Intro -- Foreword -- Preface -- Contents -- About the Author -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Financial Development and Economic Growth: The Role of the Stock Market in the Debate -- 1.2 Stock Market in India: The Scenario Since the Economic Reforms -- 1.3 Structure of the Book -- References -- 2 Impact of Covid-19 on the Stock Market and Corporate Firms in India -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Trends in BSE Sensex and FII -- 2.3 Covid-19 Shock, Stock Price Reactions, and Firms' Resilience -- 2.4 Conclusion -- References -- 3 Covid-19 and Short-Term Herding in the Indian Stock Market: An Exploratory Analysis -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Literature Review -- 3.3 Methodology -- 3.4 Data -- 3.5 Empirical Analysis -- 3.6 Conclusions -- References -- 4 Stock Markets, Investment, and the Real Economy: An Analysis of Firm-Level Data in India -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Empirical Methodology -- 4.3 Data -- 4.4 Empirical Estimation -- 4.5 Robustness Analysis -- 4.6 Conclusion -- Appendix: Variable Definitions -- References -- 5 Effects of R& -- D Investment on Stock Returns: An Analysis of Indian Publicly Listed Firms -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Literature Review -- 5.3 Data and Variables -- 5.3.1 Data -- 5.3.2 Variables -- 5.4 Empirical Analysis -- 5.4.1 Effects of R& -- D Expenditures on Stock Returns -- 5.4.2 Effects of R& -- D Intensity and Volatility on Stock Returns -- 5.5 Conclusion -- References -- 6 Stock Returns and Real Economic Activities: Is There a Connection in India? -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Brief Review of Earlier Literature -- 6.3 Data -- 6.4 Empirical Estimation -- 6.5 Conclusion -- References -- 7 Conclusion