The Economic Times News

India's free trade agreement with Oman is moving forward. Oman's Shura Council has approved the pact. India's Union Cabinet is expected to review it soon. This agreement aims to boost trade in goods and services. It will reduce or eliminate customs duties on many products. India's exports to Oman are set to benefit significantly.

The govt clarified that while no global authority ranks countries officially, it conducts its own annual Swachh Vayu Survekshan to assess and rank 130 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) on the basis of air quality improvement measures.

Large-cap stocks are expected to lead market gains in the coming years. Motilal Oswal Financial Services chairman Raamdeo Agrawal sees significant potential in autos and capital markets. He believes the economy is transitioning towards car ownership, similar to China's growth phase. Specific companies in these sectors are highlighted as strong investment opportunities for wealth creation.

Pension regulator PFRDA has revised investment rules, allowing private pension funds to invest in the top 250 market-cap stocks and gold/silver ETFs for better returns. These changes aim to boost pension fund popularity by offering wider options to savers, with the private sector overseeing 15.78 trillion in assets.

Silver prices surged by 11,500 to a fresh peak of 1,92,000 per kilogram in New Delhi, marking the steepest single-day rise in nearly two months. This surge was driven by robust domestic demand and global cues, with silver prices adding over 114% year-to-date.

Wakefit Innovations' IPO saw a subscription of 2.52 times, with strong interest from retail and qualified institutional investors. Meanwhile, Corona Remedies' pharmaceutical IPO was heavily oversubscribed at 137.04 times, driven by significant demand from qualified institutional and non-institutional investors.

TotalEnergies Renewables Indian Ocean divested shares worth 2,778.1 crore in Adani Green Energy through a block deal on Wednesday. The entity sold 2.86 crore shares at 970 each, reducing its stake by 1.74%. Quant Mutual Fund and Authum Investment & Infrastructure were among the buyers.

Kotak Securities is optimistic about the stock markets, setting a Nifty target of 29,120 by December 2026, driven by strong earnings growth expectations. The brokerage anticipates over 17% earnings growth for 2027, with improved macro conditions and policy decisions expected to fuel gains. They favor BFSI, technology, healthcare, and hospitality sectors, while also noting positive outlooks for gold and silver.

Adani Enterprises' 25,000 crore rights issue concluded with 108% subscription, attracting applications for 149.5 million shares. The issue, priced at 1,800 per share, saw public investors oversubscribe their portion by 30%. Funds raised will be used for debt reduction and capital expenditure.

Savings deposits in rural centres also posted a robust 10% increase, the fastest pace in six quarters. Experts attribute this shift to rising rural incomes while growth in the metro areas appears to be losing momentum as financially savvy investors increasingly divert funds into higher-yielding avenues such as mutual funds and equities.

United States trade officials report receiving unprecedented offers from India on a proposed bilateral trade agreement. Negotiators are currently in New Delhi for further discussions. While progress is noted, some resistance exists regarding specific agricultural products and meats. Both nations aim to finalize the initial phase of the agreement, with trade experts advising caution on agricultural concessions.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated the central bank is well-positioned to pause interest rate adjustments, awaiting further economic data. Having already cut rates by 75 basis points this year, the Fed funds rate is now considered within its neutral range. Powell clarified that a rate hike is not the base case for future policy decisions.

Indian markets reacted positively as the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates. The Dow Jones surged over 500 points. The Fed indicated a pause in further rate reductions, boosting investor confidence. Projections for economic growth were also raised. This move signals a stable economic outlook, encouraging investment in equities.

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.

Law firms are hiring more capital markets lawyers. This is driven by a rise in initial public offerings and other fundraising activities. Demand for equity offering specialists is growing as multinational companies plan to enter Indian markets. Successful listings have encouraged global groups to consider listing local operations. This trend is expected to continue.

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.

ReNew Power is raising $800 million through a five-year loan, with Societe Generale, Standard Chartered, and SMBC acting as lead banks. This significant borrowing, likely to be priced next quarter, will be used to refinance operational projects, aiming for a rate of 350-400 basis points over SOFR.

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 Reserve Bank of India is urging microfinance companies to diversify their lending beyond traditional group-based loans. Officials recommend exploring asset classes like inventory and capital asset financing to enhance stability and economic contribution. This push aims to move NBFC-MFIs from single-product offerings to comprehensive micro-enterprise finance solutions.

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.