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Asia
The Economic Times

Up to 42% upside! 9 stocks Jefferies, Motilal Oswal, others started coverage on. Do you own any?

A host of domestic and global brokerages have initiated coverage on select Indian stocks across sectors such as power, textiles and metals. Analysts remain bullish on names like Meesho and Vedanta Aluminium, projecting strong upside from current levels. Here are 9 stocks that recently saw fresh coverage. CLSA initiated coverage on the stock with an Outperform rating and a target price of Rs 540, implying over 16% upside from the previous close. The brokerage highlighted support from a higher-for-longer aluminium cycle and strong operational tailwinds. Citi started coverage with a Buy rating and a target price of Rs 210, indicating around 12% upside. It highlighted Meesho’s strong positioning in India’s e-commerce expansion beyond Tier-1 cities, its large long-tail seller network, zero-commission logistics model, and simplified advertising platform. The company now has over 264 million annual transacting users (up 33% YoY) and a seller base exceeding 950,000 (up 87% YoY). Jefferies initiated coverage with a Hold rating and a target price of Rs 6,000, implying about 19% upside. It values the stock at 65x FY28 earnings and expects strong EPS growth of 35–36% CAGR over FY26–29E, though it sees stronger compounding in peers like Hitachi and Siemens. Motilal Oswal assigned a Buy rating with a target price of Rs 1,110, implying 29% upside. The brokerage expects benefits from capacity expansion in India and improved Africa operations after AGOA renewal. It forecasts revenue, EBITDA and PAT CAGR of 18%, 33% and 73%, respectively. Motilal Oswal initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a target price of Rs 670, implying 42% upside. It highlighted a strategic shift towards a garment-led model and expects growth support from advanced materials. It forecasts revenue, EBITDA and PAT CAGR of 15%, 23% and 29%. Motilal Oswal values the stock at Rs 2,300, implying 11% upside, with a Buy call. Growth is expected to be driven by capacity expansion across India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia, with revenue, EBITDA and PAT CAGR of 14%, 25% and 29%. Motilal Oswal gave a Buy rating with a target price of Rs 550, implying 27% upside. The brokerage expects strong momentum in utility bedding and domestic bed linen segments, with revenue, EBITDA and PAT CAGR of 20%, 44% and 90%. Motilal Oswal assigned a Buy rating with a target price of Rs 200, implying 18% upside. It expects mid-teen revenue growth driven by the home textiles segment, supported by lower tariffs and potential trade agreements with the UK and EU. It forecasts revenue, EBITDA and PAT CAGR of 14%, 43% and 97%. Equirus initiated coverage with a target price of Rs 3,117, implying 29% upside. It highlighted strong growth potential in India’s luxury market, expected to expand from $10 billion in FY25 to $30 billion by FY30, driven by rising affluent households and wealth creation. (Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions expressed are those of the experts and do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

Up to 42% upside! 9 stocks Jefferies, Motilal Oswal, others started coverage on. Do you own any?
North America
CNBC Finance

TikTok and YouTube are reinventing sports viewership. Broadcasters are taking note

As the New York Knicks clinched their first championship in 53 years and the NBA notched its highest Finals series ratings since 1998, professional basketball was inking another record. The five-game series between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs generated "15 billion views and counting on social media, the most ever for an NBA Finals and nearly triple the previous record set in 2025," according to the NBA. Game 5 alone generated more than 4 billion views on social media platforms, breaking the record set three days prior by Game 4. It's emblematic of an intensifying battleground in live sports as professional leagues seek to reach new and younger fans and media consumption shifts online. TV and streaming platforms have been attracting some of the biggest audiences for live sports this year. The NBA Finals series claimed an average of 20.6 million viewers per game on Disney's ABC and ESPN networks. And yet social platforms like TikTok and Google's YouTube are claiming a disproportionate amount of viewing time for Generations Z and Alpha — often at no cost. That's left the sports leagues and live rights holders weighing whether to go all in on social as a funnel for future audiences or to reinforce the walled garden of subscription programming to offset rising broadcast fees. "It's always a question of what the leagues are doing versus what the rights holders want to do," said Jonathan Miller, a former Fox Corp. and NBA executive who currently serves as chief executive of Integrated Media, which specializes in digital media investments. "Reaching and cultivating the youth sports base is a major priority and focus of the leagues themselves," Miller said. "In today's fragmented landscape, it is no longer a luxury to have a young base, it is a necessity to ensure a healthy future." For years YouTube has snagged the biggest share of streaming viewership, according to Nielsen's monthly report known as "The Gauge." Rather than watching live games in their entirety, consumers are increasingly watching sports clips, highlights, athlete-made videos and creator content on social platforms. According to S&P Global's 2025 "State of U.S. sports viewing" report, 68% of sports viewers reported watching live games on TV or through streaming; 38% reported watching highlights, interviews and other clips on social media, YouTube and other platforms; and 12% said they interact with social media accounts or fan forums for professional players, teams or leagues. "What we're seeing today is the evolution of consumption," said Adam Kelly, president of global sports marketing agency IMG. The TKO Group-owned firm packages and sells media rights and brand rights as well as providing consultancy on some of the biggest TV deals globally.

