The Times of India

India's economy is poised for robust growth in 2025-26, with manufacturing expected to expand by 7% and construction by 7%. Despite a slight slowdown in agriculture, government consumption and exports are strong drivers. Private consumption shows healthy growth, indicating a resilient overall demand, even as mining faces a contraction.

Indian automakers are urging the government to safeguard the domestic market from a potential influx of Chinese electric vehicles via the EU free trade agreement. They propose restricting imports to high-end models with strict value addition requirements to protect local EV manufacturing and foster a robust green vehicle ecosystem.

The Competition Commission of India is investigating IndiGo for potential unfair business practices following widespread flight cancellations. The anti-trust regulator has sought information from the airline and the DGCA to assess if IndiGo abused its dominant market position.

US employers posted significantly fewer job openings in November, reaching 7.1 million, the lowest since September 2024. This subdued hiring, despite economic growth, points to a low-hire, low-fire labor market.

Indian markets opened mixed as global uncertainty and upcoming US jobs data prompted caution. Investors are watching for signs of fatigue in the tech rally, while geopolitical tensions and corporate news also influenced trading.

Warner Bros. Discovery rejected Paramount's takeover offer, deeming it insufficient and risky due to substantial debt financing. The company reiterated its preference for a $72 billion transaction with Netflix, which it believes offers superior value and greater certainty for shareholders.

Sebi has postponed the implementation of an additional incentive for mutual fund distributors to March 1, 2026. This revised framework aims to boost new investor onboarding from B-30 cities and women investors across all locations. The delay allows asset management companies more time to establish necessary systems.

Equity indices extended their decline for a third consecutive session on Wednesday, with the Sensex and Nifty ending lower due to sustained selling in heavyweight stocks, rising geopolitical unease, and weak global cues.

The Hotel Association of India (HAI) is urging policymakers to prioritize sector-specific reforms for the hospitality industry's growth and resilience.

The Senior Citizens Savings Scheme is a government-backed Post Office savings option designed for retirees and senior citizens. It offers a reliable stream of regular interest income, combining higher returns with low risk.

India's economy will grow at a robust 7.4% in the financial year 2025-26, according to the first advanced estimates of Gross Domestic Product released by the National Statistics Office (NSO). This is much higher than the 6.5% growth in the previous financial year.

Gold prices experienced a slight dip on Wednesday as investors engaged in profit-booking following recent strong gains. The focus has now shifted to upcoming US economic data. Both domestic and international gold futures saw declines, with silver also trading lower after touching near-record highs.

Experience-led tourism is gaining momentum among India's Gen Z, as a survey done by travel portal Airbnb reveals that over 62 per cent of the country's Gen Z plans to travel for concerts and music festivals in 2026.

Meesho's shares dipped 5% on Wednesday following the end of a one-month lock-in period, making 110 million shares available for trading. Despite the decline, major brokerages like UBS and Choice Institutional Equities maintain a positive outlook, citing strong growth potential and a leveraged position on mass-market users.

India's silver imports saw a significant jump in 2025. This surge reflects the metal's growing importance for industries like electronics and solar power. Supply challenges and global uncertainties are driving this trend. Experts urge India to treat silver as a strategic industrial metal, not just a commodity. Securing future supply is now a key focus for the nation.

If you use equity funds mainly for long-term goals of 10 years or more, combine them with the right amount of debt for stability, and behave sensibly during bad years, then yeshistorically they have outpaced FDs by a wide margin more often than not.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has invited public comments on the draft Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Norms on Dividend and Remittance of Profit) Directions, 2026, proposing a revised framework for declaration of dividends and remittance of profits by banks.

Gold price prediction today: Gold and silver prices may see volatility with some consolidative bias in the coming days, says Maneesh Sharma, AVP - Commodities & Currencies, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers. He shares his outlook for gold and silver prices in the coming days:

An amount of $45 billion in IPO lock-in periods are expiring between January 6 and April 30, impacting 96 newly listed companies. This will allow pre-IPO shareholders to sell their shares, potentially leading to short-term price fluctuations. Investors are advised to monitor these expiry dates closely for possible stock movements.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in red on Wednesday. While Nifty50 went below 26,150, BSE Sensex was down over 100 points.

