The Economic Times

French drinks maker Pernod Ricard is exploring a separate listing for its Indian business. The company is in preliminary talks with advisors about the move. Pernod Ricard is a major player in India's alcohol market. This development comes amid ongoing antitrust cases and alleged liquor regulation violations in India. The company denies any wrongdoing.

Gujarat's Finance Minister Kanu Desai unveiled a 4,08,053 crore budget for 2026-27. The plan prioritizes developing six regions as growth hubs. Significant funds are allocated for sports infrastructure to prepare Ahmedabad for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics. The budget also aims to boost exports and strengthen the textile industry.

India's Food Corporation of India (FCI) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the World Food Programme (WFP) to supply 2 lakh tonnes of rice. This pact aims to combat global hunger and support humanitarian operations, reinforcing India's commitment to international food security and aiding vulnerable populations.

Starbucks faces pressure from investors. They want shareholders to vote against two directors. This is due to ongoing labor disputes with baristas. A long strike occurred last year. Investors believe a good relationship with workers is vital for the company's revival. Starbucks states it offers good pay and benefits.

Indian markets ended higher for a third session as the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex gained on consumer and financial strength, while IT lagged. Analysts see consolidation ahead, with 26,000 as resistance and 25,40025,600 as support amid selective, stock-specific trading.

The acquisition of tvScientific, announced in December 2025, is Pinterest's first major deal since 2022. It integrates tvScientific's outcomebased CTV buying platform into Pinterest's broader performance-advertising suite.

The paper argued that Trump's large import tax increases are borne by those in the U.S., rather than by foreigners, as the administration has long argued. The findings in the New York Fed paper have been echoed elsewhere.

The Nifty 50 logged a third straight gain, reclaiming key support and breaking resistance amid broad-based buying. Analysts see strength continuing toward 26,000. Breakouts in Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra signal fresh upside with bullish momentum indicators.

Wall Street's main indexes opened higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in technology stocks as AI worries eased, while investors awaited minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting for insights on the rate outlook.

Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) will become mandatory for all direct private trades in rupee interest rate and foreign currency derivatives from January 1, 2027, the Reserve Bank said on Wednesday.

Vodafone said on Wednesday it would sell its 50% stake in Dutch joint-venture VodafoneZiggo to its partner Liberty Global for 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) in cash and a 10% stake in a new enlarged Benelux telecoms group.

Markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday said it has formed a working group to undertake a review of the regulatory framework governing ESG Rating Providers (ERPs).

Domestic Institutional Investors reduced holdings in nine major NSE large-cap stocks, including Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, and State Bank of India, signaling cautious sentiment and potential strategic shifts in December 2025.

India aims to diversify its crude oil and coking coal imports, expressing interest in high-quality US coking coal. The nation also seeks US technology like GPUs for AI and data center equipment. India plans to purchase USD 500 billion in goods from America over five years. This trade deal opens opportunities for Indian firms in labor-oriented goods and technology services.

Apple Inc. has sharply decoupled from the Nasdaq 100 Index, with correlation hitting a 20-year low as it largely avoids the AI spending race. Strong iPhone sales and steady outlook offer investors relative stability, despite valuation concerns and slowing growth expectations.

Six BSE 100 heavyweights, led by Larsen & Toubro and Cummins India Ltd, hit fresh 52-week highs as momentum stayed strong across largecaps.

Amid global economic fragmentation and uncertainty, India is poised to be a rare pillar of stability, according to Neelkanth Mishra. The country's macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline, and openness are attracting global partners. A strong domestic demand base and a revival in private investment, particularly in real estate and power, are fueling a durable growth runway.

India and Canada are set to finalize terms for free trade agreement talks. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's upcoming visit to India is expected to see this agreement. Talks for a trade pact were paused by Canada in 2023. Both nations are now resuming negotiations to establish a mutually beneficial trade pact. Chief negotiators have been appointed from both sides.

Indian markets logged a third straight gain. E2E Networks and Netweb Technologies India jumped on Nvidia partnerships, while Godfrey Phillips, Easy Trip, Ola Electric saw sharp moves.

Axis Securities and Axis Direct highlight four smallcap stocks with up to 30% upside. Infra-focused picks Kalpataru Projects, RITES and Ahluwalia Contracts boast strong order books, while SignatureGlobal India gains from a Gurugram joint venture and pre-sales growth outlook.

India Sotheby's International Realty (India SIR) on Wednesday said it has tied up with UK-based Interiors with Art Ltd to offer design and architecture consultancy services to clients.

India's sugar production is projected to dip below earlier expectations, primarily due to heavy rainfall affecting sugarcane yields in major growing regions. This downturn could lead to a decrease in the country's sugar exports, providing a potential buffer for global sugar prices.