TikTok and YouTube are reinventing sports viewership. Broadcasters are taking note
Europe
BBC Business

US eases oil sanctions as Iran denies Vance claim on nuclear inspectors

Iran has denied a claim by Vice-President JD Vance that it will allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, after the first round of talks between Washington and Tehran to reach a final deal to end the war. Following negotiations in Switzerland, Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could be happening "as soon as today". But Iran's foreign ministry told state media that Tehran had made "no new commitments" on nuclear inspections. It came as the US temporarily waived sanctions, allowing Iran to sell oil in US dollars for the first time in decades. In a joint statement released on Monday, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said that after the first round of talks in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, the US and Iran had agreed to "a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days". The US vice-president said the teams had discussed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and "de-confliction for the regional ceasefire". The 60-day sanctions waiver issued by the US Treasury on Monday dismantles central pillars of Washington's long-running embargo, which has historically choked off Tehran's economy. The emergency licence authorises the production, sale and delivery of Iranian crude and petrochemicals until 21 August. Iranian oil can even be imported directly into the US, under the sanctions relief. It unlocks banking transactions, insurance and transportation and does away with the complex networks that Iran has previously used to sell crude. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that in exchange for the 60-day waiver, Tehran had committed to keeping the vital Strait of Hormuz open and allowing IAEA nuclear inspectors back into the country. Speaking in Switzerland on Monday morning, Vance was asked by reporters when nuclear inspectors would be returning to Iran.

US eases oil sanctions as Iran denies Vance claim on nuclear inspectors
Europe
BBC Business

Apple hikes some prices by nearly 20% while Xbox raises console cost

Image source, Getty ImagesByLaura Cress and Kali Hays, Technology reportersPublished25 June 2026Apple is increasing the price of MacBooks and iPads worldwide due to rising memory and storage chip costs. The iPhone maker has hiked the prices of some laptops and tablets by almost 20%, saying the electronics industry is facing an "unprecedented challenge" due to an "extraordinary surge" in demand for chips to power AI data centres. "We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly," the company said - adding it was working to find solutions. Not long after Apple's announcement, Xbox said it had decided to significantly raise the price of its popular gaming console for the second time in less than a year due to the current "components crisis". The Microsoft-owned company said on Thursday that the price of its basic console will go up by $100 (£75) to $499, while the price of a console with more memory will go up by $150, to $749. New prices will take effect from August. Xbox previously hiked the price of its consoles in October by $20-$70, meaning the price of a new console will be 30% to 40% more expensive than it was this time last year. The company said it had "hoped another price increase would not be necessary", but blamed the rising cost of console storage and memory for needing to raise prices on consumers. "The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles," Xbox said. The company added that while the cost of memory and storage has already more than doubled, it expects the costs to double again by 2027. Apple's and Xbox's price hikes follow a slew of firms increasing device prices to help them absorb rising hardware costs. Commenting before the Xbox price increase was publicised, tech analyst Paolo Pescatore said Apple's price rises showed the "AI boom was now affecting consumer electronics". Much of the increased prices for memory and storage components - particularly Ram, a form of computer memory - have been attributed to a proliferation of data centres needed to power the AI boom.

