The Economic Times

India's inflation measurement is getting a significant upgrade. New items like AirPods and hand sanitisers are joining the Consumer Price Index. The base year is shifting to 2024 from 2012. This overhaul aims to provide a more accurate picture of price changes. The changes will help the Reserve Bank of India make better monetary policy decisions.

India has signed a free trade agreement with the European Union. This pact protects key sectors like dairy, agriculture, and fisheries. Minister Piyush Goyal described the deal as a robust and transformational partnership. The agreement brings India to the international high table. It addresses regulatory practices and protects the Indian automobile market.

The upcoming Union Budget 2026-27 is set to boost the social sector with new welfare schemes for vulnerable groups. Key initiatives include health observatories in eight states to combat diseases, community-managed tribal creches, and sports hubs in schools. The budget also focuses on employment generation, malnutrition, and infrastructure development in remote areas, while preserving tribal culture.

Get ready for an in-depth analysis of Budget 2026 with ET NOW! Join us Sunday, February 1, starting at 7 am for preliminary insights before the Finance Minister takes the stage at 11 am. Our lineup of financial experts, including the insightful Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar, will interpret the crucial announcements and fiscal strategies unfolding throughout the day.

Positive news on government financesby December, the fiscal deficit has shrunk to 54.5% of its annual goal. This achievement is primarily driven by robust net tax collections and a healthy increase in total receipts. Meanwhile, revenue expenditure has been kept in check, and capital investments have surged.

With high US tariffs hopefully behind us, India's net FDI inflows are set to surge. Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran predicts a promising rise in private investment for FY25. The upcoming free trade agreements are anticipated to greatly enhance merchandise exports. Emphasizing growth, the idea of an 'entrepreneurial state' promotes decisions that prioritize tangible development outcomes.

Investors holding physical securities can now breathe easy. Sebi has opened a special one-year window, from February 5, 2026, to February 4, 2027, allowing them to transfer and dematerialise shares that faced procedural or documentation issues before the April 2019 mandate. This initiative aims to resolve long-standing grievances and grant rightful access to these assets.

American Express forecast annual profit largely above Wall Street expectations on Friday, underscoring resilient spending by its young and affluent customers, but a small miss on holiday-quarter profit weighed on its shares.

Bombardier shares dropped 9% on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to decertify the private jet maker's large-cabin planes and all Aircraft made in Canada and slap 50% import tariffs on new planes until Canada certified the latest aircraft produced by U.S. rival Gulfstream.

Markets regulator Sebi has streamlined the process of crediting securities to dematerialised accounts by doing away with the requirement of letter of confirmation, a move that will reduce the period of transfer of securities from 150 days to 30 days.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals posted 16% growth in December-quarter profit on strong India formulations demand, improved North America performance and margin expansion, with EBITDA surging 45% and regulatory clearance enabling manufacturing restart at its US facility.

SAIL reported a sharp rise in December-quarter profit to Rs 374 crore, driven by higher volumes, operating leverage and disciplined cost control, despite volatile input costs and competitive pricing, while total income also rose strongly year-on-year.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will engage with 30 college students from across India after presenting the Union Budget 2026-27. The students will witness the budget presentation live and visit the Ministry of Finance. Later, Sitharaman will discuss the budget's priorities and implications for youth, fostering awareness and participation in financial and parliamentary processes.

Odds of a partial U.S. government shutdown rose on Friday after new barriers emerged in the Senate to a deal that would ensure funding for agency operations would not be interrupted.

U.S. stocks opened lower on Friday after President Donald Trump nominated former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to head the U.S. central bank, as traders mulled over the monetary policy path under the new Fed leadership.

NTPC posted over 8% growth in December-quarter profit on modest revenue gains and lower expenses, with sequential improvement in earnings. The state-run power major also declared a second interim dividend for FY26.

