ISMA lowers sugar production estimate to 26.4 MT for 2024-25 due to reduced sugarcane yield in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Diversion of sugar towards ethanol production also revised downward. Domestic supplies and prices not affected, with carry forward stock estimated at 5.4 MT for 2025-26. Retail sugar prices expected to remain stable.
Gold remains a reliable safe haven asset during global geopolitical turmoil, as stated in the RBI's December Bulletin. A simulation-based sensitivity framework reveals that crude oil is most affected, while silver is more volatile due to industrial demand but less sensitive than oil. US Treasury securities also experience increased volatility, serving as a flight-to-safety asset during uncertainty
Vijay Thirumalai, an Indian-origin CEO, sparked online debate by addressing the disruption in H-1B visas, leaving many Indians stuck in their home country. He advised getting out of the H1B quagmire and obtaining a Green Card. Netizens had mixed reactions, criticizing the priority given to foreign workers over American citizens, highlighting the frustrations of skilled workers.
Mustard acreage sees a 4% increase in the current rabi season, with significant growth in crop area reported in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal. Standing crop conditions are normal with low pest incidence, and if weather conditions continue, higher yields are expected.
The RBI's liquidity measures caused a rally in the bond market, with the 10-year G-Sec yield falling 9 bps to 6.54%. Plans to purchase government securities and a USD-INR buy-sell swap were announced, addressing a liquidity deficit of Rs 66,653 crore. Market participants anticipate continued rally and stable yields.
Indian Railways' capital expenditure budget to rise by 3.7% in FY27 to Rs 2.75 lakh crore. Despite high capex utilisation in H1 of FY26, full-year spending likely to be 80-85% due to project delays. Railways looking to attract investments through PPP mode for track expansion. Experts say more budgetary support needed to catch up with road infrastructure.
The New York Times has uncovered that redacted information in the Jeffrey Epstein files can be easily recovered, exposing the identities of alleged victims and survivors. While the Justice Department claims all redactions are necessary by law, concerns about privacy and political motives remain.
NHAI's second platform for highway monetisation, Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT), has received approval from SEBI as an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT). This public InvIT will allow retail and domestic investors to subscribe to the equity of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that will acquire highway assets from NHAI.
As Christmas approaches, Americans are preparing to celebrate by visiting outlets for shopping and food. While some stores will be closed, several fast food chains, drugstores, grocery stores, and retailers will remain open on Christmas Eve. Customers are advised to check store websites or social media for specific hours.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will announce its Q3 earnings results on January 12, 2026. The company's Board of Directors will also consider declaring the third interim dividend during the scheduled meeting. TCS reported a net profit of Rs 12,075 crore in Q2 FY26, and a revenue of Rs 65,799 crore. The company's stock has gained 5.47% in the last month, but declined by 20.7% in
RBI's announcement of a Rs 2 lakh crore OMO purchase has led to a rally in bond markets, easing concerns over year-end liquidity. Benchmark 10-year yields have fallen by 8 basis points and are expected to reach 6.45-6.50%. The central bank's aggressive intervention through OMOs and a USD-INR buy-sell swap has provided comfort to market participants.
JD Vance, the US Vice President, won 84% of the vote in a straw poll at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest conference, solidifying his popularity among conservative activists. He was endorsed by the CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of founder Charlie Kirk. Despite not announcing his 2024 candidacy, Vance's strong appeal within the pro-Trump and conservative base is evident.
Nissan will raise prices of its Magnite SUV by 3% in January, following other automakers in passing on increased costs to customers. This trend is seen across the industry as manufacturers try to protect margins in a difficult cost environment. Nissan also plans to introduce new models in India soon. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have also announced price increases due to Forex instability.
The recently released Jeffrey Epstein files from the US Department of Justice contain emails between Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell discussing "inappropriate friends." The emails, believed to be from Andrew, date back to 2001-2002 and have sparked further scrutiny and calls for his cooperation with US investigations.
Indian stock exchanges NSE and BSE will be shut on Christmas day, December 25, 2025, with trading in equities, derivatives, and securities lending and borrowing suspended. Trading will resume on Friday, December 26, 2025. NSE has also released its holiday schedule for 2026, consisting of national and religious holidays.
Adani Power aims to increase its installed capacity to 41.87 GW by FY32, with a capital expenditure of Rs 2 lakh crore. The company is focused on meeting India's growing electricity demand through an aggressive expansion plan, while also prioritizing fuel security and job creation. This includes accelerating construction and expanding partnerships in the thermal and hydro power sectors.
