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A State Bank of India report indicates states will be net gainers of approximately 17,000 crore under the new rural employment law, the VB-G RAM G Act, replacing MGNREGA. The new legislation shifts to a normative funding model, with most states projected to benefit, except for Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh which may see minimal losses.

Union Budget, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet economists and sectoral experts on Tuesday. They will discuss suggestions for the upcoming Union Budget. The focus will be on achieving Atmanirbharta and transforming India into a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Discussions will cover boosting exports, generating employment, attracting investments, and enhancing skill development. The Union Budget for 2026-27 is expected on February 1.

Australia will eliminate tariffs on all Indian exports starting January 1, 2026, a move expected to boost labor-intensive sectors. This development follows a significant increase in India's exports to Australia, which grew by 8% in 2024-25, underscoring the success of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation & Trade Agreement (ECTA).

SBI Mutual Fund sold a 2.43% stake in Nazara Technologies for about Rs 216 crore via open-market bulk deals, cutting its holding to 3.35% from 5.78%. The fund offloaded over 90 lakh shares, while Nazaras stock rose more than 6% after the transaction.

Ace investor Vijay Kedia has picked up 1.38 lakh shares of Mangalam Drugs in a Rs 33 lakh bulk deal, marking a fresh bet on a microcap that has crashed over 70% in a year. Kedia purchased the shares via his investment company, Kedia Securities Private Ltd. The shares were bought for Rs 24.15 per equity share, which was a 1.5% premium over the Friday closing price of Rs 23.78 on the NSE.

Indian markets ended lower on Monday, with the Sensex and Nifty slipping as muted year-end volumes and foreign fund outflows weighed on investor sentiment. Analysts highlight a consolidation phase, favouring large-caps, while top active stocks included Hindustan Copper, Hindustan Zinc, Dixon Technologies, and Vedanta. Market breadth remained bearish.

Realty firm Gaurs Group on Monday said it has raised Rs 440 crore through issue of debentures for land acquisitions, repay costly loans and build projects.

US stocks opened lower on Monday as tech stocks eased after last weeks rally that pushed the S&P 500 to record highs. Despite the dip, major indexes remain on track for strong monthly and yearly gains, supported by optimism around AI, potential rate cuts, and a resilient U.S. economy.

Honasa Consumer promoter Varun Alagh raised his stake by 57 bps in Mamaearth parent company, acquiring 18.52 lakh shares from Fireside Ventures in a Rs 50 crore block deal. He bought the shares at Rs 270 each, slightly above the previous close, increasing his total holding to 31.88%.

Gujarat Ambuja and Jayaswal Neco show strong technical signals, with momentum and volumes indicating potential near-term upside.

As many as four companies, including Knack Packaging and Shivalaya Construction, have secured Sebi's approval to mobilise more than Rs 1,400 crore collectively through initial public offerings (IPOs), data with the markets regulator showed on Monday.

India and Bahrain have exchanged draft terms to begin CEPA talks, with a Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment in the works. India has shared its JWG composition at the joint secretary level. Meanwhile, Indias discussions with the GCC to finalise a free trade pact continue, with terms with Qatar substantially finalized.

Indian exports to Australia will become duty-free for all product categories starting January 1, 2026. This move follows an interim trade pact implemented in December 2022. Indian exports have already seen an 8 percent rise in 2024-25. This development promises new opportunities for India's labour-intensive sectors and strengthens supply chains.

The government has granted a one-year exemption from mandatory quality control for certain imported copper products, specifically for actual users. This decision, made in consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards, aims to facilitate the import of specialized copper for various sectors. Importers must adhere to specific conditions, including informing BIS and submitting an indigenisation plan.

Wheat planting for the 2024-25 rabi season shows little change. Area for pulses and oilseeds has seen a slight increase. Rice sowing is up marginally. Chickpea, lentil, and green gram sowing have exceeded last year's figures. Overall rabi crop area has grown compared to the previous year. Planting is nearing completion.

Six BSE 200 stocks, including NMDC and Hindustan Zinc, defied market weakness to hit fresh 52-week highs with gains of up to 27% over the past month.

