The Times of India

India's banks are seeing their deposit base struggle to keep up with surging commercial credit demand. While bank credit still dominates, its share in funding is shrinking as non-bank sources like NBFCs and bond markets gain prominence. This indicates a significant shift in how businesses are financed, with banks facing increasing pressure.

US regulators are seeking court permission to email summons directly to Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and an executive, after India twice refused to serve them. The SEC alleges fraud and a bribery scheme. Adani Group denies the claims, vowing to fight them. India cited procedural issues and questioned the SEC's authority for the rejections.

IndiGo's net profit plummeted 78% to Rs 549 crore in the December quarter, impacted by Rs 577 crore in operational disruptions and Rs 1,000 crore from labour code provisions. Despite flight cuts and fare caps, total income rose 6.7% to Rs 24,541 crore, with the airline carrying 12.4 crore passengers in 2025.

US private equity firm General Atlantic is acquiring a minority stake in Indian snack food maker Balaji Wafers for over Rs 2,000 crore. This investment values the Rajkot-based company at approximately Rs 35,000 crore. The deal aims to support Balaji Wafers' expansion, innovation, and professional team development as it targets an IPO in five years.

Fintech giant PhonePe is preparing for its stock market debut, aiming to raise Rs 12,000 crore. Major investors Tiger Global and Microsoft are fully exiting their stakes as Walmart, the majority owner, reduces its shareholding. This move marks the first Indian venture from Walmart to go public, following a confidential IPO filing last September.

India's exports to the EU will continue to enjoy preferential tariffs on a specific list of products until December 2028, following a renotification by the European Union. While some benefits have been reduced, this extension offers continued support. Furthermore, a potential India-EU Free Trade Agreement, expected soon, is poised to boost several labor-intensive sectors.

Indian missions are being instructed by the PMO and commerce department to prioritize trade engagement with all countries, regardless of current export size. This strategic shift aims to diversify India's export basket and import sources, with embassies tasked with identifying and pursuing opportunities in markets of all scales to build future growth.

US inflation stayed high in November, exceeding the Federal Reserve's target. This suggests policymakers will likely hold interest rates steady. Consumer spending showed strength, but economists warn of weakening fundamentals. The Fed is assessing earlier rate cuts and new trade pressures. Core inflation also remained elevated, indicating slow progress on price stability.

Eternal founder Deepinder Goyal has returned over Rs 1,000 crore in unvested ESOPs, expanding the company's pool by 16% to aid talent retention. This move coincides with Goyal stepping down as Group CEO to become Vice Chairman, with Blinkit's Albinder Dhindsa taking over as Group CEO. Goyal will focus on long-term strategy and governance, while Dhindsa leads daily operations.

US equities climbed on Thursday, recovering losses as President Trump eased tariff threats linked to Greenland. Major indices saw gains, extending a relief rally sparked by his softer tone at the World Economic Forum. Despite the rebound, indices remain lower for the week following earlier tariff concerns.

The US economy experienced its fastest growth in two years during the July-September quarter, fueled by strong consumer spending and a surge in exports. Despite this robust GDP expansion, job creation remained subdued, and persistent concerns over the high cost of living continue to impact public confidence.

What can Union Budget 2026 do to help India deal with the negative impact of Trumps tariff policies? Times of India Online asked economists and experts and heres what they had to say:

India's exports to the EU face significantly higher import tariffs from January 1, 2026, as the EU suspends GSP benefits for 87% of Indian goods. This withdrawal ends preferential access, impacting price-sensitive sectors like garments and coinciding with the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, creating a double pressure on exporters.

NRIs in the UAE cannot legally pay property deposits for friends in India due to Indian foreign exchange laws. Attempting to do so risks serious violations of FEMA, leading to investigations by the Enforcement Directorate and hefty penalties. Buyers must use authorised channels like the RBI's LRS or local UAE financing for compliant transactions.

Education leaders are urging Budget 2026 to boost skilling, digital infrastructure, and higher education financing. They emphasize outcome-focused spending, particularly in rural areas, to solidify India's global education hub ambitions. Key calls include incentivizing 'Last-Mile Skilling,' improving classroom impact through digital tools, and implementing student-centric financing models for higher education.

Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a business imperative for Indian enterprises, moving beyond ethical intent to a strategic priority linked with trust, governance, and long-term value creation, according to Nasscom's State of Responsible AI in India 2025 report.

Former IMF deputy managing director Gita Gopinath highlighted pollution as a greater threat to India's economic growth than trade tariffs. She emphasized its significant human and economic costs, citing millions of deaths annually and a substantial impact on GDP. Gopinath urged for 'war footing' action to address pollution, stressing its importance for investor confidence and national development.

Indian silver ETFs experienced a significant sell-off, dropping up to 20% as investors exited amid precious metal volatility. This correction erased previous premiums, with funds trading below net asset values. The sharp decline in ETFs contrasted with more modest price drops in global and domestic silver markets.

