The Economic Times News

India has raised concerns at the World Trade Organization regarding a China-led proposal for an investment facilitation agreement. New Delhi argues that discussions on investment are outside the WTO's trade agreement framework. India emphasizes that such plurilateral agreements should remain exceptions, not the norm.

The commentary from BMI comes amid many economists and bond-market experts in India factoring in a further quarter percentage point reduction in policy rates, lowering terminal rate expectations to 5% in the current easing cycle after RBI looked past a sharply retreating rupee to deliver a rate cut last Friday.

India's trade talks with the European Union and the United States are moving forward. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed confidence in early agreements. A US team is currently in New Delhi for discussions. Negotiations with Chile and Oman are also nearing completion. India is also pursuing trade pacts with Qatar and Israel.

The US Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points, a move anticipated amid cooling inflation and mixed economic data. This decision, influenced by government shutdown delays and political pressure, sets a precedent for global monetary policy, impacting India's financial markets and currency.

The Asian Development Bank has raised India's growth forecast for the current financial year to 7.2%, citing stronger-than-expected second-quarter performance driven by robust domestic consumption. Despite an unfavorable base effect for 2026-27, policy measures are expected to offset potential drags, supporting continued economic expansion.

India is urged to be cautious in trade talks with the US, particularly regarding agricultural and GMO products, and to demand significant tariff cuts on its exports. A think tank advises delaying commitments until the US Supreme Court rules on tariff authority.

The Reserve Bank on Wednesday announced a redemption price of Rs 12,801 per unit for two series of sovereign gold bonds.

Indian markets closed lower as Sensex and Nifty erased early gains amid profit-booking ahead of the U.S. Fed decision. Global volatility, BOJ tightening signals, FII outflows, rupee weakness and trade-deal uncertainty weighed on sentiment. Technical indicators point to sustained near-term pressure with key support levels being tested.

UK companies are significantly expanding their presence in India, with a collective turnover of Rs 5,693 billion and 552,902 employees. The Free Trade Agreement is expected to unlock further growth across advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and digital trade, fostering innovation and job creation for both economies.

President Trump's accusations of India dumping rice in the U.S. market appear politically motivated, aimed at appeasing American farmers hurt by his tariff wars. Despite the trade's small scale, the move signals pressure to address rural discontent ahead of crucial elections.

Wall Street's main stock indexes opened little changed on Wednesday, ahead of a Federal Reserve monetary policy decision that is widely expected to deliver an interest rate cut, while investors remain wary of hawkish commentary on the path of future easing.

India and the US are holding trade talks in New Delhi. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted India's best-ever offers for a trade agreement. Both nations aim to finalize a mutually beneficial pact. This is crucial as the US has imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods. Negotiations are progressing towards a bilateral trade agreement.

India is actively pursuing trade pacts, sharing draft terms for a Free Trade Agreement with Qatar and finalizing internal approvals for a similar deal with Oman. Negotiations are also progressing with Israel and the Maldives, with Terms of Reference signed for both. Discussions are also underway with the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The Federal Reserve is set to deliver a third consecutive rate cut, but internal divisions over inflation and economic risks may halt further easing. With limited fresh data and conflicting policy views, Chair Jerome Powell faces a difficult task in guiding forward expectations.

Adani Green Energy saw a Rs 2,778 crore block deal as Total Energies sold 2.86 crore shares, absorbed by major institutional buyers and family offices. Despite near-term weakness and volatile price trends, long-term growth prospects and strategic partnerships remain intact.

State-owned Bank of India (BoI) on Wednesday said it has raised Basel III-compliant Tier II bonds of Rs 2,500 crore to fund business growth.

Standard Chartered has halved its bitcoin price forecasts for 2025 and 2026, citing weaker demand and a shift toward ETF-driven buying. Analyst Geoff Kendrick now sees slower long-term growth, delaying his $500,000 target to 2030 amid deteriorating crypto sentiment.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates on Wednesday as policymakers grapple with gaps in economic data caused by the recent government shutdown and work through competing views about the risks facing the economy.

