Business

On Friday, gold and silver prices witnessed a strong upward trend once again. Gold is approaching its all-time high, while silver saw a significant surge. Gold and Silver Rally Continues New Delhi: The momentum in precious metals continued on Friday as both gold and silver recorded impressive gains. Gold edged closer to its all-time high, while silver crossed ₹2.42 lakh per kilogram once again. According to the India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA), the price of 24-carat gold rose by ₹1,349 to ₹1,37,122 per 10 grams from Thursday’s ₹1,35,773. The previous all-time high in the spot market for gold was ₹1,37,956 per 10 grams, recorded on December 26, 2025. Similarly, 22-carat gold rose to ₹1,25,604 per 10 grams from ₹1,24,368, while 18-carat gold moved up from ₹1,01,830 t...

Mumbai: Investors who relied solely on equity mutual funds faced disappointing returns last year, while gold and silver delivered eye-popping gains. Gold returned over 74% in 2025, and silver more than doubled with a 160% return. This surge has renewed investor interest in multi-asset allocation funds, which combine precious metals, equities, and debt in a single portfolio. Why Multi-Asset Funds Are in FocusWhile gold and silver soared, equity markets struggled, leaving pure equity mutual fund investors at a disadvantage. Experts now recommend diversifying across multiple asset classes to capture returns while managing risk. Multi-asset funds allow investors to benefit from high-performing commodities like gold and silver while maintaining exposure to equities and safer debt instruments...

New Delhi: India’s domestic stock markets have witnessed a sharp downturn over the past five days, with the Sensex dropping nearly 2,200 points and the Nifty falling by 2.5%. Investors now brace for further volatility next week, hinging on a crucial U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected today on the legality of heavy tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The verdict could either trigger a market rally or exacerbate existing instability in India. Potential Windfall if Tariffs Are Struck DownIf the Supreme Court cancels these tariffs, India could emerge as one of the biggest beneficiaries globally, as Trump had imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports, severely affecting trade. Investors are particularly concerned about another looming threat: a recently approved U.S. bill could impose 50...

New Delhi: The domestic stock market witnessed a sharp decline today, marking the fifth consecutive day of losses. Although the market opened positively in the morning, a statement from the U.S. Commerce Secretary triggered a massive sell-off in the afternoon session. The BSE Sensex plunged over 650 points, while the Nifty50 slipped below 25,700 points. The Trigger: India-U.S. Trade Deal Statement According to the U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the long-pending India-U.S. trade deal could not be finalized because Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly did not call U.S. President Donald Trump to approve the agreement. Lutnick claimed that the deal required India’s direct confirmation to be completed, which did not happen. This disclosure sent shockwaves through the market. ...

New Delhi: After a one-day fall, gold and silver prices are back on the rise today. On Thursday, silver in Delhi’s bullion market had plunged by ₹12,500, while gold fell ₹900. However, trading resumed with gains for both precious metals. Silver Sees Strong RecoveryOn MCX, silver surged by nearly ₹4,000. The 5 March delivery of silver had closed at ₹2,43,324 per kg in the previous session and opened today at ₹2,45,600. During early trading, it touched a high of ₹2,47,247 and a low of ₹2,43,670. By 11:35 AM, silver was trading at ₹2,47,160 — up ₹3,836 or 1.58% from the previous close. Gold Also GainsGold prices also moved higher today. The 5 February delivery of gold had closed at ₹1,37,742 per 10 grams in the previous session and opened at ₹1,37,997. Early trading saw a low of ₹1,37,7...

New Delhi: Scientific advancements are transforming agriculture, and China is once again at the forefront. Chinese scientists have developed a breakthrough hybrid rice variety capable of cloning itself through seeds, meaning farmers will no longer need to purchase new hybrid seeds for each planting season. A Game-Changer for Rice CultivationAccording to the South China Morning Post, experts are calling this discovery revolutionary. Traditional hybrid rice requires farmers to buy fresh seeds every season to maintain high yields, a major barrier for cost-effective cultivation. With this new variety, farmers could drastically reduce costs while retaining the high-yield traits of hybrid rice across generations. Up to Four Times Higher YieldThe most remarkable feature of this hybrid rice ...

New Delhi: India’s defence exports have surged dramatically in recent years, positioning the country to emerge as a major player in the global arms market. Amidst geopolitical turmoil, trade disruptions, and increasing military conflicts worldwide, India now has a unique opportunity to expand its defence industry and reduce reliance on imports. Experts note that countries of the Global South, in particular, could become key markets for Indian-made weaponry. A Transformative Decade Over the past decade, India’s defence sector has undergone a profound transformation. Once entirely dependent on imports and dominated by state-owned companies, the sector has benefited from policy reforms, institutional changes, and government prioritisation, leading to a near-complete overhaul. Today, wit...

New Delhi: The year has started on a rocky note for the world’s wealthiest. Among the top 10 billionaires globally, six have seen a decline in their net worth, with Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani suffering the biggest loss. In contrast, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has emerged as the biggest gainer so far this year. Ambani’s Net Worth Takes a Hit Shares of India’s most valuable company, Reliance Industries, continued to slide on Thursday, causing Mukesh Ambani’s net worth to fall by $2.59 billion to $101 billion. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ambani has lost $6.54 billion this year, making him the biggest wealth-loser among the global elite. Ambani ranks 18th globally and first in Asia. If Reliance shares continue their decline, he could even fall out of ...

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget on February 1, 2026. A major highlight could be a ₹23,000 crore incentive package aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing of high-tech capital goods and reducing dependence on imports—especially from China. Incentives to Strengthen Domestic Production Officials say the government is finalizing plans to boost local production of high-tech construction and automotive equipment. For construction machinery, a ₹14,000–16,000 crore incentive program is nearing completion. Additionally, a ₹7,000 crore scheme is being prepared to strengthen India’s position in the global automotive value chain (GVC). Together, these initiatives aim to make India self-reliant in capital goods manufacturing. Focus on Constru...

New Delhi: Coal India, SAIL, Tata Steel, L&T, ACC, Ultratech, and other major industrial companies have received relief following a Supreme Court ruling: heavy vehicles that operate exclusively within mines, factories, and construction sites will no longer be required to pay road tax. Supreme Court Clarifies A bench led by Justice Pankaj Mithal ruled on Thursday that industrial and construction machinery—such as dumpers, excavators, and surface miners—used exclusively within factories, mines, or closed areas are not considered motor vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act. Consequently, these vehicles are exempt from road tax. This decision overturned a 2011 Gujarat High Court ruling and came in response to an appeal by Ultratech Cement. The Court emphasized that these vehicles ...