Business / The Economic Times
India and Israel have taken a significant step towards boosting economic ties. The two nations signed the Terms of Reference for Free Trade Agreement negotiations. This agreement opens up unlimited possibilities for expanded economic engagement. Indian businesses can explore promising investment opportunities in Israel. Industries in both countries can deepen cooperation in infrastructure, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.
Wall Street's main indexes jumped at the open on Thursday as technology stocks received a boost after Nvidia's stellar results quelled some concerns around an AI bubble, while a firm September jobs report showed signs of a resilient economy.
India's banking sector is on a strong growth trajectory. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra anticipates more Indian banks will soon feature in the global top 100. This optimism stems from the rapid expansion of both public and private sector lenders. Recent consolidations and strategic sales, like IDBI Bank, aim to create larger, world-class financial institutions.
India has launched an anti-dumping probe into Polyester Textured Yarn imports from China after Reliance Industries and Wellknown Polyester alleged injury to domestic producers. Supported by several other manufacturers, the complaint claims Chinese exporters are dumping the product in India. The DGTR said there is sufficient prima facie evidence to investigate.
AI darling Nvidia on Wednesday surprised Wall Street with accelerating growth after several quarters of slowing sales and a fourth-quarter forecast that exceeded expectations
Traders are now looking for clearer signals on the RBI's easing path, with a convergence between one- and two-year OIS rates pointing to expectations of a single rate cut followed by a long pause
Gold and silver prices saw a slight dip on Thursday, November 20. Hopes for a US interest rate cut are diminishing, impacting precious metal sentiment. The US Fed Minutes revealed a divided stance among officials. Traders now see a lower chance of a rate cut next month. MCX gold futures declined, while silver futures gained.
Sensex rallied sharply with multiple large-cap stocks hitting 52-week highs, signalling strong bullish momentum. Financials, autos and telecom led the uptrend, with traders viewing the breakout as a sign of continued near-term strength across market leaders
HSBC expects global investors to rotate from crowded AI trades toward broader opportunities, positioning India as a key beneficiary. With improving valuations, under-ownership, and earnings recovery ahead, India may outperform China in 2026 as foreign inflows potentially accelerate
India's infrastructure output remained flat year-on-year in October, government data showed on Thursday.
Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated the central bank does not target any specific rupee level, attributing recent depreciation to dollar demand. He assured robust foreign exchange reserves and emphasised financial stability as the RBI's priority. Malhotra expressed confidence in a favorable US trade deal to ease current account pressure.
The National Highways Authority of India is launching Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust, a Public InvIT. This initiative will allow retail investors to invest in operational highways. The investment manager, Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers, has partnered with leading banks and financial institutions. Approximately 1,500 km of highways will be introduced into the Public InvIT over the next 3-5 years.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has directed the Centre and all states to adopt uniform categories for government spending. This standardization aims to improve accounting and auditing practices nationwide. The new system will be implemented by the financial year 2027-28. This move will enhance transparency and accountability in public financial management across the country.
Indian researchers have patented BHU-MANACHITRA, an AI-powered drone for instant land mapping. This system works without internet or external computers. It identifies farmlands, forests, and urban areas. BHU-MANACHITRA is ideal for remote and disaster-hit regions. It aids in land record modernisation and agricultural assessment.
PhysicsWallahs stock delivered conflicting signals at Thursdays close, finishing higher on the NSE and lower on the BSE in an unusual split that highlighted heightened volatility in the days following its blockbuster listing. The divergent closing prices came after a sharp intraday slide that erased significant market value.
India's agriculture sector can sustain a 4% growth over the next decade, according to Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand. He emphasized the need to enhance warehouse infrastructure to manage growing demand and tap export markets. Chand also highlighted that food losses in India are not as high as perceived, with preventable losses offering significant incentives for warehouse investment.
India may benefit as the global AI trade cools, says Kotak AMC MD Nilesh Shah. He explains why FPI flows could return, how dollar weakness, US tariff uncertainty and Fed policy shifts may impact markets, and why FY27 is likely to be the breakout year for earnings. Shah also outlines key reforms and government priorities to support growth.
