A. Michael Lipper is a CFA charterholder and the president of Lipper Advisory Services, Inc., a firm providing money management services for wealthy families, retirement plans and charitable organizations. A former president of the New York Society of Security Analysts, Mike Lipper created the Lipper Growth Fund Index, the first of today’s global array of Lipper Indexes, Averages and performance analyses for mutual funds. After selling his company to Reuters in 1998, Mike has focused his energies on managing the investments of his clients and his family. His first book, MONEY WISE: How to Create, Grow and Preserve Your Wealth (St. Martin’s Press) was published in September, 2008. Mike’s unique perspectives on world markets and their implications have been posted weekly at Mike Lipper’s Blog since August, 2008.

The shares of Tata Steel bucked the market weakness on Tuesday, gaining over 2% to hit a fresh record high after the company announced that the Odisha High Court has effectively quashed the state government’s demand notices worth nearly Rs 4,314 crore, related to its Sukinda Chromite Block.

The first notice dates back to July 3, 2025 when the company received a demand letter from Jajpur’s Office of Deputy Director of Mines, raising a demand of nearly Rs 1,903 crore in connection with the revised assessment of the shortfall in dispatch of minerals from Tata Steel’s Sukinda Chromite Block. The company filed a writ petition at Orissa’s High Court in August that year.

Later on October 3, the company received another demand letter worth Rs 2,411 crore in connection with assessment of shortfall in dispatch of chrome ore from the block, following which it filed another writ petition.

In the latest update to the case, Tata Steel said it believes that the High Court has quashed the demand letters issued by the authority as they are contrary to the conclusions and directions passed by the court.

Tata Steel share price

The shares of the company jumped over 2% to hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 218.24 apiece on Tuesday. The stock has gained around 12% in one month, and nearly 19% in 2026 so far.
The shares of the company have rallied more than 52% in one year. In the longer term, the stock gained 100% in three years and 123% in five years.

Nomura on Indian steel sector

Meanwhile, international brokerages remain bullish on India’s steel sector. Nomura in its latest note highlighted that Indian steel prices recorded a mild correction last week, but remain near elevated levels. Despite the correction, India’s HRC spot margin in April so far has still held strong at Rs 36,700 per tonne, up by over Rs 1,580 per tonne from March 2026, remaining well above the median margin level observed over the past two years, the domestic brokerage said.

Margin expansion has been supported primarily by higher steel prices, while input costs have remained largely stable on a sequential m-o-m basis, it added. “We maintain our positive outlook for the India steel sector, and believe global factors, especially China, should have a limited impact on the earnings potential of major steel players, in our view. Our bullish stance on the India steel sector is underpinned by improving domestic price momentum despite global headwinds,” Nomura further said, maintaining its ‘Buy’ ratings for Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Jindal Steel and Lloyds Metals.

Jefferies’ top steel picks

Jefferies on the other hand said that China’s falling steel production and exports will likely lift margins of the Indian players. China’s steel exports, after hitting new record highs in 2025, have declined 9% year-on-year in the January-March quarter of 2026. “Improving steel market balance in China, driven by supply rationalization, should be positive for Asian steel spreads,” it said.

The international brokerage noted that Indian steel prices are up around 20% this year so far, outpacing the 10% rise in China’s export steel prices in the same period. This increase is supported by the implementation of a 12% safeguard duty in December 2025. “India steel prices are now broadly in-line with landed imports from China and can move higher if China’s export prices rise further. A mean reversion in Asian conversion spreads could potentially drive Indian steel prices up by a further 13% to Rs 65,800 (spot: Rs 58,000),” it added.

Assuming Indian steel prices hover in the range of Rs 55,500-56,000 in FY27-28, which is 3-4% below spot prices, Jefferies expects JSW Steel and Tata Steel to post a strong 30-45% YoY EBITDA growth in FY27. Its FY27-28 EPS estimates for the two companies are 5-28% above the Street expectations. “While a prolonged Middle East conflict could weigh on domestic steel demand and pose some downside risk to near-term earnings, we note that Tata Steel and JSW Steel’s earnings are more sensitive to price movements than volumes. A 1% decline in volumes translates into a 2% EPS impact, whereas a 1% increase in steel prices drives an 5-8% EPS upgrade,” it said.