India's National Mission on Manufacturing targets a significant boost by 2035. The plan aims to double the manufacturing sector's contribution to GDP to 25 percent. It also seeks to create 143 million new jobs. Merchandise exports are projected to reach USD 1.2 trillion. This initiative focuses on strategic sector development and improving business conditions.

The World Bank Group and India have launched a new Country Partnership Framework, pledging $8-10 billion annually for five years to fuel India's growth and its developed economy vision. This strategic partnership prioritizes private sector-led job creation by investing in infrastructure, human capital, and a business-friendly environment, aligning with India's 'Viksit Bharat' goals.

Cigarette maker Godfrey Phillips India Ltd on Friday reported an 8.7 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 343.29 crore for the December quarter of FY26.

Meesho reported a 13-fold jump in Q3 losses to Rs 491 crore after its December listing, even as revenue rose 32% year-on-year, driven by aggressive user acquisition, higher advertising spends and continued investments to fuel long-term growth.

Gold and silver suffered their worst selloff in over a decade as a stronger dollar and Kevin Warshs Fed chair nomination triggered profit-taking after record highs, slamming MCX prices, ETFs and global bullion markets amid extreme volatility and margin pressure.

Sebi has cleared seven IPOs, signalling a strong start to the 2026 listing pipeline. Approvals include HD Fire Protect, Xtranet Technologies, Parijat Industries, Rotomag Enertec, CSM Technologies, Eldeco Infrastructure and AITMC Ventures, with issues spanning fire safety, IT services, real estate, energy solutions and diversified manufacturing.

Markets regulator Sebi has given its no-objection for the National Stock Exchange's initial public offering. This clearance is a significant regulatory step for India's largest stock exchange. NSE is now expected to move closer to finalizing its IPO structure and timing. The listing is anticipated to draw strong investor interest due to NSE's dominant market position.

U.S. stock index futures cut some losses on Friday, after U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair.

MCX, NCDEX, NSE and BSE will open for a special Sunday trading session on February 1 during the Union Budget 2026, marking only the second time Indian markets trade on a Sunday, with standard timings and live market activity.

President Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve. Warsh, a former Fed governor, is expected to bring significant changes to the agency. His appointment requires Senate confirmation. This move could shift the Fed's independence and align it more closely with the White House. Warsh's tenure could influence interest rate policies and economic strategies.

Indian stock markets will open on Sunday, February 1, 2026, for the Union Budget only the second Sunday trading session in independent India. Exchanges will follow regular hours as FM Nirmala Sitharaman presents Budget 2026. Historically, Budget days see muted market moves, with bigger trends emerging afterwards.

Nithin Kamath warns higher derivatives STT hurt trading and revenues. He says post-2024 tax hikes reduced volumes as markets cooled, causing STT collections to trail estimates, suggesting sharply higher transaction costs can be counterproductive for market participation and government receipts.

India's foreign exchange reserves experienced a significant surge, reaching $709.41 billion in the week ending January 23, 2026. This represents an $8 billion increase from the preceding week. The Reserve Bank of India actively monitors the foreign exchange market and intervenes to ensure stable conditions, aiming to curb excessive rupee volatility.

Indian equity benchmarks snapped a three-day rally on Friday amid selling in metals and IT. Hindustan Copper and Vedanta fell sharply, while Vodafone Idea, Nestle India and GRSE gained following earnings, management updates and strategic announcements.

Bajaj Auto Q3 Results: Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto on Friday reported 19% year-on-year (YoY) growth in its consolidated net profit at Rs 2,503 crore. Revenue from operations to rose 19% YoY to 15,220 crore, driven by record quarterly volumes and a richer mix.

India is updating its economic data base years. This move will boost the quality of information for artificial intelligence and machine learning. Policymakers will get more accurate economic pictures. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is already using AI internally. This ensures data is ready for advanced analysis.

India's fiscal deficit for April to December, or the first nine months of this fiscal year, was at Rs 8.55 lakh crore, equivalent to 54.5% of annual estimates, narrowing from the previous year's 56.7%. The government aims to narrow the fiscal gap to 4.4% of GDP in this financial year from 4.8% a year earlier.

