The Economic Times
Elections 2026Business / The Economic Times
Washington: The US trade deficit contracted slightly in September, government data showed on Wednesday, hovering close to its widest since March 2025, driven by capital and consumer goods imports and strong exports.The trade gap in the world's largest economy decreased by 0.6 percent to $105.0 billion, according to Commerce Department data.Track US Senate Elections Result 2026 Live Updates hereThis was below the $107.7 billion projected in a consensus forecast released on Marketwatch.US trade fl
The Sensex gained 384 points to close at 77,301, while 15 BSE 500 stocks touched fresh 52-week highs. Ather Energy, PVR Inox, Marico and Indian Hotels featured among notable gainers, reflecting broad market momentum.
Sebi has announced relaxed KYC requirements for Non-Resident Indians, Overseas Citizens of India, and foreign nationals. These changes will allow them to complete digital onboarding from FATF-compliant countries effectively. Intermediaries can accept KYC submissions without requiring physical presence in India. Video In-Person Verification is now permitted where in-person verification isn't feasible, enhancing compliance capabilities. The revised framework, effective from December 3, is aimed at
Democrats are set to take control of the House and Senate after the 2026 midterm elections. President Donald Trump still has the power to veto their bills. This could be a test for Democats on how they handle that power and bring policies which could shape their pitch to voters in 2028.
Xavier Becerra was born in Sacramento, California. His father was born in Sacramento and raised in Mexico, while his mother was born in Mexico. He attended Stanford University, where he earned an undergraduate degree and later a law degree. His political journey started in California. In 1992, he was elected to the US House of Representatives.
Elon Musk's nearly $500 million campaign to support Republicans failed as Democrats reclaimed both chambers of Congress and flipped Texas' governorship. The results could expose his businesses, including SpaceX and Tesla, to greater congressional scrutiny, tighter data-centre regulations and potential hurdles for expansion plans under incoming Texas Governor Gina Hinojosa.
Investors are watching the implications of the recent Democratic win in the US midterm elections. Geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iran war, continue to elevate oil prices and market risks. Regulatory scrutiny on the rapidly growing AI sector is expected following the election outcomes. Market volatility is anticipated to persist due to fiscal policy debates and increasing debt concerns. The market response so far has shown modest gains despite heightened uncertainties.
Investing in gold and silver has shown different returns over various periods. Gold delivered approximately 190% returns over five years, while silver reached 178%. Silver has outperformed gold in the last three years, showing faster price increases.
Rahul Gandhi renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a face-to-face debate. He claimed he could prove Modi is a traitor within five minutes. Gandhi stated that Modi avoids discussions, despite the Prime Minister's accusations against Congress leaders. In response, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman suggested Gandhi should be prepared to hear the government's side.
An investment portfolio should be customised to ones own needs, because there tends to be no one-size-fits-all portfolio. The idea is to ensure financial goals are realised across timelines and not just a decade or twenty years later. Jiraaf founder, Saurav Ghosh, talked about the customisation, profit margins, risk management and more when it comes to allocating a part of ones portfolio to bonds. Read on!
Dabur India Ltd. on Wednesday said Mohit Malhotra has resigned as Global Chief Executive Officer and Whole-time Director of the company, effective November 13, 2026, citing personal interests.Malhotra, who has been with Dabur for more than three decades, has accepted a leadership role overseas, according to his resignation letter dated November 3.The companys board accepted his resignation at a meeting held on Wednesday.In his resignation letter, Malhotra said he had joined Dabur as a management
Voters are showing signs of exhaustion towards Donald Trump, affecting Republican candidates' performances in recent elections. Many voters are dissatisfied with the Republican Party's handling of inflation and government corruption issues. Trump's endorsements of candidates perceived as flawed also contributed to the Republican losses during the elections. Voters are demanding more accountability and oversight from Congress, seeking necessary changes in representation.
Nykaa reported a 207% year-on-year profit surge to Rs 101 crore in Q2FY27, with revenue rising 28% to Rs 3,006 crore. Beauty and fashion businesses accelerated growth, while quick commerce, owned brands and strategic acquisitions strengthened expansion.
