The Times of India News

US existing home sales saw a slight monthly increase in November, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million units. Despite this, the national median sales price continued its upward trend, rising 1.2% year-on-year to $409,200.

Wall Street opened higher, boosted by AI-linked stocks and a positive outlook following the Bank of Japan's anticipated interest rate hike. Major indices saw gains, with Nvidia leading the tech sector. Winnebago Industries surged on strong earnings, while Nike experienced a significant drop due to tariff concerns.

The Asian Development Bank committed $4.258 billion in sovereign lending to India for 2025, supporting key sectors like workforce skilling, renewable energy, and urban infrastructure. Major initiatives include financing for PM-SETU skilling program and the PM Surya Ghar rooftop solar scheme, alongside investments in urban transport and healthcare.

India's foreign exchange reserves surged by $1.689 billion to $688.949 billion in the week ending December 12. Special Drawing Rights and India's reserve position with the IMF also saw modest gains.

China has initiated a WTO dispute against India, challenging New Delhi's tariffs on ICT products and solar sector subsidies. Beijing claims these measures violate WTO rules, grant unfair advantages to Indian industries, and harm Chinese interests.

India and Oman are set to activate their new economic partnership within three months, a swift rollout compared to past agreements. This pact grants India duty-free access to over 98% of Oman's tariff lines, benefiting key sectors like gems, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.

India's $5 trillion economy target has been pushed to 2028-29, primarily due to currency depreciation and lower-than-expected nominal GDP growth. While the real economy continues to grow, this delay impacts imported goods, foreign education costs, and potentially government finances, urging a focus on long-term financial planning over political timelines.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has initiated a probe into IndiGo's operations following widespread flight cancellations. CCI chairperson Ravneet Kaur clarified that the investigation is based on initial information received and is currently focused solely on IndiGo, not the entire aviation sector. The CCI is yet to decide if the matter falls under abuse of dominant position.

Piramal Finance is divesting its 14.72% stake in Shriram Life Insurance Company to South Africa's Sanlam Group for Rs 600 crore. The proceeds is expected to bolster Piramal Finance's balance sheet, as Shriram Life's contribution to its revenue was minimal.

Shriram Finance Limited (SFL) has entered into a definitive agreement with MUFG Bank Ltd., Japan's largest bank and a part of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), for an investment of Rs 39,618 crore, the company informed stock exchanges in a regulatory filing on Friday.

Gold prices opened lower on the MCX at Rs 1,34,027 per 10 grams, a 0.37% dip, but remain above the crucial Rs 1.34 lakh mark. Spot gold and US gold futures also saw declines, while silver prices retreated from a record high.

India's Lok Sabha has passed the SHANTI Bill, ushering in a significant overhaul of its civil nuclear framework. The legislation opens parts of the sector to private participation for the first time, aiming to boost nuclear power capacity and modernize regulations. It also introduces a new safety and liability framework.

Adani Group plans a massive Rs 1 lakh crore investment in its airports business over five years, driven by strong growth projections for India's aviation sector. The company is set to launch commercial operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport, a significant expansion that will ease pressure on existing facilities and bolster the group's position as India's largest airport operator.

When income feels just enough, saving isn't about a fixed percentage but a conscious decision to prioritize it. Track expenses to identify leaks, and start with even a small, consistent amount. The key is to make savings non-negotiable and ensure it grows with every income increase, fostering a habit of consistent financial growth.

India's exports to China saw a significant 90% surge in November, reaching $2.2 billion, primarily driven by naphtha and specific electronics. However, this spike masks underlying volatility and a growing import dependence on China. The trade deficit with China is widening, raising concerns about India's export strategy and reliance on Chinese goods.

US President Donald Trump has suspended the diversity green card lottery program following deadly shootings at Brown University and MIT. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the pause, stating the suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, entered the US through this program. Valente, a Portuguese national, is suspected of multiple killings before dying by suicide.

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are experiencing selling pressure, with an intraday bias leaning downwards. Analysts recommend a sell-on-rise strategy, targeting resistance near 1,34,000. Technical indicators suggest weak momentum and potential for further downside extension, with key support levels identified at 1,33,000 and 1,32,500.

RRP Semiconductor Ltd. has experienced an astonishing 55,000% stock surge in 20 months, becoming a social media sensation and a cautionary tale for AI investors. Despite negative revenue and minimal operations, online hype and a small free float fueled its rise, now drawing regulatory scrutiny. The company has denied direct involvement in semiconductor manufacturing or celebrity endorsements.