Neolite ZKW Lightings has filed its DRHP with Sebi for a Rs 600 crore IPO, comprising a fresh issue and OFS. The automotive lighting maker plans to use proceeds for a new Tamil Nadu facility, capacity expansion and debt repayment, backed by strong FY25 growth and improving profitability.

Top 10 large-cap stocks, led by Eternal and Eicher Motors, posted stellar YoY sales growth of 25% or more in Q2 September 2025, highlighting strong business momentum.

Indian government bonds slipped on Monday as sentiment remained weak after the central bank bought mostly shorter-tenor notes in its open market purchase and as traders braced for a heavier-than-expected state debt supply due Tuesday.

Silver futures saw an intraday drop of Rs 21,000, highlighting extreme market volatility. Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath used the move to emphasise the role of position sizing and risk management. Factors like profit booking, easing geopolitical tensions, and recent margin hikes contributed to the sharp reversal in prices.

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Hindustan Coppers stock rally is driven by more than just higher copper prices, says Anand Rathi Institutionals Parthiv Jhonsa. Lease extensions, rising concentrate volumes and a global supply crunch support long-term growth. Copper prices are likely to stay elevated, while capacity expansion and strong cash flows could fuel earnings growth over the next five years.

Indias IPO market saw record volumes in 2025, with 373 listings raising Rs 1.95 lakh crore. Mainboard and SME issues grew in size, backed by strong institutional participation. For 2026, primary market fundraising is projected at Rs 3.54 lakh crore, driven by expansion funding, higher governance standards, and continued broad-based investor interest.

The Indian rupee weakened for a third straight session on Monday as corporate dollar demand via private banks pressured the currency, with bids at the central bank's reference rate adding to the drag, traders said. The rupee closed at 89.9750 per U.S. dollar, softer than Friday's 89.85 finish. It opened at 89.88 and slipped steadily through the session.

India's industrial output surged 6.7% year-on-year in November 2025, a significant rebound from October's slowdown. Manufacturing, particularly basic metals, pharmaceuticals, and motor vehicles, drove this recovery. Mining also saw a boost, though electricity generation contracted slightly.

Indian equities slipped on Monday as thin year-end volumes and continued foreign outflows weighed on sentiment. The Sensex and Nifty extended their losing streak, dragged by weakness in energy, IT and large-cap stocks. Caution prevailed amid global trade worries, a soft rupee, and focus shifting toward upcoming Q3 earnings and U.S. trade developments.

India experienced a goldilocks period in 2025, with real GDP growth accelerating to 8.2% in Q2 FY26, driven by robust domestic consumption. Inflation softened sharply to historic lows, while unemployment declined to multi-month lows, signaling a strengthening economy. The nation also surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy.

Silver prices saw a sharp intraday crash after CME Group raised margin requirements, triggering profit booking across global markets. Easing geopolitical risks further dented safe-haven demand, though silver remains sharply higher year-to-date.

Silver briefly surged past $83 an ounce before a sharp pullback triggered by profit-booking and easing geopolitical tensions. Despite the dip, the metal remains one of 2025s best-performing assets, supported by strong industrial demand, supply constraints and rising investor interest. Traders are exploring futures, ETFs, physical silver and mining stocks.

Record foreign selling capped the rise in India's share market in 2025 even as the benchmarks scaled fresh highs after a 14-month rally, underscoring a growing divergence between the behaviour of global and domestic investors.

Copper prices have hit record highs, driven by aggressive policy easing, supply disruptions, tariff-driven stockpiling, and strong structural demand from electrification and AI infrastructure. While tightness may persist into early 2026, analysts expect heightened volatility as mine recoveries, trade policies, and dollar movements shape the next phase of coppers rally.

The U.S. bond market is showing signs of unease. President Trump's administration is working to keep borrowing costs low. Investors are watching closely as the government manages a large deficit. Recent actions by the Treasury Department aim to stabilize the market. However, underlying concerns about debt levels persist. The market's reaction to policy shifts remains a key focus.

European shares struck a record high on Monday, with basic resources stocks in the lead, as trading resumed following the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays.