Adani Enterprises Rs 25,000 crore rights issue closed with strong demand, ending at 108% subscription. The public portion was even stronger at 130% subscribed. Priced at Rs 1,800 per share, the issue will help the company reduce debt and fund capex across airports, data centres, green hydrogen and other growth businesses.

Seven BSE 500 stocks, including Inox Wind, Dixon Technologies, Piramal Pharma and Blue Dart, hit fresh 52-week lows as the Sensex fell 275 points. All saw sharp one-month declines ranging from 8% to 20% amid broader market weakness.

Howard Marks says AI may be a transformational inflection bubble, urging investors to avoid going all-in or all-out. He highlights soaring valuations, circular financing, rising leverage, speculative behaviour and past bubble patterns, advising moderation, prudence and selective exposure amid massive uncertainty.

US President Trump's threat of new rice tariffs is unlikely to significantly impact India, as the US market is small and already has high duties. This move appears to be a negotiating tactic amid ongoing trade talks, with India seeking removal of existing tariffs on its exports.

Indias Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal met U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer in New Delhi to advance negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement, the government said. India is seeking relief from steep U.S. tariffs imposed over its Russian oil purchases, which have hit key exports.

Vikas Khemani warns that nearly 80% of upcoming IPOs are poor-quality businesses, saying only a handful are worth investor attention. With Indias IPO pipeline touching $20 billion annually, he cautions that supply is outpacing fundamentals, valuations are stretched, and investors must be far more selective amid shrinking listing gains.

Brookfield India Real Estate Trust has raised Rs 3,500 crore by selling units to investors and will use this amount to fund the acquisition of a property in Bengaluru.

SBI Mutual Fund, the biggest fund house, has initiated the process for the appointment of merchant bankers and other service providers to facilitate an initial public offering (IPO).

Shares of EMS companies Dixon, Amber, and PG Electroplast declined sharply on Wednesday, tracking the fall in Kaynes Technology and extending the sectors recent weakness. Dixon led the slide, plunging over 9% intradayits biggest drop since Januarybefore ending down more than 8%, with trading volumes surging to over triple the 20-day average.

In a recent note, domestic brokerage firm Kotak Securities has projected a bull case target of 32,032 for the Nifty 50 index by December 2026, suggesting meaningful upside potential from current levels, highlighting a preference for BFSI, and IT sectors, among others.

Global investors including Temasek and Capital Group, along with major Indian asset managers such as SBI MF, ICICI Prudential, and HDFC AMC, have placed bids to buy shares in Swiggy as the company seeks fresh funding a year after its listing. Other global players like Fidelity, BlackRock, and Nomura have also participated in the $1.1 billion offer.

The Indian rupee slipped on Wednesday, ending a session of back-and-forth price action shaped by portfolio flows, likely maturity of positions in the non-deliverable forwards market and caution ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision.

Vietnam's State Treasury raised 7.95 trillion dong ($302 million) in a weekly government bond auction on Wednesday, up from $298 million raised last week, with the coupon for 10-year bonds hitting the highest this year.

Germany's 10-year borrowing costs hit fresh multi-month highs on Wednesday as traders price out any chance of further European Central Bank rate cuts, while looking ahead to an important Federal Reserve meeting later in the day.

The S&P BSE Sensex declined 275 points, or 0.32%, to end at 84,391.27, while the NSE Nifty 50 shed 82 points, or 0.32%, closing at 25,758.

SBI Cap Securities Sunny Agrawal assesses the market debuts of Meesho, Aequs and Vidya Wires, calling Meeshos 45% listing gain strong but advising a tracking position as profitability levers unfold. He sees Aequs as a niche, high-margin long-term aerospace play, while urging investors to book profits in Vidya Wires and wait for earnings clarity before taking long-term exposure.

Park Medi Worlds IPO, valuing the hospital chain at Rs 920 crore, saw a 39% subscription on Day 1. Trading at a grey market premium of Rs 21-22, the IPO is seeing decent in the grey market as well. Proceeds from the IPO will be to fund debt repayment, hospital expansion, and acquisitions. Analysts broadly have assigned a Subscribe for the IPO with a long-term vision citing strong healthcare growth prospects.

