The Times of India

Analysts are of the view that the stock market is likely to move within a narrow range amid mixed global signals, with stock-specific trends expected to dominate trading.

Stock market recommendations: Bajaj Broking Research recommends Colgate-Palmolive (India), and Varun Beverages as the top stocks to buy on February 27, 2026. The brokerage shares a detailed outlook on Nifty and Bank Nifty:

Smartphones, led by Apple's iPhone, became India's top export in 2025, surpassing automotive diesel fuel with $30.1 billion in shipments. This surge, driven by policy support and local manufacturing scale-up, saw iPhones account for nearly three-quarters of total smartphone exports. The US remained India's largest export market.

Indian auto component firms are boosting investments and acquisitions. Free trade agreements are opening new export markets, particularly for US and European destinations. Companies like Tenneco India and Valeo are expanding their presence. This positions India as a competitive manufacturing and export hub for global automakers seeking diversified supply chains.

Eleven Indian Americans have been celebrated on Forbes' America's Greatest Innovators list, highlighting their transformative contributions across technology, biotech and infrastructure. These leaders, from AI pioneers to gene therapy developers, underscore the vital role of immigrant talent in shaping America's technological and economic future, inspiring a new generation of innovators.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurates Micron Technology's Rs 22,516 crore semiconductor assembly and testing plant in Gujarat. This facility, the nation's first large-scale fabrication-linked unit, will produce SSDs, DRAM, and NAND products, crucial for AI-driven technologies. The plant aims to create 5,000 direct and 15,000 indirect jobs, bolstering India's semiconductor ambitions.

Central to the disputes is Indias production-linked incentive programme, launched by the Modi government in 2020 with the aim of strengthening domestic manufacturing.

Central to the disputes is Indias production-linked incentive programme, launched by the Modi government in 2020 with the aim of strengthening domestic manufacturing.

India and Israel are set to resume free trade agreement talks in May 2026 in Israel, following initial discussions in New Delhi. The negotiations cover a broad spectrum of trade and investment areas, aiming to unlock significant untapped potential. Despite recent trade dips, both nations are pushing for an ambitious pact to boost economic ties.

Sebi has revamped how mutual funds value physical gold and silver, shifting to domestic spot prices from April 2026, replacing the LBMA benchmark. This move aims for greater transparency and alignment with Indian market conditions. Additionally, Sebi introduced a new scheme classification structure and tightened portfolio overlap disclosures to enhance investor protection and uniformity across the mutual fund industry.

Gold's long-term outlook is bullish, with prices potentially reaching $5,000 per ounce by early 2026, according to MOFSL. Global de-dollarisation, fiscal stress, and geopolitical tensions are driving this 'structural repricing phase'. Analysts predict $6,000 in 12 months and $7,500 medium-term, citing investor confidence shifts and supply constraints.

Gold prices dipped in India's futures market on Thursday, influenced by a slump in spot demand and weak global cues, despite a rise in New York futures. Major Indian cities saw a decline in 24K, 22K, and 18K gold rates compared to the previous day, with Chennai experiencing a slight unchanged rate for 18K gold.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revised refund norms, allowing passengers to cancel or modify tickets without extra charges within 48 hours of booking. Airlines are also barred from levying charges for name corrections within 24 hours of booking directly through their website. These changes aim to streamline the refund process and enhance passenger convenience.

At the heart of this transition is a unified definition of wages under the labour codes - a seemingly simple reform that brings consistency and transparency to pay structures that have evolved over decades.

In a notification issued on February 17, the oil ministry has said that oil marketing companies must supply ethanol-mixed motor spirit (petrol) containing ethanol up to 20%, in accordance with specifications set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Carneys visit is expected to have two major outcomes: the most significant of which could be the formal revival of negotiations for an IndiaCanada Free Trade Agreement.

Gold and silver price prediction: Gold prices are exhibiting a bullish bias, while silver prices face resistance, says Abhilash Koikkara, Head - Forex & Commodities, Nuvama Professional Clients Group.

Stock market today: The 30-share index began the day on a positive note and extended gains by about 303 points to touch an intraday high of 82,579.16 in late morning trade, supported by strength in other Asian markets. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty 50 recorded a modest rise of 14.05 points, or 0.06 per cent, to close at 25,496.55.

Greer said the Trump administration does not plan to raise tariffs on Chinese imports beyond their current levels, as President Donald Trump is expected to visit China in the coming weeks.

Top stock market recommendations: Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, Colgate-Palmolive (India), and JSW Steel are the top stock picks that Aakash K Hindocha, Deputy Vice President - WM Research of Nuvama Professional Clients Group has listed. He also shares his outlook for Nifty, and Bank Nifty for February 26, 2026:

Scheduled commercial banks have regained market share in commercial sector financing in FY26, expanding non-food credit faster than the overall resource pool. This reverses a contraction seen in FY25, driven by a surge in equity issuances and non-bank funding. Bank credit grew 55.3% in the first 10 months of FY26, lifting their share of total funding to 63.2%.

Indian startups have seen over 4,500 job cuts since July last year, driven by a ban on online real-money gaming and a shift towards profitability. Investors now favor lean teams, with AI-first companies leading this trend. Companies are strategically hiring, focusing on essential roles and cost optimization, especially as some eye IPOs.