India recorded 122 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in a span of 24 hours, the highest so far, pushing its tally in the country to 358, 114 of which have recovered or migrated, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

The 358 Omicron Covid variant cases have been detected across 17 states and union territories so far, it showed.

Shares of L&T Finance Holdings dipped 7 per cent to Rs 77.05 on the BSE in Friday’s intra-day trade amid heavy volumes after the company announced divestment of its Asset Management business.

The stock of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Group company had hit a 52-week low of Rs 71.55 on Monday, December 20, 2021. It touched 52-week high of Rs 113.40 on March 3, 2021. At 10:08 am, L&T Finance Holdings was down 6.4 per cent, as compared to 0.7 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex.

Data Patterns (India) Ltd (DPL) has made a strong market debut, with its shares listed at Rs 864, a 48 per cent premium over its issue price of Rs 585 per share on the BSE. The stock opened at Rs 856.05, 46 per cent higher against the issue price on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

At 10:01 am; Data Patterns traded at Rs 808.05, up 38 per cent when compared to its issue price on the BSE. The stock hit a low of Rs 805 on the BSE and Rs 800.10 on the NSE, respectively, in intra-day trades. A combined 3.6 million equity shares changed hands at the counter on the NSE and BSE.

Shares of HCL Technologies were up 5 per cent at Rs 1,283.80 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in Friday’s intra-day trade on back of heavy volumes as more than 7 million equity shares changed hands at the counter on the BSE and the NSE.

The stock of information technology (IT) consulting & software firm was trading at its highest level since October 14, 2021. It had hit a record high of Rs 1,377.75 on September 24, 2021.

Researchers at IIT Kanpur (IIT-K) have predicted that a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which may be triggered by the new Omicron variant, may peak in India by February 3, 2022.

A report, published in the online preprint health server MedRxiv, said: Following the trends around the world, this project report forecasts India's third wave may start around mid-December and peak in the beginning of February.

The Enforcement Directorate has slapped an aggregate penalty of Rs 80 crore on Magma HDI General Insurance, Sanjay Chamria, and Mayank Poddar for breach of provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Regulations.

The action pertains to the matter concerning the capital raise in 2012 in Magma HDI and Poonawalla Fincorp (Erstwhile Magma Fincorp), according to the stock exch­ange.

Sixty three Indian corporates raised an all-time high Rs 1.18 lakh crore through main board IPOs in calendar 2021.

This was nearly 4.5 times Rs 26,613 crore raised through 15 IPOs in 2020 and almost double of the previous best year 2017 in which Rs 68,827 crore was raised.

Ashok Leyland, India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, on Thursday launched a new truck called AVTR 3120.

The launch of the three-axle 6x2 Dual Tyre Lift Axle (DTLA) truck makes Ashok Leyland the first and only player in the country to have a full range of dual tyre lift axle (DTLA) truck range: having 31T, 40.5T, and 47.5T GVW nodes, said the company.

Telangana reported 14 new cases of the new COVID variant, Omicron in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

With this, the total number of Omicron cases rose to 38 in the state.

According to the state health department, as many as 259 passengers were screened at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday out of which 4 cases were tested RTPCR positive.

The price of tomatoes came down in all the major cities of the country in comparison to the corresponding price registered last one week and month.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on Wednesday, the price of tomatoes at the all India level as registered on Tuesday (December 21) was lower by 12.89 per cent as compared to last one week and by 23.69 per cent as compared to the last one month.

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