The Economic Times

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis met on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit. They agreed that the India-EU FTA will boost trade and investment, and discussed strengthening cooperation in new areas. Both leaders also appreciated the potential of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

As AI tech giants face investor scrutiny, a shift towards infrastructure companies benefiting from AI capital spending is emerging. Investors are focusing on chipmakers, data center builders, and utility firms, with many of these stocks posting significant gains.

Yorkville America Equities LLC, manager of Truth Social-branded ETFs, announced plans to acquire the Point Bridge America First ETF. This follows a similar deal to acquire the God Bless America ETF, expanding Yorkville's values-aligned offerings. These acquisitions are expected to significantly boost the Truth Social ETF franchise's assets.

Bain Capital is considering a sale or initial public offering of its portfolio company Dessert Holdings that could value the maker of cakes, pies and cookies at over $3 billion, according to three people familiar with the matter.

A new access pass framework for fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone will be launched by Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh. This initiative aims to provide legal, transparent, and sustainable entry for fishers into the EEZ. It will empower traditional fishers and cooperatives to access high-value marine resources.

Indian markets fell sharply as US-Iran tensions triggered broad selling. Nifty dropped 365 points below key moving averages, with auto, financials, IT, and consumer stocks leading losses. India VIX surged, signaling heightened volatility and potential further downside.

The US trade deficit in goods expanded to a new record in 2025, government data showed Thursday, despite sweeping tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed during his first year back in the White House.

Etsy shares jumped about 10% on Thursday, after the online marketplace sold off its Gen Z-focused fashion resale platform Depop to EBay, with investors looking past dour quarterly results and forecasts.

Farm-machinery maker Deere & Co raised its annual profit forecast and beat first-quarter results estimates on Thursday citing cost-cutting initiatives to protect margins and recovery in its construction and small agriculture units.

Nifty ended sharply lower as US-Iran tensions sparked a broad sell-off, breaking its three-day gain streak. Stock picks include ONGC and Biocon, showing strong bullish momentum on short-term charts. Traders are advised to follow breakout levels with prudent stop-losses.

Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Thursday, following a three-day winning streak for the S&P 500, as heavyweight technology stocks slipped, while Walmart shares see-sawed after the retail giant issued a conservative outlook.

The centre, to be set up as part of the Rs 60,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme of the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE), will impart skills training in aeronautics and defence.

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, consistent with a stabilizing labor market.

India is seeking enhanced collaboration with Switzerland in research, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. This move aims to bolster economic relations between the two nations. Swiss investments are also being encouraged in areas of Switzerland's technological expertise.

Gaudium IVF and Women Health raised Rs 49.5 crore from anchor investors at the upper price band before its Rs 165 crore IPO opening. Proceeds will fund IVF centre expansion, debt repayment and corporate needs, with the issue comprising fresh equity and offer for sale.

Patience is key in stock markets. True market bottoms are long cycles, not short corrections. Investors need a broad time horizon to find value. Markets move in cycles shaped by growth, liquidity, rates, and psychology. History shows major bottoms form after prolonged pessimism. Quality assets are often mispriced then. This wisdom is vital for emerging markets like India.

Euro zone government bond yields rose on Thursday, staying close to their multi-month lows and echoing moves in U.S. Treasuries, while markets continued to price less than a 50% chance of a European Central Bank rate cut in 2026.

Despite the Sensex plunging 1,236 points to 82,498, five BSE 100 stocks touched fresh 52-week highs. Indus Towers, Tata Steel, Eicher Motors, Bajaj Auto and Marico showed strong momentum, signaling investor confidence and potential for further upside amid broader market weakness.

Indian equity markets tumbled as US-Iran tensions triggered broad-based selling. Select stocks like Newgen, Netweb and Tata Investment gained.

India's exports to EU: Of India's USD 19.3 billion in global automotive exports during the first nine months of 2025-26, the EU's share rose to 11.6 per cent from 9.8 per cent in April-December 2024, the data showed.