India's primary market had a record year in 2025, and now the focus is on the upcoming IPOs in 2026. Companies like Bharat Coking Coal, Reliance Jio, NSE, PhonePe, Flipkart, Zepto, Oyo, boAt, Hero FinCorp, Fractal Analytics, Clean Max Enviro Energy, SBI Mutual Fund, and Prestige Hospitality Ventures are expected to hit the market. These IPOs could define the next phase of
Bombay High Court stays actions by three public sector banks seeking to declare Anil Ambani and Reliance Communications' accounts as fraud, noting that RBI's Master Directions were violated. Ambani challenged show-cause notices, arguing that the forensic audit report by BDO LLP, which was not signed by a qualified CA, cannot be relied upon.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari urges for true nationalism by reducing imports and increasing exports to combat Delhi's pollution levels. He also emphasizes the need for a shift towards alternative fuels and biofuels to reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuel imports. The government has imposed strict measures under GRAP Stage-IV.
The US economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter of the year, according to a delayed report released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday. The report showed that gross domestic product, or GDP, expanded by 4.3% between July and September, far above economists’ expectations of 3.2%.
Kajaria Ceramics' shares dropped by 3.9% after the company revealed a financial fraud by its CFO at a subsidiary. Despite this, Motilal Oswal Financial Services maintained a 'Buy' rating and a target price of Rs 1,252, expecting a 19% upside in the next 12 months. The company will set aside Rs 20 crore for exceptional expenses, but 50% is recoverable. Soft demand and competition pose challenges.
The highly anticipated 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon will take place tomorrow at the Inspire Arena, with a new trio of main hosts taking over the MC duties. IVE's AN Yujin will return as the only constant host, while NCT's Jaemin and DAY6's Young K will replace her previous stage partners. The show will be broadcast live on SBS TV.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, cousins who were estranged for 20 years, reunited for a Shiv Sena-MNS alliance ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections. The Eknath Shinde alliance dismissed the coming together of the Thackeray cousins as nothing more than a photo opportunity that they feel will do little to upset them.
The recently concluded India-New Zealand free trade agreement has the potential to increase India's share in New Zealand's imports, which are currently dominated by China. The FTA could open significant export growth opportunities for Indian industries such as pharmaceuticals, processed foods, electronics, machinery, vehicles, and furniture.
Indian-origin woman found dead in Toronto, police suspect intimate partner violence. The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed shock over her alleged killing and is providing assistance to her family. The victim, Himanshi Khurana, was a Toronto-based digital creator. The suspect, Abdul Ghafoori, is being searched nationwide.
Motilal Oswal has issued 'Buy' ratings on three stocks - Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company, Hero MotoCorp, and Kajaria Ceramics, with an upside potential of up to 19% from current levels. The report highlights the positive outlook on each company, including strong management response to allegations, steady growth trajectory, and potential for exports and volume growth.
Newly released US Justice Department documents have revealed that former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley and former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers were once named as executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate.
Billionbrains Garage Ventures (Groww) and Lenskart Solutions will be added to BSE Large Cap index on January 06, 2026. Tata Motors will also be included in BSE Allcap, BSE LargeCap, BSE LargeMidCap, and BSE Industrials. Groww's share price has risen 23% since listing in November, while Lenskart's has risen 16%. Both companies had successful IPOs.
Stranger Things Season 5, the final season of the hit sci-fi show, has gained immense popularity and shattered records since its premiere in 2016. As it prepares for its New Year's Eve finale, the show has created thousands of jobs and boosted the US economy by $1.4 billion. The final episodes will also be shown in movie theatres, showcasing the show's widespread impact beyond Netflix.
Variety has released a list of the 120 most powerful production houses in Hollywood, featuring executives from Netflix, Apple, and Disney. Netflix's Co-CEO Ted Sarandos tops the list, followed by NBC's Donna Langley and Paramount's David Ellison. Other notable names include YouTube's Neal Mohan, Disney's Dana Walden and Bob Iger, and Comcast's Brian Roberts.
James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash has been a huge hit, earning over Rs 85 crore in India and breaking records worldwide. Despite tough competition from Dhurandhar, the IMAX 3D film continues to dominate the box office, becoming the second-biggest opening for Cameron and the highest in many countries. Disney also sets a new record with a projected $6.6 billion in global box office.
IndiGo continues to face flight cancellations today, with Mumbai being the worst affected. Delhi, Kolkata, and Pune also saw multiple cancellations. Delhi Airport experienced 19% delayed arrivals and an average departure delay of 22 minutes. Visibility at Delhi Airport was at 1,000 meters and over 2,000 meters on Runway 28.
An NRI has returned to India after 8 years in New York and praised the country's “amazing energy”. Founder of WeekendInvesting and IIT Delhi graduate, Alok Jain, shares his friend's perspective on social media. He added that his friend also mentioned the high cost of medical care, transportation, and internet in India compared to New York.
