International brokerage Jefferies has refreshed its Bottom-up Analyst Top Ideas, adding seven new names to its list of 23 top buys from a coverage universe of 247 stocks. The latest picks span across sectors from banks, auto, steel, and internet. Here’s the full list of new additions.

State Bank of India – The country’s largest bank has a target price of Rs 1,300 and an upside potential of 20% from current market levels. Jefferies says the lender is well placed to grow its loan book, supported by a lower loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) and stable asset quality. The management is focused on improving return on assets (ROA) beyond the 1–1.1% range, with scope to increase the fee-to-asset ratio from 0.5% in FY25. A key priority will be to accelerate deposit growth from the current 9% to around 11–12% over the next 12–18 months to support sustainable credit expansion.

Groww – Billionbrains Garage Ventures, the parent company of Groww, has a target of Rs 195 per share, an upside of 23% from the last close. Groww is the largest broker in terms of active clients, with a 28% market share, compared with 15% for the second-largest player. This leadership is driven by its strong mutual fund funnel, an easy-to-use UI and UX, and robust word-of-mouth traction. Jefferies forecasts revenue growth of 29% CAGR over FY26–28E, supported by higher product velocity, similar to its US peer Robinhood, and rising client assets as accounts mature, with client assets having grown 6–11x over the past three years.

Star Health & Allied Insurance – Analysts have pegged the target price at Rs 660 per share. That’s an upside potential of 43% from current levels. The company is the leading private health insurer in India, with a dominant presence in the retail health segment and an estimated market share of around 31%, supported by its strong proprietary distribution network. Jefferies also expects the loss ratio to improve as claim frequency stabilises and recent price hikes support higher net earned premiums (NEP). Early signs of this trend are already visible.

Bharat Forge – The automobile company has a target price of Rs 2,150, translating to an upside of 21% from the current levels. Its operational outlook is showing signs of improvement, supported by indications that the US truck cycle is bottoming out, stronger truck demand in India, easing India–US tariff pressures and continued momentum in the defence segment, says Jefferies. According to Jefferies’ US research team, the strength in orders, along with discussions with OEMs, suggests a meaningful pre-buy trend ahead of the EPA 2027 regulation changes.

JSW Steel – With a target price of Rs 1,400, Jefferies forecasts that the counter can gain nearly 20% from the last close of Rs 1,173 on the BSE. It has rapidly expanded its India capacity from 8 mtpa in FY10 to 34 mtpa in FY25. The company has also announced a 1 mtpa Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)-based expansion in Andhra Pradesh, which is expected to take its India capacity to 43 mtpa by FY29E. Overall, JSTL is targeting an India capacity of 50 mtpa by FY31E. We forecast a healthy 6% CAGR in India volumes over FY26–28E.
Eternal – The company has a target price of Rs 480, a staggering 117% upside from current levels. “Eternal has corrected 32% from its Oct-25 peak and offers good upside from current levels in our view,” the brokerage said. Food delivery remains the key cash generator for Zomato, with the segment continuing to grow at over 15% while profitability improves. The business generates strong returns and cash flows, supported by a duopoly market structure and minimal working capital and capex requirements. Management expects growth to accelerate to around 20% in the medium term. The company also sees a large opportunity in quick commerce. Despite intense competition in the segment, Eternal’s Blinkit continues to report strong growth and is the only player to have reached breakeven. This comes even as existing players continue to post significant losses and new entrants are rapidly scaling up their operations.Max Healthcare – The brokerage has assigned a target price of Rs 1,320, translating to an upside of 29% from current levels. Max Healthcare plans to double its bed capacity over the next three to four years, with most of the expansion coming through brownfield additions, which typically have shorter breakeven periods and higher EBITDA margins. The company’s new Dwarka facility broke even in a record six months and began contributing to EBITDA from 4QFY25, underscoring strong demand in Max’s largest market. Recently acquired facilities in Lucknow and Nagpur have also ramped up well, delivering strong EBITDA growth post-acquisition, while recent bed additions indicate sustained demand. The acquisition of Jaypee’s Noida asset has also scaled up effectively and currently operates at high-teens EBITDA margins.

