Business

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...

India’s automobile industry delivered a stellar performance in 2025, registering record-breaking sales across segments, including passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and commercial vehicles. Data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Tuesday shows that strong festive demand, tax relief measures, and easier financing conditions drove the surge. Passenger Vehicles Hit New Highs Passenger vehicle sales (cars, SUVs, and vans) rose 20.6% year-on-year to 1.276 million units in the October–December 2025 quarter, marking the highest-ever sales recorded in any third quarter. For the full calendar year 2025, passenger vehicle sales stood at 4.49 million units, up 5% compared to 2024. December 2025 alone witnessed a sharp jump, with sales reaching...

As India and the European Union move closer to finalising a long-pending trade agreement, concerns are mounting within India’s automobile industry. Leading global carmakers, including BMW, have cautioned that Chinese automobile manufacturers could exploit the proposed deal to gain indirect access to the Indian market, potentially undermining existing investments. According to a report by The Times of India, BMW has urged the Indian government to incorporate strong safeguard measures before signing the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The company fears that without adequate protections, the deal could open loopholes allowing non-European players, particularly Chinese automakers, to enter India through the EU route. Automobile Market at the Centre of Negotiations Market access f...

The government has imposed a ban on 10-minute delivery services offered by quick-commerce platforms, citing concerns over the safety and working conditions of gig workers. As a result, platforms such as Zepto, Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zomato will no longer be allowed to promise ultra-fast deliveries until further notice. The decision was taken by Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya following a fatal road accident in Hyderabad that brought the issue of delivery timelines and rider safety into sharp focus. The incident involved the death of a two-wheeler rider, initially reported to be associated with Zepto, though the company later denied any employment link. Government Intervention After Safety Concerns The Labour Minister held discussions with major delivery aggregators to addres...

After opening on a positive note, the Indian equity market lost momentum as the session progressed, leading to sharp intraday losses for investors. The BSE Sensex slipped 250.48 points, or 0.30%, to close at 83,627.69, while the Nifty50 declined 57.95 points, or 0.22%, to settle at 25,732.30. At one point during the day, the Sensex had plunged more than 900 points from its intraday high, highlighting renewed volatility in the market. The Nifty also fell over 1% during intraday trade before recovering partially by the close. Shares of Trent and Larsen & Toubro fell more than 3%, while Reliance Industries declined over 1%. The market had started the day on an optimistic note, supported by hopes of a US trade deal and encouraging early earnings from IT majors TCS and HCL Technologie...