Business
Out for Game 6 vs Lakers as Rockets Fight for Survival
HOUSTON — Kevin Durant will miss Game 6 of the Houston Rockets’ first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night because of a bone bruise in his left ankle, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. The absence marks the fourth consecutive game the 37-year-old star has sat out, dealing a significant blow to Houston’s hopes of forcing a Game 7.
Durant suffered the injury in Game 2 on April 21 and has been sidelined since, missing the majority of the series despite playing in Game 1 after recovering from an earlier knee issue. The bone bruise requires a minimum two-week recovery period, and with Durant just over one week into the injury timeline, he remains unavailable as the Rockets attempt to stave off elimination while trailing 3-2.
The Rockets have shown resilience without their veteran leader, winning Games 4 and 5 to extend the series. Young talents like Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason have stepped up, forming one of the youngest starting lineups to secure playoff victories. Coach Ime Udoka’s group has controlled stretches of recent contests, giving fans reason for optimism despite the star’s absence.
Durant’s availability has been a major storyline throughout the postseason. He missed Game 1 with a tendon bruise before returning briefly, only to aggravate the ankle. The injury’s nature — a bone bruise — is notoriously stubborn, often lingering and affecting explosiveness and lateral movement critical to Durant’s game. At 37, with a lengthy career including four scoring titles, two Finals MVPs and an NBA championship, durability concerns have grown, though his scoring touch remains elite when healthy.
For the Lakers, Durant’s continued absence presents an opportunity to close out the series in Houston. LeBron James and company have navigated the series with mixed results, dropping the last two games at home but maintaining the series lead. Los Angeles will look to exploit Houston’s youth and inexperience in high-stakes moments, relying on veteran poise and defensive intensity to secure the win and advance.
Houston entered the playoffs as a dangerous lower seed, bolstered by Durant’s addition in the offseason. The move paired his scoring with a core of athletic, switchable defenders and versatile bigs. Regular-season success validated the roster construction, but playoff injuries have tested the depth. Without Durant, the Rockets rank among the youngest playoff teams relying on contributors still developing their games under pressure.
Medical experts note that bone bruises in the ankle involve micro-damage to the bone beneath cartilage, causing pain, swelling and reduced mobility. Recovery timelines vary but often extend beyond initial estimates, especially for high-usage wings like Durant who rely on change-of-direction speed. Rockets medical staff will monitor progress closely, but rushing back risks long-term complications or re-injury that could derail next season.
Series context adds drama. The Rockets became just the 16th team in NBA history to force a Game 6 after trailing 3-0, winning consecutive games without their leading scorer. Sengun has dominated the paint, Thompson provides defensive versatility and energy, and the supporting cast has executed Udoka’s schemes effectively. Still, Durant’s 25-plus points per game scoring and gravity as a shooter create mismatches that younger players struggle to replicate fully.
Lakers stars have commented on the challenge of facing Houston’s depth. James, in his 23rd season, understands the value of veteran presence in the postseason. Anthony Davis anchors the defense, while supporting pieces like Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura provide balance. Los Angeles aims to end the series Friday to avoid a potential Game 7 back home, where Houston’s home-court energy could complicate matters.
Durant’s playoff history is storied. From Oklahoma City to Golden State, Brooklyn and Phoenix, he has delivered iconic performances. His move to Houston represented a chance at another deep run with a young, hungry squad. This injury, however, underscores the physical toll of a long career and the demands of playoff basketball. Fans and analysts debate whether the Rockets’ future is brighter with or without the veteran, but his presence undeniably elevates their ceiling.
Broader NBA implications ripple from the series. A Rockets victory extends the first-round slate and tests Lakers’ stamina ahead of a tougher second-round matchup. An elimination accelerates Los Angeles’ preparations while allowing Houston to evaluate its young core’s growth. Durant’s status also affects offseason narratives around load management, veteran acquisitions and injury prevention league-wide.