Top 10 large-cap stocks are trading well above their industry P/E, signaling high investor confidence, growth expectations, or potential overvaluation across sectors including power, finance, insurance, and consumer goods.Top 10 large-cap stocks are trading well above their industry P/E, signaling high investor confidence, growth expectations, or potential overvaluation across sectors including power, finance, insurance, and consumer goods.

Samco Securities, which accurately forecast the gold and silver rally, now sees crude oil entering a strong uptrend. Apurva Sheth highlights bullish technical patterns and favourable supply-demand dynamics, with near-term targets at $72 to $73. He also outlines evolving trends in gold and silver amid the ongoing commodity supercycle.

Brent crude has unexpectedly surged to $70 a barrel, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. This war premium is overshadowing earlier oversupply fears. Analysts warn that any disruption in the vital shipping lane could severely impact global markets, especially Asia. The Russia-Ukraine conflict also contributes to this underlying risk.

India has significantly advanced its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) strategy, prioritizing deals with Western developed economies like the EU and USA. While these agreements offer substantial market access, the key challenge lies in effectively utilizing them for export growth, moving beyond traditional sectors and attracting FDI.

Multi Commodity Exchange of India shares surged over 100% driven by a bullion price rally. Following sharp corrections in gold and silver, exchanges increased margin requirements to curb volatility. While futures activity contracted, options trading picked up, mirroring past trends and raising questions about the stock's valuation.

Indian equities are testing a crucial 25,650 support level for the Nifty, with analysts suggesting a potential bounce if it holds. However, a break could trigger further declines. PSU banks are highlighted as a strong sector, with Punjab National Bank a top pick. Investors are advised to be selective, favoring public sector enterprises amidst market volatility and geopolitical concerns.

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company plans a major restructuring. The agriculture business will be separated by April. This move precedes a planned Initial Public Offering by December. The company aims to reduce its debt significantly. This will strengthen its financial position for the listing. The company is also shifting towards renewable energy sources.

Pernod Ricard has nothing new on the horizon in terms of an initial public offering of its Indian unit and this is one of a long list of options the company reviews annually, CEO Alexandre Ricard told Reuters following reports the company was mulling a listing.

U.S.-based Invitation Homes forecast annual funds from operations (FFO) below Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, as the real estate investment trust navigates higher costs in an inflationary environment.

Japan's government bond (JGB) yield curve maintained its flattening trend on Thursday, as foreign investors supported demand for a 20-year bond auction, the first after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's tax-cut pledge had sent its yield to record highs last month.

Market veteran Samir Arora expresses cautious optimism for India's equity market, expecting a stable trajectory with reasonable earnings growth. He advises investors to remain disciplined, particularly in the IT sector, urging patience until visibility improves and valuations adjust. Arora prefers steady sectors like financials and consumption over areas with high disruption risk.

Omnitech Engineering, a Gujarat-based precision components maker, has filed its RHP for a Rs 583 crore IPO comprising a Rs 418 crore fresh issue and a Rs 165 crore offer for sale by promoter Udaykumar Arunkumar Parekh. The issue will be offered via the book-building route, with up to 50% reserved for QIBs and anchor bidding opening on February 24, followed by the main offer from February 2527.

South Korean shares surged to a record high, driven by a tech-led rebound on Wall Street. The benchmark KOSPI closed up 3.09%, with major tech and auto companies seeing significant gains. Meanwhile, the won weakened against the dollar, and benchmark bond yields rose.

Mutual funds sustained strong buying momentum in January 2026, investing over Rs 42,000 crore in equities. ETMarkets analysis shows 31 stocks were added across multiple schemes, with 11 delivering 50100% returns over one year, including a multibagger, highlighting continued institutional conviction in select banking and financial stocks.

Australian shares reached an all-time peak on Thursday. Strong company earnings fueled widespread gains. Banks and miners led the advance. The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed significantly. Investors are watching upcoming earnings reports. Unemployment data also influenced market sentiment. Copper prices boosted mining stocks. Some individual companies experienced sharp movements.