Auto sales growth is expected to moderate in the second half of FY27 after strong festive demand, while tractor sales may remain weak. Monarch Networth Capital prefers diversified ancillary players Minda Corporation, RK Forgings and Sundram Fasteners, with potential upside of up to 44%.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has accepted the certified election results and will start consultations with party representatives. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot achieved a parliamentary majority in the recent vote, requiring negotiations. Smaller parties are being approached for potential alliances to form a government.
Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Rahul Gandhi during a BJP conclave regarding the alleged electoral irregularities. He questioned whether Gandhi and his party members would resign following these claims. Prasad emphasised that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh should also consider resignation if he persisted with these accusations. The conclave aimed to address the anti-Sikh riots and the struggles faced by victims and survivors.
Virat Kohli recorded a significant milestone by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar for the most ODI chase runs. He scored 74 runs in a rain-affected match against New Zealand, helping India win easily. Kohli also levelled with Ricky Ponting for the most runs against New Zealand in ODIs, marking his dominance in the format. Additionally, he became the first player to reach 13,000 runs batting at number three.
European shares advanced after Democrats secured both chambers of the US Congress, lifting investor sentiment. Banks and clean-energy stocks led the rally, while Novo Nordisk gained after raising its full-year sales and profit forecasts.
Bitcoin traded near $78,000 as institutional outflows and macroeconomic uncertainty kept sentiment cautious across the cryptocurrency market. Investors tracked US midterm election results, potential changes in crypto regulation, Federal Reserve rate expectations, and ETF flows for cues on the market's next move.
Emomee, a children's entertainment company, emphasises the need for better regulation of digital content for young viewers. The company's founders, motivated by their children's viewing experiences, focus on creating quality educational programming. Recently, Emomee launched a series on Netflix and is exploring global partnerships for distribution. They are also developing physical products and considering live events to engage audiences.
India secured a comfortable victory over New Zealand in the first ODI held in Auckland. Virat Kohli played a key role by scoring 74 runs, which paved the way for the win. A young Indian pace attack excelled, dismissing New Zealand for just 185 runs in 40.2 overs. Kohli's performance included several boundaries, showcasing his skill and control throughout the innings.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has changed his display name on X to Ram Altman after facing online criticism over his remarks about the use of Random Access Memory (RAM) in personal computers. The controversy started after his appearance on the Cheeky Pint podcast, where he questioned whether allocating large amounts of memory to individual desktop and laptop users was an efficient use of limited global supplies.
Valuation expert Aswath Damodaran believes an AI bubble is inevitable and investors cannot avoid its impact entirely. In a recent podcast, he traced the AI frenzy to ChatGPT's 2022 launch, which brought artificial intelligence into public consciousness. He explained how advances in computing power and access to vast amounts of data have transformed AI and fuelled today's enthusiasm.
Lenskart Solutions achieved a net profit of Rs 227.08 crore in Q2FY27, reflecting a 122.1% YoY increase. Revenue from operations rose to Rs 2,845.03 crore, marking a 35.7% YoY growth. Product margin improved to 64% compared to 63.4% in the same quarter last year. The company added 165 new stores in Q2FY27, enhancing its active store count to 3,624.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on November 19 regarding concerns over voter enrollment in Delhi. Petitioners argue that the Election Commission's clarification allows unjust requirements for previously registered voters. The court had previously questioned the need for voters to re-register using Form 6. Advocates suggested that those previously enrolled should have alternative options for reinstating their voting rights.
Abdul El-Sayed has been elected as the first Muslim to the US Senate, marking a historic milestone. His wife, Dr. Sarah Jukaku, has roots in Bhatkal, Karnataka, connecting their family to Indian heritage. Sarah's grandfather was a deputy minister for finance in Mysore State, contributing to local development. The couple met at the University of Michigan, where they became active in the Muslim Students' Association.
