After opening the day higher, Indian benchmark indices gave up the gains as the session progressed and ended the day on negative note.Benchmark equity indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 pared the early gains to settle in the negative territory on Tuesday.At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex stood lower by 152 points (down 0.2%).Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty closed lower by 70 points (down 0.3%).BPCL, ICICI Bank, and Britannia are among the top gainers today.Wipro, Bajaj Auto, and Hindalco on the other hand, were among the top losers today.The GIFT Nifty was trading at 25,097 down by 174 points at the time of writing.The BSE MidCap index ended 0.3% higher and the BSE SmallCap index ended 1% higher.Sectoral indices were trading mixed with socks in the realty sector and FMCG sector witnessing buying. Meanwhile, stocks in the metal and auto sector witnessed selling pressure.Infosys, Coforge, and Dixon Technologies hit their respective 52-week highs today.The rupee is trading at 84.03 against the US$.Gold prices for the latest contract on MCX are trading marginally higher at Rs 76,127 per 10 grams.Meanwhile, silver prices were trading marginally lower at Rs 90,675 per 1 kg.
 HDFC Life Q2 ResultsIn news from the insurance sector, leading insurer HDFC Life on Tuesday reported 15% growth in its standalone net profit at Rs 4.3 bn for the second quarter, compared with Rs 3.8 bn in the last year period.Net premium income during the July-September 2024 period increased 12% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 165.7 bn. It was Rs 147.6 bn in the corresponding period of the previous year.The company delivered strong new business premium (individual APE) growth of 31% to Rs 58.6 bn during the first half of the current fiscal, supported by a 22% increase in number of policies sold and a balanced product mix.The value of the new business (VNB) for H1 rose 17% to Rs 16.6 bn, reflecting a focus on writing profitable business.The assets under management (AUM) for the insurer stood at Rs 3.3 trillion (tn) as of September 2024, showing an increase of 23% in H1FY25.During the first half, the 13th and 61st-month persistency ratios improved to 88% and 60% respectively, marking a material increase of 120 basis points and 7.3% respectively versus the previous year period.Embedded Value (EV) crossed the Rs 50,000 crore milestone during the quarter, with a 16% operating return on EV, showcasing sustained long-term value creation for both policyholders and shareholders.
 Why BEML Share Price is RisingMoving on to news from the engineering sector, shares of BEML edged higher after the state-run company bagged a major contract worth Rs 8.7 bn from the Integral Coach Factory for the design, manufacturing, and commissioning of two high-speed trainsets, each comprising 8 cars.The price of each car is Rs 278.6 m and the total contract value of Rs 8,668.7 m which includes design cost, one-time development cost, non-recurring charges, one-time cost towards Jigs, fixtures, tooling, and testing facilities, which will be utilized for all future High-Speed projects in India.The trainsets will be built at BEML’s Bengaluru rail coach complex and are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.Featuring a fully air-conditioned, Chair Car configuration, the trains will offer modern passenger amenities such as reclining and rotatable seats, special provisions for passengers with restricted mobility, and onboard infotainment systems.With advanced manufacturing facilities spread across Bangalore, Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), Mysore, and Palakkad, the company also boasts a robust R&D infrastructure and a widespread sales and service network across the country.BEML, a ‘Schedule A’ company under the Ministry of Defence, plays a key role in supporting India’s critical sectors such as defense, railways, power, mining, and construction. It operates through three main divisions: Defence & Aerospace, Mining & Construction, and Rail & Metro.

Premier Polyfilm Hits Upper Circuit
Moving on to news from the plastic sector, shares of microcap company Premier Polyfilm are at 20% upper circuit for a second day, rising to a record high at a scorching pace of nearly 58% in just five days, after September quarter earnings and triggers related to expansion of business.Earlier on 14 October, Premier Poly, which is in the business of specialty films and sheets, reported its quarterly results posting a net profit of Rs 74.2 m, higher by 44% compared to a year ago. Revenue came in at Rs 787.3 m, higher by 3% on year.Premier Polyfilm also approved an industrial land purchase in Tamil Nadu for future expansion, details of which will be shared at a later date, said the company.The company had in August set up a factory in Bulandshahar District of UP, to make artificial PVC leather, PVC sheets and films, and knitted fabric.The company claims to have a significant share of the vinyl flooring and sheeting market and projects an overall annual growth of over 10% for the sector.Premier Poly has also fixed 5 November as the record date for its stock split.More By This Author:Sensex Today Trades Higher; Nifty Above 25,100Sensex Today Ends 231 Points Higher; Nifty Above 25,200Sensex Today Hits Record High; Nifty Above 25,200