-term investment approach. In March 2026, fund managers raised their exposure to nearly 322 stocks from the BSE 500 universe compared with the previous quarter—a sign that several companies were finding favour among institutional investors.What followed was a remarkable rally. Since early April 2026, a number of these stocks have delivered exceptional gains within a little over three months. Among them, 13 stocks stood out by climbing between 60% and 230%, including three multibagger performers that more than doubled investors’ wealth in a short period. Their strong performance highlights how rising mutual fund participation can sometimes signal emerging opportunities and changing market sentiment. (Data Source: ACE Equity) Over the last three months (from early April till date), the stock has surged 232%, rising from Rs 68 to Rs 225. Mutual fund (MF) holding increased from 6.68% to 6.92% during the March 2026 quarter. Over the past three months, the stock has delivered a 198% rally, moving up from Rs 511 to Rs 1,521. MF holding rose from 1.02% to 1.41% in the March 2026 quarter. In the last three months, the stock has gained 101%, climbing from Rs 1,798 to Rs 3,611. MF holding increased from 9.37% to 13.08% during the March 2026 quarter. Over the last three months, the stock has rallied 92%, advancing from Rs 807 to Rs 1,549. MF holding rose from 2.97% to 3.22% in the March 2026 quarter. During the past three months, the stock has appreciated 90%, moving from Rs 814 to Rs 1,547. MF holding increased from 9.24% to 9.86% during the March 2026 quarter. Over the last three months, the stock has gained 78%, rising from Rs 844 to Rs 1,502. MF holding increased from 2.58% to 3.28% in the March 2026 quarter. In the past three months, the stock has surged 74%, moving from Rs 1,505 to Rs 2,625. MF holding rose marginally from 1.97% to 2.02% during the March 2026 quarter. Over the last three months, the stock has rallied 74%, increasing from Rs 934 to Rs 1,622. MF holding improved from 6.44% to 6.59% in the March 2026 quarter. During the last three months, the stock has gained 65%, rising from Rs 9 to Rs 14. MF holding increased from 5.34% to 5.93% during the March 2026 quarter. Over the past three months, the stock has advanced 63%, moving from Rs 1,177 to Rs 1,916. MF holding increased from 7.76% to 8.12% in the March 2026 quarter. In the last three months, the stock has rallied 62%, climbing from Rs 677 to Rs 1,096. MF holding increased from 1.98% to 3.37% during the March 2026 quarter.

MF Picks: 13 stocks surge up to 230% in just 3 months; 3 turn multibaggers
Asia-Pacific
The Straits Times

Gen Zs less hardy than their parents, regional survey finds

A regional survey has confirmed the popular belief that those aged under 30 are less resilient than their parents or grandparents. Sign up for ST InvestMe and unlock full access to exclusive insights and financial literacy courses today. SINGAPORE – When it comes to financial and health matters, a regional survey has confirmed the popular belief that Gen Zs, or those under 30, are less resilient than their parents or grandparents. For instance, only 41 per cent of Gen Zs who are working feel they are doing well financially, compared with 54 per cent of those aged 62 to 84. Granted, the younger ones have worked for only a few years and have a longer runway to do better, but the survey by insurer AIA found that they still lose out to older folks when it comes to mental and physical well-being. No wonder older folks often describe this group of youngsters as the strawberry generation because they are emotionally sensitive and “bruise easily” when faced with stress or pressure. The survey probed whether these two groups have different attitudes when it comes to dealing with certain financial issues. Overall, the results show that compared with the older generations, Gen Zs place less importance on money matters, especially when it comes to traditions and social norms. For instance, 63 per cent of older folks would frown upon adults who do not support their elderly parents and would describe such people as “ungrateful”. But almost the same proportion of Gen Zs (61 per cent) would think that it is not compulsory for children to support their parents since they have their own financial obligations to bear. The difference in agreement between the generations appears to suggest that there is a change in how younger people view wealth and how it impacts their lives. For instance, 63 per cent of Gen Zs think that success in life need not be related to money, but about half of those in the older age groups still believe that wealth is important in determining a person’s worth.

