The Times of India News

US stocks traded near record highs as stronger-than-expected Q3 GDP data boosted Treasury yields. Investors digested the economic resilience amid higher interest rates, with muted equity moves in a holiday-shortened week.

The US economy surged to a 4.3% annual growth rate in the third quarter, exceeding expectations due to robust consumer spending, exports, and government outlays. Despite this expansion, inflation persisted above the Federal Reserve's target, with the PCE index rising to 2.8%.

China has initiated a trade dispute against India at the World Trade Organization. The challenge targets India's policies on solar cells, solar modules, and information technology goods.

From comfort staples to regional favourites, Indians kept returning to a familiar set of cravings in 2025. Swiggys year-end data offers a telling glimpse into how tastes evolved.

December brings crucial financial deadlines. Ensure your NPS Scheme A is switched by the 25th to avoid unwanted changes. The 31st marks the final chance for belated or revised tax returns, crucial for carrying forward losses. Also, verify Aadhaar-PAN compliance for specific PAN holders to prevent inoperability. These actions prevent future financial headaches.

OYO's parent company, PRISM, has received shareholder approval to raise up to Rs 6,650 crore through a fresh equity issue for its upcoming IPO. This significant milestone signals steady progress towards a public market debut, with the company also seeing improving financial expectations and a stable outlook from Moody's.

Ambuja Cements is merging ACC and Orient Cement into itself, creating a unified listed platform for enhanced operating leverage and cost synergies. This share-based transaction aims to consolidate Adani Group's cement assets, simplifying operations and bolstering expansion plans.

Noida International Airport (NIA) has partnered with Tech Mahindra to establish a 24/7 integrated Network and Security Operations Centre (NOC-SOC). This collaboration aims to embed cybersecurity and digital resilience into the airport's operations from its inception. The NOC-SOC will proactively monitor and manage critical IT infrastructure, ensuring high availability and robust security for seamless airport operations.

Gold and silver prices reached unprecedented highs on Tuesday, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amidst geopolitical tensions and anticipated US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Both domestic and international markets saw significant surges, with gold futures on MCX and Comex hitting record levels.

Gold prices hit a new record high Tuesday, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions as the US seized Venezuelan oil tankers. Silver also neared historic peaks, extending a strong rally in precious metals. Expectations of lower US interest rates and a weaker dollar further fueled this surge, making gold an attractive safe haven for investors.

Hyosung Heavy Industries secured a contract worth 120 billion won, or approximately USD 82 million, to supply ultra-high-voltage transformers to the United Kingdom. This deal with SP Energy Networks, a division of ScottishPower, aims to support a significant wind power project as Britain works toward its carbon-neutrality goals.

PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline: Link your PAN with Aadhaar by December 31, 2025, or face consequences. Unlinked PANs become inoperative from January 1, 2026, impacting tax refunds and leading to higher TDS.

Global equities climbed Tuesday, buoyed by anticipated US interest rate cuts and easing AI concerns. Gold and silver hit record highs as US economic data signaled inflation cooling and unemployment rising, strengthening the case for Federal Reserve easing. Micron's strong earnings also boosted tech stocks, despite ongoing AI investment scrutiny.

India's IPO market has shown strong momentum in 2025, emerging as a key exit route for private equity (PE) investors, according to KPMG's Pulse of Private Equity Q3'25 report.

Amazon has blocked over 1,800 North Koreans attempting to secure remote IT jobs, citing a rise in applications and the use of laptop farms. This tactic, also seen at other companies, aims to generate funds for Pyongyang's regime. Officials warn of a widespread issue, with North Korea's cyber unit actively seeking to steal financial assets.

Markets saw huge volatility in 2025, with analysts predicting its continuation into 2026. Dynamic asset allocation funds, also known as balanced advantage funds, offer a potential solution by adjusting their equity and debt mix based on market conditions, delivering average returns of 4.57% in 2025.

Indian doctors and nurses are increasingly leaving the UK's NHS due to rising costs, tighter immigration rules, and reduced job security. Financial strain, better global opportunities, and restrictive government policies are pushing many to seek careers elsewhere, with visa numbers for Indian healthcare workers seeing significant drops. This trend impacts the NHS workforce.

Indonesia and the United States have finalized a new tariff deal, with presidents expected to sign it next month. The agreement lowers US tariffs on Indonesian goods, including palm oil, coffee, and tea, while the US seeks greater access to Indonesia's critical minerals. This follows a commitment by Indonesia to increase imports from the US.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in red on Tuesday. While Nifty50 was above 26,150, BSE Sensex was below 85,500.

The Chinese embassy in India has launched an online visa application system for Indian passport holders, simplifying the process for tourist, business, student, and work visas. This digital initiative reduces consulate visits and allows for real-time tracking and INR fee payments, aiding in the gradual normalization of ties between the two nations.

Stock market recommendations: Mirae Asset Sharekhan's Somil Mehta identifies NMDC, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, and BHEL as top stock picks for December 23, 2025. These companies are showing positive technical indicators, suggesting potential uptrends.

Nuvama downgraded Voltas citing weak near-term demand and high inventory, while Kotak sees improvement in SBI Cards' asset quality and spending. CLSA expects Dalmia Bharat's volumes to rise but margins to be pressured by weak pricing. Morgan Stanley views HCL Tech's acquisition as financially minor, and Citigroup remains positive on Divis Laboratories amid global supply chain shifts.

Tech billionaire Larry Ellison has personally guaranteed over $40 billion for Skydance's $78 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, aiming to quell board doubts about funding certainty. This move, backing his son David's takeover attempt, intensifies the hostile bid against a rival Netflix deal. WBD's board now faces increased pressure from shareholders.

