The Economic Times

India plans to significantly boost textile exports to $100 billion by 2030. The strategy involves increasing shipments to Free Trade Agreement partners and focusing on premium products like handlooms and silk. New districts will be developed to join the export ecosystem. This initiative aims to expand India's global market share in textiles.

The European Union is on the brink of a landmark trade agreement with India, potentially linking a consumer base of two billion individuals. In a bid to strengthen these negotiations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to visit India shortly. This strategic move reflects the EU's goal of broadening its global trade horizons and fostering international collaboration.

United Spirits reported a 25% year-on-year increase in its December quarter consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 418 crore. Revenue from operations saw a nearly 3% rise to Rs 7,942 crore. The company also announced an interim dividend of Rs 6 per equity share.

U.S. bank stocks fell in morning trading on Tuesday in a broader market decline as investors waited to see if the Trump administration's January 20 deadline to implement a 10% cap on credit card interest rates would take effect.

Moderna and Merck said on Tuesday their experimental personalized vaccine continued to cut the risk of death or recurrence of the most deadly skin cancer five years after the treatment started.

EAAA India Alternatives, an arm of Edelweiss Financial Services, has filed preliminary papers with markets regulator Sebi to raise Rs 1,500 crore through an initial public offering (IPO).

Indian markets stayed cautious amid uncertainty over US tariff rulings, persistent FII outflows, rising global bond yields and a weaker rupee. Nifty technicals stayed bearish near 200-DMA, with mid and small caps underperforming ahead of earnings and global cues developments.

Netflix has switched to an all-cash offer for Warner Bros Discovery's studio and streaming assets without increasing the $82.7 billion price in a bid to shut the door on Paramount's rival efforts to snag the Hollywood giant.

RMZ commits $10 billion to Andhra Pradesh for mixed-use, digital, industrial, and logistics infrastructure over five to six years. Plans include a 10 million sq ft IT park and a 1 GW data centre in Visakhapatnam, plus a 1,000-acre industrial park in Rayalaseema, aiming to boost employment and technology-led growth.

U.S. IT hardware stocks dropped on Tuesday after Morgan Stanley downgraded the sector, warning of slowing demand as companies rein in spending amid economic uncertainty and rising component costs.

Benchmark Nifty fell sharply for a second day amid tariff and geopolitical worries. Technicals stay bearish near oversold levels as the index drifts toward 200-DMA, while analysts flag fragile support and selective stock opportunities ahead now.

BNP Paribas acquired 35.43 lakh Tata Motors Commercial Vehicle shares via a Rs 152 crore block deal from Goldman Sachs. Shares slipped post-deal, while the company reported a quarterly loss despite revenue growth and margin improvement.

CreditAccess Grameen swung to a Rs 252 crore Q3 profit from a year-ago loss, aided by sharply lower provisions. Operating profit rose, assets grew, and management cited stabilising asset quality despite a higher gross NPA ratio across geographies this quarter.

Retail chain Shoppers Stop on Tuesday reported a decline of 69.13 per cent in its consolidated net profit at Rs 16.12 crore in the December quarter of FY26, citing factors such as a shift in the festival period and uneven consumption trends.

IndiaMART InterMesh posted strong December quarter results with profit up 56% year on year to Rs 188 crore, revenue rising 13%, robust collections growth, healthy deferred revenue, stable margins, and improving cash flows despite modest sequential topline growth trends overall.

Wall Street's main indexes opened sharply lower on Tuesday, as investors were spooked by renewed tariff threats from President Donald Trump against Europe over control of Greenland.

Adani Power plans to raise Rs 7,500 crore via non-convertible debentures, targeting institutional investors to refinance debt and fund operations. The company operates 18 gigawatts of thermal capacity and aims to expand to 42 gigawatts by 2032.

Persistent Systems posted steady Q3FY26 growth, with revenue up 17% YoY and PAT rising 18%. Sequential profitability moderated due to labour code impact, while demand for data, cloud, and digital engineering services remained robust.

AU Small Finance Bank reported strong Q3FY26 performance, with profit rising 26% and NII up 16%, supported by higher margins, loan and deposit growth, stable asset quality and improving unsecured portfolio trends, despite higher operating expenses and exceptional provisioning.

The Central Information Commission has directed that NITI Aayog's evaluation reports on women safety schemes must be publicly accessible. These independent assessments evaluate scheme implementation and effectiveness. In a related directive, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is advised to proactively disclose contract details on its website.

The Elara-owned Oyster Bay Fund borrowed from Nomura to make leveraged bets on Adani Enterprises and Adani Ports. Those positions collapsed after Hindenburg Researchs January 2023 report accused the Adani Group of brazen stock manipulation and suggested Elara-linked funds were involved, according to High Court filings.

India's customs duty structure needs simplification. The Global Trade Research Initiative suggests reducing the actual number of duty slabs, not just basic customs duty rates. This reform aims to boost ease of doing business. Current complexities hinder manufacturing and exports. Simplifying tariffs and processes is crucial for economic growth and competitiveness.

ITC Hotels reported strong December-quarter performance with revenue rising 21% and profit increasing, driven by higher occupancy, improved room rates, robust weddings and MICE demand, strong F&B growth, and continued expansion, adding new hotels and expanding its nationwide portfolio.