Gen Zs less hardy than their parents, regional survey finds
Asia-Pacific
The Straits Times

Rethink wealth and build a meaningful life at the July 18 InvestMe event

Sign up for ST InvestMe to find out how you can invest to live, and not live to invest. We have heard this advice countless times: work hard, save more, invest early, grow your wealth and retire in peace. But somewhere between chasing that job promotion, paying off loans, and scrolling through endless videos about stocks, property and financial independence, a question often gets lost: How much money is enough? For young adults, investing can feel overwhelming when you are looking to buy a new home, save for home renovations and retirement, look after ageing parents, and somehow still have enough left to enjoy life today. It does not help that social media coughs up stories of overnight millionaires, young couples with children travelling in business class, and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, making it seem like everyone else is getting ahead and leaving you behind. For young parents, the concerns may differ, but are no less daunting. How much should you put aside for your children’s education? Should you budget for local or overseas universities? For older parents, should you dip into your savings and help your child financially? The Invest To Live, Not Live To Invest panel discussion is designed for those of you who want your money to support your lives – not consume you. You will learn from The Straits Times’ panel experts – Alfred Chia, chief executive officer of SingCapital, and David Teo, senior consultant psychiatrist and deputy medical director at Connections MindHealth – how much money is enough, and how to avoid behavioural traps. The session, moderated by ST senior business correspondent Angela Tan, will present tips on how you can allocate funds for housing, childcare, insurance and savings. The panel will also look at ways to plan for retirement and, yes, answer questions on whether it is too late to invest in gold or certain stocks. You will learn how to build simple investment habits, avoid common money mistakes and create plans that suit your priorities and lifestyle. More importantly, the session will touch on investments that generate the highest returns over a lifetime: health, relationships, financial skills and experiences. Finally, the goal of investing is not to die with the largest possible portfolio, but to build a life rich enough that the money can quietly do its work in the background, while your attention is devoted to people and things that matter the most.

Rethink wealth and build a meaningful life at the July 18 InvestMe event
North America
CNBC Finance

Walmart heir Lukas Walton buys minority stake in the Chicago Bulls and United Center

Walmart heir Lukas Walton and his wife, Samantha, have acquired a minority stake in the Chicago Bulls and the United Center, the team announced Friday. The transaction involves the purchase of existing stakes from limited partners and does not provide Walton with a path to controlling ownership, the team said. The size of the minority stake and the valuation were not disclosed, but a person familiar with the matter told CNBC the Waltons' stake in the team and arena was 10%. The person asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the details. The Reinsdorf family remains the controlling owner of the Chicago Bulls. Jerry Reinsdorf purchased the team for $16.2 million in 1985. Today, the team is worth approximately $6.45 billion, according to CNBC's most recent NBA valuations, making the franchise the fifth-most valuable in the league. The Wirtz and Reinsdorf families split ownership of the United Center, where the Bulls and NHL's Blackhawks play. They will continue to hold the controlling interest in the United Center and the 1901 Project, a $7 billion redevelopment project on Chicago's West Side, the team said. The Bulls have been one of the NBA's most successful franchises in history, winning six championships during the Michael Jordan era. In recent years, however, they have struggled, having not made the playoffs since the 2021-2022 season. Lukas Walton is the 39-year-old grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. He and his wife are residents of Chicago. Lukas Walton has a reported net worth of roughly $45 billion according to Forbes. "The Chicago Bulls are as iconic as the city itself, and this transaction reflects our dedication to the city's future. We have long admired the vision the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families have set forth for The 1901 Project, and we look forward to the United Center's continued positive impact on Chicago's West Side," the Waltons said in a statement. Lukas Walton's uncle, Rob Walton, bought the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2022 and also owns a stake in MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis.

Walmart heir Lukas Walton buys minority stake in the Chicago Bulls and United Center
North America
CNBC Economy

U.S. issues sweeping Iran oil sanctions waivers, unlocking billions in revenue for Tehran

