US stocks rise as megacaps rebound, Dow set for 10th day of gains

India’s equity benchmarks surged to fresh all-time highs on Thursday — the Nifty ended on the brink of 20,000 — extending their record-breaking run to the sixth day in a row as overseas funds stepped up purchases of local shares.

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) said profit rose 8% and sales increased 7% in the June quarter amid a gradual recovery in demand on a lower base, adding that softening inflation has intensified competition, especially from smaller regional players.

Infosys posted a nearly 11% increase in first-quarter net profit, but missed analyst estimates and slashed its revenue growth outlook for the fiscal year, blaming spending cuts and delays in decision-making by clients, especially in the key financial services domain.