The Times of India

The National Stock Exchange has launched an investor awareness pavilion at the International Kolkata Book Fair, aiming to boost financial literacy. This initiative features interactive tools and workshops to educate the public about securities markets.

EU Vice-President Kaja Kallas arrived in New Delhi for her first official visit, aiming to strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership. The visit precedes the 16th India-EU Summit and coincides with advanced negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, highlighting deepening cooperation in security, defense, and trade.

India's capital markets regulator, Sebi, has greenlit IPO plans for twelve companies, including Infra.Market's parent, Hella Infra Market, and luxury fashion platform Pernia's Pop-Up Shop. These firms, which filed draft papers between June and October, received Sebi's nod between January 19-23, paving the way for their public offerings.

India's precious metal refiners are urging the government to address duty disparities that disadvantage local operations compared to imported refined bullion. MMTC-PAMP highlights a mismatch in import duties, particularly through the SEPA route, impacting domestic refiners' competitiveness. The industry seeks policy support, including input-related benefits and wider duty differentials, to bolster India's refining capacity and global standing.

India's first final assembly line for commercial fixed-wing aircraft is being considered for Gujarat's Dholera or Andhra's Bhogapuram. Adani Group's joint venture with Embraer is being courted by both states, with a formal announcement expected soon. This facility, similar to the Airbus-Tata venture, could be operational in 4-5 years.

Mphasis CEO Nitin Rakesh assured investors that Blackstone's stake sale is a standard part of its investment cycle, not a reflection of poor performance. Blackstone, holding over 60% since 2016, plans to sell up to 1.8 crore shares via open market transactions, subject to market conditions. This move signals a natural exit strategy for the private equity firm.

Ashok Leyland's MD highlights the urgent need for a robust vehicle scrappage policy to modernize India's truck fleet. This initiative is crucial for reducing pollution and logistics expenses, as the average age of trucks has significantly increased, impacting operational efficiency and costs.

Textile Minister Giriraj Singh anticipates a trade deal with the EU within four days, highlighting stable garment export growth despite global economic challenges. He attributed this resilience to market diversification, with exports reaching Rs 1,01,000 crore in April-December 2025. Singh also refuted claims by Rahul Gandhi regarding US tariffs crippling the sector.

Indian apparel exporters face US tariff challenges, with some like Shishir Kapoor unaffected due to their premium clientele. Others, however, are pivoting to Europe and the UK, seeking new trade agreements and diversifying markets. Despite geopolitical hurdles, companies are adapting by focusing on new product lines and exploring emerging markets like Russia and Australia.

The Centre has approved a Rs 11,640-crore payout for employees of public sector general insurers, RBI, and Nabard, covering wage and pension resets. State-owned general insurers will receive the largest share of Rs 8,170 crore. This comes as three PSU insurers face solvency concerns, potentially leading to budgetary capital infusion and speculation about consolidation or stake sales.

Mumbai-based payments infrastructure startup Juspay has achieved unicorn status, securing $50 million from WestBridge Capital at a $1.2 billion valuation. This funding round, including a secondary component for early investors and employees, marks the company's significant growth. Juspay, powering global merchants and banks, processes over 300 million daily transactions, underscoring its robust business model and market traction.

Market watchdog Sebi is probing alleged insider trading in Yes Bank shares during a $1.1 billion deal in July 2022. Notices have been issued to executives from PwC, EY, Carlyle Group, and Advent International, along with their relatives and a former Yes Bank board member. Investigations reveal potential misuse of unpublished price-sensitive information for illegal gains.

The rupee hit a new low against the dollar, prompting the RBI to intervene by selling dollars. Simultaneously, the central bank injected liquidity into the banking system and conducted a dollar-rupee swap, which boosted forex reserves to over $700 billion. These actions demonstrate a delicate balancing act by policymakers.

Dalal Street witnessed a significant downturn on Friday as the Sensex plunged 770 points and the Nifty slid 241 points. Investor sentiment was dampened by a weakening rupee and substantial foreign fund selling, driven by geopolitical concerns. This selling pressure resulted in a loss of Rs 6.9 lakh crore for investors.

Silver reached an unprecedented $100 per ounce for the first time, while gold neared $5,000 per ounce. This surge is driven by geopolitical uncertainties, a declining dollar, and strong industrial demand for silver, particularly from EV, semiconductor, and solar sectors. Analysts also cite a historic short squeeze in silver and China's export controls as contributing factors.

Qantas has launched a special 'New Year, New Zealand' sale for Indian travellers, offering economy return flights from Bengaluru to popular New Zealand cities like Auckland and Queenstown. Bookings are open until January 31, 2026, for travel between March and November 2026, with fares starting around Rs 65,300.

