Business & Economy

New Delhi: The long-awaited India-US trade deal has now received its final approval, with US President Donald Trump officially signing the interim agreement. A joint statement issued by the White House confirmed that both nations have agreed on the framework of an interim trade arrangement, marking a major milestone in bilateral economic relations. Welcoming the development, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday praised the agreement, stating that it will open the doors of a massive $30 trillion market for Indian exporters. He emphasized that the deal will be especially beneficial for MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), farmers, and fishermen, while also generating significant employment opportunities. Millions of Jobs Expected, Focus on Youth and Wom...

New Delhi: India has produced countless inspiring women who dared to dream big and turned those dreams into remarkable success stories. One such powerful name is Leena Nair, a globally respected Indian-British business leader who has achieved what very few can even imagine — becoming the Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chanel, one of the world’s most prestigious luxury fashion brands. Her journey from a small city in Maharashtra to leading a global luxury empire is a story of vision, determination, hard work, and courage. Leena Nair’s rise is not just a personal achievement but also a symbol of India’s growing presence in global leadership. A Global Indian Leader Leena Nair has been serving as Chanel’s Global CEO since December 2021. She made history by becoming the first ...

Mumbai: A sharp rise in gold prices has delivered a major boost to India’s foreign exchange reserves, pushing the country’s forex stockpile to a new all-time high, even as foreign currency assets (FCA) registered a decline during the week. According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday, India’s total foreign exchange reserves surged by a record $14.361 billion during the week ended January 30, 2026. This follows another strong rise of $8.053 billion in the previous week. With this sharp jump, India’s forex reserves climbed to $723.774 billion, surpassing the earlier record of $709.413 billion recorded during the week ended January 23, 2026. Forex Reserves Break Previous Record The RBI data confirms that the country’s foreign exchange reserves...

New Delhi: After months of anticipation, India has finally received a major boost on the global trade front. The long-awaited India-US trade deal has been officially announced by US President Donald Trump, triggering a positive reaction in Indian financial markets. Many experts believe this agreement could even surpass the recently signed India-European Union “mega deal” in terms of impact and strategic importance. Under the agreement, reciprocal tariffs have reportedly been reduced to 18%, offering India immediate relief from uncertainty and trade pressure that had been building for months. However, economists caution that while the deal is a strong step forward, it is not a magic solution for every economic issue India faces. What Problems the Deal Will Solve The India-US tra...

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday decided to keep its key policy rate unchanged, maintaining the repo rate at 5.25%, despite widespread expectations of further easing. The central bank’s decision comes at a time when India’s economic outlook has strengthened, particularly after major trade developments with the United States and the European Union (EU). The RBI also retained its monetary policy stance as “neutral”, signalling that interest rates may remain stable for an extended period, and any future move will depend on incoming inflation and growth data. Why RBI Did Not Cut Interest Rates RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, while announcing the monetary policy decision, said that external challenges have increased, but India’s domestic fundamentals remain strong. He...

New Delhi: In a major development for India’s capital markets, the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has officially cleared the path for its long-awaited Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company’s board on Friday approved the proposal to launch the IPO, marking a significant step towards NSE’s listing. As per the decision, the IPO will consist entirely of an Offer-for-Sale (OFS), meaning the issue will not include any fresh share issuance. Existing shareholders will sell their stakes, while NSE itself will not raise new capital through the public offering. The board’s approval comes shortly after market regulator SEBI issued a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the IPO, removing one of the key regulatory hurdles. IPO Committee Reconstituted NSE also confirmed the restruc...

New Delhi: Precious metal prices witnessed a steep decline in the national capital on Friday, as investors continued profit-booking for the second consecutive session. The sharpest fall was seen in silver, which tumbled nearly five per cent in a single day, leaving traders and investors surprised. According to the All India Sarafa Association, silver prices dropped by ₹13,000, or 4.85%, settling at ₹2,55,000 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes). A day earlier, silver had already recorded a massive fall of ₹30,300, closing at ₹2,68,000 per kg on Thursday. This means that within just two trading sessions, silver has fallen by a staggering ₹43,300 per kg. Gold Prices Also Fall Sharply Gold prices also saw a notable decline. Gold of 99.9% purity slipped by ₹3,400, or 2.12%, to set...

New Delhi: The Indian stock market has regained strong momentum, driven by a series of major international trade deals that have significantly improved investor confidence. According to a latest report by global financial services giant Morgan Stanley, Indian equities are now positioned for a major re-rating, supported by improving macroeconomic conditions and strong policy measures. The report highlights that India’s post-pandemic economic environment, which remained relatively tight for several years, is now showing signs of easing. This shift, combined with government reforms and supportive monetary policy, could push the BSE Sensex sharply higher by the end of 2026. Sensex Target: Bull Case at 1,07,000 Morgan Stanley’s equity strategists Ridham Desai and Nayantara Parekh have ...

New Delhi: Bangladesh’s interim government is reportedly planning a secret tariff-related deal with the United States, scheduled for February 9—just three days before the country’s parliamentary elections. While details of the agreement remain confidential under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), the timing and lack of transparency have raised concerns among trade experts and analysts. The deal comes shortly after India concluded a trade agreement with the US. Industry leaders fear that the new agreement could shift significant trade volumes toward Bangladesh, potentially impacting India’s recent gains. According to reports, the US had previously imposed a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi goods in April last year, which was gradually reduced to 35% in July and 20% in August. Following the US-In...

New Delhi: The cryptocurrency market has been thrown into turmoil, with investors rushing to sell digital assets. Over the past 24 hours, the global crypto market has dropped nearly 10%, resulting in losses exceeding ₹18 lakh crore (approximately $220 billion). As of Friday morning, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies stood at $2.24 trillion. Bitcoin Bears the BruntBitcoin, often dubbed “digital gold,” has been particularly hard hit, losing more than 20% since the start of 2026. From its record high of $124,000 in October, Bitcoin has fallen by more than half. On Friday morning, it traded at around $65,500, below the levels seen at the start of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. Bitcoin’s price volatility continues to reflect its speculative nature, as it ...