Five stocks currently trade at among the lowest price-to-earnings levels, indicating relatively inexpensive valuations. Power Finance Corporation leads, followed by REC, LIC Housing Finance, Bank of Maharashtra and Bharat Petroleum. Strong mutual fund holdings and Value Research ratings highlight continued institutional confidence despite subdued valuation multiples.

Eleven high-momentum Indian stocks surged over 50% in three months, with three turning into multibaggers, highlighting standout performers amid broader market volatility.

India and the EU are nearing a free trade agreement, with a rough outline now prepared. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed confidence in an early conclusion, noting positive discussions with EU officials. Both sides are committed to finalizing the deal, which could significantly boost bilateral trade in goods and services, impacting sectors like automobiles and pharmaceuticals.

US Fed December 2025 Meet: The US Federal Reserve has begun its two-day policy meeting, with the rate decision due Wednesday. After a 25 bps cut in October that brought rates to 3.75%4.00%, global markets are watching to see if the Fed continues easing, as any move will influence borrowing costs and capital flows worldwide.

Nephrocare Health IPO consists of a 353-crore fresh issue and a 518-crore offer for sale. Of the fresh issue funds, Nephrocare Health Services intends to use 129.1 crore to set up new dialysis centres, 136 crore to repay debt, with the balance earmarked for general corporate needs.

Indian markets are struggling to maintain gains despite positive domestic news. Global factors and foreign selling are creating caution. Short-term traders are advised to reduce leverage and hedge portfolios. Long-term investors can find opportunities in specific sectors like metals. Stocks like Vedanta and Motherson are highlighted for potential.

There are 74 ghost shopping centres -- those with vacancy of more than 40 per cent -- out of 365 such retail properties across the top 32 cities, according to Knight Frank.

India's economic growth forecast for FY26 has been boosted to 7.2 percent by the Asian Development Bank. This upgrade is driven by robust domestic consumption, supported by recent tax cuts. Manufacturing and services sectors are showing firm gains. The Reserve Bank of India also increased its growth estimate.

European shares inched lower on Wednesday, as investors refrained from placing big bets ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, while also parsing through a slate of corporate updates.

India and the US are progressing in talks on a bilateral trade agreement (BTA), with US officials visiting New Delhi for two-day negotiations. The discussions, led by Indias Rajesh Agrawal and US counterparts Rick Switzer and Brendan Lynch, aim to finalise the first tranche of the pact, address high US tariffs on Indian goods, and boost bilateral trade from USD 191 billion to USD 500 billion by 2030.

Meesho is democratizing internet commerce in India. The company aims to bring millions of businesses and hundreds of millions of consumers online. Meesho's strategy focuses on scale and inclusivity. This approach is powered by platform dynamics and network effects. The company prioritizes long-term growth over short-term profits. Meesho's vision remains focused on the massive opportunity ahead.

Renaissance Investment Managers CIO Pankaj Murarka expects Indian markets to deliver low-teens returns as growth resets and valuations peak. He sees earnings improving in CY26, prefers cash-flow-rich sectors, and remains bullish on IT amid AI-driven demand. Murarka warns of froth in midcaps, defence and EMS, urges caution on IndiGo for now, and remains selective on pricey consumer-tech IPOs.

The echoes of success resonate throughout Dubai, as Danube Group announces the total sell-out of their landmark project, 'SHAHRUKHZ by Danube'. This striking commercial tower, lining the iconic Sheikh Zayed Road, has generated a remarkable revenue of over Rs 5,000 crore, underscoring the vibrant demand for commercial real estate in the emirate.

Japan's Topix stock index reached an unprecedented high on Wednesday before paring gains. Investors are closely watching central bank decisions in Japan and the United States. A weaker yen boosted Japanese automakers like Honda and Toyota. The market's direction hinges on the continuing depreciation of the yen.