India's market for initial public offerings is expected to gather pace in 2020 after this year's relatively small crop saw strong gains in the stock market.

The 14 mainboard IPOs this year have risen by an average of more than 50% since listing, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Shares of Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) hit an all-time high of Rs 2,363, up 2 per cent on the BSE on Friday after the company completed the acquisition of HDFC Credila Financial Services. The stock surpassed has its previous high of Rs 2,357 hit on July 18, 2019.

"The Corporation has completed acquisition of 11.47 million equity shares, representing 9.12 per cent of total equity of HDFC Credila for a total consideration of Rs 395 crore, from its promoter Ajay Bohora and Anil Bohora," HDFC said in a regulatory filing.

Shares of Tata Motors surged 6 per cent to Rs 184, an over six-month high level, in intra-day trade on Friday on the back of heavy volumes. The automobile major's stock has gained 14 per cent in the past two trading days on the BSE. It was trading at its highest level since May 28, 2019.

At 10:56 am, Tata Motors had erased its early morning gain and was trading 4 per cent higher at Rs 180 on the BSE. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.83 per cent at 40,916 points.

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to pass any order on the pleas by two women activists seeking a direction to the Kerala government to ensure safe entry of women in the Sabarimala temple under police protection.

The top court said the issue was very emotive and it did not want the situation to become explosive.

Banking counters such as IDBI Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), YES Bank, and ICICI Bank, were trading higher on Friday after reports suggested that the government is considering increasing the government bond investment limit of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to at least 10 per cent of the outstanding, from 6 per cent now, with an aim to incorporate local bonds into global bond indices.

According to a Business Standard report, the central bank, however, wants the government to go slow and first check how the currency risk is covered from the issuer perspective, before increasing the limits further.

The hearing in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case will be conducted in Delhi's Patiala Court on Friday with the four convicts appearing via video conferencing. The decision was taken citing security reasons and a threat to their lives by the enraged public over the rise in the number of rape incidents in the country. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 AM.

Currently, the court is hearing a plea filed by the victim's parents seeking execution of all the convicts to be expedited. Counsel for Nirbhaya's parents, Seema Kushwaha, had sought issuance of death warrant against them without any delay.

Surging gold prices in India are keeping customs officials on their toes.

Illegal inflows have jumped after the Indian government increased import taxes in July and prices surged to record highs in September. Customs officials have arrested people for attempting to smuggle in gold by concealing it in bags, clothes and their rectums. On one flight alone, officials caught 30 passengers trying to smuggle in 7.5 kg of gold into Chennai.

Indian Railways passengers, commoners can now book tickets for visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. In a joint initiative by the national transporter and Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, help-desks are being opened at Varanasi Junction Railway Station, also known as Varanasi Cantt Railway Station (BSB). Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi officially launched the help-desk project at the station premises earlier this year.

The Supreme Court on Thursday said there should be an impartial inquiry into the encounter killings of the four men accused in the gangrape and murder of a veterinarian in Telangana.

An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde was hearing two public interest litigations seeking an independent probe into the deaths last week.

Shares of Manappuram Finance moved higher by 2 per cent to Rs 170 on Thursday, inching towards its all-time high level on the BSE. The stock of non-banking finance company (NBFC) was trading close to its record high of Rs 174 touched on November 4, 2019. It rallied 8 per cent in the past two trading days on the back of heavy delivery-based volumes.

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