Overall, Jefferies has a ‘Buy’ call on the shares of JSW Steel, Jindal Stainless, Shyam Metallics & Energy and Tata Steel.

Goldman Sachs’ top steel picks

Goldman Sachs called steel the “next global growth driver”. In its latest note, the international brokerage highlighted that India has the unique distinction of being the only major country in the world that both produces and consumes iron ore. “This vertical integration in iron ore begets structural competitive cost advantage and India has consistently the lowest cost of production among the major steel producing regions,” it said, listing out strong steel consumption, growth, cost competitiveness, better returns and market cap dominance as the key reasons why the Indian ferrous sector looks appealing.

JSW Steel is one of Goldman’s top picks in the sector, due to its focus on capacity growth, debt reduction and operating leverage benefits. It has a ‘Buy’ call on the stock with a target price of Rs 1,490 apiece, which implies an upside potential of nearly 19% from the stock’s previous closing price of Rs 1,255.70 apiece on NSE.

Goldman Sachs also has a ‘Buy’ call on the shares of Shyam Metallics due to its diversified business model, while holding ‘Neutral’ rating for Tata Steel and Jindal Steel, along with a ‘Sell’ call on NMDC due to concerns on volume growth and increasing competition.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

DUBAI — A $500 million Russian superyacht linked to sanctioned billionaire Alexey Mordashov, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, successfully transited the heavily restricted Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, becoming one of the few private vessels to navigate the critical waterway amid an ongoing U.S.-Iran blockade that has crippled global oil shipping.

The 142-meter (465-foot) luxury yacht Nord departed a marina in Dubai on Friday evening, April 24, 2026, crossed the strait on Saturday morning and arrived at Al Mouj Marina in Muscat, Oman, early Sunday, according to marine tracking data from MarineTraffic and VesselFinder. The vessel’s passage through one of the world’s most tense maritime chokepoints has raised questions about selective enforcement of restrictions and highlighted Russia-Iran ties during the conflict.

• Nord*, one of the largest superyachts in the world, features 20 staterooms, a swimming pool, helipad and even a submarine. It flies the Russian flag and was re-registered in Russia after Western sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. While Mordashov is not the officially listed owner, corporate records and widespread reporting link the vessel to the steel magnate, whose fortune exceeds $20 billion and who has faced U.S. and European sanctions for years.

The transit comes as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas — has plummeted to a fraction of normal levels since February. Iran has imposed severe restrictions in response to U.S. and Israeli military actions, while the United States has enforced a blockade on Iranian ports. U.S. Central Command has redirected dozens of vessels, and private shipping largely avoids the route due to security risks.

It remains unclear exactly how Nord obtained permission to pass. Iran’s ambassador to Moscow stated days earlier that Tehran would grant exceptions for Russian ships without charging duties, signaling deepening bilateral cooperation. Some analysts suggest the yacht may have used lanes closer to Iranian waters patrolled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, effectively bypassing the main U.S.-enforced blockade zone.

Mordashov, the majority shareholder of Russian steel giant Severstal, maintains a low public profile but ranks among Putin’s inner circle of trusted oligarchs. His yacht’s bold journey has drawn sharp commentary online, with some calling it a symbol of elite privilege amid global disruption and others viewing it as a diplomatic signal between Moscow and Tehran.

The incident underscores the selective nature of enforcement in the region. While commercial tankers and cargo ships face detours around Africa or long delays, luxury vessels with powerful backers appear able to thread the needle. Maritime security experts note that superyachts often operate with enhanced private security and diplomatic clearances that ordinary shipping lacks.

Broader implications for energy markets are significant. The restricted flow through Hormuz has already driven world oil prices above $110 per barrel, contributing to inflationary pressures and supply concerns worldwide. Australia, heavily dependent on imported fuel, continues to grapple with its own diesel shortages partly linked to these disruptions.

U.S. officials have not publicly commented on the Nord‘s passage. The Biden administration, now succeeded by the Trump administration in this scenario, had vowed to maintain pressure on Iran while keeping the strait open for international commerce. Critics argue the yacht’s successful transit exposes gaps in the blockade’s effectiveness.