Apple hikes some prices by nearly 20% while Xbox raises console cost
North America
CNBC Finance

FedEx posts strong earnings results in last quarter with freight business

FedEx on Tuesday reported earnings that beat Wall Street expectations on the top and bottom lines. The earnings report marked the last quarter that includes the company's freight business, which spun off into a separate publicly traded company called FedEx Freight on June 1. The company said FedEx Freight paid a cash dividend of roughly $4.1 billion to FedEx Corporation in connection with the spinoff. For the period ended May 31, FedEx reported FedEx Express revenue of $21.57 billion, beating StreetAccount estimates of $20.75 billion. The company reported a 3% year-over-year increase in domestic volume and a 3% increase in U.S. priority volume. In the fourth fiscal quarter, FedEx reported net income of $1.6 billion, or $6.60 per share, compared with $1.65 billion, or $6.88 per share, in the year-ago period. Adjusting for one-time costs, including the spin-off and retirement plan adjustments, the company reported earnings per share of $6.31. For the full fiscal year, FedEx reported revenue of $94.7 billion, up from $87.9 billion the year prior. "The momentum you're seeing across our business is proof that our strategy is working," CEO Raj Subramaniam said on a call with analysts. "It's translating to favorable financial outcomes, including very strong free cash flow and FY '26 results that far exceeded our initial FY '26 outlook." The company also said it will now change its fiscal year end from May 31 to Dec. 31, effective earlier this month. For the full year, FedEx said it expects 11% year-over-year revenue growth and adjusted diluted earnings per share of between $16.90 to $18.10. FedEx saw fuel costs rise from $864 million last year to $1.43 billion this year, marking a 66% jump. Company executives said on the call with analysts that FedEx has not seen an impact to demand due to fuel prices. 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.

FedEx posts strong earnings results in last quarter with freight business
Europe
BBC Business

Ryanair 'reluctantly' agrees to let parents sit with children for free

Image source, Getty ImagesByJemma CrewBusiness reporterPublished12 minutes agoRyanair has changed its family seating policy to allow parents to sit with their young children without paying a seat reservation fee, after an investigation was opened. Adults travelling with children who do not wish to pay for a reserved seat will now be told of their free seat allocation after check-in, which Ryanair said was in line with most other European airlines. Chief executive Michael O'Leary said it would "reluctantly adjust to this industry standard", but insisted its long-standing policy fully complied with laws and had given families "certainty". It comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was looking into whether the policy was unfair under consumer law. Under the old policy, Ryanair said adults travelling with children paid one reserved seat fee, and could select seats beside them for up to four children for free. This typically led to a fee of £8 each way, the CMA said when it launched its investigation earlier this month. It said at the time it was looking at whether the airline's "approach to seat reservations may mean parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability‑related obligations as set out under aviation rules – and will investigate to determine whether or not this practice is in line with consumer law". Other airlines offered to seat children next to a parent or guardian without a fee, or allocate seats together automatically during booking for free, it added. Ryanair said its policy had given families certainty of where they would be sitting at the time of booking, which they had valued. It said the "free parent seats" will now be available at the back of the aircraft, as front rows tend to be reserved. The "minor policy tweak" came into effect on Thursday, it said. It does not expect the change to have an effect on Ryanair's revenue. O'Leary hit out at the CMA for targeting its family seating policy, which he said had been "universally embraced by consumers as the most progressive and transparent in Europe".

Ryanair 'reluctantly' agrees to let parents sit with children for free
Europe
BBC Business

How you can save money on your energy bill as debts rise

Image source, Getty ImagesByKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentPublished27 May 2026Updated 54 minutes agoThe amount of money owed to energy suppliers by customers has risen again to a new record high of £4.79bn. Regulator Ofgem said that total debt and arrears in England, Wales and Scotland had risen by 15% in a year. The data, external is updated every three months, with the newly-published figures covering the period from January to the end of March. They relate to energy customers who have been in debt for more than three months. Average arrears for those without a repayment plan hit £1,876 for electricity and £1,623 for gas – more than twice the amount as those who have a repayment agreement. Energy prices will rise for millions of households in July – driven by the increase in the cost of gas. Experts say there are options to cut bills, even though people may feel they have already made every saving possible. Suppliers say they may write off some of that debt, provide payment plans, or help with the cost of white goods, such as fridges and washing machines - but only if you tell them you're in trouble. You can check what your supplier offers through various support measures, external. Some 22 million people - about 40% of billpayers - have the certainty of fixed tariffs. In these deals, the cost per unit does not change for the term of the tariff, which is usually a year. The total bill still depends on the amount of energy used. Options on the market are cheaper than the price cap level. However, if international events do change and prices fall sharply, savings might not be so clear-cut. Receiving your bill every quarter, rather paying a monthly direct debit, is typically about £140 a year more expensive, says regulator Ofgem.