Consumer analyst Abneesh Roy sees a real FMCG revival driven by GST cuts, steady rural demand, and recovering urban consumption. He highlights Nestle, Britannia, Marico, and Tata Consumer as near-term beneficiaries, while positioning ITC as a one-to-two-year recovery play after a tax shock. Hindustan Unilever's premium beauty investment is also noted as a structural re-rating catalyst.

Indian markets slumped on Thursday as Nifty and Sensex reversed early gains, dragged down by heavy selling across banking, metal, auto and FMCG stocks. Investor wealth fell by 2.73 lakh crore. A hawkish US Fed outlook and a sharp rise in crude prices further pressured sentiment, triggering broad-based declines.

Indonesia's recent bond auction saw softer demand, attributed to Lunar New Year holidays, despite market jitters from MSCI's downgrade warning and Moody's outlook cut. While foreign sentiment for rupiah bonds remains stable, concerns over policy predictability and central bank independence persist, impacting the currency. Authorities raised more than targeted, but bid-to-cover ratios dipped.

Godfrey Phillips India shares are surging. Companies are raising cigarette prices to cover higher costs, in light of the new tobacco tax regime. The price hikes aim to reduce expected profit declines. Marlboro Compact prices have increased. ITC is also expected to raise prices. Retailers are selling existing stock at higher rates.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) shares surged after announcing a strategic partnership with OpenAI to build AI infrastructure in India and offer joint market solutions. This collaboration aims to boost productivity, enhance software engineering, and position India as a global AI hub by developing AI-ready, green-energy-powered data centers.

India Inc.'s third-quarter earnings show a steady performance with easing operating pressures, suggesting improving earnings visibility. While domestic consumption remains a preferred theme, caution persists regarding AI cycle uncertainty and valuation dispersion. Infrastructure and IT sectors await clearer order flows and disruption timelines.

Indias brokers lobby has urged the Reserve Bank of India to defer its newly issued lending norms for six months, citing operational challenges.

Shares of Tata Investment Corporation rose sharply after Tata Sons was reported to be preparing an EGM to clear N. Chandrasekarans third-term reappointment. With Tata Sons holding a majority stake, the move has heightened investor interest amid wider group-level developments and shifting market conditions.

Foreign institutional investors are rapidly exiting Indian IT stocks, pulling out nearly Rs 11,000 crore in early February and over Rs 74,000 crore so far in 2025, amid fears that advanced AI tools from firms like Anthropic and Palantir Technologies could disrupt traditional software services models.

Foreign investors more than doubled their purchases of US equities in 2025, defying market volatility triggered by President Donald Trumps tariffs. Net buying surged 134% to $720.1 billion from $307.5 billion in 2024, according to US Treasury Department data. The strong inflows highlight sustained global appetite for American stocks despite trade tensions and uncertain corporate outlooks.

U.S. single-family homebuilding saw a rebound in December, with starts increasing. However, a decline in future construction permits signals underlying weakness. Higher mortgage rates, material costs, and builder sentiment deterioration are constraining the housing market, despite government efforts to improve affordability.

Japan's 20-year bond yield remained stable following a moderately firm auction, showing little reaction to a previous tax-cut pledge that had sent yields soaring. Foreign investors are reportedly leading demand, attracted by higher yields on hedged bonds. Market concerns over political instability have eased after a significant election win, with reduced issuance also supporting investor appetite for super-long JGBs.

Several Indian largecap companies showed strong financial results in the December quarter. Trent and Vedanta were among ten firms that achieved substantial profit growth, with some seeing increases up to 125 percent year-on-year. Other companies like Muthoot Finance, Siemens Energy, and TVS Motor also reported healthy profit jumps.

Banks are witnessing a surge in customer interest for green products and lending, particularly driven by younger demographics' environmental consciousness. IDFC First Bank reports significant adoption of green deposits and profitable electric vehicle financing, indicating a growing movement towards sustainable finance.