The Economic Times

A parliamentary panel is pushing for the immediate rollout of the new Public Sector Enterprise Policy. This policy aims to improve government finances and resource use. It suggests privatizing or closing loss-making public sector companies in non-essential areas. However, progress has been slow since the guidelines were released.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India is working to lower regulatory costs and compliance burdens. This move aims to boost the competitiveness of India's securities market. Sebi is also addressing a recent technical glitch at NSDL. A framework for assessing regulatory impact is being established. These steps are intended to improve access to finance and market efficiency.

Public sector companies and four major government bodies maintained their capital spending this fiscal year. Their expenditure reached 6.67 lakh crore by January, nearly matching last year's 6.79 lakh crore. This consistent public investment is vital for India's economic growth. Experts note that geopolitical risks have impacted private investment, making public capex crucial for the economy.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted India's strong economic performance, characterized by high growth and low inflation, attributing it to government reforms. She refuted claims of middle-class suppression, citing an expanding taxpayer base and rising real incomes. The budget aims to guide India towards developed nation status by 2047.

According to statement of objects and reasons of the proposed law, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 replaces the Trade Unions Act, 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, relating to trade unions, industrial employment and industrial disputes.

India on Thursday said the February 7 joint statement with the US remains the basis for the proposed interim trade agreement and that recent changes in the White House fact sheet reflect shared understandings between the two sides.

Infosys American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) slumped more than 7% on Thursday, touching an intraday low of $14.59 in early trade, while Wipros ADRs fell 5.4% to $2.26. The sharp decline follows a steep sell-off in IT stocks on Indian exchanges, with weakness spilling over to Wall Street.

Market sentiment weakened amid heavy IT selling and strong US jobs data dampening rate-cut hopes. Nifty struggled near 26,000 and may consolidate between 25,500 and 26,000. Analysts advise selective stock picking, with buying interest in select counters despite negative breadth.

Restaurant Brands International reported fourth-quarter sales above estimates on Thursday, driven by strength in its international Burger King outlets, even as it tackles stiff competition for its value menus and higher commodity costs in the United States.

Nebius Group reported a sharp rise in quarterly capital spending on Thursday, driven by purchases of artificial intelligence processors and growing data center investments, as the AI cloud firm rushes to secure capacity to meet soaring demand.

Budget carrier SpiceJet reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 261.38 crore in the December-ended quarter compared to a net profit of Rs 20.43 crore in the year ago period. The profit after tax (PAT) is attributable to the owners of the holding company.

Tata Group-backed IHCL reported strong Q3 growth with higher revenue and net profit, aided by exceptional gains and robust hotel performance. The company marked its fifteenth straight record quarter, expanded its portfolio to 617 hotels and maintained healthy margins and cash reserves.

Muthoot Finance lifted its FY26 growth guidance to 4445% as strong gold loan demand and regulatory easing boosted momentum. Q3 standalone profit nearly doubled, aided by lower provisions and higher income. Assets under management and gold loans posted robust year-on-year growth.

NITI Aayog suggests strategic tech-services trade missions to Japan, the Middle East, and Germany. A unified India Tech-Services brand will promote Indian AI players. A market access cell will assist specialist firms. These steps aim to secure India's global technology leadership and achieve $750850 billion in annual revenue by 2035, focusing on emerging AI technologies.

India's central bank said on Thursday that the government has bought back bonds maturing in next fiscal year and issued longer-dated 2040 securities as part of a switch operation with it.

Nifty posted a second straight loss amid IT-led selling but stayed above its 20-day moving average, keeping recovery hopes alive. Analysts see resistance near 26,000 and support around 25,75025,500. Shriram Finance and Max Healthcare are recommended as tactical buy opportunities.

India's inflation measurement has been updated. The new Consumer Price Index basket shows households now spend less on food and more on services and modern items. This shift reflects a growing economy and changing lifestyles. The Reserve Bank of India's inflation target band has been met. This revision captures how Indians are spending differently today compared to a decade ago.

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits decreased less than expected last week, but the decline was consistent with economists' view that the labor market was stabilizing after hitting a soft patch last year.

Zebra Technologies forecast 2026 sales and profit above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, banking on robust demand for its barcode scanners and communication devices, sending shares of the company up more than 17%.

LSEG said on Thursday it plans to build an on-chain settlement service for institutional investors called the LSEG Digital Securities Depository, which will connect traditional and digital securities markets.

Wall Street's main indexes inched higher on Thursday, a day after robust jobs growth and a dip in unemployment eased concerns around the U.S. economy, while investor attention turned to a slew of corporate earnings.

The government's 5 per cent stake sale in BHEL closed with 1.34 times over-subscription after receiving enthusiastic response from retail and institutional investors.

Bharat Forge on Thursday posted a 28 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 273 crore for the third quarter ended December 2025.

The Reserve Bank of India has released draft guidelines to update the Kisan Credit Card scheme. These changes aim to broaden its reach and improve operations. The RBI is seeking feedback by March 6, 2026. The proposed revisions include standardizing crop seasons and extending KCC tenure to six years. Drawing limits will align with crop cultivation costs.

