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Falling for the fourth straight day, benchmark Sensex declined by nearly 425 points on Friday due to selling in auto, pharma and banking shares and relentless foreign fund outflows.Stocks that were in focus include names like NHPC, which spiked 0.15% and ITI, which gained 5% and JSW Energy, whose shares rose 5.8% on Friday.Here's what Ameya Ranadive, Sr Technical Analyst at StoxBox, recommends investors should do with these stocks when the market resumes trading today.NHPCNHPC is currently trading at Rs 80 and has been consolidating within a range of Rs 72-83 for the past few months, reflecting a sideways trend. The stock has recently witnessed a notable spike in volumes over the last two sessions, indicating increased market participation.The RSI stands at 59, signaling improving momentum, while the ADX has shown a positive crossover, hinting at a potential trend strengthening. Additionally, NHPC is trading above its 20-day and 50-day EMAs, suggesting early signs of trend reversal. However, it continues to face resistance at the 100-day EMA, which remains a key hurdle for further upside.Despite the improving technical indicators, NHPC remains in a no-trade zone until it decisively breaks and sustains above ₹83 for at least a couple of sessions. A confirmed breakout above this level could trigger fresh buying interest, paving the way for higher levels.Conversely, failure to surpass this resistance may lead to continued range-bound movement. Investors should wait for a clear breakout before taking positions, ensuring a favorable risk-reward setup.ITIITI is currently trading at Rs 282 after three consecutive sessions of 5% upper circuits, reflecting a strong rebound from oversold conditions. The stock had witnessed prolonged selling pressure, but recent price action suggests renewed buying interest.The RSI is at 42, indicating that the stock has further room for upside as momentum continues to build. With this reversal, ITI has established a strong base, making it an attractive candidate for medium-term gains. A sustained move beyond Rs 285-290 would further strengthen the bullish outlook, supporting an extended recovery.Given the current technical structure, ITI presents a favorable risk-reward opportunity. Traders and investors can consider fresh positions with an upside target of Rs 300-325 in the mid-term.However, a decisive breakdown below Rs 255 would invalidate the positive view and may lead to renewed weakness. Close monitoring of price action is crucial, as sustained strength above key resistance zones could confirm a trend reversal and offer lucrative opportunities.JSW EnergyJSW Energy is currently trading at Rs 502, having found strong support at Rs 440, where it witnessed a notable rebound. Increased volume activity in recent sessions indicates heightened investor interest, suggesting renewed buying momentum.A key technical development is the stock's breakout above the 20-day EMA, signaling a shift in momentum. The RSI stands at 52, reflecting a neutral to bullish outlook. To maintain its upward trajectory, JSW Energy must hold above the crucial Rs 495-500 zone in the coming sessions.If the stock sustains above this support level, it has the potential to reach medium-term targets of Rs 565-600. The risk-reward ratio remains favorable, with stop-loss placed below ₹460 to mitigate downside risks.Investors should keep a close watch on price action, as continued buying interest at current levels could further strengthen the stock’s trend. Sustained momentum could drive further gains, making JSW Energy an attractive opportunity for traders.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

Pope Francis remained in critical condition Sunday and blood tests showed early kidney failure but he remains alert, responsive and attended Mass, the Vatican said, as the 88-year-old pontiff battles pneumonia and a complex lung infection. In a late update, the Vatican said Francis hadn't had any more respiratory crises since Saturday night but was still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen. Some blood tests showed "initial, mild, kidney failure," but doctors said it was under control. "The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for drug therapies to provide some feedback, dictate that the prognosis remains guarded," Francis' doctors concluded. Prayers for Francis, meanwhile, poured in from around the world, from his native Argentina to the seat of Sunni Islam in Cairo to schoolchildren in Rome. In New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan admitted what church leaders in Rome weren't saying publicly: that the Catholic faithful were united "at the bedside of a dying father." "As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death," Dolan said in his homily from the pulpit of St. Patrick's Cathedral, though he later told reporters he hoped and prayed that Francis would "bounce back." Doctors have said Francis' condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease. His condition has revived speculation about what might happen if he becomes unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, and whether he might resign. Prayers for pope at Vatican Francis was supposed to celebrate Mass on Sunday morning in St. Peter's Basilica and ordain deacons as part of the Vatican's yearlong Holy Year commemoration. The organizer of the Holy Year, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, celebrated the Mass in his place and offered a special prayer for Francis from the altar before delivering the homily the pope had prepared. "Even though he is in a hospital bed, we feel Pope Francis close to us. We feel him present among us," Fisichella told the hundreds of white-robed deacons. A pre-written message that had been prepared for Francis to read Sunday, but he did not deliver, said he was "confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!" The message asked for prayers for him - as he always asks - and noted the upcoming anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, "a painful and shameful occasion for the whole of humanity." Meanwhile in Francis' native Argentina, Catholics prayed for the pope at the Buenos Aires cathedral and the city's iconic obelisk was lit up "Francis, the city prays for you." In Cairo, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the seat of Sunni learning who forged a close bond with Francis, wished him well. "I pray to Allah to grant my dear brother, Pope Francis, a swift recovery and to bless him with good health and well-being so that he may continue his journey in serving humanity," Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb wrote in a Facebook post. The American Jewish Committee also offered prayers. "We stand together with our Catholic brothers and sisters during this challenging time," the group wrote on X. And school children from around Rome deluged the Gemelli hospital with get-well cards, while Italian bishops led rosary prayers and celebrated special Masses across Italy. The main threat facing the pope is sepsis Doctors have warned that the main threat facing Francis is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. To date there has been no reference to any onset of sepsis in the medical updates provided by the Vatican, including on Sunday. On Saturday, Francis developed a low platelet count, which remained low but stable Sunday. Platelets are cell-like fragments that circulate in the blood that help form blood clots to stop bleeding or help wounds heal. Low platelet counts can be caused by a number of things, including side effects from medicines or infections. Francis also developed anemia and, during blood transfusions Saturday, was given hematin, a treatment designed to increase the level of hemoglobin in his his blood, which in turn helps the blood carry more oxygen. Doctors reported Sunday that the therapy had been beneficial. Francis, who has chronic lung disease and is prone to bronchitis in winter, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed "absolute rest" and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it. Francis' recent reforms suggest he knew he was getting older and more fragile Francis has taken several recent decisions that suggest he was well aware that he was getting old and frail. Last year, he revised the funeral rites that will be used after he dies, simplifying the rituals to emphasize his role as a mere bishop and allowing for burial outside the Vatican in keeping with his wishes. But the core elements of the rites remain, including the three key moments that must be observed between the death of a pope and his funeral: In his home, in St. Peter's Basilica and in the place of burial. In December, Francis created 21 new cardinals. All but one were under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor. Their additions brought the overall number of voting-age cardinals to 140, well over the 120 limit set by St. John Paul II. But several of the current electors are turning 80 this year, bringing the number down. Earlier this month, once he was already sick, Francis decided to extend the five-year term of the current dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, rather than make way for someone new. As depicted in the film "Conclave," the dean of the College of Cardinals plays an important role in the life of the Catholic hierarchy, and is a crucial figure during the transition between one papacy and the next. Francis also decided to extend the term of the vice-dean, Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81.

Mumbai: Nifty's valuation is set to expand by 2.5% following the inclusion of food delivery platform Zomato and Reliance Industries' non-banking financial arm, Jio Financial Services, in the index on March 28.According to back-of-the-envelope calculations, the benchmark's price-to-earnings (PE) ratio - a key valuation measure - based on earnings in the past 12 months is expected to increase from 20.86 times on Friday to 21.37 times after the addition of Zomato and Jio Financial. Both stocks trade at significantly higher valuations compared to Britannia and Bharat Petroleum, which are being excluded from the index.The changes would make Nifty's valuations look more expensive, a key factor for the unrelenting selling by foreign investors in Indian equities since October."The structural shift in Nifty composition towards high-growth, high-valuation stocks will likely continue pushing the index's PE higher," said Vinod Karki, equity strategist at ICICI Securities. "On a like-to-like basis, Nifty would have appeared 8-10% cheaper with a trailing PE of 20 and FY26 PE of 17.9, assuming 2018 index constituents had not changed."118515998Zomato which was listed in 2021 is currently trading at a PE of 341 times its trailing 12-month earnings while Jio Financial, the demerged financial entity from Reliance Industries trading at 126 times, as per the NSE website. The PE of outgoing stocks - Britannia and Bharat Petroleum - are at 53 times and 8.5 times, respectively.Nifty has corrected 11.6% since October 1 last year, helping its PE ratio soften by 16.45% during this period. Even after the recent declines, Indian equities remain among the most expensive in emerging markets. Taiwan, the second most expensive among emerging markets, is trading at a PE of 18.75 times, while China and South Korea are trading at around 10. Analysts said index inclusion norms must be tweaked as current rules allow the addition of non-profitable businesses too."Over time, as more such companies get listed and outperform, they will secure their place in the Nifty 100 and eventually the Nifty 50, given that the current methodology does not exclude non-profitable businesses," said Abhilash Pagaria, head of Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research. "This structural shift suggests that the traditional PE framework may need a revised perspective to account for the evolving market composition."On September 30 last year, Bharat Electronics and Trent were added to the Nifty50 index when they were trading at a PE of 49 and 155 times. They were added in place of LTI Mindtree and Divi's Lab, which were trading at a PE of 40 and 86 times, respectively."The trend is peculiar given that the divergence of PE of incoming and outgoing stocks at the time of index changes was very high and above normal levels," said Karki. "However, the bulk of earnings growth still comes from financials and energy, which have seen a contrasting trend of valuation compression."