How you can save money on your energy bill as debts rise
Europe
BBC Business

Reeves backs Burnham to become next prime minister

Rachel Reeves has backed Andy Burnham to be the next prime minister, despite reports he could demote her to a junior cabinet position if he becomes the Labour Party leader. Burnham, who was sworn in as the MP for Makerfield on Monday following his historic by-election victory, is expected to replace Reeves as chancellor if he enters No 10. Reeves told the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) annual conference on Thursday that she did not want to pre-empt his choice of chancellor and urged her potential successor to stick to her fiscal rules. But she said she was proud of her record and that there was "unfinished business in fiscal devolution" - an area she said Burnham was also committed to. Reeves added that Burnham backed her rules - ensuring day-to-day spending is funded through tax revenue by the end of the Parliament, only borrowing for capital investment and reducing debt as a proportion of GDP. "Andy has been really explicit - he backs those fiscal rules," she told the BCC conference. In an earlier interview with the BBC, Reeves said: "The last government lost control of the public finances. "It sent inflation through the roof and interest rates through the roof. So control of the public finances has a real impact on families today." While Reeves said she had improved the flexibility in the government's budget by increasing its financial headroom, she added the public must be left in no doubt about the party's commitment to fiscal discipline. "Because if you lose control of the public finances, it is ordinary working people and businesses who pay the price with higher inflation, higher taxes and indeed higher interest rates," she added. She told the BCC conference she and Burnham were also aligned on fiscal devolution - transferring financial powers like tax and spending from Westminster to local authorities - including, for example, on possible visitor levies on hotel bookings. Burnham is so far the only contender to replace Sir Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation earlier this week following a slew of senior cabinet resignations.

Reeves backs Burnham to become next prime minister
Asia
The Economic Times

Stocks to buy in 2026 for long term: Ambuja Cements, SRF among 5 stocks that could give 10-20% return

Brokerages remain constructive on a host of stocks across sectors, with fresh recommendations highlighting opportunities in cement, electronics manufacturing, specialty chemicals, cables, and B2B e-commerce.We have collated a list of recommendations from top brokerage firms from ETNow and other sources: Elara Securities on Ambuja Cements Ltd: Accumulate| Target Rs 494| LTP Rs 426| Potential Upside 15%Elara Securities has maintained an 'Accumulate' rating on Ambuja Cements with a target price of Rs 494. At the current market price of Rs 426, the brokerage sees a potential upside of 15%. JM Financial on Dixon Technologies: Buy| Target Rs 14200| LTP Rs 12090| Potential Upside 17%JM Financial has reiterated its 'Buy' rating on Dixon Technologies with a target price of Rs 14,200. Based on the current market price of Rs 12,090, the brokerage expects a potential upside of 17%. Motilal Oswal on SRF: Buy| Target Rs 3350| LTP Rs 2766| Potential Upside 21%Motilal Oswal has maintained its 'Buy' recommendation on SRF with a target price of Rs 3,350. The brokerage sees a potential upside of 21% from the current market price of Rs 2,766. Motilal Oswal on Polycab India Ltd: Buy| Target Rs 11950| LTP Rs 9689| Potential Upside 23%Motilal Oswal has reiterated its 'Buy' rating on Polycab India with a target price of Rs 11,950. At the current market price of Rs 9,689, the brokerage expects the stock to deliver a potential upside of 23%. HDFC Securities has maintained its 'Buy' recommendation on IndiaMART InterMESH with a target price of Rs 2,400. The brokerage believes the stock offers a potential upside of 21% from its current market price of Rs 1,971.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

Stocks to buy in 2026 for long term: Ambuja Cements, SRF among 5 stocks that could give 10-20% return