Russia has maintained relatively warm relations with Iran throughout the conflict, supplying drones and other military technology while benefiting from discounted Iranian oil. The superyacht episode may represent a small but visible gesture of reciprocity. Iranian state media has remained silent on the crossing, consistent with its general opacity on maritime exceptions.

For Mordashov, the voyage highlights the resilience of sanctioned Russian elites. Despite travel bans and asset freezes in the West, his yacht continues to operate in international waters, often berthing in friendly ports across the Middle East and Asia. Similar vessels owned by other oligarchs have faced seizures in Europe, but Nord has largely evaded such fates by staying clear of Western jurisdictions.

Maritime tracking platforms showed minimal other traffic in the strait during the same period. Most commercial operators continue rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of nautical miles and weeks to journeys. Insurance premiums for vessels attempting Hormuz have skyrocketed, making the route economically unviable for all but the most determined or protected operators.

The event has sparked heated discussion on social media and in geopolitical circles. Some commentators frame it as a propaganda win for Russia and Iran, demonstrating that the blockade is not absolute. Others see it as a practical reminder that luxury and connections can trump geopolitics even in wartime.

As tensions in the Gulf persist, shipping analysts expect continued volatility. Diplomatic efforts for de-escalation remain stalled, with no immediate breakthrough in sight. For now, the safe arrival of Nord in Oman serves as a striking anomaly in an otherwise paralyzed strategic waterway — a $500 million reminder that in the world of superyachts and sanctions, some rules still bend for the connected.

The superyacht’s journey adds another layer to the complex web of alliances, sanctions and maritime power plays defining the 2026 Middle East crisis. While global commerce suffers, symbols of elite mobility continue to move, testing the limits of blockades and international resolve.

ET Intelligence Group: Shares of Vedanta have fallen over 4% since April 20 when the company announced May 1 as the record date for demerger. The proposed split into five listed entities is expected to reduce the conglomerate discount by enabling each business to be valued independently and benchmarked against sector peers. The stock may remain volatile around the record date and the listing of new entities.

Analysts believe investors would benefit from staying invested over the long term, as clear business structures, improved transparency on debt allocation, and better price discovery could enhance overall shareholder value. The last date to buy the stock to avail the demerger benefits is April 29.

The demerger will result in the separation of Vedanta into five listed entities-Vedanta Aluminium, Vedanta Power, Vedanta Oil & Gas, Vedanta Iron & Steel, and a residual Vedanta, which will retain zinc, copper and other base-metal businesses. Under the scheme, shareholders will receive one share each in the four newly-listed companies for every one Vedanta share held, while the residual Vedanta entity will continue to remain listed.

The demerger is expected to unlock meaningful valuation upside for Vedanta shareholders. Before the demerger, after applying holding-company discounts and adjusting for consolidated debt, Axis Securities values Vedanta as a whole at about ₹572 per share. Post-demerger, the combined valuation is expected to rise by 14% to ₹650 per share.
The value goes up after demerger because businesses like aluminium, and oil & gas will be listed separately, making it easier for investors to judge their true worth and compare them with similar companies. At the same time, the remaining Vedanta company will still have steady income and regular dividend potential from its stake in Hindustan Zinc, which helps support its valuation.

ICICI Direct expects the demerger to be a value unlocking event for the company with its high growth aluminium & power businesses expected to fetch better valuations compared with the current structure of being part of a listed conglomerate entity.
On April 30, Vedanta’s stock price is expected to adjust for the demerger and trade in the range of around ₹300-325 per share. The remaining demerged entities are likely to be listed within 1-2 months following the record date.One of the key points of the demerger is the sharp reduction in debt for Vedanta since it will be distributed across the demerged entities. After the demerger, Axis Securities estimates Vedanta to have net debt of ₹13,892 crore, 24% of total net debt. The aluminium business is expected to carry the largest portion of net debt of around ₹29,246 crore, accounting for more than 50% ₹57,358 crore of group net debt as of December 2024. Vedanta Power will carry 12% of net debt, Vedanta Iron & Steel 7% and Vedanta Oil & Gas 6%.