Business

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 ...

New Delhi: Valentine’s Day is around the corner, but India’s Gen Z and millennials are redefining how love is expressed. Traditional gifts like red roses and teddy bears are losing their charm, giving way to quirky, personalized, and practical presents, according to recent shopping trends on Instamart and Swiggy. The End of Red Roses?Classic bouquets are no longer the default. Instamart’s latest shopping data reveals a cultural shift: young buyers are opting for chocolates, chips, protein bars, grooming kits, and even condom packets instead of conventional flowers. These items are being creatively arranged in gift bundles, reflecting a more personal and playful approach to gifting. Trending Gifts of 2026This year, Valentine’s Day gifts in India are practical yet fun. Limited-edition ...

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, according to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Friday. This marks the first MPC meeting following the recent Union Budget, drawing close attention from markets, borrowers, and investors keen to gauge the central bank’s stance on interest rates and economic growth. With the repo rate unchanged, borrowing costs for businesses and consumers will remain steady. The three-day MPC review began on February 4 under the chairmanship of Governor Malhotra. Most economists and financial analysts had anticipated that the repo rate would remain on hold. The last rate change occurred in December 2025, when the MPC cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%...

New Delhi: The Government of India and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) are set to sell their combined 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank. Fairfax Financial, led by Prema Watts, and Kotak Mahindra Bank have shown keen interest in acquiring a significant portion of the shares, triggering a competitive bidding process. Both parties are expected to submit their financial proposals separately on Friday. Currently, the government and LIC together hold more than 90% of IDBI Bank’s total stake. According to sources cited by The Economic Times, once the bids are received, a minimum sale price — or reserve price — will be determined before the offers are opened. This reserve price will be known only to a few government officials and will not be disclosed to the bidders. A government official noted that t...

New Delhi: The fear of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now extending beyond the workplace, shaking stock markets worldwide. In recent days, global indices have tumbled amid concerns over Anthropic’s latest AI launch, and India is no exception. Shares of IT companies in the domestic market have also seen notable declines. White-Collar Jobs Take a Hit:Entry-level white-collar jobs, particularly in the tech sector, are facing unprecedented challenges. Traditionally, young professionals began their careers in IT and gradually advanced in their fields. However, with AI-driven automation, many are finding that plumbers, electricians, and other home-service professionals are earning more than entry-level tech workers, marking a shift that would have been hard to imagine a decade ago. Global...