Coal India's stock is rising as it plans to list two subsidiaries, Mahanadi Coalfields and South Eastern Coalfields, as part of the government's divestment plan. This has sparked concerns about the company's business and stock. The board has given in-principle approval, but multiple regulatory approvals are needed.
Indian equity indices opened Wednesday’s trading session on a lower note as the NSE Nifty 50, BSE Sensex, and Bank Nifty all opened in the red. Small and mid-cap stocks also opened lower. Technical analysis suggests that the market may remain range-bound with key support levels at 26,100 and 26,050. Early gainers included Coal India, Shriram Finance, and Hindalco Industries.
Chicken Biryani has emerged as the undisputed king of Indian food, with 57.7 million orders and the highest number of repeat orders. Biryani has been the top-ordered dish on Swiggy for 10 consecutive years, beating burgers and pizza. Other popular dishes included veg dosa, chai-samosa combo, and coffee.
For years, getting an H-1B visa has come down to luck. A computer lottery decided who got in and who didn’t, no matter the skill, salary, or seniority of the worker. Now, that system is on its way out. The US government has proposed a new rule that changes how H-1B visas will be selected.
The Libyan army's chief of staff died in a plane crash in Ankara, Turkey, along with four others. The cause is still unknown and an investigation is underway. The Libyan government has declared three days of mourning and sent a team to Ankara. The crash occurred a day after Turkey extended the mandate of Turkish soldiers in Libya.
The Trump administration will start taking money directly from the paychecks of some student loan borrowers beginning in January, the US Department of Education has said. This applies to people who have not paid their federal student loans for a long time and are officially in default.
It started with a teenage boy in India reading about a young chip company called Intel and wondering why innovation seemed to happen so far from home. That curiosity slowly turned into ambition, and ambition brought him to the US.
HCLSoftware, a subsidiary of HCLTech, has acquired Jaspersoft from Cloud Software Group for $240 million to strengthen its data and AI software portfolio. This will enhance Actian's offerings and broaden its reach among developers. The acquisition will also support Actian's agentic BI roadmap and add embedded analytics capabilities.
CII President Rajiv Memani discussed the industry body's budget agenda, impact of rupee depreciation, progress on trade deals with US and EU, and outlook on key economic indicators. CII recommends strengthening manufacturing in high-growth sectors and reducing tax disputes to boost economic growth.
Tuticorin is seeing a rise in return migration due to investments in electric vehicles, shipbuilding, solar cells, and space technology. VinFast's $2-billion electric vehicle facility has given locals like Arjun Selvam and Senthamizh Selvi better job opportunities.
As per NSE's December Market Pulse report, retail investors have withdrawn Rs 8,461 crore from equities in 2025, the highest outflows since 2019. Meanwhile, FPIs saw the highest-ever outflows of Rs 1.58 lakh crore, while DIIs infused a record Rs 7.61 lakh crore. The number of registered investors reached 124 million, a 13.9% increase from last year. However, new registrations have slowed down
Indian telecom sector to see tariff hike in first quarter of 2026, led by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Vodafone Idea to focus on restructuring, while pricing power, enterprise demand, and network readiness will drive growth for other operators. Industry moving towards premiumisation and digital services, with 5G playing a key role in enterprise deployments.
Belrise Industries and Plasan Sasa have teamed up to tap into the Indian military market with their ATEMM systems. This collaboration will not only help Plasan expand their presence in India, but also provide the Indian defence sector with advanced solutions through the ATEMM Series Vehicle.
Central Bank of India's MD and CEO Kalyan Kumar has implemented successful initiatives, such as credit outreach programs for retail, agriculture, and MSME sectors, resulting in a 20% year-on-year growth in retail credit. The bank has a promising outlook with a pipeline of Rs 85,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore for corporate loans, thanks to GST cuts and other positive developments.
India pledges USD 450 million in aid to rebuild Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assures commitment to reconstruction and offers concessional lines of credit, grants, and assistance for affected sectors. Relief material and medical aid delivered, with plans to boost tourism and foreign investment in Sri Lanka.
Bank of India has successfully raised Rs. 10,000 crore through the issue of long-term infrastructure bonds at 7.23% per annum. The base issue size was Rs. 5,000 crore with a green shoe option of Rs. 5,000 crore. The bank received a total of 83 bids amounting to Rs. 15,305 crore and accepted 37 bids.
Tata Motors to invest Rs 16,000-18,000 crore in EV business by FY30, launch 5 new models under Avinya brand, expand charging infrastructure to maintain 45-50% share of EV passenger vehicle market. Confident in sustaining market share despite competition, expects EVs to make up 15-20% of overall passenger vehicle industry by 2030.
The US embassy has praised India's new SHANTI Bill, which permits private players to engage in the nuclear sector and limits civil nuclear liability. The bill covers key activities like mineral exploration and fuel fabrication and aims to reach a capacity of 100 GW by 2047.