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

Indian equity markets are facing heightened volatility as global uncertainties, rising crude oil prices, and persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) selling continue to weigh on sentiment.

Speaking to ET Now, market expert Amnish Aggarwal from Prabhudas Lilladher said that the current environment is characterised by extreme day-to-day volatility, particularly in commodity prices. “It is too much volatility on a day-to-day basis because if you look at crude, one day it moves from 85 to 115–120, in the next two days it is back and then again it shoots up. So, it is a very volatile situation and there are two aspects to it. One is the volatility in prices and the second issue is the availability of the basic products.” According to him, the uncertainty surrounding global supply chains and commodity availability means that the situation may take time to stabilise. “There is very little which can be done in the near term. It will take some time for things to normalise. If this war continues for long, all countries will look at alternate supply sources, so things will take time to normalise.”

Aggarwal also cautioned that the ongoing disruptions could have a cascading effect on corporate earnings. “This is going to have a cascading impact on earnings both in 4Q and even 1Q might get impacted.” While he does not foresee a severe economic contraction, he believes the knock-on effects on demand and growth could still create challenges for markets. “Even if GDP takes a hit and demand weakens a little due to all these actions, that scenario is not looking good.” Given the prevailing uncertainty, he advised investors to remain cautious for the time being. “Till the time some sanity comes into the situation and supply chain issues get sorted out, it is better to be on the sidelines rather than taking the plunge as of now.”

The banking sector, particularly private lenders, has also witnessed selling pressure in recent weeks. Aggarwal noted that despite liquidity measures such as the CRR cut, other factors are working against banks at the moment. “Despite the CRR cut, G-Sec rates have been going up, so that is one factor. The money market is tight.” He pointed out that one of the few positives in recent months had been strong credit growth. “The silver lining was that there was a good amount of credit growth happening, around 12% to 13%.” However, he warned that continued geopolitical uncertainty and supply disruptions could weigh on lending activity going forward. “If this uncertainty on the war and supply chain disruption continues, there is every probability that credit growth might get hit.”

Rising inflation expectations could also alter the outlook for interest rates. “With increasing inflation expectations in the economy, another rate cut is ruled out, at least in April, and even in the coming three to six months the chances are very little,” he said, adding that unless targeted policy incentives are introduced for certain sectors, the likelihood of lower borrowing costs remains slim. This could also impact banks’ profitability outlook. “The expected NIM expansion which the market was anticipating for FY27 might not happen, so that could be a drag on banks in the near term.” However, he added that valuations in the banking space are not stretched and could attract support eventually.

When asked about the relative positioning of private versus public sector banks, Aggarwal said that private lenders remain fundamentally stronger but are more vulnerable to FII selling due to higher foreign ownership. “Private banks in terms of valuations are better placed compared with their historical averages. But private banks are also where FII holding is higher, so when FII selling happens they suffer more.” He added that if foreign outflows continue, private banks could face more pressure compared with PSU lenders, even though their underlying fundamentals remain sound.
Aggarwal also highlighted the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) dynamics within the banking system, noting that many large private banks are currently operating with relatively stretched LDR levels. “If you look at most of the private banks among the large five or six lenders, no one is below the mid-80s and some banks like HDFC and IDFC are running it in the mid-90s or slightly higher. So definitely, if there is some let-up on that, it will reduce pressure on them to some extent.” However, he cautioned that even liquidity easing measures by the Reserve Bank of India may not provide a strong boost if credit demand itself weakens due to uncertainty in the broader economy. “If the disruption in oil prices and supply chains starts hitting the real economy, then credit growth of 12% to 13% may not sustain.” He added that credit expansion could slow significantly in the coming months. “If the current situation continues, I do not rule out that even in the second half of March or in April those numbers could easily crash down to single digits.”The automobile sector has also experienced significant correction in recent weeks, with leading auto stocks falling nearly 15–20% after a strong rally over the previous six months. Aggarwal said the sector’s outlook now depends on several macro variables, including fuel availability, economic growth, and weather conditions. “If you split autos into three baskets—two-wheelers, passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles—the industry had been doing well since GST rate rationalisation and the CV cycle had also started picking up.” However, he warned that emerging risks could impact demand trends. “The bigger issue to watch out for is El Niño because if El Niño comes, rural demand and rural-centric companies could be on the receiving end.”