Coal India Q3 results: State-owned Coal India on Thursday reported a 16% year-on-year (YoY) decline in its consolidated net profit at Rs 7,166 crore in the third quarter. The company has declared third interim dividend at Rs 5.5 per share for the financial year 2026.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that high personal income tax collection does not indicate suppression of the middle class. She highlighted evidence of middle-class expansion. Sitharaman emphasized the Budget's focus on a self-reliant India and urged state participation in announced schemes. She countered claims of welfare scheme expenditure cuts, noting unspent funds were lower than in the past.

Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran on Thursday said the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series will improve the quality of data used for monetary and fiscal policy decisions. The National Statistics Office released the CPI with Base 2024=100, updating the basket to include more goods and services while removing items no longer widely consumed.

The National Stock Exchange of India on Thursday said that it has appointed Rothschild & Co as an independent advisor to oversee its long-awaited initial public offering.

The UK has chosen HSBC's blockchain platform to run the country's pilot issuance of tokenised or digital government bonds, the bank said on Thursday, a move that puts Britain ahead of its G7 peers in exploring blockchain-based sovereign debt.

Indian government bonds rose on Thursday, as traders unwound their short positions after a January inflation reading that was lower than the market had feared. The 10-year 6.48% 2035 bond yield settled at 6.6833%, compared with 6.7088% on Wednesday.

Housing sales fell 10 per cent last year across 15 tier-II cities to 1.56 lakh units while remained flat in value terms at Rs 1.48 lakh crore, according to PropEquity.

Hindalco Q3 Results: Aditya Birla Group's flagship metal company Hindalco reported a 45% decline in its December quarter consolidated net profit at Rs 2,049 crore compared to Rs 3,735 crore posted in the year ago period.

Realty firm Experion Developers will invest Rs 1,500 crore to develop a housing project in Noida to expand its business.

Realty firm Spring House Workspaces has set up a new co-working centre in Noida, comprising 1,200 desks across 60,000 sq ft area, to meet rising demand of flexible managed office spaces from corporates.

Realty firm Smartworks Coworking Spaces Ltd has taken on lease 1.81 lakh sq ft office space in Mumbai to expand its portfolio amid rising demand for prime workspaces from corporates.

India's inflation rate rose to 2.75% in January. This marks the first time it has returned to the central bank's target band since August. The new data series shows higher food and precious metal prices. Experts believe inflation will edge higher gradually. The Reserve Bank of India is expected to keep interest rates on hold for an extended period.

Systemic issues like inadequate cold storage and logistics are identified as critical gaps.

New Delhi and Moscow's relationship is steadily growing. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed ongoing cooperation across trade, defence, and cultural exchanges. These vital aspects of the bilateral ties continue to expand. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the consistent engagement and growth in multiple areas of the relationship between India and Russia.

The Lok Sabha has approved the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the amendment. It was placed on the supplementary agenda after Question Hour. This development occurred during the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. The bill's passage marks a significant legislative event.

Indian benchmark indices closed lower on Thursday, dragged by heavy selling in IT stocks. Nifty and Sensex fell amid AI disruption concerns and fading US rate-cut hopes. Coforge, TCS and Infosys led losses, while Lenskart and Hindustan Copper gained on strong triggers.

Four commodity stocks SAIL, Sharda Cropchem, Jindal Steel and JSW Steel hit fresh 52-week highs, rallying up to 55% in just one month despite a weak broader market.

Mamaearth Q3 Results: The company's revenue from operations stood at Rs 602 crore in Q3FY26, recording a 16% growth versus Rs 518 crore in the October-December period of FY26.

Indian IT services firms face a growth slowdown due to Artificial Intelligence. AI tools reduce project effort, impacting billing. Large IT firms expect 5-6% revenue growth, while mid-cap firms anticipate 10-12%. Contract renewals may lead to pricing cuts. India's position as the world's software factory remains secure. Valuations may need adjustment in this new growth environment.

India's retail inflation reached 2.75% in January with a new Consumer Price Index series. The base year is now 2024. Food's weight has decreased significantly. Housing and transport weights have increased. This revised framework will guide monetary policy. Regular base revisions are planned every three to five years.

India faces significant housing challenges due to land scarcity and soaring prices. NITI Aayog proposes structural reforms like increasing Floor Area Ratios and promoting land pooling. Government initiatives under PMAY are progressing, with millions of houses completed. Policy measures aim to channel more credit and reduce construction costs, signaling momentum to address the housing crunch if land bottlenecks are resolved.

Institutions trimmed stakes in 10 major largecaps in Q3, signalling selective profit-taking and portfolio rebalancing across sectors.

In January 2026, India's retail inflation rose to 2.75%, the first figure from an updated Consumer Price Index series. This development is promising, as it remains beneath the Reserve Bank of India's inflation target. The revamped index better captures today's spending habits, reflecting a decreased emphasis on food items while incorporating our growing reliance on digital services.

SBI has overtaken TCS and Infosys in market valuea feat unimaginable five years ago, says Gurmeet Chadha. The surge reflects PSU banks sharp turnaround driven by better risk management and digitisation, even as IT stocks face heavy AI-led selling. Nifty IT has dropped 21% in a year, while PSU banks soar.