Silver prices soared to an unprecedented all-time high of $100 an ounce on Friday, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amidst US policy uncertainty. The precious metal's surge is also attributed to its industrial applications and tight supply, with gold also trading near record levels.

It needs to be seen if SEBI, having generally recognised that family trust transfers made purely for succession purposes do not undermine investor protection, codifies the position by including in-laws

US stocks edged lower on Friday, concluding a turbulent week marked by tariff threats and reversals. Investors adopted a cautious stance amid limited clarity on trade and geopolitical signals. Markets were on track to end a second straight week with modest losses after sharp swings earlier in the week.

The Indian rupee hit an all-time low of 92 against the US dollar on Friday, pressured by foreign fund selling, weak domestic equities, and global risk aversion. It recovered slightly to close at 91.88, reflecting persistent FII outflows and global uncertainties. Rising crude oil prices and US treasury yields also contributed to the decline.

Stock market crash: Sensex and Nifty have fallen nearly 1% on Friday amid broad-based selling, a record-low rupee and persistent foreign outflows, dragging market sentiment despite supportive global cues.

Indian Oil Corporation is buying more crude oil from countries like Brazil. This move reduces dependence on Russian oil. Refiners are sourcing from the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. This diversification strategy expands supplier options. India aims to secure diverse oil supplies for its needs.

In the backdrop of Donald Trump's tariff threats, uncertainty over India-US trade deal and rising geopolitical tensions, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamans Union Budget 2026 assumes significance. What are the risks to Indias robust and resilient growth story, and what can Budget 2026 do to mitigate them? We ask economists:

RBI is not among the largest holders of US government debt, with its exposure at about a quarter of Chinas nearly $683 billion holdings. Even so, Indias selling has added fresh momentum to discussions about the place of US sovereign bonds in global investment portfolios.

Gold and silver futures reached record highs on Friday, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets. A weaker US dollar and anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts further fueled the rally. Geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty also contributed to the surge in bullion prices.

The Union Budget 2026 may maintain the fiscal deficit at 4.4% of GDP in FY27, according to Nuvama, as the economy shows fragile momentum. The government might focus on deregulation and disinvestments to support growth, rather than fiscal expansion, with a continued emphasis on sectors like semiconductors and AI.

Indian travelers face a more stringent visa process for China, with new online pre-approval stages and increased scrutiny of financial documents leading to longer processing times and higher rejection rates. Despite these hurdles, interest in diverse Chinese destinations beyond traditional tourist hubs is growing, fueled by improved flight connectivity.

The World Economic Forum is establishing five new Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including one in Andhra Pradesh, India. These centers will foster collaboration between governments, industry, and experts to develop policy frameworks and pilot projects for emerging technologies.

Industry leaders in pharma and MedTech are urging the government to establish a structured funding framework for R&D ahead of the Union Budget 2026. They emphasize the need for policy changes to reduce cost disadvantages, nurture local innovation, and promote preventive healthcare to achieve India's Viksit Bharat vision.

India was highlighted as a reliable long-term growth anchor at the World Economic Forum, with discussions focusing on geopolitical uncertainty and economic priorities. Leaders and investors recognized India's macroeconomic stability, large market, and reform momentum as key strengths.

Paytm shares tumbled nearly 10% amid speculation about the future of the Payment Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) scheme, which reportedly contributes significantly to its operating profit. The company clarified its recognition of PIDF incentives and its strategy to offset potential impacts. Meanwhile, Investec initiated coverage with a 'Buy' rating, citing strong fundamentals.

Amway India is urging the government to formally recognize food and dietary supplements as integral to wellness ahead of the Union Budget 2026. The company calls for rationalized customs duties on imported supplements and ingredients, advocating for tax relief for small direct sellers and increased support for clinical research to bolster India's health and wellness ecosystem.

NATHEALTH urges the government to increase public healthcare spending to over 2.5% of GDP in the Union Budget 2026, emphasizing the need to address the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. The industry body also proposed a Rs 50,000 crore healthcare infrastructure fund and tax deductions for preventive health check-ups to strengthen the sector and foster innovation.

Adani Group stocks tumbled today as the US SEC sought court approval to email summons to Gautam and Sagar Adani. This follows an alleged bribery scheme involving Indian officials for power purchase agreements. The Adani Group had denied the allegations.

Micron Technology's $2.75 billion semiconductor facility in Sanand, Gujarat, is set to begin commercial production by the end of February, with pilot production already underway. India is increasingly seen as a hub for advanced chip design and manufacturing, including complex two-nanometre nodes, supported by strategic global partnerships.

Gold price prediction today: Golds intraday construct is positive and investors can look to buy on dips, says Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.