Trump sanctions impact: Indian refiners are diversifying crude imports to offset reduced Russian supplies hit by US sanctions, stepping up purchases from Saudi Arabia and sourcing cargoes from Guyana after a two-year gap.

Indian equity benchmarks opened higher on Thursday, tracking positive global cues after US President Donald Trump rolled back tariff threats against European nations. Optimism around a potential India-US trade deal also supported early gains, with broader markets and several sectors showing strong performance.

Housing policy has traditionally focused on economically weaker sections and lower-income groupsand rightly so. However, the middle-income segment increasingly finds itself without support, despite facing intense affordability stress in urban markets.

Asian markets surged Thursday, mirroring a US rally after President Trump rescinded threats of tariffs on European nations regarding Greenland. Tech stocks, particularly in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, led the gains, fueled by optimism surrounding massive AI infrastructure investments. Gold and silver prices, however, continued their decline.

Financial author Robert Kiyosaki declared silver superior to gold in the Technology Age, calling it an economic structural metal. He highlighted its price surge and predicted it would hit $200 an ounce in 2026. This comes as silver and gold reach record highs globally due to safe-haven demand, supply tightness, and geopolitical risks.

President Trump announced the US expects to receive around $600 billion in tariff revenue this year, with more anticipated next year. He linked this to increased investments, citing Apple's $650 billion commitment and Toyota's plans, attributing the surge to election clarity and his administration's protective tariff policy.

Gold and silver price prediction today: Abhilash Koikkara of Nuvama Professional Clients Group is of the view that gold and silver prices may continue to trend upwards, with the possibility of gold touching Rs 1.75 lakh per 10 grams in the coming sessions.

The rupee recovered 15 paise on Thursday, opening at 91.50 against the US dollar, rebounding from its all-time low of 91.58 hit the previous day. This modest recovery followed a sharp fall amid heightened global uncertainty, strong dollar demand, and persistent foreign portfolio outflows.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmarks, rallied strongly in opening trade on Thursday as Donald Trumps remarks on Greenland and withdrawal of tariff threat on EU eased investors fears. While Nifty50 went above 25,300, BSE Sensex was up over 560 points.

US natural gas prices have skyrocketed, driven by unexpected cold snaps boosting heating demand. With already low storage and robust exports, supply is tight. This surge is forcing power plants to reconsider fuel choices, while AI data centers add to electricity demand, creating significant inflation risks in the energy sector.

Budget 2026 income tax expectations: As the government prepares for the landmark shift to the new Income-tax Act in April 2026, the Union Budget presents an opportunity to address a few longstanding demands of individual taxpayers.

Top stock market recommendations: Aakash K Hindocha of Nuvama Professional Clients Group recommends buying Swiggy, Godrej Consumer Products, while GAIL is a sell call.

Outward remittances by resident Indians under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme saw a significant drop in November 2025, reaching a two-year low. This decline was attributed to a decrease in education-related travel and seasonal factors. Total outflows fell by approximately 18% from October, with travel expenses easing considerably.

Gold and silver prices are surging to all-time highs, driven by geopolitical uncertainties, trade disruptions, and a global supply-demand imbalance for silver. The weakening rupee further fuels these gains in the domestic market, with gold exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh/10gm and silver surpassing Rs 3.2 lakh/kg.

India's Tax Collected at Source (TCS) has evolved from an anti-evasion measure to a real-time monitoring tool, now impacting everyday taxpayers. Recent changes aim to ease cash flow for salaried individuals by allowing TCS adjustment against monthly deductions, while others await refunds or adjust against advance tax.

Beauty giant L'Oreal is establishing its inaugural AI-powered global beauty tech innovation hub in Hyderabad, investing 350 million euros by 2030. This first-of-its-kind facility will focus on next-generation AI beauty innovations, creating approximately 2,000 advanced tech jobs and integrating with L'Oreal's global tech network.

The Union cabinet has approved Rs 5,000 crore in equity support for Sidbi to boost credit flow to small businesses. This infusion, spread over three years, aims to enable Sidbi to offer competitive loans to MSMEs. The initiative is projected to create 1.1 crore jobs and add 25.7 lakh new MSME beneficiaries by 2027-28.

India's top auditor has urged strengthening local government audit bodies to boost transparency and quality at the grassroots. A national workshop highlighted challenges and best practices, focusing on improving audit frameworks, technology adoption, and capacity building for local fund audit directors. The aim is to ensure better oversight and public fund utilization.

The European Union is considering using its powerful 'trade bazooka' against the US following President Trump's remarks on Greenland. This economic tool, the Anti-Coercion Instrument, allows for retaliation against undue economic pressure. While a significant deterrent, its activation is slow, and EU members are wary of sparking a transatlantic trade war given the massive $2 trillion trade volume.