Credit cards continued to dominate high-value consumer spending in the country, while UPI further strengthened its position as the preferred mode for everyday payments, according to a report by Worldline.

Asian markets rallied Friday, buoyed by easing US inflation data and strong chipmaker Micron earnings, sparking hopes of interest rate cuts. Despite some analysts cautioning about data distortions, Wall Street reacted positively. Japan's Nikkei surged as the Bank of Japan is expected to hike rates, potentially strengthening the yen against a weakening dollar.

ICICI Prudential AMC debuted on the stock market with a premium, trading on both BSE and NSE. The IPO saw strong investor demand, particularly from Qualified Institutional Buyers. Brokerages maintain a positive long-term outlook, citing the company's strong financial performance, diversified assets, and India's growing financialization trend. Experts suggest it's a good long-term investment opportunity.

The Indian rupee experienced an upward trend against the US dollar on Friday, following a period of significant depreciation. This recovery is largely attributed to the Reserve Bank of India's strategic dollar sales, aimed at curbing one-way currency weakness.

The Bank of Japan hiked interest rates to a 30-year high of 0.75 percent on Friday, the first increase since January, as it said the economy had shown signs of improvement. However, with worries about the global outlook and US tariffs growing, it paused at the start of 2025, with the last increase in January taking rates to their highest level in 17 years.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, opened in green on Friday on positive global cues. While Nifty50 went above 25,900, BSE Sensex was up around 350 points.

The US government is initiating a formal licensing process that could allow Nvidia to ship its H200 AI chips to China, following President Trump's commitment to permit such sales. This move aims to retain US companies' edge over Chinese chipmakers, though concerns about national security and Beijing's military capabilities persist.

TikTok has agreed to a joint venture with major investors, including Oracle, to establish a new US-based entity. This move aims to comply with a US law mandating the sale of its American operations or a shutdown, with American and global investors holding over 80% of the new venture.

Stock market recommendations: Bajaj Broking Research highlights Max Healthcare and Sagility as top stock picks for December 19, 2025. Max Healthcare is recommended for its expansion and cash flow growth, targeting 1218. Sagility presents a fresh entry opportunity, aiming for 56, driven by its uptrend and positive structure.

Japan's inflation rate held steady in November, official data showed Friday ahead of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy decision which could see central bankers raise interest rates to their highest level in 30 years. Since taking office, however, she has said monetary policy decisions should be left to the Bank of Japan (BoJ).

Bharti Airtel's board approved Shashwat Sharma as MD & CEO from January 1, with Gopal Vittal moving to executive vice chairman. The company will also utilize remaining rights issue proceeds to reduce debt, aiming for effectively net debt-free India operations soon, excluding DoT liabilities and lease obligations.

Seeks To Decriminalise Many Violations, Eliminate Officials' Conflict Of Interest

India and Oman have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), set to boost bilateral trade and strengthen economic ties. This pact will grant Indian exporters duty-free access to 98% of their goods in Oman, while India will remove tariffs on 77% of Omani imports, excluding sensitive sectors.

India's space sector has secured a record $150 million in funding this financial year, with projections to surpass $200 million. This was driven by policy reforms and commercial prospects, highlights growing investor confidence.

US inflation cooled more than expected in November. Most Americans still feel no relief from high prices for essentials, with energy costs rising.

A major staffing shortage is plaguing the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs audit teams. While audit completion rates have improved, a gap persists. The Comptroller and Auditor General recommends increasing manpower to ensure effective taxpayer compliance under the GST Act.

India and Oman have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), their sixth free trade pact in five years. While Oman offers zero-duty access on nearly all Indian exports, the agreement's primary significance lies in consolidating market access and investment presence rather than dramatically increasing trade volumes, according to GTRI.

Budget 2026 presents an opportunity to rectify the flawed tax design on share buybacks. The Finance Act, 2024 shifted the tax burden to shareholders, taxing buyback proceeds as deemed dividend and the cost as capital loss. This new regime has triggered concerns over taxing notional income and creating economic distortions.

US President Trump's blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers is unlikely to significantly impact global crude prices, according to Kpler. The market's two-tiered nature and ample supply from other sources, including Iran and Russia, mean disruptions will primarily affect a small group of buyers, particularly in China and Cuba.