The Economic Times

The United States will lower its import tariff on Indian goods to 18 percent. This follows a phone call between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is expected to reciprocate by removing its own tariffs and trade barriers on US products. This development comes after a period of trade disputes between the two nations.

Tata Chemicals reported a wider consolidated net loss of Rs 93 crore for the December quarter, impacted by oversupplied soda ash markets and low export prices. Despite these headwinds, the company's standalone performance showed resilience, and it announced the acquisition of Novabay Pte. Limited to bolster its specialty chemicals business.

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank reported a significant widening of its net loss to Rs 375 crore in the third quarter, a substantial increase from Rs 168 crore in the previous year. The bank also experienced an operational loss of Rs 44 crore, contrasting with a profit in the prior year.

Chalet Hotels reported a robust third quarter with a 28.5% year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 124 crore and a 27.1% rise in revenue to Rs 581.6 crore. The company's EBITDA grew by 29% to Rs 272.6 crore, driven by strong traction in key operating metrics and double-digit RevPAR expansion.

Kevin Warsh, tapped to become the next Federal Reserve chair, may want to significantly contract the central bank's multi-trillion-dollar balance sheet, but experts agree that financial realities strongly indicate accomplishing this goal will be difficult and slow, if it can be done at all.

Markets rebounded after volatility triggered by the STT hike and higher borrowing plans, aided by policy continuity and falling crude prices. Analysts warn sentiment remains cautious below the 200-day average, advising selling rallies despite medium-term confidence amid global tensions ongoing.

Warner Bros Discovery is likely to hold a shareholder vote on the $82.7 billion deal to sell its streaming and studio assets to Netflix in March, CNBC reported on Monday.

Budget 2026: India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is launching a plan to boost small businesses in Tier II and Tier III towns. This initiative aims to turn these enterprises into formally managed companies. The strategy focuses on equity, liquidity, and professional support. The goal is to integrate these businesses into India's larger corporate growth story and global supply chains.

Warner Bros Discovery is likely to hold a shareholder vote on the $82.7 billion deal to sell its streaming and studio assets to Netflix in March, CNBC reported on Monday.

U.S. factory activity grew for the first time in a year in January, with new orders rebounding sharply, but manufacturing is still not out of the woods as import tariffs raised raw material prices and strained supply chains.

India's government is closely watching the rupee's decline against the US dollar. Officials may take action if the situation becomes concerning. The rupee has weakened significantly, impacting export competitiveness. Budget announcements aim to boost foreign currency inflows. Changes to Alternative Investment Funds and investment rules for overseas investors are also highlighted.

Oracle shares gained 2.5% on Monday after Wall Street analysts said the software company's $50 billion fundraising plan allays worries over its ability to finance a massive data-center expansion with OpenAI.

Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Monday, as a violent selloff in precious metals unsettled investors at the start of a week packed with corporate earnings and major economic data.

The Reserve Bank of India reports that 98.42 percent of Rs 2,000 banknotes have been returned. This withdrawal began on May 19, 2023. The total value of these notes in circulation has significantly decreased. People could deposit or exchange these notes at bank branches until October 7, 2023.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues in FY27 are projected to grow at 6.3 per cent, with a buoyancy of 0.94 even after a reduction in tax rates on about 375 items with effect from September 22, 2025, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi said in a post-Budget interview.

Nifty surged after the Budget-day slump, led by auto, energy, and metals. Analysts caution broader trend remains weak below 200-DMA, advising cautious trading and selective stock entries.

Plans are underway to lay underground railway tracks along a 40-km strategic corridor in West Bengal. This vital route, known as the 'Chicken's Neck', will connect the northeast with the rest of India. The existing double line will also be converted to a four-line track. This development enhances connectivity and security for the region.

The government is actively considering further reducing its stake in insurance behemoth LIC through a public offering in the next financial year, Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju said on Monday.

The government is exploring a merger of Power Finance Corporation and REC Ltd. This move is part of a broader restructuring effort for public sector financial institutions. The Power Ministry will work out the details. A similar merger was considered in 2019 but did not materialize. Shares of both companies saw a rise following earlier announcements.

Hyundai Motor India reported a 6.3% net profit increase to Rs 1,194.9 crore in Q3FY26, driven by strong SUV sales, rural demand, operational efficiency, and positive effects of GST 2.0 and tax cuts.

In a bid to alleviate the pressures of fluctuating global trade, Special Economic Zone units now have the chance to tap into the domestic market. This initiative, designed as a limited-time opportunity, will enable SEZ manufacturers to sell their goods directly within the local tariff area.

West Bengal receives a significant boost with Rs 14,205 crore allocated for railway projects in the Union Budget 2026-27. This investment will drive track creation, station redevelopment, and safety enhancements across the state. Projects like the Kavach system and Vande Bharat Express services are already improving travel efficiency. Over 100 stations are slated for redevelopment, promising modern facilities for passengers.

Real estate firm Awfis Space Solutions Ltd on Monday reported a 43 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 21.65 crore in the quarter ended December.

UPL Ltd on Monday posted a 43 per cent drop in consolidated net profit to Rs 490 crore for the December quarter on higher base effect.

The Union Budget 2026-27 focuses on skilling and workforce development. It supports MSMEs and future industries. This aims to create a formal and skilled talent pool across India. Experts believe this budget will drive growth through AI and digital capabilities. It bridges the education and employment gap. Investments in manufacturing and specialized sectors will boost job creation.

S&P Global Ratings is optimistic that India will achieve its fiscal deficit goal for FY27. This assurance persists even with expected declines in Goods and Services Tax receipts resulting from rate adjustments. Enhanced consumer spending and more effective tax collection are likely to elevate GST income, alongside support from central bank dividends and potential underutilization of capital expenditure.

