The GIFT Nifty futures were trading slightly in the red before the market’s opening on Wednesday. Domestic Indices are expected to open on a similar flat-to-negative note.

Domestic equity indices, NSE Nifty 50 and S&P BSE Sensex ended higher on Tuesday, breaking their three-day losing streak. Nifty rose 79.5 points or 0.40% to 19,811.50, while the Sensex settled 0.39% or 261.16 points higher at 66,428.09. 

Here are some stocks in the news on October 18.

Housing And Urban Development Corp (HUDCO): The government plans to divest a 7% stake, which includes a green shoe option of 3.5%, in HUDCO, totalling 14 crore shares, through the offer for sale (OFS) route at a floor price of Rs 79 per share. 

L&T Technology Services (LTTS): The IT services company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 315.4 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, a 5.1% growth from Rs 311 crore in the March-ended quarter. The company’s revenue from operations also rose by 4.6% YoY to Rs 2,386.50 crore. 

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance: The life insurer posted a 22.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase in its net profit at Rs 244.25 crore in the September-ended quarter, from Rs 200 crore in the corresponding period last year.

Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC), IDFC First Bank: The Competition Commission of India (CCI), in a letter dated October 17, has approved the merger of IDFC with IDFC FIRST Bank under the Green Channel Route.

Companies announcing their Quarterly Results today: Astral, Bajaj Auto, Bandhan Bank, Heritage Foods, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, IIFL Finance, IndusInd Bank, LTIMindtree, Oracle Financial Services Software, Persistent Systems, Polycab Technologies, Shoppers Stop, Titagarh Rail Systems, UTI AMC, Wipro and others.