In such a scenario, he believes urban-focused passenger vehicle manufacturers could perform relatively better. “Urban-centric, SUV-centric passenger vehicle players stand a better chance.” The outlook for commercial vehicles remains less certain, as the segment is closely tied to freight activity and economic momentum. “If overall haulage does not sustain, then even the CV cycle might get shortened,” he said.

Despite the current volatility, Aggarwal believes there are still selective opportunities for investors. “At this point of time, defence and capital goods continue to look good,” he said, while also suggesting selective exposure to consumer staples and healthcare-related segments. “Be very selective in some of the staples. Pharma and hospitals are also spaces to look at.” Among individual stocks, he pointed to telecom major Bharti as a potential opportunity after the recent correction. “Stocks like Bharti can also be looked at because they have corrected significantly without any fundamental crack.”

For now, however, the broader market remains highly sensitive to global developments, commodity price swings, and geopolitical risks. Until greater clarity emerges and volatility subsides, many analysts believe investors may prefer to adopt a cautious approach and wait for stability to return before making aggressive investment decisions.

The Indian rupee fell to a lifetime low on Friday, strained by worries over how the Iran war-spurred surge in oil prices will impact the growth-inflation dynamics and capital ‌flows for the ⁠South Asian ⁠economy.

A prolonged Middle East conflict could significantly worsen the rupee’s outlook, analysts said, warning that persistently high energy prices may push the currency beyond 95 per dollar.

The rupee dropped to 92.4325 per dollar, eclipsing its previous all-time low of 92.3575 hit on Thursday. It was down about 0.2% on the day and has lost 1.5% since the Iran war broke out.

It would likely have fallen further if not for central bank intervention across the spot, non-deliverable forwards and futures markets. ⁠The central ‌bank was active again on Friday, bankers said.

Investors are bracing for a prolonged conflict, with Middle East war approaching the two-week mark and Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba ⁠Khamenei vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane shut.

In addition to the disruption to energy supplies, the war has triggered foreign investor selling of Indian equities worth nearly $5 billion so far this month, compounding the rupee’s woes.
India’s benchmark equity index Nifty 50 has declined 7% since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, and was down more than 1% on Friday.

WEAKENING TRAJECTORY

Economists and analysts at HDFC Bank, Elara Securities, QuantEco Research and MUFG expect the rupee to remain under pressure in ‌the near term.

If oil prices hold around $100 per barrel, their current level, MUFG expects the currency to weaken to about 95.50 by the end of the year. Elara Securities largely concurred, forecasting a range ⁠of 94-95.

“In a left tail risk scenario,” MUFG said in a note, referring to extreme negative events, “if oil sustains at $120/bbl coupled with meaningful energy shortages, we think USD/INR at 97.50 and even higher will look achievable.”

HDFC Bank expects the rupee to trade in a 92-95 range in the coming months if the conflict persists. Economists at QuantEco Research are more pessimistic, forecasting the currency weakening to 98.5 by the end of March 2027 under a $100-per-barrel oil scenario.

Oil prices at $80 per barrel could cap the rupee’s weakness around 93.50 through the end of 2026, MUFG said.

Tainan, Taiwan — Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) shares rocketed higher on March 11, 2026, climbing more than 10% in heavy trading as investors piled into the semiconductor company’s emerging strengths in ultralow-power AI solutions and automotive display technologies.

