The Times of India

India's market regulator Sebi is transitioning to a Closing Auction Session (CAS) for stock price discovery, replacing the current volume-weighted average price method. This phased rollout, starting August 2026, aims to enhance transparency and fairness, aligning with global practices and improving derivative settlements and fund tracking.

Rating agency ICRA anticipates the government will target a fiscal deficit of 4.3% of GDP for FY2027, maintaining robust capital expenditure growth. Despite potential revenue shortfalls this fiscal, the focus is shifting to medium-term debt consolidation. Expect a significant rise in market borrowings next fiscal year.

Starting October 2026, all new intra-city public buses manufactured nationwide will be low-floor, featuring a ground clearance of 440 meters. This mandate, aimed at enhancing passenger accessibility, requires buses 9 meters and above to have a floor height of 400 mm, aligning with AIS-216 standards for improved safety and ease of boarding.

Beyond numbers and allocations, this years budget will be read as a signal of intent. For global investors, it will indicate how firmly India is committed to strengthening its role in global manufacturing and infrastructure-led growth.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra welcomed the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's decision to revise base years for CPI, GDP, and IIP. This move will better reflect changing consumption patterns and economic structures, enabling more calibrated policymaking. The updated indicators are crucial for monetary policy and assessing economic momentum.

India is poised to lead South Asia as the world's fastest-growing region, even as global economists anticipate a slowdown in 2026. Despite trade headwinds, India's resilient fundamentals and AI adoption are driving optimism, with South Asia emerging as a bright spot for growth.

US stocks edged higher, nearing record levels as the first week of quarterly earnings season concluded. Selective bank results, including a jump in PNC Financial Services, and a rebound in oil prices supported market sentiment. Investors now anticipate technology and AI-linked company earnings for further direction.

Maharashtra's civic elections saw a significant political shift as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a dominant victory, particularly in Mumbai's BMC. Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP celebrated substantial gains, ending Shiv Sena's long-held control. Uddhav Thackeray's Sena and the Congress faced major setbacks, while Raj Thackeray's MNS and Sharad Pawar's NCP also saw diminished influence.

Reliance Industries reported stable earnings for the December quarter, with a marginal profit increase to Rs 18,645 crore on 11% revenue growth to Rs 2.69 lakh crore. Strong performance in Jio and O2C segments drove EBITDA up 6%.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BJP workers and thanked Maharashtra's people for the NDA and Mahayuti's sweeping victory in municipal corporation elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attributed the success to a development-focused agenda, highlighting the alliance's strong performance, particularly in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

India's foreign exchange reserves saw a notable rebound, climbing by $392 million to $687.19 billion in the week ending January 9. This surge followed a significant dip in the prior week.

Delhi-NCR faces renewed pollution crisis as authorities re-implement GRAP-III restrictions. Non-essential construction, demolition, and mining activities are halted. Vehicular curbs target older diesel and petrol models. Essential services and critical projects are exempted, with schools offering hybrid learning. This move aims to combat the 'severe' air quality forecast.

The Ministry of External Affairs has urged around 9,000 Indian citizens, primarily students in Iran, to depart the country due to recent developments. Advisories have been issued for both those in Iran and those planning to travel there. India is actively monitoring the situation and preparing to assist citizens wishing to return home.

Stock markets will observe a rare Sunday trading session on February 1, allowing investors immediate reaction to the Union Budget 2026-27. Both BSE and NSE announced full-day trading, with pre-open from 9 am to 9:08 am and regular trading from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.

Gold prices experienced a slight dip in domestic markets on Friday as profit-taking emerged after international bullion retreated from record highs. A firmer US dollar contributed to the decline in overseas trade. While most major Indian cities saw a marginal increase in gold prices, Chennai recorded a decrease.

Indian households are shifting from traditional savings like gold and cash to market-linked investments such as mutual funds and equities. This trend, accelerated by digital access and financial literacy, sees a significant rise in individual investors, particularly younger demographics and women, seeking inflation-beating returns.

Bengaluru's Yellow Line Metro has enhanced its services by introducing a seventh train, reducing peak hour waiting times to 10 minutes. This upgrade aims to ease congestion for commuters. Additionally, BMRCL has launched mobile-based QR code unlimited travel passes for one, three, and five days, promoting digital ticketing and passenger convenience.