CARE noted that while the AGR deferral significantly reduces near-to-medium-term cash outflows, spectrum-related dues are likely to increase sharply from FY28 onwards. The companys ability to meet these obligations will depend on the timely execution of network capex, tariff hikes, and operating leverage-led improvement in cash flows.

SBI General Insurance reported strong financial performance in 9M FY26, with gross direct premium growth of 14.5% and PAT of Rs 522 crore. Improved loss ratio and healthy solvency underscore operational strength and disciplined risk management.

Ambuja's volume growth was 2X the industry average, with a higher focus on trade sales/premium cement, which delivered better realisations than peers, along with higher volume growth of base capacity. The total cement capacity stood at 109 MTPA.

The Indian rupee reached a historic low on Friday, concluding its worst month since September 2022. Persistent foreign investor selling and strong corporate demand for dollars pressured the currency. The Reserve Bank of India intervened to support the rupee. Attention now turns to India's federal budget proposal and the US President's Federal Reserve nominee announcement.

India's National Aluminium Company (NALCO) reported a marginal increase in third-quarter profit on Friday, helped by firm aluminium prices.

Despite the short-term dip, robust safe-haven demand and rate-cut bets have driven gold toward a historic monthly surge.

US President Donald Trump is set to announce his pick to chair the Federal Reserve on Friday morning, setting up a key shift in the central bank's leadership. - Forging consensus - Within the bank, the Fed chair is seen to have an outsized influence on forging consensus among the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) as well.

Investors trading around the Union Budget on February 1 face a settlement holiday due to Sunday, impacting short-term strategies. Shares bought on January 30 and February 1 will have delayed selling eligibility. Brokerages anticipate a gradual fiscal consolidation roadmap with a focus on defence spending and consumption support.

Silvers record-breaking rally hit a sudden pause as March futures plunged nearly Rs 70,000, slipping below Rs 4 lakh after a 74% surge this month. Analysts say momentum remains bullish but warn of extreme overbought conditions, rising volatility, and elevated risks, prompting investors to weigh profit-booking against staying invested.

Nestle India announced an interim dividend of Rs 7 per share after reporting a 45% jump in December-quarter net profit, driven by broad-based volume growth, revenues, strong category performance, and benefits from capacity investments, advertising push, and GST-led market recovery.

Market expert Sandip Sabharwal expressed caution on high-valuation EMS stocks like Dixon Technologies, questioning earnings quality and growth sustainability. He offered a tactical view on oil stocks such as ONGC, citing cheap valuations, and maintained a guarded stance on Paytm due to structural challenges and low-PE business models.

India's Union Budget will prioritise reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio. This shift from fixed fiscal deficit numbers aligns with the revised FRBM Act. The government aims to bring the central government debt to GDP to around 501 per cent by March 2031. This strategy offers flexibility for growth-enhancing expenditures and fiscal transparency. The roadmap for the next six years is set.

Bond markets enter the FY27 Union Budget with cautious optimism, focusing on fiscal credibility, debt sustainability and gross borrowing dynamics. With consolidation expected around 4.2% of GDP and stable net borrowing, investors anticipate steady yields, manageable supply and supportive demand, keeping near-term risks contained despite higher redemptions and state-level pressures.

Brookfield India Real Estate Trust has posted more than eight fold jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 201.22 crore for the quarter ended December 2025.

Strides Pharma Science Ltd on Friday reported over two-fold rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 208.12 crore in the third quarter ended December 31, 2025 on the back of robust sales growth and one time income on sale of property.

Nestle India reported strong Q3FY26 results with net profit surging 45% YoY to Rs 998 crore and revenue rising 19% to Rs 5,667 crore. Sequential profit jumped 34%, while shares hit a 52-week high. Broad-based growth across e-commerce, organised trade, exports and OOH helped drive performance amid mixed commodity trends.