Business

After several days of gains, gold and silver prices fell today as investors reacted to US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will not impose a new 10% tariff on the European Union. The development eased market tensions, triggering profit-taking in precious metals. On MCX, gold for 5 February delivery opened at ₹1,51,557 per 10 grams, down over ₹3,000 from the previous close of ₹1,52,862. During early trading, it hit a low of ₹1,49,400 and a high of ₹1,53,784, trading at ₹1,49,584 by 10:00 AM—a decline of ₹3,278. Silver also saw a sharp drop, with 5 March delivery silver opening at ₹3,19,843 per kg, down approximately ₹13,000 from the previous close of ₹3,18,492. In early trade, silver touched a low of ₹3,05,753 and a high of ₹3,25,602, and was trading at ₹3,11,533 at 10:11...

After three consecutive days of declines, the Indian stock market opened sharply higher today following positive signals from US President Donald Trump regarding a trade deal with India. The announcement triggered a surge in investor sentiment, pushing key indices upward. In early trading, the BSE Sensex jumped over 800 points, while the NSE Nifty gained more than 250 points. At 9:38 AM, Sensex was trading at 82,741.60, up 831.97 points (1.02%), and Nifty stood at 25,408, up 250.50 points (1%). Sector and Stock MovementsOut of the 30 stocks in the Sensex, 28 advanced, led by Eternal, Asian Paints, SBI, Adani Ports, BEL, Tata Steel, Indigo, Mahindra & Mahindra, Axis Bank, Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank, ITC, Power Grid, Tech Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Kotak Bank, and Infosys, which rose betw...

India is emerging as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, and global financial leaders are taking notice. David Rubenstein, co-founder of the US-based Carlyle Group, has predicted that India’s growth trajectory could enable it to overtake both China and the United States within the next two to three decades. Currently, India ranks as the world’s fourth-largest economy, with the US at the top and China in second place. Speaking to Economic Times during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Rubenstein said, “I believe India could become the world’s largest economy in 20 to 30 years.” He emphasized that India’s growth is uninterrupted by concerns over US-India relations, noting, “President Trump has generally maintained a positive stance toward India and has appointed ...

The Indian rupee plunged to an all-time low against the US dollar on Wednesday, reflecting heightened global uncertainty and sustained foreign capital outflows. The currency opened at ₹91.05 and during intraday trading touched ₹91.74, before closing at ₹91.65, down 68 paise from the previous close. This marks the biggest single-day fall since 21 November 2025. The RBI reference rate for USD/INR was 91.5500, below the closing market level. Factors Behind the DeclineAccording to Abhishek Bisen, Head of Fixed Income at Kotak Mahindra AMC, emerging economies like India are under pressure from volatile capital flows. Additionally, geopolitical tensions are affecting global markets. Recent developments such as the Greenland dispute and US control over Venezuela’s oil reserves have added to un...

Pune-based Entrepreneur Redefines Career PathKalyani Chavali, a chemical engineer from Pune, has transformed her professional journey by swapping laboratory test tubes for cooking pans. She is the founder of Sahrudaya Foods, a startup she launched in 2021. Today, the company generates an annual revenue of ₹24 lakh by providing healthy snacks and sweets to consumers while empowering rural women through employment opportunities. From Lab to EntrepreneurshipOriginally from Hyderabad and raised in Pune, 24-year-old Kalyani had plans to pursue higher education abroad. However, the COVID-19 pandemic altered her trajectory. During this time, she collaborated on a project with a science ashram in Pabal village, Maharashtra, where she met rural women skilled in preparing traditional, nutritious ...

Stock Market Update: Domestic equity markets ended lower on Wednesday, marking the third consecutive day of declines amid global uncertainties, weak cues, and continued foreign capital outflows. The BSE Sensex fell 270.84 points (0.33%) to close at 81,909.63, while the NSE Nifty 50 dropped 75 points (0.30%) to 25,157.50. During volatile trading, the Sensex touched an intraday low of 81,124.45, down 1,056.02 points at one point. Selling pressure was seen across financial, banking, and consumer stocks, while selective buying at lower levels provided some support. Top Movers:Among Sensex constituents, ICICI Bank, Trent, Bharat Electronics, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Larsen & Toubro, SBI, and Maruti Suzuki were major losers. Conversely, Eternal, UltraTech Cement, InterGlobe Aviation (Indi...

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about a “remarkable” trade deal with India, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a good man and a friend. The statement comes amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries, with U.S. tariffs on Indian imports currently among the highest in the world at 50%. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump said, “I have great respect for your Prime Minister. He is a wonderful person and my friend. We will have a good deal.” His remarks signal a positive outlook for the negotiations, even as no formal agreement has yet been finalized. Support from U.S. AmbassadorRecently appointed U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gore has also reaffirmed confidence in the bilateral relationship and the on...

India and the European Union (EU) are on the verge of signing a historic trade agreement, hailed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as “the mother of all deals.” The pact, nearly 20 years in the making, is expected to deliver significant economic benefits to both sides while reducing dependency on China. It could also deal a major blow to U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade strategies. Two Decades in the MakingThe EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) reflects renewed political will, sustained high-level dialogues, and shifting global geopolitics. Negotiations, which stalled in 2013, were revived in June 2022 amid changing global trade and security dynamics. The Trump administration’s protectionist policies further underscored the need for the agreement, pushing India t...

In Delhi’s Sarafa Bazaar, gold and silver prices reached record highs on Wednesday, with gold trading at ₹1,59,700 per 10 grams and silver at ₹3,34,300 per kilogram. The surge comes amid rising demand for safe-haven investments, strong inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs), higher international prices, and a weakening rupee. The wedding season has made the sharp rise even more impactful, leaving families scrambling. With prices climbing so rapidly, gifting traditional jewelry like anklets to brides has become increasingly expensive. According to the All India Sarafa Association, 24-karat gold prices increased by ₹6,500, or 4.24%, to ₹1,59,700 per 10 grams (including all taxes). This follows Tuesday’s milestone, when gold crossed the ₹1.5 lakh mark in Delhi for the first time. ...

The Indian government has set an ambitious target to double its textile and apparel exports to $100 billion by 2030, up from the current $40 billion. To achieve this, India plans to focus on countries with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and promote high-value segments such as geographical indication (GI) products, carpets, handlooms, and silk. Additionally, districts that currently do not contribute to exports will be brought onto the export map. This strategy is expected to directly impact Bangladesh, a major player in textile exports whose sector contributes more than 80% to its GDP and total exports. A significant factor in Bangladesh’s success has been its status as a Least Developed Country (LDC), which provides duty-free access to major markets like the European Union and the United...