The Times of India News

India's primary market is gearing up for a busy week with four new IPOs totaling Rs 830 crore, led by KSH International's Rs 710 crore offering. Investors are keenly awaiting listings from prominent names like ICICI Prudential AMC, Corona Remedies, and Park Medi World, with strong grey market premiums indicating positive sentiment.

India is experiencing a rare economic phase with near-zero inflation and robust growth exceeding 8%. While this 'Goldilocks' moment benefits borrowers and large corporations, farmers face significant losses due to falling food prices. Savers might see reduced returns as interest rates decline, highlighting a complex economic landscape where benefits are unevenly distributed.

India is actively engaging with Mexico over a unilateral tariff hike of up to 50% on a wide range of products. New Delhi seeks solutions beneficial to both nations while protecting Indian exporters' interests, as the increased duties are set to take effect from January 1, 2026.

Copper prices are soaring towards $12,000 a ton, fueled by booming AI data infrastructure demand and global supply worries. With a 35% surge this year, the metal's electrical properties make it vital for data centers, EVs, and clean energy. Despite rising inventories, a market deficit is projected, intensifying supply concerns and driving investor interest.

Following the RBI's repo rate cut, State Bank of India has slashed its lending rates, including MCLR, EBLR, and RLLR, effective December 15th. This move aims to lower borrowing costs and EMIs for both retail and corporate clients. The bank also revised its BPLR and base rates, offering significant relief to borrowers.

India has eased visa regulations for Chinese professionals, allowing them to obtain business visas for short-term assignments, a move aimed at streamlining approval processes. This relaxation follows recent efforts by both nations to improve people-to-people engagement and mend relations strained by the 2020 border standoff.

SBI has reduced interest rates on specific deposits and lending benchmarks following a 25 basis points repo rate cut. The bank adjusted deposit rates to maintain its net interest margin, with changes affecting 444-day deposits and those between two to three years. This move occurs as bank credit growth outpaces deposit expansion.

The Indian government has launched a Rs 476.03 crore, six-year development program to modernize the makhana sector. This initiative, overseen by the National Makhana Board, focuses on research, quality seed production, farmer training, and enhancing value addition, branding, and export promotion across the country.

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund's massive Rs 10,600-crore IPO saw robust demand on its opening day, with institutional investors oversubscribing their portion. While high net worth and retail investors showed moderate interest, the IPO is set to close on December 16. Prudential Corp Holdings is divesting a significant stake in this offering.

Haryana has launched its most ambitious environmental initiative, the 'Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development,' in collaboration with the World Bank, with a Rs 3,600 crore corpus. This project aims to significantly improve air quality over five years through sweeping interventions, including industrial upgrades, e-bus procurement, and enhanced monitoring infrastructure.

Indian Railways is piloting a new on-board catering model, separating meal preparation from service. IRCTC is partnering with established food brands and industrial kitchens to supply fresh, hygienic meals on select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains. Initial passenger feedback is positive, with trials focusing on improving meal quality and offering diverse, restaurant-style menus.

Automakers experienced a record-breaking November with strong factory dispatches to dealerships, indicating sustained consumer demand. Passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers saw significant double-digit growth year-on-year, with Maruti Suzuki reporting its best November in 40 years. Despite a dip in two-wheeler registrations, industry leaders remain optimistic for continued growth into 2026.

President Trump touts rising government revenues and investment pledges as proof of his economic strategy's success. However, many Americans face affordability pressures, creating a disconnect between headline growth and personal finances. Critics argue that while tariffs have increased, they haven't significantly eased cost-of-living strains for households.

RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar warned that stablecoins pose significant macro-financial risks, including currency substitution and weakened monetary policy. He argued they lack the essential features of modern money, such as fiat status and singleness, and could undermine India's financial architecture. Sankar highlighted that their purported benefits are largely unproven, with domestic systems already offering superior payment solutions.

US lawmakers are pushing to remove steep tariffs on Indian imports, arguing they harm American jobs and consumers. A resolution seeks to end President Trump's national emergency declaration that led to duties up to 50%. This bipartisan move aims to mend the vital US-India partnership and boost economic ties, citing disruptions and increased costs for Americans.

A California jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $40 million to two women who claimed its talc-based baby powder caused their ovarian cancer. The women testified that decades of use led to major surgeries and chemotherapy. Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal, stating the verdict is aberrant and lacks evidence.

Investor sentiment surged on Dalal Street, propelling the Sensex back above the 85,000 mark following a record-breaking rally on Wall Street. This boost was attributed to the US Federal Reserve's interest rate cut, which improved global risk appetite and liquidity optimism, despite foreign fund outflows and a weakening rupee.

Brookfield is set to invest over one billion dollars in Mumbai. This investment will establish Asia's largest Global Capability Centre. The project is scheduled for completion by 2029. It is expected to create over 30,000 jobs. This development highlights India's growing importance as a hub for multinational corporations.