Stock market recommendations: According to Mehul Kothari, DVP - Technical Research, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers, the top stocks to buy today (January 7, 2026) are Varun Beverages Ltd, Havells, and IREDA. Lets take a look:

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is preparing for her ninth consecutive budget with a team featuring a blend of experienced and new officials. For the first time in recent years, the budget exercise will be coordinated by Anuradha Thakur, as there is no finance secretary.

The Reserve Bank of India has proposed new rules to control bank dividend payouts, tying them to capital adequacy, asset quality, and profits starting FY27. Banks must meet stringent capital requirements and demonstrate healthy profits to distribute dividends. This move aims to strengthen the banking sector's financial resilience and ensure stability across the system.

State-run companies are emerging as top long-term wealth creators again, with 26 PSUs featuring among the top 100 between April 2020 and March 2025. This marks a significant turnaround from previous years, driven by factors like government divestment policy changes and a focus on sectors like defence and utilities.

Consumer goods companies are witnessing a demand revival, fueled by GST reductions that lowered prices and boosted shopper spending. Initial signs of recovery are evident, with firms anticipating sustained growth in soaps, shampoos, and packaged foods. FMCG volumes saw a significant jump, and analysts predict further acceleration in branded product growth, signaling a strong leap for the sector.

India and the European Union are set to hold ministerial-level discussions in Brussels on January 8-9 to finalize their proposed free trade agreement. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will meet with EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to resolve pending issues and expedite the conclusion of a balanced and ambitious pact.

Wall Street stocks advanced Tuesday, with technology and healthcare shares leading the gains and pushing major indices near record highs. Investors are closely monitoring upcoming US economic data, including job reports, which could influence future interest rate decisions by the Federal Reserve.

Adani Enterprises Limited's Rs 1,000 crore non-convertible debenture issue was fully subscribed within 45 minutes of opening on Tuesday. The NCDs, offering an effective yield of up to 8.90% per annum, saw strong demand, with the base issue and green shoe option being fully taken up quickly. Proceeds will primarily be used for debt repayment.

US President Trump stated Prime Minister Modi is ot that happy due to US tariffs on Indian purchases of Russian oil. He linked trade pressure to India's energy ties with Moscow, noting India has significantly reduced its Russian oil imports. Trump also mentioned India's concerns over delayed US military hardware deliveries.

India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has launched an anti-dumping probe into nylon chips and granules imports from China and Russia. A domestic manufacturer alleged that dumping of Nylon 6 Chips and Granules with relative viscosity below 3 is harming the local industry. The DGTR found prima facie evidence and will recommend duties if material injury is established.

Policybazaar has launched an online loan insurance product, offering a significantly cheaper and more flexible alternative to traditional bank-bundled covers. This new offering allows borrowers to purchase insurance independently of loans, with potential savings of up to 72% compared to offline policies. The online product provides greater control over claim payouts and flexibility for loan adjustments.

As Budget 2026 approaches, industry bodies, tax experts, and non-resident taxpayers are urging the government to rationalize the rules. Their central message is simple: when income is minimal, passive, or already subject to tax deducted at source (TDS), compliance should be simple and easy.

Niti Aayog urges India to cut tariffs and boost manufacturing in high-demand sectors like passenger vehicles to enhance global competitiveness. The policy think tank emphasizes increasing two-way trade and integrating deeper into global supply chains. Focusing on automotive exports, the report highlights the need for quality improvements and market diversification to capture a larger share of the growing global market.

India has emerged as Russia's second-largest crude oil buyer, importing approximately 144 billion euros since the Ukraine war began. This surge followed Western nations' reduced imports, significantly boosting Russia's fossil fuel earnings. While India's purchases have recently dipped due to fresh sanctions, the trend highlights a major shift in global energy trade dynamics.

Gold prices might pause in 2026 after a strong rally. Analysts predict a bullish long-term outlook. US Federal Reserve rate cuts and global debt concerns will keep gold attractive. Prices are unlikely to fall significantly. Central bank buying and inflation fears provide strong support. Gold's role as a safe haven is expected to continue.

Global rating agency Fitch reports that enhanced Reserve Bank of India oversight and improved regulatory tools are bolstering Indian banks, reducing systemic risks. Strong economic growth prospects and declining inflation further improve the sector's operating environment. Key metrics like non-performing loan ratios have significantly improved, positioning banks for prudent credit expansion.