Rockets fans have mixed emotions. Many express frustration over the timing of the injury but praise the team’s fight. Social media buzzes with support for the young players and calls for Durant’s careful management. Team officials remain optimistic about his long-term health, emphasizing a measured return rather than risking further damage in a best-of-seven that could end soon.
Game 6 strategy without Durant likely involves heavier minutes for Sengun in the post, Thompson’s athleticism on the wings, and increased ball-handling from guards. Defensive schemes will focus on containing James and Davis while forcing turnovers. The Lakers, conversely, will push pace, attack mismatches and leverage experience in crunch time.
Injury reports will be monitored until tip-off, but all indications point to Durant sidelined. Pre-game warmups and official announcements will confirm, yet sources close to the situation see little chance of a last-minute change given the two-week minimum timeline.
The NBA playoffs thrive on such storylines — star absences creating opportunities for unlikely heroes. Whether Houston’s youth can pull off another improbable win or the Lakers close the door remains to be seen. Durant’s absence shifts the narrative but does not eliminate the Rockets’ competitive spirit.
As the series reaches a critical juncture, focus turns to execution on the floor. Houston plays for pride and extension; Los Angeles seeks advancement. Durant’s recovery timeline could stretch into a potential Game 7 or beyond, leaving the Rockets to rely on collective effort in his stead.
The basketball world watches closely. Kevin Durant’s legacy endures, but for Game 6, the spotlight belongs to those stepping into the void. Rockets fans hope their young core delivers magic once more, while Lakers supporters anticipate a series-clinching victory on the road.
Notably, this is the largest dividend announced by the company in nearly six years, since the final dividend of Rs 10.15 per share paid in 2020. Along with the interim dividend of Rs 6.5 per share declared in January this year, ITC’s total dividend payout for FY26 stands at Rs 14.50 per share with a face value of Re 1 each.
The FMCG company has declared 32 payouts since July 3, 2001, and has a dividend yield of 4.71%, according to data on Trendlyne. The latest dividend will be paid to eligible shareholders between July 24 and 29. However, it is important to note that the dividend is subject to shareholders’ approval at its upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled on July 23.
In the previous financial year, ITC paid a final dividend of Rs 7.85 in May 2025 and an interim dividend of Rs 6.5 in February. This took the total dividend payout for FY25 to Rs 14.35 per share.
Apart from dividends, ITC issued bonus shares to eligible shareholders in 2016 (1:2) and 2010 (1:1). The company also executed a mega demerger of its hotels segment, with the stock adjusting to the restructuring the January last year, followed by the listing of ITC Hotels on stock exchanges.
ITC Q4 Results
ITC announced the dividend along with its results for the January-March quarter of FY26. The company reported a 5% year-on-year (YoY) growth in its standalone net profit at Rs 5,113 crore for Q4 FY26, compared to Rs 4,875 crore in the year-ago quarter. Revenue from operations meanwhile rose 17% YoY to Rs 21,695 crore during the quarter under review, from Rs 18,495 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.
ITC’s cigarettes business remained the largest contributor to profitability. Revenue from the FMCG-cigarettes segment rose 32% YoY to Rs 11,066 crore during the quarter, compared with Rs 8,400 crore a year ago.
Also read: What Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and others are saying after ITC’s Q4 results?
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
The AvalonBay Communities Inc. Park Loggia condominium, center, is reflected in a building in New York, U.S.
Mark Abramson | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The biggest ever merger of real estate investment trusts — the combination of Equity Residential and AvalonBay, announced Thursday — has investors and analysts alike left with dropped jaws.
The all-stock merger will have a market capitalization of about $52 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $69 billion, according to a release. It will create one of the largest real estate companies in the U.S., with more than 180,000 rental apartments.
“This combination creates a new and fundamentally stronger company with differentiated capabilities that will drive structurally superior cash flow generation, earnings and dividend growth, and value for shareholders,” said Benjamin Schall, CEO of AvalonBay.
Schall will become CEO of the newly formed company, and Equity Residential CEO Mark Parrell will retire when the transaction closes.
