Business & Economy

New Delhi: The Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) received an unprecedented response, breaking multiple records in investor participation. On Tuesday, the last day for bidding, the IPO was subscribed 147 times, making it one of the most oversubscribed issues in recent years. A total of 90.31 lakh applications were received, surpassing the previous record of 82.65 lakh applications for Vaar Energy’s IPO in 2024. Investor Participation and Bidding TrendsAlthough the IPO size was modest at ₹1,071 crore, investors placed bids totaling over ₹1.1 lakh crore. According to stock exchange data, investors purchased 50,93,16,75,600 shares at the upper price band of ₹23 per share, taking the total bid value to approximately ₹1.17 lakh crore. Despite volatility in the stock m...

New Delhi: The government has taken a major step to provide National Pension System (NPS) subscribers with a regular and guaranteed pension after retirement. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has constituted a high-level committee to draft guidelines and rules for assured payouts under the NPS framework. High-Level Advisory CommitteeThe 15-member committee, chaired by Dr. M.S. Sahu, former Chairman of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, will explore various aspects of pension regulation—from lock-in periods and withdrawal limits to fee structures and market-based guarantees. The Finance Ministry clarified that this initiative is in line with the provisions of the PFRDA Act, aiming to enhance retirement income security for subscribers. The committ...

Mumbai: Dheep Vora’s journey is a remarkable story of courage, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit. A certified financial planner (CFP) by profession, Dheep was earning a lucrative ₹20 lakh annual package. Yet, the desire to create something of her own kept calling. Today, she runs “Hachi With Love,” a healthy snacks brand generating an annual turnover of ₹80 lakh. Breaking Free from Corporate ComfortUntil 2016, Dheep led a stable corporate life. A turning point came during a marathon when, despite a non-athletic background, she completed a grueling 21 km race. The experience revealed her inner strength and inspired her to take risks in her career. By 2018, she became a regular on Mumbai’s running circuit. One day, while running, she decided it was time to take a leap into entrepreneursh...

Mumbai: Domestic equity markets closed lower on Tuesday as profit-taking dominated amid persistent foreign fund outflows and global tariff-related concerns. Weak quarterly results from key companies also added pressure, contributing to a cautious market sentiment. The BSE Sensex dropped 250.48 points (0.30%) to close at 83,627.69, after touching an intraday low of 83,262.79, while the NSE Nifty 50 fell 57.95 points (0.22%) to 25,732.30. Among the Sensex 30 stocks, Trent, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Industries, InterGlobe Aviation, Maruti, ITC, Adani Ports, and Bharat Electronics were major losers. In contrast, Eternal, ICICI Bank, Tech Mahindra, State Bank of India, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) recorded gains. Stocks Showing Buying InterestStrong buying momentum was obser...

The United States has announced a 25% tariff on countries continuing to trade with Iran. However, given India’s limited trade with Tehran, the move is unlikely to have any significant impact on the Indian economy. Government sources indicate that the U.S. decision will affect only about 0.15% of India’s total trade. India-Iran Trade Remains MarginalIran does not figure among India’s top 50 global trading partners. Last year, bilateral trade between India and Iran stood at just $1.6 billion, accounting for only 0.15% of India’s overall trade. Analysts expect this figure to decline further in the coming fiscal year. India’s share in Iran’s total imports is similarly modest. In 2024, Iran’s imports amounted to roughly $68 billion, with the United Arab Emirates leading at 30%, followed b...

Ongoing unrest in Iran has dealt a severe blow to India’s Basmati rice exports. Disruptions in trade and payment delays have put approximately ₹2,000 crore of Indian exporters’ revenue at risk, with Basmati rice prices potentially falling by 30–40%. The situation has been further exacerbated by Iran’s depreciating currency and new U.S. tariffs on Iranian trade. Export Disruptions and Stockpile ConcernsIn the past week alone, Basmati rice prices have declined by ₹5–7 per kilogram. Iran is India’s second-largest buyer of Basmati rice, importing nearly $75 million worth from India last year. Due to the unrest, communication channels have broken down, leaving payments stuck. Consequently, rice shipments are piling up at Iranian ports and India’s Mundra port. India has seen a bumper rice har...

Bollywood actor Jitendra Kapoor and his son Tusshar Kapoor’s companies have created a buzz in the Mumbai real estate market with a massive commercial property sale worth ₹559.25 crore. The deal was finalized on January 9 with NTT Global Data Centers, a subsidiary of the Japanese IT giant NTT. The property, known as the DC-10 Building, spans 325,017 square feet and is located within the Balaji IT Park in Andheri. A stamp duty of ₹5.61 crore was applied on the transaction. This marks the second major sale by the Kapoor companies to NTT Data. Last year, they sold 2.4 acres of land along with an IT park in Mumbai’s western suburb of Andheri for ₹855 crore. A Strategic Move in India’s Booming Data Center SectorThis transaction highlights the growing significance of India’s data center sec...

In Delhi’s bustling Sarafa market, silver prices soared by ₹6,000 on Tuesday, reaching a record ₹2,71,000 per kilogram. Over just three trading sessions, silver has surged by ₹27,500. Meanwhile, gold also continued its upward march, hitting ₹1,45,000 per 10 grams—the highest level ever recorded—driven by growing demand for safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainties. Silver Breaks RecordsTuesday witnessed a sharp 2.3% rise in silver prices, taking it to ₹2,71,000 per kilogram, inclusive of all taxes. According to the All India Sarafa Dealers Association, silver has climbed for the third consecutive day. On Monday, it surged ₹15,000 (a 6% jump) to ₹2,65,000 per kilogram, while on Friday, it closed at ₹2,50,000, gaining ₹6,500 in a single session. Cumulatively, silver has gained ...

New Delhi:Renowned author and investor Robert Kiyosaki, best known for his book Rich Dad Poor Dad, has issued a cautionary note for investors eyeing silver amid its recent price surge. Warning that silver may have reached a short-term peak, Kiyosaki said a significant correction could occur before the next major rally, urging investors to remain patient and disciplined. In a post on social media platform X, Kiyosaki said he is sticking to his long-term strategy. “I will keep buying silver up to $100 and then wait,” he wrote. At present, silver is trading at around $85 per ounce in international markets. He added that if prices decline, he would prefer to wait for clear market signals rather than react impulsively. Reiterating his long-standing faith in the metal, Kiyosaki recalled bu...

New Delhi:Investor confidence in mutual funds continues to strengthen, with flexi-cap mutual funds witnessing a record-breaking inflow in December. According to data released by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), investments into flexi-cap funds touched an all-time high of ₹10,019 crore during the month, the highest-ever monthly inflow recorded in this category. The December inflow marked a 23% increase over November’s ₹8,135 crore and a sharp 112% rise compared to December 2024, when inflows stood at ₹4,730 crore. The surge highlights growing investor preference for diversified equity strategies amid volatile market conditions. Why Flexi-Cap Funds Are Gaining Popularity Market experts attribute the strong inflows to the inherent flexibility of flexi-cap funds, which...