Deloitte India has advised the government to strengthen trade resilience in the upcoming FY27 Budget. Key recommendations include expanding export credit and concessional financing for MSMEs. The firm also suggests allocating funds for critical mineral exploration and overseas access.

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang aims for engineers to code zero percent, leveraging AI assistants like Cursor to tackle complex, undiscovered problems. He believes this 'Purpose vs Task' approach, akin to radiology's evolution, will elevate human roles. While some, like Cursor's CEO, caution against unchecked AI development, Huang remains confident in this human-centric future for innovation.

In a light-hearted twist following the BJP's victory in the Maharashtra civic elections, MP PC Mohan cheekily took a dig at Raj Thackeray by referencing 'rajmalai'. This comes on the heels of Thackerays playful jab at K Annamalai, calling him 'rasmalai' during a spirited debate on Mumbai's essence.

Scott Adams showed that the most useful insights often come from people who aren't trying to sell you anything. His 87 words remain the best investment advice.

Early trends indicate the Mahayuti alliance, led by BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, is poised to end the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s 30-year dominance in the BMC. The alliance is leading in over 110 wards, with BJP showing significant strength. Similar trends are observed in Pune, where BJP is displacing the Pawars.

China has strongly opposed a new trade agreement between Washington and Taipei, which aims to cut tariffs on Taiwanese products and boost US investment. Beijing views the deal as a violation of the one-China principle, while the US hails it as a historic pact to reshore its semiconductor sector and foster economic partnership.

Under current SEBI takeover regulations, the term immediate relatives is limited to spouses, parents, siblings, and children. Notably, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law are excluded from this definition

US visa interview wait times for Indian applicants show significant variation across cities and visa types. While Hyderabad and Kolkata offer faster appointments for visitor visas, Mumbai and New Delhi face longer delays. Student visa processing is generally quicker, with New Delhi providing the earliest slots. Employment visa availability also differs, with Mumbai showing the shortest wait.

Indian stock markets opened strong on Friday. Nifty50 and Sensex saw significant gains before paring some of their advances. Investors are adopting a cautious approach. Hopes for India-EU and India-US trade deals are boosting sentiment. Several major companies are set to announce their Q3 earnings today.

Indo-Russian dies to deepen? Russia is ramping up efforts to deepen non-energy economic ties with India, with firms exploring localisation across sectors such as engineering, shipbuilding, IT, renewables and metallurgy.

India is a major driver of global economic growth. Strong domestic consumption is fueling robust performance. The International Monetary Fund projects significant growth for India. Recent indicators show performance exceeding expectations. An updated forecast is expected soon. India's economic momentum continues to impress.

India has strongly criticized Pakistan at the UN for misusing the platform and promoting a divisive agenda. Islamabad's envoy raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in the General Assembly, prompting India to accuse Pakistan of spreading baseless allegations and falsehoods detached from reality.

As Budget 2026 approaches, targeted reforms can significantly reinforce Indias commitment for a stable and business-friendly tax regime.

Bill Gates is initiating the phased closure of his influential foundation by 2045, with a record $9 billion budget planned for 2026. The organization will cut up to 500 staff positions over five years to manage operating costs.

Infosys shares surged over 5% after the IT giant boosted its FY26 revenue growth forecast to 3-3.5%. Despite a slight dip in Q3 net profit, revenue saw a 9% year-on-year rise. Brokerages remain largely positive, citing strong deal wins and signs of recovery in key sectors, though near-term performance views vary.

Gold price prediction today: Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities says that after rising strongly, gold may see some profit booking in the near term. He advocates a sell on rise strategy.

Asian markets saw a mixed close as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's strong earnings boosted AI-linked stocks, despite broader caution. A US trade deal with Taiwan, promising significant chip investments, also supported sentiment. While US tech stocks saw initial gains, they later retreated on tariff warnings. Oil prices remained stable amid easing geopolitical tensions.

The Indian rupee declined for a third consecutive session, falling 10 paise to 90.44 against the US dollar due to persistent foreign fund outflows and a stronger greenback. While declining crude oil prices and positive equity markets offered some support, a widening trade deficit and lower expectations of a Fed rate cut added pressure.