The dollar index held above the 100-handle, while Asian currencies were down between 0.1% and 0.3% as traders scaled back wagers on a U.S. rate cut next month.
India's palm oil imports are set for a significant rebound. Purchases are projected to rise by nearly 20% in the upcoming marketing year. This surge is driven by palm oil's competitive pricing against rival oils. The increased demand will likely impact global supplies. India's total edible oil imports are also expected to reach a record high.
Addressing the India-Israel Business Summit in Tel Aviv alongside Israels Minister of Economy Nir Barkat, Goyal said that the fast-expanding potential of bilateral economic engagement, stressing that cooperation could deepen further in areas including fintech, agri-tech, pharmaceuticals, space, defence, quantum computing and machine learning.
Tilaknagar Industries strengthened its capital base by allotting equity shares to Singularity Equity Fund as it accelerates expansion beyond brandy, launches a premium pure malt whisky, and prepares to acquire Imperial Blue to deepen its presence in Indias growing spirits market.
Market expert Sandip Sabharwal identifies ICICI, Axis, and Kotak as top banking picks, citing upside potential. He also sees value in infrastructure stocks like NCC and Ahluwalia Contracts, while highlighting Indian Hotels as a standout in the hospitality sector. Sabharwal advises caution on IPOs, warning of overvaluation and potential retail investor pitfalls.
Nifty and Sensex are nearing record-breaking milestones. Financial luminaries like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are exhibiting optimism about India's growth trajectory. They predict that Indian stocks will see remarkable gains ahead, driven by strong economic fundamentals and a surge in corporate earnings that reflect a thriving business environment.
Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath revealed that a company colleague now holds an astonishing 3,100 stocksnearly the entire NSE universepushing diversification to an extreme. Kamaths post triggered witty reactions online, with users calling it a personal mutual fund and warning that excessive diversification, high costs, and microcap illiquidity could drag long-term returns.
India's economy is robust, and U.S. tariffs have impacted exports less than feared. This gives New Delhi more negotiation power with Washington. Indian officials are not rushing a trade deal, prepared to wait for favorable terms. The government is also helping exporters find new markets and absorb costs.
The European Central Bank, in contrast, is not expected to move rates at all in the coming year, based on the swaps market
Indian markets are showing optimism, with Nifty poised for a breakout above 26,100. Hopes of a US trade deal and improving investor sentiment are driving this, potentially pushing Nifty towards 26,500. Experts suggest buying on dips, favoring largecaps and US-exposed stocks. A Santa rally is also possible, with Nifty potentially reaching 27,500 by year-end.
Netweb Technologies shares: The stock jumped after Nvidias strong Q4 results boosted sentiment. The stock surged because Netweb has a deep partnership with Nvidia to build high-end computing systems, including Blackwell-powered AI servers.
Indian IT stocks are seeing a rally but may offer modest returns. Banks, especially large private and PSU banks, are expected to perform well. NBFCs remain a solid investment choice. Investors should be selective. AI's impact on India will take time to materialize. Data centers are capital intensive with unclear returns. Top-tier NBFCs are recommended for safety.
Indian companies are increasing their presence in Abu Dhabi, which offers them access to markets across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. Abu Dhabi's economic growth and supportive business environment are attracting Indian entrepreneurs and investors.
The Nikkei 225 Index briefly climbed above the key psychological 50,000 figure before losing some momentum in the afternoon. The gauge closed up 2.7% at 49,823.94, while the broader Topix gained 1.7%.
Nvidia's strong earnings are noted. However, an analyst suggests the stock's euphoria may be short-lived. He also believes India's AI data centre hopes might be misplaced. The analyst points to proprietary chips from companies like Google. He states that foundational AI models are primarily developed in the US and China.
Diversified conglomerate ITC has successfully completed the voluntary delisting of its shares from the Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE), effective November 20, 2025. While ITC's shares will continue trading on the NSE and BSE, the CSE, one of India's oldest exchanges, is exiting the business after regulatory issues. This move follows ITC's board approval earlier in October.
Foreign investors bought Japanese bonds in large numbers, seeking higher returns. However, concerns over the government's stimulus plan later soured sentiment. Japanese stocks also saw significant foreign investment, boosted by positive news from Nvidia. Meanwhile, Japanese investors increased their holdings of foreign stocks and debt.
