The Economic Times

Wall Street is in the grip of disruption worries from AI. It first started with investors dumping shares of software companies but soon spread to sectors seen as vulnerable to automation, driving sharp losses in U.S. stocks this week.

U.S. interest rate futures on Friday raised odds of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in June after a report that showed inflation rose less than expected in January.

Fortis Healthcare on Friday reported a 22 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated profit after tax at Rs 197 crore in the third quarter ended December 2025.

Rivian's projection that its cheaper models would attract more buyers this year powered a near 20% stock jump on Friday, the latest sign of electric vehicle makers betting on affordable cars to revive sales after a key federal subsidy expired.

India and the US are finalizing a trade deal, with signing expected soon. This agreement will reduce US tariffs on Indian goods, boosting export competitiveness. India also secured a significant Free Trade Agreement with the EU, opening markets for over 99% of Indian exports. These pacts aim to diversify trade and strengthen India's global economic position.

Consumer inflation in the United States cooled slightly more than expected in January, government data showed Friday, as energy prices dipped.

To boost ease of doing business, markets regulator Sebi on Friday proposed additional relaxations to reporting norms for stock brokers, including exempting certain demat accounts held by brokers who are also primary dealers from tagging requirements.

Wall Street's main indexes were muted on Friday, with communication services weighing as markets assessed softer-than-expected inflation data that kept Federal Reserve rate cut hopes intact.

BSE received Securities and Exchange Board of India approval to launch derivatives on the Focused Midcap Index. The product offers concentrated exposure to top 20 mid-sized firms via monthly futures and options, aligning with new single-expiry regulations.

National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange signed a long-term technology pact with Tata Consultancy Services to enter equity and derivatives trading. The 10-year deal will deploy a scalable, low-latency platform using TCS BaNCS and Quartz solutions to meet regulatory and market demands.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management is exploring shifting eight India healthcare assets into a continuation vehicle, targeting $500 million from investors. Investments include Omega Hospitals and RG Scientific, reflecting rising secondary-market activity, according to Jefferies Financial Group data.

Securities and Exchange Board of India approved IPO plans of Premier Industrial Corporation, Duroflex Limited, Virupaksha Organics, Hexagon Nutrition and Om Power Transmission. Issues include fresh equity and offer-for-sale components, with proceeds earmarked for expansion, capex, working capital and partial promoter exits.

Benchmark declines dragged the BSE Sensex sharply lower, with nine BSE 200 stocks hitting fresh 52-week lows. IT majors like Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys led losses, reflecting sustained selling pressure across technology and select defensive counters.

Britain's FTSE indexes were subdued on Friday, tracking a sombre mood globally in a week that was marked by AI-disruption worries, while defence stocks got a lift as investors priced in greater European cooperation that could boost the sector.

State-owned Engineers India Ltd (EIL) reported an over 3-fold on-year jump in net profit to Rs 302 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025, driven by strong execution and higher revenues.

Realtors' body Naredco on Friday said the government should promote affordable home segment and provide incentives for development of rental accommodation to achieve Housing for All and boost growth of real estate sector.

U.S. existing home sales tumbled to the lowest level in more than two years in January as falling inventory raised house prices.

U.S. stock index futures were trading flat on Friday after an AI-led selloff, with investors staying on the sidelines ahead of inflation data that could provide more clarity on the Federal Reserve's rate-cut outlook.

Indian bond market participants say that the market will need further support, particularly via buybacks, to cool yields significantly, after government bonds surrendered the gains triggered by a surprise debt switch.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery said Indias global trade ambitions depend on improving the quality and competitiveness of domestic manufacturing, stressing that export success rests on strong production standards. Speaking at the release of the Trade Watch report focused on electronics exports, he said international trade is key to economic transformation and highlighted plans to boost manufacturing through a National Manufacturing Mission.

TCS, SpiceJet, Bajaj Finance, Wipro, HUL, Hindalco, Coforge, and Engineers India led Fridays market swings as IT, consumer, and energy stocks faced sharp volatility.

India's gem and jewellery exports saw a dip in January. This was due to global trade challenges and tariffs in key markets. However, the sector is showing resilience. Exports to the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Australia, and France have grown significantly. This diversification is helping the industry adapt. Domestic reforms are also supporting growth.

India's foreign exchange reserves saw a dip to $717.6 billion by February 6, 2026. This marks a decrease of $6.71 billion. Earlier in January, reserves had climbed to $723.8 billion. This buffer strengthens India's position against global economic challenges. The Reserve Bank of India remains confident in managing the nation's financial needs.

Senco Gold & Diamonds reported a strong 39% same-store sales growth in Q3 FY26, driven by robust festive and wedding demand and significant gold price appreciation. Despite a 3% dip in volumes, the company maintained customer engagement through budget-friendly jewelry options. Senco targets 18-20% annual growth, with FY26 revenues projected at 8,000 crore.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd secured approvals from BSE and National Stock Exchange of India to list demerged ice-cream arm Kwality Wall's on February 16. Shareholders receive one share per holding, creating Indias first pure-play listed ice-cream firm backed by The Magnum Ice Cream Company.

Ola Electric Q3 Results: Ola Electric narrowed Q3 losses to Rs 487 crore, with revenue down 55% to Rs 470 crore and deliveries falling to 32,680 units. The company cited a structural reset, improved operating leverage, completed capex, and a strong long-term growth outlook, targeting Rs 15,00020,000 crore in revenue over the coming years.

The Indian rupee was little changed on Friday as pressure from weak local stocks and elevated interbank dollar demand met likely central bank intervention to defend the currency, traders said.

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.

Reliance Industries can now buy Venezuelan oil directly. The US has issued a special license. This move aims to boost Venezuela's oil exports. It will also lower crude costs for Reliance. This helps replace Russian oil supplies. Reliance previously stopped buying Venezuelan oil due to sanctions. This new license allows them to resume purchases.

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.