The Times of India News

LIC has launched a two-month campaign from January 1 to March 2, 2026, to revive lapsed individual policies. The drive offers up to a 30% concession on late fees for non-linked policies, capped at Rs 5,000, and a 100% waiver for micro insurance. This initiative aims to help policyholders restore their insurance cover.

Copper prices have surged to record highs, impacting the cost of household products like air conditioners, bathware, and kitchen utensils. Companies in the durables, cookware, and bathware sectors are planning price increases of 5-8% to offset rising commodity costs. This surge is attributed to factors including declining interest rates, a weaker dollar, and improved economic growth expectations for China.

Sebi is leveraging AI-driven tools to enhance regulatory compliance and surveillance, including a new system to assess cybersecurity preparedness. The market regulator's AI initiatives, such as Sebi Sudarshan, aim to monitor unauthorized digital activities and analyze corporate sentiment. This development underscores Sebi's commitment to strengthening risk-based supervision within the Indian securities market.

India's manufacturing sector saw its slowest improvement in two years during December, with the HSBC India Manufacturing PMI dropping to 55.0. This slowdown was attributed to declining export orders and moderated employment, while business sentiment reached a three-and-a-half-year low.

The rupee weakened on Friday, falling below 90 per dollar due to importer demand and low liquidity. Markets are closely watching the Reserve Bank of India's intervention strategy and global risk factors. The currency's lowest close in two weeks signals a significant breach of the 90 level.

Brokerages have significantly downgraded ITC and slashed target prices following a proposed steep tax hike on tobacco products. Analysts anticipate cigarette price increases of up to 32%, warning of a potential surge in smuggled goods. The stock has seen substantial losses, with market capitalization dropping by approximately Rs 66,200 crore in just two sessions.

India's electronics manufacturing sector receives a significant boost with 22 new component manufacturing proposals approved, attracting nearly Rs 42,000 crore in investments. Major players like Samsung, Foxconn, and Tata Electronics are set to enhance domestic production, aiming to reduce import reliance and bolster the nation's position as a global manufacturing hub.

India is projected to become a top four global semiconductor manufacturing nation by 2032 and aims for the best by 2035, fueled by its talent and expanding ecosystem. The nation is poised to play a crucial role in the global semiconductor value chain.

Exporters will benefit from a new Rs 7,295-crore government package designed to ease credit access. This includes an interest subvention scheme offering subsidies on export credit and a collateral support measure for MSMEs.

Tesla has been surpassed by BYD as the world's largest EV maker following a second consecutive year of declining deliveries in 2025. Intensifying competition and weakening demand impacted sales, though Tesla's stock remains optimistic due to its long-term strategy in autonomous mobility and robotics.

The worlds 500 richest individuals added a record $2.2 trillion to their wealth as strong rallies across stocks, cryptocurrencies and precious metals lifted total net worth to $11.9 trillion, according to Bloomberg.

Global stock markets began 2026 with a strong start. Major indices in the US and Europe saw significant gains. Technology stocks, especially those linked to artificial intelligence, led the rally. Precious metals also performed well. Asian markets showed mixed but largely positive trends.

A significant hike in cigarette duties has sent shockwaves through the tobacco sector, causing ITC shares to plummet. India's largest insurer, LIC, has seen its investment value in ITC drop by over Rs 10,000 crore in just two days.

The first thing to understand is what a SIP actually does. It does not guarantee returns. What it does is force you to buy more units when markets are down and fewer when markets are up. It only works if you let it do this job when it feels most uncomfortable.

India's foreign exchange reserves surged by $3.293 billion to $696.61 billion in the week ending December 26, marking a continued strengthening of the nation's external buffer. This significant rise was primarily driven by a substantial increase in gold reserves, which climbed by $2.956 billion.

India has begun seeking weekly data from refiners on Russian and US crude imports as it works toward a trade agreement with Washington, with Russian purchases expected to fall below one million barrels a day, according to a Reuters report.

ITC shares plummeted to a three-year low following a significant cigarette tax hike, prompting widespread analyst downgrades. The steep increase, effective February 1, necessitates substantial price hikes, potentially impacting volumes and profitability. Concerns over illicit trade re-emerging are also a key worry for investors.

Office space supply dipped significantly in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai last year, even as demand for prime workspaces remained robust across India's major cities. This imbalance led to lower vacancy rates and a rental increase of up to 15% year-on-year. Technology and BFSI sectors, along with Global Capability Centres.

