News I read on 20th July

1) FPIs remained net sellers in Indian markets in July so far as they pulled out Rs 9,015 crore from equities and debt securities with the surging markets providing profit booking opportunity amid concerns over rising cases of COVID-19.
Ref: Financial Express 

3) FMCG companies, which saw sales recovering to pre-COVID-19 levels in June, are uncertain if the same momentum could be maintained in July due to intermittent and localized lockdowns in several parts of the country.
Ref: Livemint 

4) India's largest commodities exchange, MCX, has said in a circular that it will go live with new trading software that allows trading at negative prices.
Ref: Business Standard 

5) The proportion of manufacturing units reporting an increase in output dropped to 10% during April-June 2020 from 15% in the previous quarter, according to a quarterly poll by industry body FICCI.
Ref: Livemint 

6) The combined weight of IT companies in the benchmark Nifty 50 index is now at a five-year high of 15 percent as these companies continue to outperform the broader market, which accounted for 12.9% at end of 2019.
Ref: Business Standard 

7) The rising cost of debt resolution of several bankrupt companies is becoming a worrying factor for the banking sector, as a substantial part of the income of such companies is going towards compensating resolution professionals and other consultants hired to complete the process.
Ref: Business Standard 

9) At least seven Indian pharma companies are working to develop a vaccine against coronavirus as they join global efforts to find a preventive to check the spread of the deadly virus.
Ref: Business Standard 

On Friday, NIFTY closed 161.75 Points higher at 10,901.70

VIX dropped by 4.75% and closed at 24.16, the usual safe range for VIX is between 12 to 20.

SGX Nifty trading 41.25 points lower at 08:00 am, Indian Time