Business & Economy

New Rules for Mutual FundsMutual fund investors have received a significant relief as market regulator SEBI has introduced a new way to disclose expenses through the Base Expense Ratio (BER). Under the new system, fund houses will have to separately show management fees and government taxes (GST and STT), giving investors a clear picture of how much of their money is spent on fund management and how much goes to taxes. Previously, all expenses were combined and shown as the Total Expense Ratio (TER). These new rules will come into effect from 1 April 2026. Investor Protection and Expense LimitsSEBI has clarified that all mutual fund scheme expenses must be borne by the scheme itself and must stay within a prescribed limit. If a fund’s expenses exceed the SEBI-specified limit, the Ass...

Dr. Ayushi Jain Gupta founded NORA in 2022, a company specializing in eco-friendly outdoor furniture and planter pots. The brand aims to provide sustainable, stylish, and affordable products. Today, NORA generates an annual revenue of ₹1.2 crore. From Medicine to BusinessDr. Ayushi Jain Gupta, based in Gurugram, pursued an MBBS from Shenyang Medical College, China, followed by an MBA from the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM). Instead of continuing a traditional medical career, she chose the challenging path of entrepreneurship. Driven by her love for nature and the desire to solve everyday problems, she co-founded the Gurugram-based startup NORA in 2022. NORA is not just a brand; it bridges modern lifestyle and environmental sustainability. The startup specializes i...

Mumbai: India’s foreign exchange reserves witnessed a sharp decline in the first week of 2026, but showed a modest recovery in the following week. During the week ending January 9, 2026, the country’s forex reserves increased slightly by $392 million, supported by a rise in gold reserves. Current Reserve Levels According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s total foreign exchange reserves now stand at $687.193 billion, up marginally from the previous week’s decline of $9.809 billion. For context, the reserves had previously reached a record high of $704.885 billion during the week ending September 27, 2024. Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) Decline Within the total reserves, Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs)—a key component—fell by $1.124 billion in the week ending January 9, f...

New Delhi: Shares of Spice Lounge Food Works continued to surge for the second consecutive day on Friday. The small-cap stock hit the upper circuit of 5%, closing at ₹36.28 per share on January 16. The rally follows the company’s recent acquisition of Singapore-based Prisha Infotech and the securing of master franchise rights for Wing Zone, bolstering its footprint in the food service and hospitality sectors. Recent Developments Driving Growth In December 2025, Spice Lounge Food Works fully acquired Prisha Infotech for $150,000. The acquisition allows the company to expand its technology-enabled solutions for the food service and hospitality industry. According to the company, “This acquisition aligns with Spice Lounge Food Works Limited’s long-term strategy for expansion, diversific...

New Delhi: Silver prices continued their upward trajectory for the sixth consecutive day in Delhi on Friday, climbing ₹3,600 to reach ₹2,92,600 per kilogram. The sharp rise is attributed to sustained buying by stockists, according to the All India Sarafa Association. In contrast, gold prices declined, with 99.9% purity gold falling by ₹1,100 to ₹1,46,200 per 10 grams (including all taxes), down from ₹1,47,300 per 10 grams on the previous trading day. Despite a softening in global markets, silver remains strong due to rising industrial demand, particularly from electronics, solar panels, and other manufacturing sectors. Six-Day Silver Surge The rally marks a 20.16% increase in silver prices, equivalent to a gain of ₹49,100 over just six days. On January 8, silver was priced at ₹2,4...

Malda, West Bengal, January 16, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Malda Town railway station in West Bengal on Saturday. The train will operate between Kolkata and Guwahati, strengthening rail connectivity between West Bengal and Assam. Alongside, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation for railway and road projects worth over ₹3,250 crore. Two Vande Bharat Sleeper trains have already been built. One will run from Kolkata (Howrah) to Guwahati (Kamakhya) and the other on the return route. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the Prime Minister will also unveil more than a dozen new trains in West Bengal during the event. The announcement comes ahead of assembly elections this year in five stat...

New Delhi, January 16, 2026: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations have both raised their economic growth forecasts for India, signaling the country’s emergence as a key engine of global growth. Strong domestic demand and government investment are driving a significant upswing in the economy. The IMF is expected to revise India’s growth rate upwards in its upcoming World Economic Outlook report, which is positive news for the nation. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozak indicated that India continues to play a crucial role in global economic growth. “India’s economy is showing strong momentum,” she said, adding that the IMF will likely raise its growth forecast for India above 6.6%, surpassing previous projections. The United Nations has also upgraded its estimates, proje...

India may impose a massive fine on tech giant Apple, the world’s third most valuable company, over alleged antitrust violations. According to a Reuters report, Apple could face a penalty of up to $38 billion (approximately ₹34.34 trillion) if the Competition Commission of India (CCI) calculates the fine based on global turnover. The dispute arises from allegations that Apple misused its position in the iOS App Store. The company has reportedly delayed responding to government officials for over a year, hindering the ongoing investigation. Apple has denied the allegations and is challenging the fine in court. The case is currently under review in the Delhi High Court. A confidential order dated 31 December revealed that Apple attempted to halt proceedings during the legal dispute over...

Gold and silver prices witnessed a decline today as the market opened. Silver dropped by over ₹6,000, while gold also saw a marginal fall. Here’s the detailed update from the MCX market. Silver Price Update:Silver experienced a significant fall at the market opening. The March 5 delivery of silver had closed at ₹2,91,577 per kg in the previous session, but today it opened at ₹2,87,127. During early trading, prices touched a low of ₹2,85,513 and a high of ₹2,88,901. By 9:45 AM, silver was trading at ₹2,88,128, down ₹3,449 or 1.18%. Gold Price Update:Gold also faced a minor decline. The February 5 delivery of gold had closed at ₹1,43,121 in the last session and opened today at ₹1,42,589. During early trading, gold touched a low of ₹1,42,400 and a high of ₹1,42,837. At 10:00 AM, it was ...

The Indian stock market opened strong on the last trading day of the week and continued its upward momentum throughout the session. The BSE Sensex surged by over 700 points, while the NSE Nifty50 traded near 25,850. Infosys shares led the rally with a nearly 5% jump, boosting the broader IT sector. Market SnapshotAt 10:40 AM, the Sensex was trading at 84,091.54, up 708.83 points (0.85%), while the Nifty50 stood at 25,859.95, gaining 194.35 points (0.76%). IT stocks witnessed significant buying interest following better-than-expected quarterly results from Infosys, along with an upward revision of the company’s full-year earnings guidance. Top GainersAmong the 30 Sensex constituents, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Power Grid showed the most n...