HIMX closed at $9.15, up $0.86 or 10.37% from the previous day’s close of $8.29. The stock opened at $8.40 and traded in a range of $8.38 to $9.19 during the session. Volume surged to approximately 2.7 million shares, well above the average daily volume of around 1.1 million, signaling strong investor interest.

The rally extended into after-hours trading in some reports, though gains moderated slightly. As of mid-March 12 activity (considering time zones and market closes), the momentum appeared to carry forward from positive sentiment around Himax’s recent showcase at Embedded World 2026 and broader sector tailwinds in edge AI and intelligent devices.

The sharp move comes after a period of consolidation following softer full-year 2025 results. Himax, a fabless semiconductor firm specializing in display driver ICs (DDICs), timing controllers, touch controllers, CMOS image sensors, and advanced optics, has been navigating a challenging consumer electronics landscape while pivoting toward higher-margin growth areas.

In its February 12, 2026, earnings release for the fourth quarter and full year 2025, Himax reported revenue of $203.1 million for Q4, up 2.0% sequentially and beating analyst expectations of around $199.2 million, though down 14.4% year-over-year. Gross margin held steady at 30.4%, and profit per diluted American Depositary Share (ADS) came in at $0.036 (or 3.6 cents), at the high end of guidance.

For the full year 2025, revenue totaled $832.2 million, an 8.2% decline from 2024 amid weak demand in smartphones, tablets, and traditional large-panel displays. Net profit stood at $43.9 million, or $0.25 per diluted ADS, with gross margin improving slightly to 30.6%. Non-driver IC products, including automotive, WiseEye AI, and optics, grew 7% and now represent about 20% of total revenue, highlighting a strategic shift toward more resilient segments.

Management described Q1 2026 as the likely trough for the year, guiding for revenue to decline 2.0% to 6.0% quarter-over-quarter, with gross margin flat to slightly lower and profit per diluted ADS in the range of 2.0 to 4.0 cents. Executives expressed confidence in a rebound starting in Q2, driven by lean customer inventories, new automotive projects entering mass production, and accelerating contributions from WiseEye ultralow-power AI endpoint solutions.

Himax has positioned itself as a leader in automotive display ICs, holding significant market share in traditional driver ICs, in-cell touch and display driver integration (TDDI), timing controllers (Tcon), and emerging local dimming solutions. The company benefits from trends in digital cockpits, electric vehicles, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), where higher average selling prices (ASPs) and better margins are expected as production ramps.

A key growth driver is the WiseEye platform, which enables always-on, ultralow-power AI processing for endpoint devices in smart home, surveillance, automotive, and access control applications. Recent participation at Embedded World 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany, spotlighted these advancements, with demonstrations of AI-enabled imaging and sensing that analysts say could shift Himax’s competitive stance in edge computing.

Additionally, Himax continues to innovate in augmented reality (AR) and smart glasses through liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) microdisplays, wafer-level optics, and partnerships such as with Vuzix and AUO for lightweight, prescription-ready optical designs unveiled at CES 2026. These efforts target the expanding AR/VR market, where Himax’s front-lit LCoS and high-brightness solutions aim to enable sleeker, more power-efficient devices.

The company’s broader portfolio includes power management ICs, MEMS products, and co-packaged optics (CPO) collaborations, reinforcing its role in next-generation intelligent systems.

Despite the recent surge, HIMX remains volatile. The stock trades within a 52-week range of $5.66 to $9.85 (with some intraday highs pushing toward $12.00 in early March momentum), reflecting sensitivity to semiconductor cycles, geopolitical supply chain dynamics, and demand fluctuations in end markets. Market capitalization hovers around $1.60 billion based on recent pricing and approximately 175 million shares outstanding.

Analyst coverage is mixed but leans cautiously optimistic. Consensus estimates point to modest revenue growth in 2026, with some projections for rebounding automotive and AI-driven segments. The forward dividend yield remains attractive at around 4%, supported by a consistent payout policy, though ex-dividend dates and amounts are subject to board approval.

