During an Oval Office signing event, President Donald Trump said, “I love the inflation” in response to a reporter’s question about news that it had surged to a three-year high of 4.2%.

The president also revealed that the US has been “taking out millions of barrels of oil” from Iran, saying Tehran didn’t know about it “until right now”.

Despite its recent climb, Trump insisted that inflation will “come down like a rock” after the war is over.

Read more here.

Shares of CMR Green Technologies attracted institutional interest on their market debut, with a Goldman Sachs-managed fund picking up shares worth nearly Rs 50 crore through a bulk deal on Wednesday. According to NSE bulk deal data, Goldman Sachs India Equity Portfolio purchased 19.41 lakh shares of CMR Green Technologies at an average price of Rs 256.64 per share. The transaction was valued at about Rs 49.82 crore.

The purchase came on the same day the stock made a strong stock market debut, listing at a premium of around 43% over its issue price of Rs 192.

CMR Green Technologies had launched a Rs 630.88 crore initial public offering, which was entirely an offer-for-sale (OFS) by existing shareholders. The issue received an overwhelming response from investors, getting subscribed 127.07 times overall.

Institutional investors led the demand, with the qualified institutional buyer (QIB) portion subscribed 270.46 times, while the non-institutional investor (NII) category was booked 172.35 times. The retail portion attracted bids worth 27.08 times the shares on offer.

The strong subscription and listing performance reflect investor optimism around the company’s position in India’s growing recycled metals and aluminium recycling industry.

Brokerages had highlighted the company’s market leadership and growth prospects ahead of the IPO. Arihant Capital noted that CMR Green’s aluminium recycling capacity is more than four times that of its nearest domestic competitor and pointed to its estimated 42-45% market share in the automotive cast alloy segment.
SBI Securities had also maintained a “Subscribe” rating, citing the company’s installed capacity of 4.7 lakh tonnes per annum and opportunities arising from increasing demand for recycled metals and expansion into wrought aluminium products.Deven Choksey Research said the company is well placed to benefit from long-term themes such as electric vehicle adoption, rising aluminium usage in automobiles, decarbonisation initiatives and India’s push towards a circular economy.

However, analysts have advised caution after the sharp listing gains.

Shivani Nyati, Head of Wealth at Swastika Investmart, said investors should remember that the IPO was entirely an OFS and did not bring fresh capital into the company. She said investors who received allotment could consider booking partial profits while retaining some exposure for the medium term, given the company’s industry positioning. New investors, meanwhile, should wait for a correction or consolidation rather than chase the stock at elevated levels, she added.

Founded in 2006, CMR Green Technologies is among India’s largest non-ferrous metal recyclers. The company manufactures recycled aluminium alloys, zinc alloy ingots, aluminium billets and other recycled metal products used across automotive and industrial applications.

For FY25, the company reported revenue of Rs 6,697 crore and net profit of Rs 155 crore. In the first nine months of FY26 ended December 2025, it posted revenue of Rs 6,291 crore and profit after tax of Rs 162.4 crore, indicating continued operational momentum.

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Shares of Aegis Vopak Terminals rallied as much as 6% to their day’s high of Rs 203 on the BSE on Wednesday after international brokerage firm Jefferies upgraded the stock to Buy and assigned a fresh target price of Rs 240, implying an upside of 25% from current market levels.

While the brokerage has cut its target price from Rs 255, it believes the recent correction in Aegis Vopak Terminals (AVTL) has been excessive. The stock has fallen 16% since Middle East tensions escalated, compared with an 8% decline in the Nifty. While near-term risks persist, the brokerage expects LPG import volumes to normalise once geopolitical tensions ease.

Jefferies said Aegis remains on track with its expansion plans, with management reiterating an aggregate capex target of $5 billion by FY30 and $1.2 billion by FY27. The company currently operates 1.7 million cubic metres of liquid storage capacity and 225,800 MT of LPG capacity across six ports and aims to expand its presence to 12 ports by 2030.

Capacity additions at JNPT and Kandla ports are progressing as planned and are expected to increase liquid storage capacity by 25% and LPG capacity by 34%, respectively. Management said capacity expansion is being aligned with demand growth. The company is also expanding into ammonia storage, with a 36,000 MT facility under development at Pipavav port. Additionally, the Kandla-Gorakhpur pipeline is expected to be commissioned by September 2026, which could support higher LPG terminal throughput.

