Business & Economy

New Delhi: Following a historic rally in 2025—when gold surged 62% and silver skyrocketed 144%—the first trading day of 2026 has opened with a mixed trend in precious metals. While gold traded nearly flat, silver plunged by over ₹1,800, signaling caution for investors. MCX Trading Update: Gold (Feb 5 delivery): Closed the previous session at ₹1,35,447 per 10 grams. It opened at ₹1,35,299 and fluctuated between ₹1,35,080 and ₹1,35,559 in early trade. By 12:50 PM, gold traded at ₹1,35,440, down ₹7 from the previous close. Silver (Mar 5 delivery): Closed the previous session at ₹2,35,701 per kilogram and opened flat at the same level. Early trading saw silver slide to ₹2,33,850, recovering slightly to ₹2,34,950 by 12:50 PM, down ₹751 (0.32%) from the previous close. Sarrafa Mark...

New Delhi: After a record-breaking rally in 2025—when gold surged 62% and silver jumped 144%—the new year has opened with a mixed trend in precious metals. On 1 January 2026, gold traded nearly flat, while silver saw a sharp drop of over ₹1,800. MCX Prices: Gold (February 5 delivery): Closed at ₹1,35,447 per 10 grams in the previous session; opened today at ₹1,35,299, ranging between ₹1,35,080 and ₹1,35,559 during early trade. At 12:50 PM, gold traded at ₹1,35,440, down ₹7 from the previous close. Silver (March 5 delivery): Closed at ₹2,35,701 per kilogram in the previous session; opened flat at ₹2,35,701. Early trading saw silver drop to ₹2,33,850, and by 12:50 PM it was trading at ₹2,34,950, down ₹751 (0.32%). Local Sarrafa Market TrendsIn the national capital’s Sarrafa mar...

New Delhi: Diners, take note—restaurants cannot forcefully levy service charges on customers. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹50,000 fine on Bora Bora Restaurant in Mumbai for adding service charges to bills without customer consent. The restaurant is operated by China Gate Restaurant Private Limited. Reason for the FineThe CCPA issued the order on 29 December 2025 after it was found that the restaurant was automatically adding a 10% service charge to customer bills, including GST, which is strictly against the rules. By law, service charges are optional, and restaurants cannot include them in bills without explicit consent. Customer Complaint Triggered ActionThe investigation followed a complaint from a Mumbai customer via the National Consumer Helpli...

New Delhi: Tobacco stocks faced a sharp decline on the first trading day of 2026, with shares of ITC and Godfrey Phillips falling up to 15%. The Finance Ministry has set 1 February 2026 as the date for imposing an additional excise duty on tobacco products. Details of the New Excise DutyThe notification states that the new duty will apply based on cigarette length, ranging from ₹2,050 to ₹8,500 per 1,000 cigarettes, effective from 1 February. ITC shares dropped nearly 9% to ₹365, while Godfrey Phillips fell 15% to ₹2,335. This new tax will be levied in addition to the existing GST, replacing the current compensation cess, which will cease from 1 February. According to the government, GST rates will be: 40% on pan masala, cigarettes, tobacco, and related products 18% on beedisA...

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to an Air India pilot over operational safety concerns during a flight in June 2025. The incident involved a Boeing 787 en route from Tokyo to Delhi, which had to be diverted to Kolkata due to a sudden spike in cabin temperature, causing discomfort to passengers. Safety Concerns RaisedThe notice, issued on 29 December 2025, highlights serious safety concerns regarding the dispatch of flights AI 358 (Delhi–Tokyo) and AI 357 (Tokyo–Delhi). DGCA pointed out that the aircraft was dispatched without full compliance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), and that the flight crew failed to adequately assess the risks posed by repeated technical issues. In another case, a Delhi–Tokyo flight reported a ...

Vodafone Idea Shares Jump 6% on New Payout from Promoter Vodafone Group New Delhi: Vodafone Idea’s beleaguered investors have a reason to cheer as the telecom company’s shares surged 6% in early trading today. On the BSE, the stock touched ₹11.43 after the company announced that it will receive ₹5,836 crore from its promoter, Vodafone Group. Background of the PayoutThe funds are part of a revised Implementation Agreement (IA) related to the merger of Vodafone and Idea. The changes address certain pending liabilities that had not been previously settled. Under the new arrangement, Vodafone Group promoters will contribute ₹2,307 crore in cash over the next 12 months, while the remaining amount will be provided through shares. Previously, Vodafone Idea had expected ₹8,369 crore under...

New Delhi: Gold and silver witnessed unprecedented gains in 2025, with prices soaring to levels not seen in decades. Gold surged by 62%, while silver skyrocketed 144%. As 2026 begins, experts expect the bullish trend to continue, but caution investors against hasty decisions. Strong Fundamentals, But Volatility ExpectedET consulted ten commodity market experts about the outlook for gold and silver in 2026. All experts predicted an upward trajectory, with 80% expecting silver to outperform gold. According to Naveen Mathur, Director of Commodities and Currency at Anand Rathi Shares & Stock Brokers, strong fundamentals support both metals. “Gold is likely to deliver consistent returns, while silver, despite higher volatility, may outperform gold in percentage terms,” he said. How Hi...

New Delhi: The government has released the draft of the new labour codes, aiming to bring clarity on several employment-related issues, including provident fund (PF) contributions, salary structure, and gratuity calculations. Public feedback has been invited, giving citizens 45 days to submit objections or suggestions. Until the new rules are fully implemented, existing regulations will continue to apply, provided they align with the new codes. For industrial relations, stakeholders have 30 days to respond. Unified Definition of SalaryA significant change under the new labour codes is the uniform definition of “salary” across all four codes. The definition now includes basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance. Allowances exceeding 50% of total earnings (excluding gratuity ...

New Delhi: The new year has begun, bringing several major changes that directly impact your finances. From today, domestic PNG gas is cheaper, but commercial LPG cylinders and cars have become costlier. Here’s a look at the 10 key changes effective from January 1, 2026: 1. PNG Cheaper, LPG More ExpensiveIndraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has reduced the price of domestic piped natural gas (PNG) by ₹0.70 per standard cubic meter (SCM). In Delhi, the new PNG price is ₹47.89 per SCM. However, the 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has become costlier. According to IOC, the price in Delhi has risen by ₹111, from ₹1,580.50 to ₹1,691.50. 2. Car Prices HikeSeveral automakers have increased vehicle prices. Hyundai cars are now 0.6% costlier, Renault India has announced hikes up to 2%, Mercedes-Benz I...

New Delhi: If you were planning to buy a Hyundai car in the new year, be prepared to spend a little more. From January 1, Hyundai has increased the prices of its entire car lineup, citing rising input costs. On average, the hike is around 0.6%. The company explained that the cost of precious metals and other essential materials has been steadily increasing. While Hyundai is continuously working to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency to minimize the impact on customers, the company said a slight price adjustment was unavoidable. Hyundai remains one of India’s top-selling car brands, with models like Creta, Exter, and Venue enjoying strong demand throughout 2025. The company is also making significant inroads in the electric vehicle (EV) segment, with the Creta EV contribut...