UBS on Monday raised its gold target price to $5,000 an ounce over the first three quarters of 2026, before expecting prices to moderate to $4,800/oz by end-2026, up from its earlier forecast of $4,300/oz.

Stocks with rising FII ownership and strong fundamentals outperformed in CY25, aided by robust sales, profit growth and healthy margins. A focused screen of non-financial BSE companies revealed 14 standout performers, delivering sharp gains as foreign investors increased exposure despite a challenging economic backdrop.

Silver prices tumbled Rs 21,000 per kg on MCX after an overheated rally unravelled, driven by easing geopolitical tensions, extreme deviation from key technical levels, and heavy profit-booking. A margin hike, record weekly gains, and a stronger dollar added to the selloff, abruptly halting silvers meteoric year-to-date surge.

Domestic gold prices fell nearly 1% as profit booking set in after last weeks record rally. MCX February gold futures dropped Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,38,555, while international prices slipped below $4,500 an ounce after hitting lifetime highs.

Dalal Street enters a subdued holiday mood as 2025 concludes, with benchmark indices struggling for momentum and trading sideways. Market experts suggest a 'buy on dip' strategy for Nifty and Bank Nifty, focusing on stock-specific opportunities, particularly in the metals sector. Tata Steel and HPCL are highlighted as promising picks for near-term gains.

India's food delivery and quick commerce sector is at a critical juncture with new entrants and intense competition. Companies are shifting focus from scale to sustainable unit economics, with quick commerce emerging as the key battleground. Investor scrutiny is rising, with profitability by 2028 seen as a crucial benchmark for valuations.

BOJ policymakers debated the need to keep raising interest rates even after a hike in December, with one calling for increases every few months, a summary of opinions showed.

India and Australia celebrate three years of their trade agreement. Indian exports to Australia have grown significantly. From January 1, 2026, Australian tariffs on Indian goods will be zero. This opens new opportunities for Indian businesses. The agreement benefits manufacturing, agriculture, and other sectors.

Silver prices hit record highs globally and in India, crossing $82 an ounce and Rs 2.50 lakh per kg. As the rally intensifies, Robert Kiyosaki has cautioned investors about FOMO-driven risks, even while maintaining a bullish long-term outlook.

Japan's Nikkei index dipped on Monday, mirroring Wall Street's downturn and impacted by ex-dividend trading in major stocks. Technology shares saw declines, while banks gained on speculation of further interest rate hikes. Value stocks, favored by retail investors for tax-advantaged accounts, showed resilience.

MCX silver futures plummeted by Rs 21,000 per kg, hitting an intraday low of Rs 2,33,120 as traders booked profits. This followed a surge to an all-time high, driven by easing geopolitical tailwinds and a cooling of safe-haven demand. The decline mirrored broader profit-taking in the bullion market.

Vikran Engineering shares soared after it accepted LOAs for 45.75 MW solar projects in Madhya Pradesh under the PM KUSUM-C scheme. The projects will be executed in Vidisha district to supply power to MPPMCL.

Indian markets are poised for a stronger financial year, with improving macros, low inflation, and reviving earnings growth expected to drive equities. Investors are reallocating between assets, with a focus on bottom-up stock selection and sectoral tailwinds. Opportunities are seen in financials, industrials, and defensives, while rate-sensitive segments and CDMOs offer further potential.

Titans entry into lab-grown diamonds marks a strategic shift as changing consumer preferences reshape the jewellery market. Market expert Sandip Sabharwal says acceptance of lab-grown diamonds is inevitable, driven by younger buyers and global trends. While high-margin natural diamonds may see cannibalisation, higher volumes and affordability could redefine growth metrics for Titan and the industry.

NSE and BSE announce the 2026 trading holiday calendar, highlighting seven long weekends and Muhurat trading. Advance visibility helps investors plan around closures, while brokerages anticipate 2026 as a recovery year for Indian equities post-volatile 2025.

Jupiter Wagons shares fall 3% after a five-day 37% rally post-promoter stake increase. Despite high valuations and overbought RSI, promoters maintain control. Technicals suggest short-term correction while momentum remains strong amid profit booking by institutional investors.