The U.S. has issued a sweeping rollback of sanctions on Iranian oil, allowing dollar-denominated trade for the first time in more than four decades, as Washington and Tehran press on with fragile talks toward a permanent peace deal. The U.S. Treasury on Monday issued a wide-ranging 60-day exemption allowing Iran to produce and sell crude oil, petrochemical and petroleum products in U.S. dollars through Aug. 21. Under the so-called General License X, vessels and entities previously subject to U.S. sanctions are also cleared for transactions. The waiver also theoretically reopens the door to U.S. imports of Iranian crude, a trade which has effectively collapsed since the 1990s under the weight of heavy sanctions, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The move on Monday marks the most sweeping rollback of American oil sanctions against Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, reversing years of pressure designed to cripple Iran's economy, and is expected to deliver billions in oil revenue for the Iranian regime. The license could unlock a floating inventory of around 67 million barrels of Iranian crude stranded in the Gulf, handing Iran a potential financial windfall of $8 to $9 billion according to Miad Maleki, a former Treasury sanctions official and now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank. "Production, sales, dollar payments, petrochemicals and protected shipping — all switched on at once," he said. "Together, they amount to a sustained reopening of Iran's most important revenue stream." U.S. President Donald Trump defended the lifting of the sanctions, saying on Monday that any oil profits were meant for Iran to purchase American agricultural goods, rather than rebuild its military. The latest sanctions relief followed a memorandum of understanding signed last week between the U.S. and Iran. Talks in Switzerland that concluded Monday have yielded positive progress toward a final deal. Iranian crude exports have picked up in recent weeks as the U.S.-Iran negotiations progressed, with 6.79 million barrels shipped out last week — the highest level in two months — according to maritime intelligence firm Windward. Iranian crude, which typically trades at a discount to global benchmarks, could also shift to a premium above Brent given demand pressure, further increasing Tehran's revenue windfall, said Brett Erickson, a managing principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors. The latest exemption allows Iran to receive oil proceeds directly into its central bank, reducing the transaction costs previously incurred by routing payments through shadow banking intermediaries. "With dollar clearing now authorized, expect China to accelerate purchases aggressively," said Maleki. Chinese buyers, in the past, have settled transactions through opaque channels to avoid secondary U.S. sanctions exposure.

U.S. issues sweeping Iran oil sanctions waivers, unlocking billions in revenue for Tehran
Europe
BBC Business

Burnham's 'Manchesterism' could change the UK, but is not yet a full economic plan

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesByFaisal IslamEconomics editorPublished29 June 2026"True to the motto of this city, I am going to do things differently," Andy Burnham declared, a reference to the film 24 Hour Party People. His speech in Manchester did indeed show a rather different way of seeing and running the UK. The departing Greater Manchester mayor presented a diagnosis of what has caused economic malaise, rooted in his own experiences running the city and when he was previously in Cabinet. At its heart it is a critique of an unresponsive British state, adept at arguing with itself, rather than achieving real change and rebuilding the country. His solutions were ambitious, and mostly rather general, taking power from the centre and giving it to regions and cities, as occurs routinely in other advanced countries. Burnham tells a story of his time as chief secretary to the Treasury, two decades ago, wishing to build a northern equivalent to London's Crossrail, but being told it would not pass the Treasury cost benefit equation. His speech today was not a detailed plan for the economy, with assessments of appropriate levels of tax, spend, investment and infrastructure and strategies for trade, AI and Europe. Perhaps that is partly because this is still officially a Labour leadership campaign. It rather appears that he is trying to keep as much powder dry as possible on the precise trade-offs, for as long as possible. There was general policy direction on changes to business rates, housebuilding, technical education, and infrastructure. The upbeat and optimistic tone was also notable. In two specific areas Burnham appeared to want to communicate a capacity for being prudent on spending and borrowing. He confirmed he will stick to existing borrowing rules, and also backed the Milburn Review into young people's employment outcomes, which could lead to welfare savings. These are two parts of what has been described to me as a broad five-part plan. Devolution, and industrial policy are two other legs. The remaining part was referred to by Burnham as quicker help on the cost of living. How does this all square with sticking to the 2024 manifesto not to raise the major taxes and the fiscal rules?

Burnham's 'Manchesterism' could change the UK, but is not yet a full economic plan
Europe
BBC Business

Shetland set to back £1.5bn plan to connect islands with undersea tunnels

Image source, Estunlar.foImage caption, The Faroe Islands serve as the inspiration for the Shetland tunnels project Undersea tunnels connecting some of the UK's most northerly islands could be in place within eight years, under plans expected to be approved on Tuesday. A feasibility study for Shetland Islands Council proposes replacing ageing ferries with tunnels from Shetland's mainland to Yell and from Yell to Unst, describing them as "economically transformative". Two more tunnels, to the islands of Whalsay and Bressay, could follow under the plans, which are estimated to cost £1.5bn. Council leaders say the tunnels would be cheaper than building new ferries and replacing harbours. The council is expected to explore funding from a mixture of private investment, public subsidy and borrowing, along with tolls covering maintenance costs. The council's transport chairperson, Moraig Lyall, said the report showed there were no technical barriers to building tunnels, which would be "cheaper in the long run" than ferries. The council currently runs ferry services to nine islands, carrying around 750,000 passengers each year on 12 vessels at a cost of £23m per year. Image caption, Moraig Lyall says tunnels which would be "cheaper in the long run" than ferries. Costs have risen sharply in the past decade, with some routes struggling to meet demand for vehicle places. Lyall said: "The system we have that has served us well for decades is now no longer able to do that. "It doesn't have the capacity and we're struggling with other things, like the ability to crew the system adequately.