Allan Swaringen, president and CEO of JLL Income Property Trust, which manages about $90 billion of real estate investments globally for institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals, called the tie-up “unbelievable.”
“That they would merge is really incredible,” he said.
Swaringen noted that the stocks of both companies are trading at below their net asset values, a situation that makes them both ripe to be bought and privatized.
“I think this might be a defense against privatization. By putting themselves together, they’re almost too big to get bought,” Swaringen said.
He also noted the high cost of building technology, which residential tenants now demand – from online leasing to credit checking to delivering bandwidth and Wi-Fi. Consolidating could reduce those costs.
“Strategically, the rationale is straightforward: scale, liquidity, balance sheet efficiency and overhead synergies,” said David Auerbach, chief investment officer at Hoya Capital Real Estate.
Auerbach said he thinks this could be the first of more megadeals in the space.
“We have WAY too many Apartment REITs out there, and it’s a sector ripe for consolidation,” he wrote in emailed comments to CNBC.
Auerbach noted that the deal comes after a challenging stretch for apartment landlords, who have been dealing with sluggish rent growth due to the post-Covid construction boom that delivered a massive wave of new supply.
Neither Auerbach nor Swaringen said they expect to see any effect on rents. While the combined company’s market share might be growing in certain markets, they are still going to have to compete with the rest of the field. The apartment market is highly diversified, building to building, giving consumers a lot of options.
Regulatory and political scrutiny may arise, given the sheer size of the deal and the current drumbeat on housing affordability. But even after merging, the combined company will have a small market share.
“While there are no antitrust regulatory approvals needed, there is the political PR battle for which we think management well articulated [that] the combined company is < 3% market share and heavily invests in expanding housing,” wrote Alexander Goldfarb, senior analyst with Piper Sandler. “Ultimately, we believe the combined company needs to improve earnings growth beyond the one-time synergies to show bigger is actually more profitable.”
The BBC’s Michelle Fleury reports from Wall Street on recent government filings showing that in the first three months of this year thousands of stock market trades were made on behalf of President Donald Trump.
The trading includes shares in some of America’s biggest companies.
A spokesperson for the Trump Organization said that neither the president, his family or the company played any role in selecting or approving investments. They receive no advance notice of trading activity and provide no input regarding investment decisions or portfolio management, the statement said.
A seasoned consulting specialist at a leading Central Asian bank. The author behind Novo Capital brings half a decade of experience delivering strategic insight and analysis for the bank’s clientele within the private banking branch. Launching the career back in 2020 after graduating from a top CA university, the author developed a resilient methodology forged amidst global market volatility, focusing on corporate valuation, due diligence for investment opportunities, and crafting spot-on forecasts that guide long-term investment strategy. The goal of contributing to Seeking Alpha seems to be quite simple: ideas are worth discussing, and one can gain “alpha” only through gaining out-of-consensus information from opinions few professionals have nowadays. That’s exactly the reason Novo Capital was created.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MSFT either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Chart Of The Day: Yes, The SpaceX Deal Is Enormous
Monadelphous has secured a swag of resources and renewables contracts worth a total of $120 million, including work at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak mine in the Pilbara.
The ASX-listed engineering and mining services contractor told the market on Friday it had locked in work with Rio Tinto, Fortescue and Port Waratah Coal Services.
Rio Tinto awarded a new five-year panel contract for mobile crane and lifting services across its Pilbara port and mine facilities, as well as a three-year contract to continue providing multidisciplinary sustaining capital services.
The company also secured the construction contract for a battery energy storage system at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak mine; the company’s third BESS project for Fortescue.
That work is expected to be completed in the second half of this calendar year.
And Monadelphous has been appointed to three-year panel for structural and mechanical services at Port Waratah Coal Services in New South Wales’ Port of Newcastle.
The works come after Monadelphous secured over $145 million in new bookings last month, including works with Rio, BHP, Queensland Alumina Limited and Harmony Gold.
