Asian stocks took a breather on the last trading day of the year and are set to snap their two-year losing streak with investors buoyed by the expectations that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates next year.The Nikkei is trading 0.3% lower while the Hang Seng index is trading 0.5% lower.US stocks closed marginally higher on Thursday, the penultimate trading day of what’s been a strong year for stocks.Here’s a table showing how US stocks performed on Thursday:

Source: EquitymasterAt present, the BSE Sensex is trading 147 points lower and NSE Nifty is trading 33 points lower.Tata Motors and Adani Ports are among the top gainers today.BPCL and NTPC on the other hand are among the top losers today.Broader markets are trading higher. The BSE Mid Cap and the BSE Small Cap index are trading higher by 0.2%.Sectoral indices are trading mixed, with socks in the power sector and finance sector witnessing the most buying. Meanwhile, stocks in the oil & gas sector and energy sector witness selling pressureThe rupee is trading at Rs 83.17 against the US dollar.In commodity markets, gold prices are trading 0.2% lower at Rs 63,262 per 10 grams today.Meanwhile, silver prices are trading 0.9% lower at Rs 74,300 per 1 kg.Now track the biggest movers of the stock market using the stocks to watch today section. This should help you keep updated with the latest developments…
 Railtel New Order WinThe South Central Railway has awarded the company a work order worth Rs 1.2 billion (bn) for the provision of an automatic block signaling system in the Yermaras-Nalwar section of the Guntakal division. The work includes comprehensive signaling and telecommunication.Apart from this, PSU RailTel has been tasked with implementing an integrated tunnel communication system along the new single-line Bhairabi-Sairang section of the Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).The public sector undertaking will also undertake emergency call arrangements in tunnels and integrated passenger information systems at railway stations along the section.Railtel Corporation of India is one of the largest telecom infrastructure providers in the country. It is owned by the Government of India under the Ministry of Railways (MoR).

Sirius, Adani to create JV
Adani Enterprises partnered with Sirius International Holding, a subsidiary of IHC (International Holding Company), to create a joint venture named Sirius JV, according to a company statement.The latest venture will capitalize on the global digital transformation and lead the US$ 175 bn opportunity in the digitalization of the Indian economy.Sirius JV seeks deployment of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Secured Blockchain Products for industrial applications across FinTech, HealthTech, and GreenTech.Sirius JV will capitalize on the global digital transformation expertise of Sirius and Adani’s strategic insights. This digital opportunity rapidly evolves to become a US$ 1 trillion (tn) market by 2030.Inexpensive sensorisation and the power of artificial intelligence are opening up new ways to drive extreme levels of efficiency, ensure real-time decision-making, and rapidly deploy transformative business models.The power of computing and the ability to deliver green energy to data centers creates a unique combination of strengths that we bring to this partnership with Sirius International Holding, which has a portfolio of the most exciting digital companies relevant in today’s era.Initial deployment to leverage Adani Group’s vast industrial testbed to validate and scale its solutions.The completion of the transaction shall be upon satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of necessary approvals.
 PNB to Raise FundsPunjab National Bank on Thursday said its board has approved a proposal to raise Rs 75 bn capital through QIP or FPO.The fundraising exercise will be done in one or more tranches during the next financial year.The board of directors, during a meeting on 28 December, approved the proposal for raising equity capital for an amount aggregating up to Rs 75 bn in one or more tranches during 2024-25 through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) or Follow-on Public Offering (FPO) or any other permitted mode or a combination.Public sector undertakings (PSUs) are an important component of India’s economy, and several companies are owned and operated by the government.Punjab National Bank, abbreviated as PNB, is an Indian government-owned bank.It’s under the ownership of the Ministry of finance, the government of India headquartered in New Delhi, India.More By This Author:Sensex Today Ends 372 Points Higher; Nifty Above 21,750 Sensex Today Hits Record High; Nifty Above 21,700Sensex Today Rallies 702 Points, Nifty Above 21,600