India and New Zealand have inked a free trade agreement, aiming to double bilateral trade within five years. This pact grants India tariff-free access to New Zealand's markets for key sectors like textiles and engineering goods. New Zealand also pledged $20 billion in investment, while India offered market access on over 70% of tariff lines, excluding sensitive products like dairy.

The RBI sold a net $11.9 billion in October 2025 to stabilize the rupee, actively intervening in spot and forward markets. Gross dollar sales surged to $29.6 billion, indicating strong efforts to counter rupee pressure and prevent it from falling below 89 per dollar.

November's high-frequency indicators reveal robust domestic demand and stable economic activity, with benign inflation keeping input costs low for firms. Despite external headwinds, coordinated policy actions have bolstered resilience, allowing monetary policy to support growth. Global uncertainties persist, impacting emerging market flows, though equity markets showed optimism.

Gold and silver prices have reached unprecedented highs, shattering previous records in both international and domestic markets. February gold futures on MCX surged past Rs 1,36,000 per 10gm, while March silver futures also hit an all-time peak. Experts attribute this surge to substantial liquidity injections by the US Federal Reserve, aggressive central bank gold purchases, and escalating geopolitical tensions.

Infosys and Bharti Airtel spearheaded a 638-point Sensex rally, marking a rebound after recent declines. The Indian rupee's stability against the dollar boosted investor sentiment, bringing the Sensex close to its all-time high. Despite foreign funds being net sellers, the market experienced a significant surge, adding substantial wealth to investors.

Global investors are pouring capital into India's burgeoning clean energy sector. Danish firm AP Moller Capital is making its debut private equity investment, backing a new 900 MW renewable platform. Meanwhile, steel giant ArcelorMittal is investing $900 million to add 1 GW of solar, wind, and battery storage, powering its steel operations with greener energy.

Indian-origin finance chiefs are increasingly leading global giants like Unilever, Tesla, and Mastercard. A study reveals over a dozen multinational corporations have appointed Indian descent CFOs, many educated in India. This trend highlights the evolving role of CFOs as strategists, adept at navigating complex markets and demonstrating resilience, a skill honed by the Indian education system and professional experiences.

India and New Zealand have signed a Free Trade Agreement set to boost mobility for Indian students and professionals, while enhancing export opportunities. The deal removes student caps, extends post-study work visas, and introduces a temporary employment visa for 5,000 Indian professionals. It also offers tariff reductions on agricultural products and opens up 118 service sectors for India.

India and New Zealand have inked a free-trade agreement, aiming for deeper cooperation rather than immediate trade surges, with bilateral flows at $2.1 billion. The pact opens 70% of India's tariff lines, while New Zealand offers 100% access. Sensitive sectors like dairy remain protected, but provisions for skilled professionals and investment are included.

Indian equities are poised for a potential year-end rally, with historical data strongly favoring small-cap stocks. These smaller companies have consistently outperformed during the Santa Claus period, delivering impressive average returns. Technical indicators and market breadth now suggest a rebound for smallcaps, offering an encouraging outlook for investors seeking opportunities.

India and New Zealand have finalized a Free Trade Agreement, promising duty-free entry for Indian goods and $20 billion in New Zealand investments over 15 years. The pact aims to double bilateral trade within five years, though New Zealand's foreign minister expressed opposition, deeming it 'neither free nor fair'.

US stock markets opened higher on Monday, with major indices showing modest gains amid light trading. Strength in commodities, including record highs for gold and silver, supported market sentiment. Investors are now awaiting key economic data releases later in the week, including GDP and consumer confidence.

New Zealand firms can process dairy inputs in India for re-export under a new free trade agreement, with India's domestic market fully protected. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed the arrangement allows processing of raw materials for 100% export via a fast-track mechanism, ensuring no impact on Indian producers.

Railway-linked stocks surged on December 22, driven by stock-specific news and rising pre-Budget expectations. Jupiter Wagons, IRCTC, RailTel, and RVNL saw significant gains, with some climbing as much as 15%. This rally precedes the Union Budget, a period often marked by heightened focus on capital expenditure themes.

India is set for a significant overhaul of its key economic data. New series for retail inflation, national accounts, and industrial production, with updated base years, will be released starting February 2026.

India's core infrastructure sectors saw a welcome 1.8% expansion in November 2025, a significant turnaround from the previous month. Cement and steel led the charge with robust growth, alongside fertilizers and coal. However, energy segments like crude oil, natural gas, and electricity continued to face headwinds, recording contractions.

The Income Tax department is directly contacting multinational companies to alert their Indian employees about undisclosed foreign assets and income before the year-end compliance deadline. Companies are urged to ensure staff disclose overseas assets and income to avoid penalties and prosecution under the Black Money law.

Understanding mutual fund tax treatment is crucial for optimizing returns. Tax liability arises only upon selling, switching, or redeeming units, with the impact depending on the fund type and holding period.

Foxconn's new iPhone plant near Bengaluru is India's fastest-growing factory, hiring 30,000 workers in under a year. This expansion, with a predominantly young female workforce, highlights Apple's strategy to diversify supply chains beyond China. The facility, set to become India's largest, is already exporting over 80% of its output.

Gold prices surged to record highs on Monday, driven by a weaker US dollar and anticipation of US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Both domestic and international markets saw significant gains, with MCX gold futures hitting Rs 1,35,824 per 10 grams and Comex gold reaching USD 4,429.3 per ounce.