Investors are closely watching for signs of sustained recovery. Upcoming catalysts include the May 2026 first-quarter earnings report, potential updates on automotive ramps, and progress in WiseEye and AR deployments. While near-term visibility remains limited in some areas, Himax’s execution in diversifying beyond traditional display drivers positions it to benefit from secular trends in electrification, AI proliferation, and immersive technologies.

The semiconductor industry faces ongoing headwinds from inventory digestion and macroeconomic uncertainty, but Himax’s focus on specialized, high-value applications has drawn renewed attention amid the March rally. Whether the momentum sustains will depend on delivery against guidance and tangible wins in emerging markets.

For now, HIMX serves as a barometer for niche players bridging legacy display tech with futuristic AI and optics, offering both risks and rewards in a rapidly evolving sector.

The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, entered its 41st day on March 13, 2026, with authorities reporting no major breakthroughs but insisting the investigation remains active and promising.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen entering her Catalina Foothills home on the evening of Jan. 31 after a family dinner with her daughter Annie. She failed to appear for church the next day, prompting a missing person report Feb. 1. Pima County Sheriff’s Office investigators quickly classified the case as an abduction, believing she was taken against her will from her residence. No arrests have been made, and no suspect has been publicly identified.

Sheriff Chris Nanos provided an update March 12, describing the case as “targeted” and expressing confidence that detectives are “definitely closer” to identifying those responsible. He highlighted ongoing forensic analysis, including shoe casting tests and review of thousands of hours of surveillance footage collected by the FBI. An elite team at FBI headquarters in Quantico is assisting with evidence processing, while local teams continue canvassing leads and following tips.

A key focus remains on physical evidence from the home, now treated as a crime scene. Resurfaced 2013 “Today” show footage offering a glimpse inside Nancy Guthrie’s bedroom has drawn scrutiny, with commentators like Megyn Kelly suggesting it may have inadvertently aided potential perpetrators by revealing layout details. Investigators have examined a damaged utility box and possible internet/power outages around the time of the disappearance, which disrupted nearby surveillance cameras.

Multiple alleged ransom notes and messages have surfaced, including one probed for authenticity in early February. Authorities dismissed at least one as a hoax, charging an individual with attempting to profit from the case. The family has publicly addressed purported demands, urging any legitimate contact to provide proof of life.

The Guthrie family—Savannah, Annie, and brother Camron—has remained vocal, posting emotional videos pleading for information and expressing faith amid uncertainty. In late February, Savannah announced a $1 million family reward for details leading to her mother’s recovery, supplementing the FBI’s $200,000 offer ($100,000 anonymous donation). “We still believe in a miracle,” Savannah said in one message, while acknowledging the pain of not knowing. “Every hour has been agony… but we hold onto hope.”

Savannah returned briefly to the “Today” set March 5 for the first time since the disappearance, thanking colleagues before resuming work in New York. Family members have visited the home periodically, including a March sighting where they interacted with a memorial of notes and flowers outside the residence.

Community response includes banners of support at local newsrooms and prayers from churches. A proposed search by the United Cajun Navy was reportedly rejected by authorities, citing operational concerns. Cadaver dog deployments have paused in recent weeks, though ground searches in desert terrain continue sporadically.

The case has spotlighted challenges in missing persons investigations involving the elderly living alone, with experts noting ambiguous loss can freeze grief processes. Former FBI agents have described potential capture as “underwhelming,” suggesting a mundane resolution rather than dramatic breakthrough.

As the investigation stretches into its sixth week, tips continue flowing to the Pima County Sheriff’s tip line and FBI hotline. Authorities urge anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward, emphasizing that even peripheral details could prove crucial.

Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance has gripped national attention due to her daughter’s prominence, yet officials stress treating it as they would any abduction case. With no confirmed sightings or ransom proof of life since early February, the family and investigators cling to hope while pursuing every avenue.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office reiterated March 12 that the case is far from cold, with “a lot of intel” under review. As days turn to weeks, the plea remains unchanged: Bring Nancy home.