Bajaj Housing Finance posted a strong Q3FY26, with net profit rising 21% and NII up 19%. Healthy loan and AUM growth, controlled costs and stable asset quality supported earnings, despite a one-time gratuity-related exceptional charge.

Indian e-scooter manufacturer Ather Energy posted a narrower quarterly loss on Monday, helped by a jump in sales during the year-end festive period.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Monday, as a violent selloff in precious metals unsettled investors at the start of a week packed with corporate earnings and major economic data.

The central government has allocated Rs 67,300 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission. Funds will be released to states upon meeting specific conditions. Significant progress has been made in providing tap water to rural households. Over 15.79 crore rural households now have tap water connections. Eleven states and Union Territories have achieved 100 percent coverage.

Indian markets rebounded sharply after the Budget-day plunge. Autos, metals and energy led gains, while action was seen in Power Grid, Latent View, Sundaram Finance & others.

Special Economic Zone units can now sell goods in India. This move aims to boost local production and create jobs. The government will soon release details on this one-time measure. It allows SEZ units to sell excess production domestically at concessional import duty rates. This will help reduce imports and provide a level playing field for domestic firms.

Promoter shareholding declined across 12 Nifty 500 stocks during the December 2025 quarter, according to StockEdge data. While stake reductions may reflect strategic or fundraising decisions, such moves are closely tracked by investors for signals on promoter confidence and alignment with minority shareholders.

The Indian rupee logged its best single-day gain in over a month on Monday, boosted by likely dollar sales by the central bank and modest inflows that dulled the spillover from global market volatility.

Bajaj Finance is expected to post a steady Q3FY26, with brokers forecasting around 21% NII and 20% PAT growth. Strong loan expansion, stable margins, easing credit costs and healthy asset quality should support earnings despite slower growth in some segments.

The Central government plans to introduce the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code amendment Bill soon. This move aims to improve the insolvency resolution process. The government has already resolved over 1,000 companies under the IBC. Further reforms are planned to speed up the process for all stakeholders.

Gold's volatility has surged past Bitcoin's, reaching its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. This dramatic shift follows a significant price plunge after a rapid rally, driven by economic uncertainty and geopolitical concerns. Despite this, gold remains a stronger safe-haven asset, outperforming Bitcoin over the past year.

The rebound came despite proposals to raise transaction taxes on derivatives and the absence of fresh measures aimed at drawing foreign investment. The BSE Sensex rose 943.5 points, or 1.17%, to close at 81,666.46, while the Nifty 50 advanced 261 points, or 1.06%, to 25,088.4.

Power Grid shares saw a sharp surge on Monday after the PSU raised its FY26 capex guidance to Rs 32,000 crore and increased capitalisation targets, signalling strong execution visibility. The company posted an 8% YoY rise in Q3 net profit to Rs 4,185 crore, with revenue up 10% and expenses moderating sequentially.

Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath criticised the STT hike on equity derivatives, saying it wont curb speculation as most activity is in options. He warned higher taxes could hurt futures volumes, liquidity and price discovery, and suggested suitability norms as a better solution.

Union Budget 2026 outlines a confident and fiscally disciplined growth roadmap, with emphasis on sunrise sectors, infrastructure, digital capacity and inclusive development. The Budget aims to deepen capital markets, strengthen manufacturing, empower women entrepreneurs and improve urban funding, while maintaining macroeconomic stability and supporting long term, resilient growth.

Gold and silver prices extended a sharp correction after a speculative, momentum-driven rally, pressured by profit-taking, a stronger dollar, rising US yields and higher global margins. Analysts say the broader trend remains bullish, with current declines seen as consolidation rather than reversal, offering selective accumulation opportunities amid near-term volatility.

Sovereign Gold Bond prices plunged on the NSE after the government withdrew capital gains tax exemption for bonds bought in the secondary market. The Budget 2026 move restricts tax-free gains only to original RBI subscribers holding SGBs till maturity, triggering sharp selloffs across multiple bond series and raising concerns among retail investors.

China has voiced strong disapproval of the Dalai Lama receiving a Grammy Award. Beijing alleges the Tibetan spiritual leader uses such recognition for anti-China separatist activities. The Dalai Lama, in exile since 1959, won the award for his spoken-word album.

Hyundai Motor Q3 Results: Auto major Hyundai Motor India reported a 6.3% YoY jump in its December quarter consolidated net profit at Rs 1,234 crore compared to Rs 1,161 crore reported in the year ago period.

Hyderabad-based Marri Retail has filed its DRHP with Sebi for an IPO comprising a Rs 522-crore fresh issue and a promoter OFS. The company plans to use the proceeds for debt reduction, new store expansion and capex. Marri Retail currently operates 34 stores across four states under multiple apparel and jewellery brands.

Safe-haven euro zone government bond yields were steady on Monday as a rout in precious metals gripped markets at the start of a week that will also see an interest rate decision from the European Central Bank. Silver and gold extended last week's declines, sliding around 10% and 6%, respectively, prompting investors to sell other assets like stocks to cover losses.

Union Budget 2026 prioritizes sustainable employment. The focus is on skilling, services, and sector-led ecosystems. Healthcare, the orange economy, and tourism are key growth areas. Education spending will build long-term structures. New institutes and digital infrastructure will support talent development. This approach aims to create jobs and prepare youth for future opportunities.

Veteran investor Raamdeo Agrawal warns that recent derivatives trading cost hikes may reduce strategy profitability and temporarily impact market liquidity. While the budget is praised, the timing of these increased costs adds to market jitters amid moderating earnings growth and global uncertainties. Agrawal believes strong earnings will ultimately drive market direction.

FIIs reversed their two-quarter selling streak by raising stakes in several beaten-down smallcap stocks, signalling renewed confidence despite sharp one-year declines.