Business

The United States has announced a sweeping 25% tariff on countries that continue trade relations with Iran, a move that could pose fresh economic and diplomatic challenges for India. As one of Iran’s key trading partners, India now finds itself navigating a complex situation that could affect everything from saffron imports to strategic infrastructure projects. US President Donald Trump described the decision as a “final and decisive measure” aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran amid growing internal unrest. However, the move directly targets Iran’s major trade partners and risks further straining New Delhi–Washington relations. Could India Face an Effective 75% US Tariff? The Iran-related tariff adds to existing trade pressures on India. The US has already imposed a 25% recipro...

Gold prices surged nearly 60% last year, marking the largest annual increase since 1979. A major driver behind this spike has been the aggressive gold purchases by central banks around the world. In November alone, central banks collectively acquired 45 tonnes of gold — the second-largest monthly purchase in 11 months — marking the second consecutive month in which purchases exceeded 40 tonnes. For the first 11 months of the year, total central bank acquisitions reached 297 tonnes. Poland Leads in Gold PurchasesPoland’s National Bank bought the largest amount in November, acquiring 12 tonnes of gold. The country also topped the list in October. As a result, Poland’s total gold reserves have now reached 543 tonnes, accounting for 28% of its total foreign exchange reserves. The bank ai...

India is making significant strides in strengthening its trade relations with the United Kingdom and the European Union, with free trade agreements (FTAs) expected to receive final approval soon. This development could provide a major boost to India’s textile industry while delivering a setback to Bangladesh’s export dominance. According to the Economic Times, buyers from major European and UK clothing brands, including Marks & Spencer, Primark, Next, and Mothercare, have already begun engaging with Indian suppliers. Exporters report that these companies are increasingly inspecting and evaluating factories in textile hubs such as Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. The move comes amid supply chain uncertainties in Bangladesh and expectations of reduced tariffs under the new FTAs, prompting buyer...

New Delhi: Investors, take note—the Indian stock market will remain closed on January 15, 2026, in addition to the regular weekend holidays. Both the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and NSE (National Stock Exchange) have issued circulars confirming the trading holiday. Reason for the ClosureThe markets will be closed due to municipal elections in Maharashtra on January 15. As a result, equity, equity derivatives, commodity derivatives, and electronic gold receipts trading will not take place on this day. The BSE circular stated that equity derivatives contracts expiring on January 15, 2026, have now been extended to January 14, 2026. NSE also revised its earlier circular to declare January 15 a capital market and F&O trading holiday. What Is a Settlement Holiday?A settlement holid...

New Delhi: While U.S. President Donald Trump continues his mission to “Make America Great Again,” American workers are witnessing a historic decline in their share of the country’s economic output. According to recent data, labor’s share of U.S. GDP—representing wages, salaries, bonuses, and benefits for non-farm workers—has fallen to 53.8%, the lowest level since records began in 1947. Historical Perspective In 1950, labor’s share stood at approximately 65%. By 1960, it reached a record 66%. In 2001, the figure was 64%, but it has since declined by 10.4 percentage points. Meanwhile, corporate profit margins have surged to 10.9%, marking the second-highest level in history. This indicates that while workers are producing more than ever, the largest portion of economic g...

Mumbai: Shares of Krystal Integrated Services Limited (BSE: 544149 | NSE: KRYSTAL), a leading integrated facility management solutions provider, have been in focus recently, surging nearly 20% over the past month. The rally comes on the back of significant new contracts and strong financial performance. ₹275 Crore Contract Boosts SentimentThe company recently secured three work orders totaling ₹275 crore from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation for solid waste management. These contracts, spanning five years, cover door-to-door waste collection, segregation, transportation, and road cleanliness in one of Maharashtra’s fastest-growing urban regions. The breakdown of the work orders is as follows: Division C: Estimated cost ₹83 crore Division F: Estimated cost ₹275 crore Di...

New Delhi / Washington D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump has been aggressively implementing global tariffs, but his policies now face a crucial legal test. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to deliver a verdict on January 14 regarding the legality of Trump’s tariffs. If the ruling goes against him, Trump has reportedly prepared a “Game 2 Plan” to continue his tariff agenda. Trump Warns of Financial FalloutOn Monday, Trump cautioned that a Supreme Court decision invalidating his global tariffs could cause massive financial losses for the United States. Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, he wrote, “If the Supreme Court rules against this critical national security measure, we will be devastated!” The tariffs, challenged as a potential overreach of presidential authority, ...

New Delhi: Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., has officially crossed the $4 trillion market capitalization mark, joining an elite club of just four companies worldwide to reach this milestone. On Monday, Alphabet shares rose over 1%, pushing the company’s market value to $4.016 trillion. Alphabet Enters the $4 Trillion ClubAlphabet is now the fourth company globally to surpass the $4 trillion threshold, following Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft. Nvidia, a leading AI chipmaker, currently tops the list with a market value of $4.502 trillion. However, concerns over an AI bubble have recently affected Nvidia’s stock price. Alphabet ranks second, with Apple at $3.845 trillion in third place and Microsoft at $3.546 trillion in fourth. Global Top 10 CompaniesOther leading companies in the...

Mumbai: As 2026 begins, global investors appear to be steering away from India, despite the country being one of the world’s key emerging markets. So far this fiscal year, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have net sold ₹1.6 lakh crore in Indian equities, raising questions about the reasons behind this pronounced pullback. India Losing Its AppealWhile investors from the U.S. and Taiwan have shifted capital toward AI-focused opportunities and other emerging markets, India remains largely “off the preferred list.” After a challenging 2025, when India witnessed one of its weakest years for foreign inflows, FIIs pulled out substantial funds due to expensive market valuations and corporate earnings that have underperformed expectations. For perspective, the MSCI India Dollar Index tr...

New Delhi: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new tariff policy that could have far-reaching implications for India. Trump declared that any country trading with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States, a move that could push India’s total tariffs to a staggering 575%. How India Is AffectedCurrently, India already faces a 50% tariff from the U.S.—half of which is reciprocal and the other half imposed as a penalty for importing crude oil from Russia. Under Trump’s latest announcement, an additional 25% tariff could apply due to India’s trade with Iran. Combined with the 50% and potential 500% tariffs linked to Russia, this could escalate India’s total trade duties with the U.S. to 575%, creating major concerns for exporters and policymakers. India-Iran Tra...