Stock Market Highlights Today: BSE Sensex ends over 260 points up, Nifty50 crosses 24,250 - The Times of India

• Zacks Research downgraded FOX (NASDAQ:FOX) from a “strong-buy” to a “hold” rating in an investor note issued on Wednesday. • In a contrasting move on June 24th, Weiss Ratings upgraded FOX shares from a “buy (b-)” to a “buy (b)” rating.

• Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) shares rose 0.44% to C$170.01 on July 3, 2026, though they lagged the S&P/TSX Composite Index's 0.88% gain. • The bank has seen significant growth, with its market cap increasing by C$44.3 billion (16.2%) since April 30 and a total one-year rise of 67.18%.

• On July 3, 2026, the Indian stock market saw the Sensex climb 300 points and the Nifty 50 rise above 24,200, supported by a sustained rally in IT stocks. • Simultaneously, Bitcoin rose 2.3% to trade near $61,500, contributing to a global cryptocurrency market capitalization of approximately $2.13 trillion.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new record high on Thursday, though overall market indexes remained mixed due to a slump in AI-related computer chip stocks. • Market sentiment was influenced by a U.S. employment report showing 57,000 jobs added last month, falling short of the 100,000 positions economists had anticipated.

• The BSE Sensex gained 262 points and the Nifty settled above 24,200 on July 3, driven by a nearly 6% surge in HCL Tech shares. • Market growth was supported by Brent crude prices slipping below $71 per barrel, marking their lowest level since late February.

• Indian benchmark indices rose on July 3, with the Sensex gaining nearly 480 points and the Nifty crossing the 24,300 mark. • The rally was primarily driven by IT stocks, highlighted by HCL Technologies which saw a rise of over 4%.

• Bajaj Broking Research has released its top stock recommendations for investors to consider on July 3, 2026. • The research firm specifically identifies ITC and Ramco Industries as the primary stocks to buy.

• African markets are entering the second half of the year facing increased pressure on bank balance sheets and rising borrowing costs. • Renewed tensions between the United States and Iran have spiked global energy prices, leading households and businesses in South Africa to raise inflation expectations.

• The MSCI Emerging Markets Index has become heavily over-concentrated in East Asia, effectively serving as a proxy for a single region rather than a diversified global emerging market set. • This concentration is further intensified by a growing reliance on a single sector, limiting the index's ability to represent the broader economic diversity of emerging nations.

• The NYSE and Nasdaq will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. • Because July 4 falls on a Saturday, the federal government and financial markets have shifted the holiday observance to the preceding Friday.

• The Indian stock market closed higher, with the Sensex gaining 262 points and the Nifty index finishing above the 24,250 mark. • Growth was driven by the IT, pharma, and realty sectors, with Nifty Realty leading the gains at 2 percent, followed by Nifty IT and Nifty Pharma at 1.7 percent each.