The Economic Times News

Gross revenue from domestic transactions rose 1.2% to over 1.22 lakh crore, official data published Thursday showed, while revenues from imported goods climbed about a fifth to 51,977 crore during December.

About 18.44 million people sought the typically unskilled work under the MGNREGS in December, down 28.4% from 25.77 million a year earlier. In November, however, only 14.66 million people had demanded work.

India's export horizons are expanding rapidly, with projections hitting $840-850 billion in FY26 and climbing to $950 billion in FY27. The fostering of free trade agreements, particularly with nations in West Asia, alongside robust growth in sectors like services and electronics, are pivotal to this surge.

Sebi has barred 26 individuals from the securities market for up to two years for manipulating the price of SME-listed DU Digital Technologies, whose stock surged 1,393% between 2021 and 2023. The regulator ordered disgorgement of Rs 98.78 lakh plus interest and imposed penalties totalling Rs 1.87 crore after finding coordinated, deceptive trading.

The year 2025 was scary good for investors. It was scary because the U.S. stock market plunged to several historic drops on worries about everything from President Donald Trump's tariffs to interest rates to a possible bubble in artificial-intelligence technology.

SBI stock, Bank of Baroda, PSU banks, Nifty 2026, buy-on-dips strategy, technical analysis, short-term gains, stock recommendations

The Indian market ended Thursday with the Sensex marginally lower and the Nifty slightly higher, as gains in IT stocks offset losses in FMCG counters like ITC following a new cigarette tax. Trading was thin due to global holidays, with attention now on Q3 earnings, budget cues, and global developments shaping 2026.

Realty firm The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) has sold 1,419 apartments for Rs 640 crore at its housing project in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) on strong demand for low-cost homes.

Ten NSE midcap companies have delivered a consistently strong RoE above 25% for four straight years, signalling robust profitability and management efficiency, StockEdge data shows.

Indian government bonds kicked off 2026 with range-bound trades on Thursday, with traders largely staying on the sidelines, wary that a buyer-thin market may struggle to absorb upcoming debt supply.

Ten BSE-listed stocks, including Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor, hit fresh 52-week highs despite a flat market, extending monthly gains of up to 20% and signalling strong bullish momentum.

Banks can now sponsor pension funds for India's National Pension System. This move by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority aims to boost competition. Banks must meet specific eligibility criteria. This is part of broader reforms. Subscribers can now invest in gold, silver ETFs, Nifty 50, and Alternative Investment Funds. Investment management fees will be revised from April 2026.

Indian markets ended flat on Thursday as ITC and Godfrey Phillips tumbled on higher tobacco excise, while Vodafone Idea and Ashok Leyland gained on positive developments.

The Indian rupee welcomed 2026 with a marginal decline, weighed down by dollar demand from corporates, while thin volumes in the first trading of the New Year curbed any major movements, according to traders.

Nuvama cut ITCs target price to Rs 415 and downgraded the stock to hold after the government announced a sharper-than-expected hike in cigarette taxes. The brokerage expects price hikes to hurt volumes and EBITDA from FY27, prompting earnings downgrades. However, strong cash flows, a high dividend payout and growth in non-tobacco businesses offer downside support.

The BSE Sensex slipped 32 points, or 0.04%, to close at 85,188.60, while the NSE Nifty 50 edged up 17 points, or 0.06%, to settle at 26,146.55, hovering comfortably above the 26,100 mark.

India's top business houses experienced a mixed 2025, with Reliance Industries leading wealth creation and Tata Group facing significant market value erosion. While some conglomerates saw substantial gains driven by specific sectors and companies, others grappled with weak earnings and sector-specific challenges, reflecting selective investor optimism.

Vodafone Idea receives a five-year moratorium on AGR dues, easing near-term cash flow but leaving high leverage and spectrum obligations a major concern.

Vedanta has slipped to seventh place in Indias dividend yield rankings, with smallcap Multibase India taking the top spot at a staggering 24.8%, followed by Allcargo Logistics and Premco Global. SBI Securities latest review highlights a major shake-up driven by sharp price moves and shifting payout trends across companies.