Linking Fastag with motor insurance could significantly boost GST revenue by an estimated Rs 18,000 crore and drastically cut down uninsured vehicles, according to Tapan Singhel. He highlighted that insurers have clear visibility of uninsured vehicles, and integrating with Fastag would enhance compliance and combat fraud.

India's retail inflation saw a slight increase in November, reaching 0.7% from October's record low, driven by rising costs of vegetables, eggs, meat, fish, and spices. Experts anticipate inflation to remain subdued for now, though a surge in tomato prices could impact future trends. The Reserve Bank of India recently reduced its policy repo rate.

The Union Cabinet has approved significant reforms for the stock market and insurance sectors. The plan includes allowing 100% foreign investment in insurance, aiming to boost penetration and consumer choice.

Pakistan has signed a non-binding MoU with Binance to explore tokenizing up to $2 billion in sovereign and real-world assets. This move aims to enhance liquidity and transparency by digitizing government holdings through blockchain platforms. The collaboration signals Pakistan's commitment to adopting blockchain-based financial infrastructure and attracting global investors.

New York faces a potential $73 million loss in federal highway funds after an audit revealed thousands of immigrant commercial driver's licenses were allegedly issued without proper verification. The Transportation Department found over half of reviewed non-domiciled licenses were improperly issued, with New York unable to demonstrate status verification for 32,000 active licenses.

The NSE has released its 2026 trading holiday calendar, featuring 15 full market closures, one more than the previous year. Key festivals like Holi, Ram Navami, and Diwali Balipratipada are listed, with Diwali Laxmi Pujan falling on a Sunday. The customary Muhurat Trading session will occur on November 8.

ALROSA CEO Pavel Maryinchev believes US tariff hikes on Indian diamonds will be a temporary hurdle, with the sector adapting and costs potentially passed to consumers. He highlighted strong Asian demand, declining natural diamond production stabilizing the market, and synthetic diamonds losing appeal due to price drops and lack of uniqueness. ALROSA also emphasized its natural diamonds' environmental advantage.

The Union Cabinet has approved a bill to allow 100% foreign direct investment in the insurance sector, aiming to boost penetration and growth. The proposed legislation, slated for introduction soon, also includes provisions for mergers and a dedicated policyholder fund, while mandating Indian citizenship for key leadership roles. This move is expected to attract global capital and expertise.

The Indian rupee is experiencing a significant decline against the US dollar, which could impact inflation, exports, and corporate margins. While short-term effects are challenging, a weaker rupee could boost long-term growth by encouraging domestic production and improving export competitiveness. Experts anticipate this trend may continue due to trade deal uncertainties and capital flow pressures.

Indian markets mirrored global trends with advances, while US stocks saw a mixed performance on Friday. Tech stocks, particularly AI-related names like Broadcom, faced selling pressure despite overall market strength. Lululemon surged on strong results and CEO transition news. European and Asian markets largely traded higher, with Japan anticipating an interest rate hike.

The government has launched CoalSETU, a new auction route for long-term coal supplies, removing previous end-use restrictions for industrial consumers and exports. This move aims to boost domestic coal use, cut import reliance, and enhance ease of doing business. Any domestic buyer, except traders, can participate, with exports allowed up to 50% of allocated coal.

Landlord subsidy payments of up to $1,500 under the Section 8 rental assistance program are now rolling out after federal government shutdown delays. These Housing Assistance Payments support low-income households, seniors, and people with disabilities by covering a portion of rent.

India's foreign exchange reserves saw a significant increase of USD 1.033 billion, reaching USD 687.26 billion in the week ending December 5. This rise was primarily driven by a substantial jump in gold reserves, which grew by USD 1.188 billion. Foreign currency assets experienced a slight dip, while Special Drawing Rights saw an increase.

The Centre government has approved higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for copra for the 2026 season, with milling copra set at Rs 12,027 per quintal and ball copra at Rs 12,500 per quintal. These increases aim to provide better returns to coconut growers and encourage expanded production to meet growing demand.

India's exports to Mexico face a significant blow from January 1, 2026, as Mexico imposes steep tariffs of up to 50% on non-FTA partners. Nearly 75% of India's $5.75 billion shipments, including autos, smartphones, and steel, will face sharply higher duties, potentially pricing them out of the market. Pharmaceuticals remain largely unaffected.

Headline inflation rose to 0.71% in November 2025. The rural sector experienced increases in both headline and food inflation for November 2025.

The government is launching a pilot project to link subsidized fertilizer allocation to farmers' land size, aiming to curb diversion and pilferage. This initiative comes as India faces high chemical nutrient use impacting soil health. Meanwhile, fertilizer imports are projected to rise significantly due to increased domestic demand.

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