Gujarat Budget 2026: Gujarat unveiled a Rs 4.08 lakh crore Budget for 2026-27. The focus is on boosting tourism and developing sports infrastructure for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Ahmedabad will be developed as an 'Olympic Ready City'. Significant funds are allocated for sports complexes and tourism promotion, including the Statue of Unity and Ambaji. The Budget offers a tax rebate on electric vehicles.

Benchmark indices ended firm on Wednesday, supported by gains in metals and PSU banks even as IT stocks slipped back into decline. The Sensex rose 283 points and the Nifty added 94. Broader markets advanced, while global cues remained mixed and crude prices edged higher amid U.S.Iran negotiations.

Promoter activity returned at Sula Vineyards as Rajeev Suresh Samant lifted his stake to 24.5%the first increase since the 2022 IPO. The move comes despite weak Q3 numbers, with profits hit by tactical destocking in Karnataka and softer demand in Bengaluru.

This is the first significant easing of five-year-old curbs that have largely shut Chinese firms out of India's $700 billion-$750 billion government contract market.

During a strategic meeting in the heart of Oslo, Indias Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman engaged with top Norwegian business leaders and investors. She highlighted Indias robust trade infrastructure and portrayal as one of the fastest-growing economies globally. Conversations pivoted around lucrative investment avenues in pivotal areas such as renewable energy and rare earth materials.

India is on track to meet its 500 gigawatt clean energy goal by 2030. Current capacity additions are strong, but a significant challenge remains with slow power demand growth. Investors should watch for a recovery in electricity consumption. Key policy changes and battery storage integration are also crucial for the sector's success.

SBI Funds Management Ltd., Indias largest asset manager, may file draft papers in early March for an IPO that could raise up to $1.5 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The offering could value the firm at about $15 billion, slightly below ICICI Prudential Asset Management Co.s $16.7 billion valuation after its recent listing.

The STOXX 600 index rose on Wednesday, with defence stocks in the lead following strong earnings from the UK's BAE Systems, while investors mulled the outlook for monetary policy amid reports of a leadership change at the European Central Bank.

Shares of Easy Trip Planners surged 60% in three sessions after board approval to raise up to Rs 500 crore. The EaseMyTrip operator plans expansion in hotels and holidays, higher tech investments, and stronger financial flexibility, supported by sequential revenue growth and a return to quarterly profit.

Indian markets hovered near flat line on Wednesday, with Nifty struggling above 25,700. Experts advise caution, noting key resistance at 25,770 and potential downside towards 25,300. Investors are urged to seek value or momentum, as broad sector bets are risky due to uneven performance, even within financials.

Nithin Kamath warns that margin trading funding is riskier than many realise because traders focus only on interest rates and ignore brokerage charges. He argues that in leveraged trades, every costinterest, brokerage and taxesraises the breakeven point, making small price moves far harder to profit from.

Blackstone-backed Liftoff Mobile filed confidentially for an initial public offering in the U.S. on Tuesday, hours after withdrawing an earlier plan, as a recent rout in software stocks makes investors increasingly wary of new listings.

India's oilmeal exports saw a significant drop of 42 percent in January. Shipments of soyabean meal and rapeseed meal plunged, impacting the overall figures. Ricebran extraction, however, showed a surge. This decline affects animal feed supplies. Key buyers include China, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Germany. Processors awaited new crop supplies for rapeseed meal.

Gold delivered strong returns in 2025 and 2026 amid global shifts. US markets also saw gains, sparking a debate for Indian investors. Gold serves as a hedge, while US equities offer diversified growth and currency advantage. A 20-30% allocation to US equities can enhance long-term portfolio efficiency. Measured gold allocation provides tactical stability.

Foreign institutional investors and mutual funds raised stakes in 127 BSE 500 stocks over two quarters, driving sharp FY26 gains. Several, including Force Motors and GMDC, delivered 50-185% returns, signaling strong institutional confidence.

Indian IT stocks face an AI-driven reset, with growth expectations recalibrated. Fund managers see opportunity in banking and financials, citing recovering credit growth and a bottoming NPA cycle. Automobiles, especially commercial vehicles, also show early recovery signs. While manufacturing and capex themes remain strong, valuations are a concern. Consumption, particularly FMCG, presents an unfavorable risk-reward.

Shares of E2E Networks and Netweb Technologies saw significant gains today. Both companies announced collaborations with chip giant Nvidia. E2E Networks is building an Nvidia GPU cluster for sovereign AI development. Netweb Technologies unveiled advanced AI infrastructure, including a 'Make in India' AI supercomputer. These developments highlight a strong focus on advancing artificial intelligence capabilities in India.