“We estimate 4.7% CAGR in LPG demand over FY26-30E, driving 5.3% CAGR in imports. We believe AVTL is also well-placed to capture storage-led growth as the government plans to build an LPG storage reserve to cover 30 days of demand,” the brokerage said in a note.

Jefferies has lowered its FY27 EBITDA estimate for Aegis Vopak Terminals (AVTL) by 22% to factor in the March 2026 quarter miss and the impact of Middle East tensions. However, it has largely retained its FY28 estimates, assuming geopolitical tensions ease over time.
The brokerage has cut its target price to Rs 240 from Rs 255 earlier. The valuation is based on 22x March 2028 estimated EV/EBITDA, compared with 18x for JSW Infrastructure. Jefferies expects AVTL to deliver a 33% EBITDA CAGR between FY28 and FY30, versus 21% for JSW Infrastructure, while achieving broadly similar return ratios by FY28.Key downside risks highlighted by the brokerage include delays in the Kandla-Gorakhpur pipeline project, weaker-than-expected LPG imports or market share gains, and value-dilutive capacity expansion plans.

Aegis Vopak shares are down 20% since the beginning of the year.

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

The investment will support the delivery of floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea

Plans for a “transformative programme” of works to redevelop the port of Port Talbot have taken a step forward after an early stage application to the local council.

The project known as the “Future Port Talbot” programme will look to construct new marine and land-side infrastructure at the south Wales port in order to facilitate the creation of huge floating offshore wind-farms in the Celtic Sea.

The work could eventually see the creation of assembly and manufacturing facilities for the offshore wind industry along with a new quay wall, land-side material and equipment storage if taken forward.

It comes after The UK Government announced a £64m investment into the port of Port Talbot in March to enable Associated British Ports, (ABP) to complete the essential design and engineering work needed.

Additionally, in 2025 the Crown Estate struck a leasing agreement with developers to build three floating offshore wind-farms in the Celtic Sea, one in English waters, one in Welsh waters and a third straddling both.

As a result it is hoped that the port could support thousands of new jobs once completed, potentially unlocking over £500m of investment for the town and wider area.

The latest submission to Neath Port Talbot Council was revealed as part of officers delegated decisions made between March 13 and May 14.

It confirmed the intention of ABP to submit a Harbour Revision Order for the works in Port Talbot. A scoping direction also confirmed the full plans would need to include an environmental impact assessment as well as an application for a Marine Licence from Natural Resources Wales.

A section of the Associated British Ports website which discusses the Future Port Talbot Programme said: “Port Talbot has been at the forefront of industrial change before, and ABP’s vision is to lead that change again. Port Talbot has a natural sheltered deep-water harbour and large land that can be developed.

“It is close to floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and has strong export potential. The port sits within communities with a rich industrial heritage and a strong base of relevant skills and experience.

“These plans support growth in Wales and the UK and can help drive wider economic regeneration across South Wales.”

Alphabet Inc. shares fell modestly in midday trading Wednesday, dropping 1.57% to $356.62 as investors engaged in selective profit-taking across major technology names amid ongoing earnings season and persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.

The decline in Google’s parent company came on moderate volume with no major company-specific news immediately triggering the move. Alphabet has delivered strong performance year-to-date, driven by robust growth in its cloud business, continued dominance in search and accelerating artificial intelligence initiatives. However, the stock remains sensitive to broader rotation out of high-valuation tech names and shifting expectations around Federal Reserve policy.

Market Context and Sector Dynamics

Wednesday’s trading reflected a cautious tone across major indexes, with the Nasdaq Composite also showing modest weakness. Technology stocks, which have led market gains in 2026 on AI enthusiasm, encountered some resistance as traders locked in profits following recent rallies. Defensive sectors provided relative stability, limiting broader market downside.

Analysts noted that Alphabet’s valuation, while supported by strong fundamentals, leaves limited room for error in a market increasingly focused on near-term execution and capital returns. The company’s diversified revenue streams across search, YouTube, cloud computing and other bets continue to underpin investor confidence despite periodic volatility.

