stocks to watch: Domestic equity markets are expected to open with gains on Friday, January 2. GIFT Nifty futures suggest that the Nifty 50 index will open 48 points higher.
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Here is a list of stocks that may be in focus today.
Devyani International, Sapphire Foods:Shares will be in focus as companies prepare to merge to create a single unified Yum! Indian franchise for KFC and Pizza Hut.
Sapphire Foods, franchise operator of Yum! Brands’ restaurants, KFC and Pizza Hut, will merge with Devyani International Limited, one of India’s largest and fastest growing chains of quick-service restaurant (QSR) operators, which also operates similar brands, through a share-swap ratio.
The boards of Devyani International Limited (DIL) and Sapphire Foods India Limited (SFIL) in their respective meetings held on Thursday approved the scheme of arrangement of merger with SFIL and DIL, marking the strategic integration of the two companies.
The strategic integration of the two QSR operators will also create “a single integrated Yum! India franchise for KFC and Pizza Hut,” it said in a late night joint statement.
ITC, Other Tobacco Stock: The Finance Ministry has notified amendments to the Central Excise Act, which will levy excise duty of ₹2,050 to ₹8,500 per 1,000 sticks, depending on the length of the cigarette, from February 1. This fee will be more than 40% GST.
The ministry has also notified the Health and National Security Cess Act, imposing a cess on the manufacturing capacity of pan masala-related businesses from February 1.
Considering 40% GST, the total tax burden on Pan Masala will be retained at the current level of 88%.
The revised tax structure replaces the existing regime of 28% GST along with compensation cess on tobacco and related products.
vodafone idea: Shares of Vodafone Idea (Vi) will be on investors’ radar as the telecom company received a GST penalty notice of ₹638 crore from the office of the Additional Commissioner, Central Goods and Services Tax, Ahmedabad on Thursday, January 1.
Bharat Electronics (BEL):Shares will be in focus as the firm received an additional order on Thursday, January 1. The Navratna defense PSU company has secured additional orders worth ₹569 crore since its last disclosure on December 29, 2025. The orders received include communication equipment, medical electronics, immediate fire detection and suppression systems, upgrades, spares, services etc.
On December 29, 2025, BEL had received major orders for radars, tank overhaul, communication equipment, fire control systems, simulators, antenna stabilization systems, security software, components, upgrades, spares, services and more.
Aurobindo Pharma: Auro Pharma, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma, in its meeting held on Monday i.e. January 1, 2026, has approved the acquisition of Non-Oncology Prescription Formulation Business (“Business”) of Khandelwal Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. on a going concern basis through a Business Transfer Agreement (“BTA”).
Olectra Greentech: The Company has announced December 31, 2025 as the Commercial Operation Date (COD) for its Greenfield Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility located at Sitarampur, Hyderabad, Telangana (“Facility”) with an annual per shift production capacity of 2,500 buses.
“This announcement has been communicated to State Bank of India (the “Lender”). This Phase I capacity achievement of 2,500 buses per annum represents 50% of the planned per-shift annual capacity of 5,000 buses per annum,” the company said.
TVS Motor Company: TVS Motor Company on Thursday reported 50% growth in sales to 4,81,389 units in December 2025 from 3,21,687 units in the same month of 2024.
Total two-wheeler sales increased 48% to 4,61,071 units last month compared to 3,12,002 units in December 2024, the company said in a statement.
It said domestic two-wheeler sales increased by 54% to 3,30,362 units from 2,15,075 units in the same month a year ago.
Hero MotoCorp: Two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Thursday said wholesale sales increased by 40% to 4,56,479 units in December 2025, compared to 3,24,906 units in the same month of 2024.
Domestic sales stood at 4,19,243 units last month, up from 2,94,152 units in December 2024.
This reflects strong demand driven by continued festive momentum, new launches and strong performance in both ICE and EV scooter portfolios, Hero MotoCorp said in a regulatory filing.
Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL): Maruti Suzuki India will soon take a decision on whether to increase prices of its small cars for which it had cut rates last year in addition to the GST benefit of 8.5%, a senior company official said on Thursday.
In September last year, after the implementation of GST 2.0, the company had cut the prices of the entry-level Model S Presso by up to ₹1,29,600; Alto K10 hiked to ₹1,07,600; The price of Celerio has increased by ₹ 94,100 and that of Wagon-R by ₹ 79,600.
“In small cars, our objective in doing strategic pricing was to increase motorisation…,” Maruti Suzuki India senior executive officer, marketing and sales, Partho Banerjee told reporters in an interaction.
MOIL:The company has fixed/revised the prices of various grades of manganese ore and other products with effect from January 1, 2026. Here is the list.
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The prices of all ferro grades of manganese ore with manganese content of Mn-44% and above have been increased by 3% over the prevailing prices for January 2026 with effect from midnight of 31.12.2025/01.01.2026.
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Mn-The prices of all other ferro grades of manganese ore with manganese content below 44% have been increased by 3% over the prevailing prices for January 2026 with effect from midnight of 31.12.2025/01.01.2026.
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SMGR (MN-30%) and Fine grade prices have been increased by 5% over the prevailing prices from 01.12.2025 to midnight of 31.12.2025/01.01.2026 for January 2026.
Punjab and Sindh Bank:Bank shares will be in focus as the lender releases its business update for the December quarter. Its total business grew by 3.49% QoQ and 11.84% YoY.
Total deposits grew 2.58% quarter-on-quarter and 9.27% year-on-year.
Indian Bank:The bank shared its business update for the last quarter (Q3 FY26). Total business grew by 13.4% year-on-year, while total deposits increased by 12.5% year-on-year. Gross advances increased by 14.5%.
South Indian Bank: In its business update for the quarter ending December 31, 2025, the lender said gross advances grew by 11.27% year-on-year, while total deposits grew by 12.17%.
kpi green energy: KPI Green Energy on Thursday announced securing approval to connect 32.40 MW of solar and hybrid projects to the main power grid.
In an exchange filing the company said it developed these projects for its subsidiary’s clients.
“We have received charging/energization approval for 32.40 MW of solar and hybrid solar power projects under our CPP business segment,” it said.
With inputs from PTI