Pajson Agro India has secured in-principle approval from BSE for its SME IPO, aiming to raise Rs 57 crore through a fresh issue of over 63 lakh shares. Funds will establish a new cashew processing facility in Andhra Pradesh and support general corporate needs. The company, which supplies to major retailers, reported strong FY25 financials.
Peter Cardillo of Spartan Capital warns that US economic strength is a false reading, with wealthy households masking weak consumer spending and rising layoffs. With the Fed sharply divided on a December rate cut and AI-driven volatility pressuring markets, Cardillo says upcoming macro data could force a policy reversal. Bond yields and a strong dollar currently signal no cut.
PhysicsWallahs early rally has unwound quickly, with the stock extending losses for a second straight session and its market value dropping from nearly Rs 46,300 crore on listing day to below Rs 37,700 crore. Analysts say the companys strong brand and hybrid learning model support its long-term outlook but warn that competition, regulatory risks and profitability pressures could drive further volatility.
Despite an 11% surge in Nifty50 and 9% in Nifty500 over the past year, 12 Nifty500 stocks have fallen more than 50% from their yearly highs, highlighting uneven gains in the rally.
Sammaan Capital shares rebounded sharply on Thursday after the company clarified that no investigative or regulatory agency has any ongoing probe related to allegations in a 2019 PIL filed by a whistleblower forum. The Supreme Court also noted that no affidavit indicated wrongdoing by the firm, helping the stock recover following Tuesdays sharp decline.
Bitcoin has dropped nearly 30% from its yearly high above $126,000, driving a crypto market slump that has erased over $1 trillion in value. On Thursday, it traded at $92,783. Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin rose about 2%, while Ethereum slipped 0.41% to $3,051. Most major altcoins declined up to 2%, though Solana and Hyperliquid gained more than 3%.
Market expert Anurag Singh argues the AI boom isn't a dotcom-era bubble, citing established tech giants funding investments from profits. While valuations may be stretched, he believes corrections, not bubbles, are likely, even for companies like Nvidia, due to a lack of alternatives and strong revenue streams.
Indian government bonds saw a slight dip as investors held back before Friday's significant debt auction. Uncertainty surrounding the Reserve Bank of India's future rate cuts and liquidity plans is driving caution.
Nvidias blockbuster earnings shattered fears of an AI slowdown, delivering a record revenue beat and reigniting a global tech rally. Surging demand for Blackwell GPUs, strong guidance, and accelerating data-center growth helped silence AI doomsday narratives. Markets across Asia rallied sharply as investors regained confidence that the AI boom is far from losing momentum.
India's stock market has underperformed global peers due to stretched valuations and a dip in earnings growth. However, a consumption boom fueled by fiscal stimulus and rate cuts is expected to drive earnings recovery from Q3 FY26, potentially triggering a market rally. Global trends, especially US developments, will also play a crucial role.
India's five publicly listed REITs distributed over Rs 2,331 crore to unitholders in Q2 FY26, managing assets worth Rs 2.35 lakh crore. The sector's market capitalization surpassed Rs 1.6 lakh crore, highlighting investor confidence and the growing maturity of this asset class in India's capital markets.
Sudeep Pharma IPO: Shares are seeing solid momentum in the grey market, trading at a 21.92% premium to the issue price of 593. At this GMP, the stock is expected to list near 723, signalling a potential upside of about 130 per share.
India is poised to become Asia's premier listing hub, building on its IPO boom and strong domestic investor base. By refining key pillars like institutional capital, research, governance, listing processes, and valuation frameworks, the nation can attract global companies and solidify its position as a leading financial center.
Reliance Power shares rose sharply after the company announced a major governance overhaul and key clean-energy milestones. The board approved a new Board of Management to strengthen oversight, while subsidiary Reliance NU Energies secured 4 GW solar and 6.5 GW BESS capacity.
Swiggy's stock has fallen 56% from its peak, returning to its IPO price of Rs 390. Despite a 54% revenue jump, the company's net loss widened to Rs 1,092 crore in Q2FY26, primarily due to quick commerce expansion. Brokerages remain divided on its future prospects.

18 C