The Times of India

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.

Plan your banking ahead! Indian banks will be closed for a four-day holiday from January 23rd to 26th. This includes state-specific holidays like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birthday and Saraswati Puja, the fourth Saturday, Sunday, and Republic Day. While branches are shut, digital services like online banking and ATMs remain accessible for your financial needs.

The Indian Rupee strengthened today against the US Dollar. This rise follows a softening of tariff threats between the US and Europe. Traders noted improved investor sentiment. However, the Rupee still faces pressure from foreign fund outflows. Experts suggest a period of consolidation and possible recovery. The 92.00 level is a key resistance point.

Donald Trump celebrated a new deal for TikTok's US operations, now a majority American-owned joint venture, crediting himself for saving the platform. The agreement, which sees ByteDance retain a minority stake, aims to address national security concerns and avoid a ban for its 200 million American users.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmarks, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, opened flat in trade on Friday. While Nifty50 was near 25,250, BSE Sensex was down 50 points. At 9:17 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 25,263.15, down 27 points or 0.11%.

An estimated 60 percent of gold lending remains unregulated. Formal gold loans, by contrast, operate under clear regulatory guidelines and supervision.

Asian markets rose Friday, buoyed by strong US economic data and easing geopolitical tensions. Dollar weakness boosted safe-haven assets like gold and silver, while emerging markets saw significant inflows. Investor confidence returned to riskier assets amid positive US economic indicators and diplomatic progress between the US and Europe.

Stock market recommendations: Bajaj Broking Research recommends Gokaldas Exports, and Hindustan Unilever as stock picks for today. Heres its view on Nifty and Bank Nifty:

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.