Business & Economy

While trade negotiations between India and the United States remain stalled, India has successfully inked a major trade deal with the European Union (EU), marking a significant milestone in international commerce. The EU is India’s largest trading partner, whereas for the EU, the United States remains its top trading destination. Europe’s Record Investments in the US Despite tensions with the US over geopolitical issues such as Greenland’s control, European investors have poured unprecedented amounts into American markets. European holdings in US equities have reached an all-time high of $10.4 trillion, reflecting a 91% increase over the past three years, equivalent to $4.9 trillion. Investors from countries including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Swe...

Gold and silver witnessed a sharp decline in international markets today after hitting record highs in the previous session. The sudden drop, driven by profit-booking, erased $1.7 trillion from the combined market capitalization of the two metals in just 90 minutes. During early trading, silver had surged over 14% at one point, but eventually gave up gains, wiping out $900 billion, while gold lost $800 billion in minutes. On COMEX, silver fell from a record $118 per ounce to $103 per ounce, and gold slipped from $5,100 per ounce to $5,004.10 per ounce. By the end of the session, gold closed 1.16% lower at $5,023.60 per ounce, while silver settled at $108.095 per ounce, down 6.41%. In India, despite the global slump, both metals continue to see strong buying interest. Gold prices have...

India and the European Union (EU) have formally signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking the largest trade deal in India’s history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the agreement as a “blueprint for shared prosperity” that will strengthen investment, innovation partnerships, and global supply chains. The deal was signed in the presence of European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Referred to as the “Mother of All Deals,” this FTA is expected to expand cooperation across multiple sectors and deepen ties between India and the EU. India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004, and this agreement represents a landmark moment in their relationship. Speaking at a joint press conference, PM Modi said,"Today, India h...

This year, the Union Budget 2026 will make history by being presented on a Sunday in the Indian Parliament. Ahead of the budget, the Economic Survey 2026 will be tabled on Thursday, 29 January 2026. Key Dates of Budget Session 2026 The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on 28 January 2026 with the joint address of President Droupadi Murmu. The Economic Survey 2026 will be presented the next day, 29 January, at 11:00 AM by Chief Economic Advisor V. Anant Nageshwaran. The Union Budget 2026 will be presented on Sunday, 1 February 2026, at 11:00 AM by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Budget Session will conclude on 2 April 2026. About the Economic Survey The Economic Survey is an annual report on the state of the Indian economy. It provides a detailed rev...

The Adani Group, India’s largest private airport operator, is set to take a major leap into aircraft manufacturing. Its company, Adani Aerospace & Defence, has signed a landmark deal with Brazil’s Embraer to assemble commercial aircraft in India. The partnership comes under the government’s “Make in India” initiative and aims to create a complete ecosystem for Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) in the country. Historic Deal in Presence of Aviation Minister New Delhi: The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Embraer, the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer after Airbus and Boeing, will collaborate with Adani to establish aircraft assembly operations in India. While the exact location of the...

With Budget 2026 just days away, various industry bodies are presenting their wish lists to the Union Finance Ministry. The real estate sector has high hopes, urging the government to provide greater relief for home buyers and rental housing investors. CREDAI and NAREDCO Call for Higher Home Loan Interest Deduction New Delhi: Real estate developers’ organizations CREDAI and NAREDCO have requested that the income tax deduction on home loan interest be increased from the current ₹2 lakh limit to ₹5 lakh. The move is aimed at making homeownership more affordable and encouraging investment in the housing sector. Revising Affordable Housing Definition Both organizations have also sought changes to the definition of affordable housing. CREDAI President Shekhar Patel pointed out that ...

Shares of the Adani Group, which had seen a sharp decline last Friday, surged today, recovering a significant portion of their lost market capitalization. The group’s flagship companies—Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, and Adani Green—rose by up to 6%. Market Recovery Following Legal Developments New Delhi: India’s third-largest industrial conglomerate witnessed a strong rebound in its stock prices today. Adani Enterprises gained 5.5% to hit an intraday high of ₹1,965 per share on the BSE, Adani Ports rose 4.5% to ₹1,368, and Adani Green climbed 6% to ₹818 per share. Adani Total Gas shares increased 3.4% to ₹535, while cement giants Ambuja Cements and ACC rose by up to 2%. The recovery comes after Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, through their legal representatives, filed t...

The long-anticipated trade deal between India and the European Union (EU) has been finalized, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally announcing the agreement. Describing it as the “Mother of All Deals,” Modi said the historic pact presents a significant opportunity for India and will enhance global confidence in the country. Historic Agreement Between Two Major Economies New Delhi: Speaking at India Energy Week, PM Modi highlighted that the trade deal represents nearly 25% of global GDP and around one-third of global trade, marking a milestone in India-EU economic relations. Europe is India’s largest trading partner, and both sides have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for several years. “Yesterday, India and the European Union signed a major agreement, which is...

Retail investors in India now have access to algorithmic (algo) trading, a domain that was previously dominated by large investors and proprietary traders. Pune-based fintech and stockbroking firm Definedge Securities has launched a new trading platform named ALGOSTRA, offering fully customizable retail trading automation with no platform fees. Definedge Securities Introduces ALGOSTRA Mumbai: For stock market traders frustrated by recurring platform fees, there is good news. Definedge Securities has rolled out ALGOSTRA, India’s first fully customizable retail algo trading platform. The platform allows traders to automate their strategies entirely, providing full transparency while eliminating any platform charges. SEBI Framework Paves the Way The launch comes three months after...

Gold and silver prices witnessed a significant jump today, hitting record highs in the domestic market. At market opening, silver surged by ₹25,000, while gold gained nearly ₹3,700, reflecting strong demand for safe-haven assets amid global geopolitical tensions. Market Update – MCX Trading New Delhi: In early trading on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), March 5 silver futures reached a record high of ₹3,59,800 per kilogram, up nearly 7% from the previous session’s close of ₹3,34,699. Silver opened at ₹3,39,824 and traded between ₹3,39,824 and ₹3,59,800. By 10:15 AM, silver was trading at ₹3,56,602 per kilogram, up ₹21,903 or 6.54% from the previous close. Internationally, spot silver also jumped over 6% to a record $117.69 per ounce. Gold February 5 futures similarly hit an all...