Indias goods and services tax (GST) collections reached 1.75 lakh crore ($19.45 billion) in December, up 6.1% from the same month last year, the government said on Thursday.

India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of their nuclear facilities. This is part of a decades-old agreement. The pact prevents attacks on each other's atomic sites. The exchange happened on Thursday. It took place simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad. This marks the 35th consecutive exchange of such lists. The practice began on January 1, 1992.

ITC shares fell sharply on Thursday, erasing over Rs 50,000 crore in market value after a steep new cigarette tax spooked investors. The excise hikeon top of GSTmay force price increases of 15% or more, raising risks of volume loss and a shift toward illicit trade, analysts warned.

Jefferies warned that the sharp hike in cigarette excise duty is clearly negative for ITC in the near term, likely hurting volumes and earnings. The brokerage called the move a major negative surprise for the legal cigarette industry, estimating over a 20% rise in effective tax incidence, and said it increases policy uncertainty despite its continued positive stance on ITC.

India is shifting to a pragmatic, interest-based foreign policy for 2026, moving away from rigid alliances. This new global playbook prioritizes economic resilience through diversified trade, energy security via Russian oil purchases, and cautious engagement with China. The strategy aims for flexibility and autonomy, balancing partnerships with national interests in a multipolar world.

Investor focus shifts from momentum to valuation and liquidity amid market churn. Quant Mutual Fund's CIO Sandeep Tandon advises avoiding frothy Q-commerce stocks, favoring undervalued traditional companies. He sees pharmaceuticals as a strong, long-term 'no-brainer' bet with limited downside and significant upside.

Investors faced significant psychological challenges in 2025 due to extreme valuations and uneven market gains. Sandeep Tandon, CIO of Quant Mutual Fund, highlights the importance of emotional control and avoiding the trap of chasing momentum. While 2025 saw record highs, many portfolios suffered, especially in mid and smallcaps.

Adani Power shares rose as much as 7% on Thursday, with brokerages highlighting a long runway for earnings growth driven by a sharp expansion in capacity, rising long-term power purchase agreements and improving cash-flow visibility as Indias baseload power demand strengthens.

After a weak 2025, Indias cement sector enters 2026 facing capacity pressure and pricing challenges, even as long term infrastructure driven demand remains intact.

Shriram Finance shares hit a record high as analysts upgraded target prices following MUFGs landmark investment and a credit rating upgrade, boosting confidence in the companys capital strength and growth outlook.

Apollo Micro Systems shares jumped after its subsidiary won a fresh 150 crore order from a private player, marking the second major contract in two days. Earlier, the company had secured orders worth over 420 crore, including a 419.39 crore contract from Coal India subsidiaries, boosting investor sentiment.

Vodafone Idea shares jumped nearly 10% after regulatory filings showed the telecom operator will receive Rs 5,836 crore from Vodafone Group under a revised liability settlement, while separate reports pointed to fresh government relief on its adjusted gross revenue dues, together offering a rare boost to the debt-laden telco.

Cupid Ltd's shares have surged 34% in 15 sessions, hitting a new all-time high. The FMCG player announced plans for its first overseas manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia, aiming to boost global expansion. Promoter confidence has also strengthened with a significant reduction in pledged shares.

LIC's 2025 investment performance revealed a stark divide. A significant majority of its portfolio stocks ended the year in the red, with many experiencing substantial declines. However, a notable portion of its holdings also delivered impressive gains. This mixed performance highlights the volatility experienced by India's largest institutional investor during the year.

India is set to become a global growth powerhouse. Its IT sector, digital transformation, and young population will drive this expansion. Improved infrastructure and credit access will further boost the economy. Entrepreneurship will fuel innovation. This positions India for significant economic progress over the next two decades.