The Indian rupee depreciated by 22 paise to settle at 90.20 against the US dollar on Friday, influenced by weak domestic manufacturing data and a stronger greenback. Persistent foreign fund outflows and importer demand pressured the currency, though softer crude oil prices.

ITC shares plummeted to a three-year low following a surprise government hike in cigarette excise duties. Brokerages have downgraded the stock, citing concerns over volume and margin pressure due to significant price increases required to offset the tax shock. Analysts anticipate a reset in valuation multiples for the company's biggest profit driver.

Dense fog and low visibility led to the cancellation of 66 flights at Delhi airport on Friday, impacting both arrivals and departures. This disruption occurred during the official fog window, a period requiring special operational measures for flight safety, including the deployment of trained pilots and compliant aircraft.

London's FTSE 100 index surged past 10,000 points for the first time on Friday, reaching a new all-time high. This historic milestone follows a robust 2025 performance, driven by interest rate cuts and receding inflation.

India's bullet train project achieved a significant milestone with the breakthrough of a 1.5-km mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. This marks the first mountain tunnel completion on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. With this, the stretch between Thane and Ahmedabad is now clear, leaving only the Mumbai-Thane undersea section as a constraint. The first bullet train is anticipated by August 15, 2027.

Asian markets opened the new year positively, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index surging 2.2% and technology stocks leading the rally. This optimism follows gains in US futures and higher oil prices, driven by expectations of AI-driven demand for chips and infrastructure. Despite a late-year pullback, US markets achieved strong annual gains in 2025.

Gold price prediction today: After a period of correction, gold prices are likely to exhibit stability and investors can look to buy the yellow metal on dips, recommends Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.

Food delivery giants Zomato and Swiggy experienced record-breaking New Year's Eve orders, largely unaffected by a gig worker strike. Despite calls for better pay, platforms reported millions of deliveries, highlighting food delivery's integral role in Indian celebrations. Popular choices included biryani, pizza, and traditional desserts, with dining out also seeing significant traction.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Friday. While Nifty50 was above 261,50, BSE Sensex was up around 100 points.

Global oil prices saw a slight increase on the first trading day of 2026, recovering from a significant annual decline. This uptick was driven by renewed geopolitical tensions, including Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities and fresh US sanctions impacting Venezuelan exports. Despite these immediate concerns, the market remains cautious due to persistent oversupply worries.

Stock market recommendations: Bajaj Broking Research recommends Canara Bank, and Nykaa as the top stock picks for January 2, 2026. It also shares its views on Nifty and Bank Nifty.

Deposit outflows in early December, driven by tax payments, widened the credit-deposit gap for scheduled banks. Despite a year-on-year deposit growth of 9.4%, deposits fell by Rs 1.7 lakh crore in a fortnight. Banks are resorting to RBI borrowings and asset liquidation to fund strong credit expansion.

Banks can now independently manage National Pension System (NPS) assets, as PFRDA approved a framework to boost competition and protect subscribers. Eligible banks must meet stringent net worth and soundness criteria. Additionally, the regulator revised investment management fees for pension funds and appointed new trustees to the NPS Trust Board, including former SBI chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara as chairperson.

Fueled by tax cuts and a strong monsoon, India's passenger vehicle market achieved record sales in 2025. Maruti Suzuki led with robust growth and exports, while Tata Motors surpassed Hyundai to become the second-largest player. Mahindra & Mahindra saw peak SUV volumes, with industry executives attributing the surge to GST reductions and government IT relief boosting purchasing power.

Job loss will now come with a financial boost for reskilling. Under new draft rules, retrenched employees will receive funds equivalent to 15 days' wages within 45 days of losing their job. This initiative aims to institutionalize skilling and support workers transitioning to new roles. Employers must also prioritize rehiring previously retrenched staff for similar vacancies.

Gig and platform workers must be engaged for at least 90 days with an aggregator in a financial year to qualify for social security benefits under the new Social Security Code. This threshold increases to 120 days for workers engaged with multiple aggregators. The rules also outline registration requirements and the formation of a National Social Security Board.

The Reserve Bank of India's Financial Stability Report highlights emerging structural pressures in the insurance sector, noting that premium growth is increasingly driven by high-cost distribution strategies rather than operating efficiency. While the sector remains stable in the near term, elevated expenses could weaken profitability and necessitate a shift towards cost rationalization and technology-enabled distribution for long-term resilience.

Banks can now independently manage the National Pension System (NPS) as the PFRDA approves a new framework to boost competition and protect subscribers. This move, alongside revised investment fee structures and new NPS Trust board appointments, aims to create a more robust and competitive pension ecosystem for improved retirement security.