The Economic Times

India has revamped its consumer inflation data series, responding to the International Monetary Fund's worries about data reliability. The revised series features an updated base year and integrates e-commerce metrics. This enhancement seeks to better reflect the economic landscape. Anticipate further revisions to GDP figures in the near future.

European shares slipped on Friday, tracking a sombre global mood as uncertainties about artificial intGlobal Markets | European shares slip as AI-disruption worries, mixed earnings weigh lligence-related disruptions persisted, while investors also assessed mixed corporate earnings from companies such as Safran and L'Oreal. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.3% at 616.58 points, as of 0821 GMT, and is now on track to end the week flat.

In its Trade Quarterly Report for July-September quarter of 2025-26, released on Friday, the Aayog proposes aligning incentives toward domestic value addition, sustained R&D, and ecosystem deepening supported by anchor investments that transfer technology, improve standards, and generate stable demand for local suppliers to help develop a globally competitive electronics ecosystem and support the $500 billion manufacturing ambition by FY2030.

Seva Teerth: Prime Minister Modi launched welfare measures from the new Seva Teerth complex, focusing on women, farmers, youth, and vulnerable groups. Key decisions include free accident treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh, doubling the Lakhpati Didi target to 6 crore, and expanding the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to Rs 2 lakh crore, alongside a new Rs 10,000 crore startup fund.

Despite a sharp IT selloff, Axis Direct backs HCL Technologies, Tech Mahindra, Persistent Systems, Coforge, and Bharti Airtel, citing strong deal wins, AI momentum, and earnings growth, projecting up to 67% upside across these conviction buys.

India's exports saw a strong 8.5 percent growth in the July-September quarter of the 2025-26 financial year. This performance highlights India's trade resilience amidst global uncertainties. Both merchandise and services exports contributed to this positive trend. The electronics sector is a key driver, with mobile phone exports reaching significant levels.

Historical data debunks the Friday-the-13th myth on Dalal Street. The Indian market closed higher in 9 of the last 16 such sessions (56.25%). Gains were notable at times: Nifty 50 jumped 4% on March 13, 2020, and rose about 1% on September 13 and December 13, 2019, as well as on August 13, 2021, and December 13, 2024. However, today Sensex and Nifty slipped 1%, dragged by IT stocks, erasing Rs 4.62 lakh crore in market value.

Market veteran Madhusudan Kela advises investors to focus on wealth creation and ignore market noise, viewing volatility as an opportunity. He emphasizes the importance of identifying resilient Indian entrepreneurs and the power of compounding for long-term gains, highlighting the growing role of domestic retail investors.

Indian IT stocks are experiencing panic selling, but experts see this as a buying chance. Artificial intelligence will not destroy the IT services sector. Instead, it will create new opportunities. Companies building AI infrastructure are poised for significant growth. Investors should look for quality assets at attractive prices as AI integration reshapes the technology landscape.

India is deepening its global trade ties, strengthening its long-term growth foundation. Yet markets move on earnings visibility and capital flows, creating short-term uncertainty. Rupee volatility and cautious FII behaviour are likely to keep equities unsettled in 2026. The shift toward a more market-driven currency improves credibility but adds near-term fluctuations. Investors should prioritise time horizons and disciplined allocation over reactive moves. Blending long-term equities with stab

Mutual funds poured into nine stocks in January 2026, with heavy share additions signaling strong institutional demand.

Info Edge Q3 Results: The company announced an interim dividend of Rs 2.40 per share for FY26 and fixed Friday, February 20, 2026, as the record date. The dividend will be paid on or after March 9, 2026.

Federal Realty Investment Trust forecast 2026 funds from operations above Wall Street expectations on Thursday, as it anticipates strong leasing demand and higher rentals for its grocery-anchored shopping centers

Get ready for a transformative leap in transport as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Kumar Bhaskar Varma bridge this Saturday, with a budget of Rs 3,000 crore. Spanning 1.24 kilometers, this architectural wonder connects Guwahati to North Guwahati and promises to revolutionize travel in the region.

Real estate stocks, particularly those exposed to Bengaluru, saw a significant plunge of up to 4% on Friday. This sell-off is driven by investor concerns over potential AI disruption in the IT sector, which could negatively impact demand for property.

Bitcoin is trading near $66,000, consolidating after a rebound from $60,000 amid renewed selling pressure and global risk-off sentiment. Analysts expect a near-term move between $60,000-$70,000 as the market absorbs liquidity, with CPI data on Friday potentially triggering the next directional move.

Nomura has revised its outlook, now anticipating no interest rate cut by India's central bank in April. This shift stems from projected inflation increases and existing stealth easing measures. The Reserve Bank of India's policy corridor, with the call rate near 5%, suggests a pause is likely, despite new inflation data.