Eurozone government bond yields were steady as investors awaited October inflation data, while US Treasury yields declined after Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress. Markets also assessed the likelihood of further European Central Bank rate hikes in December.
Dr Lal PathLabs announced a 27% increase in its second-quarter profit, with net earnings rising to 1.92 billion rupees. The company experienced a near 20% increase in consolidated revenue from operations during this period. A rise in healthcare awareness has fueled the demand for preventive health check-ups, contributing to these earnings. Dr Lal tested 13.6% more samples this quarter compared to the previous year.
Allcargo Logistics Ltd reported a positive shift in financial performance during the September quarter of FY27, achieving a consolidated profit after tax of Rs 19 crore. This demonstrates a year-on-year growth alongside a 3.4 percent increase in operational revenue. With the festive season on the horizon, the company anticipates further demand, focusing on enhancing capacity utilization and reinstating volume growth in the upcoming months.
Bayer CropScience Ltd has announced an impressive 8.84% growth in net profit, totaling Rs 166.2 crore for Q2 FY27. However, total income saw a 19.4% decline year-over-year, attributed to ongoing market challenges. Factors such as unpredictable monsoon patterns have disrupted both sowing and crop protection demand. In response, the company emphasizes efficiency improvements and portfolio enhancements, while the board has declared an interim dividend of Rs 90 per share.
Saregama India has reported an impressive 46.4 percent rise in its consolidated net profit for the September quarter. Alongside this, the companys operational revenue saw a 36.63 percent increase, with the music segment generating Rs 251.3 crore and live events thriving remarkably. The total income for the first half of FY27 reached Rs 587.28 crore, showcasing solid financial results.
Coca-Cola HBC has upgraded its annual organic revenue growth outlook, driven by successful pricing strategies and heightened consumer demand. In the third quarter, the company achieved a notable 9% organic revenue growth, surpassing the anticipated 8%. This surge was propelled by effective promotional initiatives tied to the FIFA World Cup and increased summer demand.
Rahul Gandhi held an 'Insaaf Rally' in Sangrur, where he criticized the Aam Aadmi Party's governance in Punjab. He questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's effectiveness in combating drug abuse, emphasizing that Punjab needs a state-focused government. Gandhi recalled his concern for slain singer Sidhu Moose Wala, highlighting the threats faced by talented individuals in the state.
New Delhi: Indian Railways achieved its highest-ever freight loading for October, transporting 145.07 million tonnes of freight during the month, compared to 133.93 million tonnes in the same period last year, marking a growth of 8.32 per cent, the ministry said on Wednesday.The ministry said that several major commodities registered encouraging growth during the month, with food grains loading increasing by 26.3 per cent, domestic coal by 16.0 per cent, Balance Other Goods by 11.0 per cent, cli
BMW reported a 15% year-on-year decline in third-quarter net profit to 1.45 billion euros, a day after issuing its second profit warning of 2026. Intensifying competition from Chinese automakers, rising costs and weaker demand in China are weighing on the German luxury carmaker. Its vehicle deliveries in China plunged 24.8% during the quarter, while global deliveries fell 6.3%.
GetWorks AI hiring business, now spun off as Flashfox AI, is targeting 500 enterprise clients in the next 24 months as it expands into Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of 850 Fast Track Special Courts for quick disposal of cases. The scheme aims to cover additional districts with high numbers of pending rape and POCSO cases. Each court will have a dedicated judicial officer, a special public prosecutor, and support staff. Financial assistance will be provided to states and Union Territories to cover operational costs.
Agniveer extension news: The Centre has announced a two-year engagement extension for the remaining 75% of Agniveers following feedback on the Agnipath scheme. CDS General N S Raja Subramani said all would be offered a pathway to regular enrolment after the extended period, with selection based on merit. He also announced changes to recruitment tests and skill certificates for Agniveers.
While the BSE 500 declined around 5% over the past three months, 12 stocks bucked the broader market trend, delivering gains ranging from 25% to 64%. Welspun Living led the rally, followed by Ather Energy and Welspun Corp.

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