Shares in Monadelphous were trading up 2.5 per cent at $30.07 at midday AWST on Friday.
Mark Pownall is joined by Tom Zaunmayr, Ella Loneragan and Sam Jones to discuss fracking in the Kimberley, the City of Perth’s dramas, a failed solar project, MinRes’ lithium revival, Victor Goh’s legal dramas, the OBH development pushed out again, Sorrento Beach project, data centres, and startups hit by the budget.
Earnings call transcript: Altri SGPS Q1 2026 sees profit slump amid storms
Markets rise and fall, booms come and go, and the world keeps ticking. Ultimately, I believe observing megatrends, as difficult as they can be to spot, let alone fully comprehend, can yield insights into the advance of human society, which in turn could pave the way for many useful investment insights. As society and technologies evolve, companies and other stakeholders will seize advantages. Figuring out which companies will take the best advantage of any given opportunities is not easy. I am especially interested in macrotrends, futurism, and increasingly, emerging technologies. However, as far as investing is concerned, it’s crucial to pay attention to the fundamentals, quality of leadership, product pipeline, and all the other details. In recent years, I have focused on marketing and business strategy, primarily for medium-sized companies and startups. I have worked in international development, including overseas for a foreign Prime Minister’s office, as well as non-profit work in the United States. Among other tasks, I evaluated startups and emerging industries/technologies. I have also moonlighted as a technology and economic news journalist. Now I’m looking to tie everything together. While my personal interests will always keep megatrends and technological developments in mind, I do believe fundamentals and technicals are vital to uncovering opportunities.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of LYFT either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Business
Nifty Bank rises 650 points as report says RBI unlikely to hike rates to defend rupee; Axis, ICICI, HDFC shares jump up to 2%
The Reserve Bank of India has other levers to deploy and the options are on the table, which are being considered in coordination with the government, Reuters reported citing people familiar with the matter. Inflation continues to remain subdued, and this – not the currency- will guide RBI’s policy on rate hikes, the report added.
This comes as rupee dropped around 6% since the beginning of the raging war between Iran and US late in February, tumbling to a record low near 97 per dollar on Thursday. “There doesn’t seem to be an urgent need for the central bank to jump into rate hikes,” Reuters quoted a source as saying.
Also Read | RBI not in favour of rate hikes to defend rupee, prioritises inflation
Rate hike or no rate hike
Indonesia and Philippines have already raised rates as inflation and currency depreciation risks rise. Interest rate swap markets are pricing in at least 40 bps rate hikes by RBI over the next three months and more than 100 bps over the next year. The report quoted another source as saying that in order to defend the falling rupee, RBI will have to introduce steep rate hikes as smaller increases would have little impact while crimping demand.
Meanwhile, economists at Standard Chartered said in a note on Thursday that RBI is likely to start raising interest rates as early as June on increasing inflation risks from higher crude prices “We expect 50 bps of hikes, split equally between June and August. However, if there is no hike in June, the repo rate could be hiked by 50 bps in August,” it said.
Also Read | RBI rate hikes to start in June, says Standard Chartered
The Reserve Bank of India’s rate-setting panel is set to announce its rate decision on June 5, in its second meeting since the Iran war began. Last month, the RBI had said it would watch the duration and extent of the conflict-led disruptions.
Bank stocks jump
Banks are typically considered among the most exposed sectors to RBI’s repo rate changes. The report that the RBI is unlikely to increase rates may have boosted the stocks. AU Small Finance Bank shares were the top gainers on the index, jumping more than 2%. Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank shares gained around 2% each, while IndusInd Bank shares gained over 1%.
Bank of Baroda, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Federal Bank and Punjab National Bank (PNB) shares gained nearly 1%, while those of IDFC First Bank, Union Bank of India, State Bank of India (SBI) and Canara Bank shares recorded marginal gains.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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ITC has paid dividends worth Rs 90 per share since 2020. Should you buy?
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