On Friday, Japan's Nikkei index took a hit, largely swayed by the slipping fortunes of Wall Street. The noteworthy drop in SoftBank Group created ripples across the market. Conversely, chip manufacturers managed to shine, while Nissan Motor's stock soared on its optimistic financial forecast. In contrast, Inpex saw a setback, with a gloomy projection for its annual net earnings.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) new method market additions for the calculation of the inflation data skewed towards few states as UP, Maharashtra accounts for 43 per cent of new markets, highlighted a report by SBI.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) shares plummeted to a five-and-a-half-year low amid fears of AI-led disruption, with its market capitalization also hitting a multi-year trough. The IT rout intensified following a plunge in Infosys and Wipro ADRs, as a new AI tool for legal tasks sparked concerns about industry-wide vulnerability.

India's commerce ministry is set to launch eight key parts of its Export Promotion Mission next week. This significant initiative, valued at over Rs 25,000 crore, aims to boost exports. Key areas include e-commerce, warehousing, and factoring services. These measures are designed to enhance market readiness and competitiveness for Indian businesses.

Imports of soyoil decreased over 44% to 278,888 tons and sunflower oil imports fell 23.8% to 266,575 tons, the industry trade body said.

Despite a recent global AI-driven market shift, domestic equities are poised for recovery. Improved Indian macros, including interest rate and tax benefits, are creating a constructive outlook. Experts highlight the need for renewed earnings growth, with banking and consumer discretionary sectors expected to lead the charge. Valuations are seen as reasonable, with a focus on business momentum over minor corrections.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced that Rs 617.98 crore has been approved for 10 road development projects in Assam under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme, along with Rs 129.74 crore for 16 bridge projects under the CRIF Setu Bandhan scheme.

AI's impact on India's IT sector is unfolding in two phases: near-term automation causing deflationary pressure, followed by longer-term business transformation creating inflationary opportunities. Analyst Kumar Rakesh suggests markets may be overreacting to the front-loaded disruption, with a potential neutral long-term outcome.

Investors are seeking new opportunities after market corrections. Sameer Dalal suggests focusing on domestic sectors like consumption, cement, and discretionary plays. He sees a revival in discretionary consumption and tourism. The cement sector is also highlighted as an overlooked opportunity. Dalal believes India's consumption revival story offers compelling investment potential for the next one to two years.

Indian IT stocks have seen significant drops, losing Rs 5.7 lakh crore. JP Morgan believes these firms are essential plumbers for technology. They are now offering deep value opportunities. Dividend yields are at crisis-level highs. JP Morgan recommends buying Infosys and TCS, seeing limited downside and potential upside.

Gaudium IVF plans to raise Rs 150-200 crore via IPO, expected to open February 20, becoming the first in its sector to go public. The offering includes a fresh issue for expansion and an offer-for-sale by the promoter. Proceeds will fund new centers, debt repayment, and general corporate needs.

An options strategy buying straddles on U.S. companies ahead of earnings has yielded exceptional returns of 45% over the past four weeks, significantly outperforming historical averages. This success stems from heightened stock volatility following earnings announcements, driven by investor focus on economic navigation and company guidance, alongside previously subdued volatility expectations making options cheaper.

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran cautions that current monetary policy may be too restrictive. He believes inflation is not a major concern, citing subdued shelter inflation. Miran advocates for looser policy to support the labor market as supply conditions improve. This stance contrasts with broader market expectations for rate cuts, influenced by recent strong labor data and fiscal stimulus.

Indian government bond yields saw early declines reversed as traders took profits after a rally, awaiting new auction supply. The benchmark 10-year yield edged higher, hovering around 6.67%. This comes as the government manages debt ahead of significant maturities, while retail inflation returned to the central bank's target band.

The rupees six-month slide, driven by U.S. tariffs and policy uncertainty, reversed sharply after signals of a friendlier trade deal. While improved sentiment, sectoral gains, and potential foreign inflows offer support, unresolved agreement details, oil dynamics, gold prices, and RBI positioning ensure USD/INR remains volatile, with risks still tilted toward weakness in 2026.

Muthoot Finance shares saw a significant drop despite a sharp rise in third-quarter earnings. The company reported nearly doubled net profit and a substantial increase in total income and assets under management. Analysts from Jefferies, CLSA, and Nuvama have maintained positive ratings, citing strong performance and growth prospects.

Insurance is becoming a silent backbone of Indias growth, shielding citizens from financial shocks and reinforcing freedoms beyond constitutional rights. By providing timely support and enabling faster recovery, insurance eases rising economic and climate-related risks. Stronger coverage for households, MSMEs, and gig workers is vital to building national resilience on the path to Insurance for All by 2047.