AI Investments and Cloud Momentum

Alphabet has aggressively invested in artificial intelligence infrastructure and model development, with Gemini powering enhancements across Search, Workspace and consumer products. Google Cloud has posted accelerating growth, benefiting from enterprise demand for AI tools and infrastructure services.

Recent quarterly results highlighted double-digit revenue increases in cloud, with AI-related bookings contributing meaningfully. The company’s integration of generative AI features into core products has been well-received, though competition from Microsoft, Amazon and specialized AI players remains intense.

Search and Advertising Performance

Search advertising, Alphabet’s core profit engine, continues to generate substantial cash flow. YouTube advertising and subscription services provide additional diversification. While regulatory scrutiny on digital advertising practices persists, Alphabet has maintained strong market share and innovation in ad formats.

Analysts expect advertising revenue to remain resilient, supported by digital transformation trends across industries. However, any slowdown in consumer spending or shifts in advertiser budgets could influence near-term results.

Regulatory and Antitrust Landscape

Alphabet continues navigating significant regulatory challenges globally. Ongoing antitrust cases in the United States and Europe focus on search dominance, app store policies and advertising practices. Resolutions could impact future business models and financial performance.

The company has maintained a proactive approach, engaging with regulators while defending its practices in court. Long-term investors view these issues as manageable risks given Alphabet’s financial strength and adaptability.

Financial Strength and Capital Allocation

Alphabet maintains a robust balance sheet with significant cash reserves, enabling continued investment in AI, cloud and other growth areas. Share repurchases and dividend growth provide returns to shareholders while supporting stock price stability.

Management has emphasized disciplined capital allocation, balancing innovation with shareholder returns. Recent increases in capital expenditures reflect confidence in long-term AI and cloud opportunities.

Analyst Perspectives

Wall Street consensus remains largely positive on Alphabet. Several firms maintain Buy ratings, citing the company’s competitive advantages in search, cloud momentum and AI positioning. Price targets reflect optimism around sustained growth, though some analysts note valuation discipline is warranted given current multiples.

The stock’s performance has been resilient, though periodic pullbacks like Wednesday’s highlight sensitivity to macro factors and sector rotation. Longer-term outlooks emphasize Alphabet’s ability to monetize AI investments and maintain leadership in core businesses.

Broader Technology Sector Trends

The technology sector has been a primary driver of market gains, fueled by AI infrastructure spending and digital transformation. While large-cap names like Alphabet, Microsoft and Nvidia have captured much attention, selectivity has increased as investors differentiate between sustainable growth stories and more speculative plays.

Geopolitical risks, supply chain considerations and interest rate sensitivity continue influencing sector dynamics. Alphabet’s global footprint provides diversification but also exposes it to currency fluctuations and regulatory variations across regions.

Investor Considerations

For investors, Alphabet represents a high-quality technology franchise with strong cash generation and growth potential. The company’s scale, brand strength and innovation track record provide a defensive growth profile in an uncertain economic environment.

Risks include regulatory outcomes, competitive pressures in AI and potential slowdowns in advertising markets. However, the balance sheet strength and diversified revenue streams offer meaningful downside protection.

Outlook and Key Catalysts

Upcoming quarterly results and updates on AI progress will be closely watched. Management commentary on cloud bookings, AI monetization and capital spending plans could influence sentiment significantly.

Longer-term, Alphabet’s position at the intersection of search, cloud and artificial intelligence positions it favorably for continued growth. Successful execution on current initiatives could drive further upside, while disciplined capital management supports shareholder value.

Wednesday’s modest decline represents normal market fluctuations rather than a fundamental shift. The stock’s performance continues to reflect investor confidence in Alphabet’s strategic direction amid a complex operating environment.

As the trading session progressed, focus remained on broader market dynamics and upcoming economic data. Alphabet shares, while lower on the day, maintain a constructive longer-term trajectory supported by strong fundamentals and leadership in key technology areas.

The company’s evolution continues to attract investor interest, with AI and cloud growth serving as primary drivers. Market participants will monitor developments closely in coming weeks for additional clarity on execution and strategic priorities.