Bitcoin is trading between $87,500 and $88,000. Crypto consolidation continues. Bitcoin saw a slight dip in the last 24 hours. Ethereum gained a little. Many major altcoins like XRP and Solana experienced losses. The global crypto market capitalization is near $3 trillion. This follows a period of decline in 2025 for Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Indian government bonds experienced a decline on the initial trading day of 2026. This downturn was driven by anticipated supply pressures from an upcoming debt sale and a projected substantial borrowing schedule for states in the January-March quarter. Traders are preparing for significant auctions. The market is closely watching the impact of this increased debt supply.

India's premium housing market experienced a strong performance in 2025. Capital values rose significantly, especially in under-construction projects. This trend was fueled by robust end-user demand, better infrastructure, and limited supply in prime areas. Experts predict this premium segment will remain buoyant in 2026, supported by wealth growth and improved transparency. Disciplined pricing and supply management are key for stability.

Nifty IT could emerge as a contrarian winner in 2026 as rupee depreciation, AI-led consulting demand and expected Fed rate cuts boost earnings, says Sunil Subramaniam. He also sees strong recovery potential in real estate, GLP-1 driven pharma growth and a renewed private-sector capex cycle shaping market leadership next year.

Gold and silver began 2026 on a mixed note, with gold trading flat while silver extended its strong rally. Gold February futures inched up 0.06% on MCX, whereas silver March futures rose 0.86%, continuing last years sharp surge driven by tight supply, strong demand and supportive interest rates.

Vodafone Idea shares experienced sharp volatility following a government relief package. While the announcement provided a significant financial breather by deferring payments, it failed to address concerns about the company's ability to secure fresh bank funding, leading to investor disappointment and a stock decline.

Sovereign wealth and public pension funds channelled a record share of capital into the United States in 2025, while emerging markets saw a sharp decline in inflows despite strong performance.

Tobacco stocks like ITC and Godfrey Phillips saw significant drops on Thursday. This follows the finance ministry's notification of an additional excise duty on tobacco products. The new levies, effective February 1, will be applied over and above the GST rate. This change replaces the existing compensation cess. Companies may need to increase prices due to these higher taxes.

Berkshire Hathaway shares edged lower as Warren Buffett prepared to hand over the chief executive role to Greg Abel, marking a historic leadership transition while highlighting the companys unmatched long term investment record.

A tough year for Indian equities has triggered investor FOMO, but market veteran Devina Mehra argues that weak sentiment, not regret, should guide portfolio decisions. The focus, she says, must be on reassessment, quality investments and intelligent global diversification.

Indian stock markets, Nifty and Sensex, started 2026 with gains for a second day. Auto, bank, and IT stocks saw significant increases. However, major FMCG companies experienced sharp drops, limiting the overall market rise. The Sensex opened higher by 220 points, and the Nifty 50 also climbed. This marks a positive start to the trading year.

Despite Nifty's decade-long winning streak, 2026 targets of 29,000 face significant hurdles. Experts warn of potential derailment from a delayed US-India trade deal, global geopolitical chaos, and an AI bubble burst. Earnings-valuation mismatches, crude oil spikes, rupee depreciation, and an equity supply glut also pose substantial risks to the rally.

Hyundai Motor India announced a marginal vehicle price hike from January 2026 to offset rising input costs. While near-term technical indicators show mild pressure, strong long-term trends, stable valuations, and rising foreign investor interest continue to support the stocks broader growth outlook.

IndiGo closed 2025 with strong passenger growth, expanded domestic and international networks, new long-haul routes, and major aircraft orders. With A321XLR induction, wider global alliances, and improved connectivity, the airline enters 2026 positioned for sustained international expansion and operational scale.

Indian government bonds are poised for a cautious start to the New Year, anticipating fresh debt supply and state borrowing schedules. The benchmark 10-year yield is expected to trade within a narrow band as traders assess demand-supply dynamics. Despite a third consecutive annual decline in yields, appetite for increased debt issuance remains a key concern.

Indian rupee traders are navigating a cautious New Year outlook. The Reserve Bank of India's strong intervention in December significantly influenced the currency's movement, overshadowing underlying market signals. Expecting a subdued trading session with limited price discovery, the rupee is poised for a largely flat opening.