February 2026 marks a potential turning point for smallcap investors after a difficult 2025. A strong Q3 earnings season, coupled with a positive shift in global trade sentiment following India's trade deals with the US and EU, has fueled a rally. This suggests a potential broader recovery in the smallcap segment as valuations reset and foreign investor sentiment improves.

Market expert Ajay Bagga advises caution on Indian IT due to AI disruption, favoring a constructive view on metals and long-term optimism for defence and autos. He stresses differentiating short-term volatility from structural trends, highlighting AI's rapid evolution and the need for concrete IT use cases before investor confidence returns.

Global markets are responding to a fragmentation of U.S.-led economic leadership, with investors seeing opportunities in a more multipolar framework. Allies are rethinking strategic positioning, leading to increased exposure to non-U.S. equity markets, energy stocks, and currencies like the euro and Canadian dollar as they seek strategic autonomy.

Indian stock markets opened sharply lower on Friday. The Sensex and Nifty saw significant drops. This decline was driven by a major selloff in IT stocks. Investor sentiment was rattled by fears of Artificial Intelligence disruption. Major IT companies experienced substantial losses. This led to a significant erosion of investor wealth on the BSE. The Nifty IT index slumped considerably.

Hindalco Industries Ltd's shares are in focus after a strong quarterly performance. The company's upstream aluminium business showed robust earnings, offsetting challenges at its subsidiary Novelis Inc. While margins saw a dip due to operational issues at Novelis, the medium-term outlook remains positive. Expansion projects and strong aluminium prices are expected to drive future growth.

Honasa Consumer reported strong Q3FY26 performance, with consolidated net profit surging 93% year-on-year to Rs 50 crore and revenue rising 16% to Rs 602 crore. On a like-for-like basis, revenue grew 22%. The company strengthened distribution under Project Neev, scaled younger brands, expanded outlet reach, and invested in innovation, while The Derma Co. sustained a double-digit EBITDA profile.

Gold and silver futures saw a rebound today. This followed a significant drop in the previous session. Investors stepped in at lower prices. The earlier decline was triggered by a stronger US dollar. This happened after robust jobs data reduced rate cut expectations. MCX silver and gold futures edged higher in today's trading.

India's mega IPO boom faces a slowdown in early 2026 despite a massive Rs 2.5 lakh crore pipeline. Muted secondary market performance, foreign investor outflows, and recent Budget-induced volatility have eroded investor risk appetite, leading companies to delay launches for better valuations and timing.

An uptrend signal is generated when the RSI value crosses above 50 from below.

India's economy is showing strong growth and controlled inflation, creating a favourable environment. Experts believe interest rates will remain stable for an extended period. Potential inclusion in global bond indices could bring significant foreign investment. Investors are advised to consider short-duration strategies for better returns in the coming fiscal year.

Indian IT services firms face headwinds as global enterprises prioritize hardware over software. Despite negative sentiment, stable fundamentals and improving earnings offer a compelling buying opportunity. Christy Mathai, Fund Manager-Equities at Quantum AMC, says investors can find value in IT services, consumer durables, and selective auto segments, while capital goods and energy present mixed outlooks.

Indian markets are navigating cross-currents post-Budget and policy announcements, with volatility expected to persist. Mohit Khanna of PGIM India AMC anticipates range-bound movement in the near term but sees strong earnings growth accelerating in FY27-28. He favors a bottom-up approach, with a constructive outlook on mid- and small-cap equities.

Indian stock markets are showing more reasonable valuations after recent volatility. This positioning is expected to attract emerging market investment flows. Earnings growth is showing signs of revival across various sectors. Investors are advised to consider a broader range of commodities beyond gold and silver. Opportunities are emerging in mid and small-cap segments as valuation gaps narrow.

Hindalco Industries shares dropped significantly following a sharp 45 percent decline in its December quarter net profit. The company reported a profit of Rs 2,049 crore compared to Rs 3,735 crore in the previous year. Revenue from operations saw a 14 percent increase. Citi downgraded the stock to Neutral citing concerns over Novelis' performance and leverage.

India's massive software services sector faces a sharp downturn. AI advancements are causing significant market value losses for major IT firms. Investors are questioning the future of the traditional outsourcing model. The industry is undergoing a crucial valuation reset. The coming sessions will determine if the worst is over for these stocks.

Indian government bonds are poised for gains as a debt switch operation with the central bank eases redemption pressures and lowers gross borrowing needs. This move, ahead of significant maturities, aims to improve cash and debt management. Meanwhile, India's retail inflation returned to the central bank's target band.