Shetland set to back £1.5bn plan to connect islands with undersea tunnels
Europe
The Guardian

Comcast to spin off NBCUniversal and Sky into separate media business

Sky Sports’ Ian Ward, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton on the second day of the second Test between England and New Zealand. Photograph: Philip Brown/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenSky Sports’ Ian Ward, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton on the second day of the second Test between England and New Zealand. Photograph: Philip Brown/Getty ImagesNBC UniversalComcast to spin off NBCUniversal and Sky into separate media businessEntertainment arm to split from mobile and broadband in move that raises questions over future of Sky News Comcast is to spin off its media operation, which includes Sky and the Hollywood film studio, TV and theme park business NBCUniversal, into a separate publicly listed company. The move comes eight years after the US group, which said the separation will take a year to complete, acquired Sky’s European operations for £31bn. After completion of the deal investors will hold shares in Comcast, which will operate as a listed company operating broadband and mobile services to 65m US homes, as well as NBCUniversal. Brian Roberts, the co-chief executive of Comcast, said that separating the two companies would “unlock a more entrepreneurial management approach” for each business. The NBCUniversal business, which includes the streaming service Peacock and the TV network NBC, will be run by Mike Cavanagh, who is now co-chief executive of Comcast. “His vision is for a unique, independent, focused company that be home to some of the industry’s most valuable brands and assets across theme parks, film, television, streaming, sports and news,” Roberts said. “This new company will be well positioned to pursue the significant opportunities that lie ahead, to partner across the media and entertainment ecosystem, and will be poised to grow.” When Comcast acquired Sky for £31bn in 2018 the company guaranteed to keep funding Sky News for a decade, increasing its funding annually in line with inflation. As that commitment draws closer to expiring, concerns have been raised about whether the US company will continue to fully fund Sky News, which has an annual budget of about £100m but is thought to make losses of as much as £80m. David Rhodes, the executive chair of Sky News, has previously said the Comcast commitment provides Sky News with more security than most other organisations, and that the parent company has been “supportive of our independence every step of the way”. Nevertheless, the move to spin off NBCUniversal and Sky will renew speculation about the long-term plans for Sky News. Comcast opted not to renew a licensing agreement held by News Corporation to use the Sky News brand in Australia. Sky News Australia is rebranding as News24 later this year.

Comcast to spin off NBCUniversal and Sky into separate media business
North America
CNBC Economy

UN agency pauses Hormuz ship evacuation plan after first vessel attack under peace deal

The International Maritime Organization has paused its efforts aimed at evacuating ships and seafarers stranded inside the Middle East Gulf after a vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. The pause follows a container ship being struck by an unknown projectile near the coast of Oman on Thursday, with a U.S. official telling MS Now that Iran was behind the attack. The evacuation plan would be temporarily paused "in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and ​all those in the region," Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the ​International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, said in a statement. When asked about its response to the attack, a U.S. official said "we are aware of these reports and looking into them. President Trump has been clear that Iran cannot subvert the free flow of traffic in the strait." The IMO initiative, launched on Tuesday, was aimed at supporting hundreds of stranded ships and thousands of seafarers to sail out of the Gulf, using either a northern route via Iranian waters or a southern route via Omani waters with U.S. oversight, the IMO said earlier this week. Shipowners had been seeking to transit the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. and Iran struck an interim peace deal to pause hostilities for 60 days as negotiations for a permanent peace deal proceeded. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has partially recovered but remains well below pre-war levels. In the week following the ceasefire, 125 vessels passed through the strait, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence, the highest level of weekly transits since the war started in late February. On Wednesday, Iran's military warned vessels to not use the southern route approved by the IMO and said any new transit route through the Strait of Hormuz established without its approval is "unacceptable and dangerous," as Tehran seeks to reinforce its grip over the vital energy waterway. At least two vessels performed U-turns on their way out of the Middle East Gulf, according to Lloyd's, after Iran insisted that vessels use the routes approved by Tehran. Both were using the southern route closest to the Omani coastline. The attacked vessel carried a Singapore flag and was owned by shipping giant Evergreen, according to Lloyd's. It did not ⁠transit under IMO's evacuation framework, Dominguez said in the statement. Evergreen, Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to CNBC's requests for comment. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.

UN agency pauses Hormuz ship evacuation plan after first vessel attack under peace deal