India's government has finalized key direct tax reforms to boost investment and simplify compliance. Measures include clarified taxation for Alternative Investment Funds, extended startup tax holidays, and incentives for electronics manufacturing. Individual savers benefit from enhanced National Savings Scheme and NPS Vatsalya provisions, alongside property tax relief.

Four BSE 500 stocks, including Hindustan Zinc, SBI and Bank of India, hit 52-week highs on Tuesday despite a sharp market sell-off, extending monthly gains of up to 16%.

Indias defence spending may not rise sharply as a share of GDP, but capital outlays are set to grow 810% annually, says Amit Anwani of PL Capital. Aero engines, missiles and defence electronics could benefit, while execution and order delivery will matter more than fresh allocations. Submarine orders may boost shipbuilders.

India's eight core infrastructure sectors grew by 3.7% in December 2025, a slowdown from the previous year but an acceleration from November's 2.1% expansion. This growth, driven by coal, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity, signals a positive trend for industrial momentum as these sectors hold significant weight in the Index of Industrial Production.

In a move that could redefine trade relationships, India and the European Union are finalising a groundbreaking free trade agreement. EU dignitaries Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel are set to be the esteemed Chief Guests at India's Republic Day celebration.

Realty firm Embassy Developments on Tuesday said it will invest Rs 7,000 crore in the Mumbai market to build three new luxury housing projects and complete three ongoing projects as part of its strategy to expand its business amid strong consumer demand.

Realty firm Lodha Developers Ltd will invest Rs 1.3 lakh crore to build a 2.5 gigawatt data centre park near Mumbai as part of its strategy to expand business.

The Indian rupee extended losses to a fifth consecutive session on Tuesday as strong dollar demand continued to put pressure on the currency, while a fresh low was averted after likely central bank intervention.

Axis Direct expects the FY27 Union Budget to balance growth and fiscal discipline, with a projected deficit of 4.24.4% of GDP, and has identified 26 stocks across eight sectors that could benefit from capex-led growth.

Gold surged past the Rs 1.5 lakh mark for the first time as geopolitical tensions, tariff threats, strong investor demand, central bank buying, de-dollarisation trends, and rupee weakness combined to drive prices sharply higher in 2026.

Quality certification fee concessions for small and medium enterprises will be extended by three years. This move supports India's manufacturing sector. The Bureau of Indian Standards is facilitating this extension. Micro units will receive an 80 percent fee reduction. Small enterprises get a 50 percent reduction. Medium-sized firms will benefit from a 20 percent concession.

Gold emerged as a top performer in 2025, a year marked by significant global financial market turmoil. This surge in gold's value is linked to political instability and economic uncertainty. Central banks worldwide increased their gold purchases, seeking protection. The article highlights gold's historical role as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation during turbulent times.

India's sugar production has seen a significant jump of 22 percent by mid-January in the 2025-26 season. Higher cane supplies and improved yields are supporting this growth. Mills are operating at a higher capacity. However, falling sugar prices are impacting mill finances and farmer payments.

ITC Hotels posted strong Q3FY26 results, with net profit surging 77% year-on-year to Rs 235 crore and revenue rising 47%, driven by robust hotel demand, sequential growth, and the first real estate revenue contribution, despite higher costs and stock reaction.

Copper prices have stalled in early 2026 after a stellar 62% rally last year, with profit booking and volatility capping gains. While near-term momentum has softened, analysts say strong fundamentals and supply constraints continue to support the medium-term outlook.

Tata Capital is focusing on growth and customer affordability. The company is passing on lower funding costs to customers. Credit costs are declining and expected to go below 1% ahead of schedule. A 23-25% annual growth outlook remains intact. Operating efficiency and GenAI will drive profitability. Return on assets is projected to improve.

Mutual funds ramp up stakes in 13 smallcap stocks that have surged up to 170% in FY26, with five turning multibaggers.

Gold prices surged past Rs 1.5 lakh per 10 grams on Tuesday, driven by renewed trade war fears after U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats. This escalation prompted investors to seek safe-haven assets, significantly boosting demand for the yellow metal.

Indian stock markets saw a sharp fall on Tuesday. The Sensex and Nifty dropped to their lowest points in over two months. This decline followed losses in the previous session. Mixed corporate earnings, foreign fund outflows, and global trade uncertainty contributed to the weak sentiment. Information technology stocks led the selloff.

Union Budget 2026 date time: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 202627 on February 1 at 11 am, her ninth budget in Parliament. As the presentation falls on a Sunday, BSE and NSE will keep equity markets open, with pre-open trade from 9 am to 9:08 am and normal trading from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.

PhonePe has secured SEBI approval for its Initial Public Offering. The company will soon submit its Updated Draft Red Herring Prospectus. This move signals India's most anticipated fintech IPO is on the horizon. The IPO will involve an Offer For Sale by existing shareholders. PhonePe leads India's digital payments market.

IEX shares fell sharply on Tuesday ahead of APTELs hearing on the market coupling issue, extending their two-day decline. Investor caution has risen as CERC signalled that market coupling will not proceed until proper regulations are framed, while past orders face uncertainty.