Business

Domestic stock markets kicked off the new month with record-breaking gains, buoyed by a stronger-than-expected 8.2% GDP growth in Q2, which exceeded analysts’ forecasts. The BSE Sensex rose 360 points (0.41%), opening at 86,159, while the NSE Nifty 50 surged 120 points to a new high of 26,326. The Nifty Bank index also reached a record 60,114, reflecting investor optimism. Earlier, on 27 November, Sensex had touched 86,055.86, and Nifty 50 had reached 26,310.45. Today’s early trading, however, set fresh milestones for both indices. Among Sensex’s 30 stocks, BEL, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, SBI, Tata Steel, and HCL Tech led the rally, gaining more than 1% each. In contrast, Bajaj Finance, ITC, and Titan witnessed some decline. Expert Insights V.K. Vijaykumar, Chief Investmen...

Gold and silver prices witnessed a strong surge at the start of the month, with gold rising by nearly ₹1,300 and silver reaching an all-time high. As the wedding season kicks in, investors and buyers are keeping a close watch on the precious metals market. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), February delivery gold climbed to ₹1,30,794 per 10 grams, up from the previous session’s close of ₹1,29,504. Gold opened at ₹1,29,999 and in early trading touched a low of ₹1,29,900 and a high of ₹1,30,794. By 12:50 PM, it was trading at ₹1,30,638, up ₹1,134 or 0.88% from the previous close. Silver prices, meanwhile, reached record levels. The metal closed at ₹1,74,981 per kg in the previous session and opened today at ₹1,77,858. Early trades saw silver rise by ₹3,668, reaching ₹1,78,649 per k...

The government’s recently launched FASTag Annual Pass has rapidly gained popularity, with 36.3 lakh users adopting it in just three and a half months. Approximately 20,000 new users are signing up for the pass every day, and the initiative is significantly reducing disputes at toll plazas across national highways. Currently, one in every five car users traveling on tolled national highways uses the FASTag Annual Pass. The pass, priced at ₹3,000, allows car owners to cross 200 toll plazas annually, effectively reducing the cost to just ₹15 per toll plaza. For frequent travelers between cities, it has become the most convenient and cost-effective option. Data from over 12 toll plazas shows that more than 40% of car users are paying tolls using the annual pass. Bajvasan Toll Plaza Leads...

With bank interest rates remaining low, investors are increasingly looking for alternative avenues to grow their money. One such avenue that has delivered exceptional returns over the long term is the ICICI Prudential Value Fund. If an investor had put ₹10 lakh into this fund 21 years ago, their investment would have grown to approximately ₹4.85 crore as of 31 October 2025—a nearly 50-fold increase. This represents a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 20.1%. In comparison, the same amount invested in the Nifty 50 TRI over the same period would have grown to around ₹2.1 crore. Impressive SIP Performance The fund has also performed exceptionally well for Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) investors. A monthly SIP of ₹10,000 since inception would have grown to ₹2.4 crore, even thoug...

India, whose second-largest trading partner and biggest export market is the United States, faces a major challenge as Washington has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods. This includes an additional 25% tariff related to India’s purchase of oil from Russia, which has impacted India’s exports to the U.S. significantly. To diversify its markets, India is now strengthening trade and investment ties with Russia. A major step in this direction will be the India-Russia Business Forum scheduled in New Delhi on 4–5 December, coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India. Both countries have set an ambitious goal to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. The forum aims to enhance Indian engineering exports to Russia, boost imports of Indian food products—partic...

Mumbai: India’s foreign exchange reserves witnessed a significant decline during the week ending 21 November 2025, falling by $4.47 billion after a strong $5.54 billion increase the previous week. Current Reserve Levels According to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country’s total foreign exchange reserves now stand at $688.104 billion. For perspective, the reserves had reached a record high of $704.885 billion during the week ending 27 September 2024. Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) During the week under review, India’s Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs) declined by $1.69 billion, following a modest $152 million gain the previous week. The FCA forms a major portion of the country’s forex reserves and includes holdings in currencies such as the Euro, Pound, and Y...

New Delhi: Patanjali Ayurved Limited has been slapped with a total fine of ₹1.4 lakh after its cow ghee failed food safety tests, raising concerns over product quality and consumer health. Two separate laboratory tests confirmed that the ghee did not meet the required safety standards. Sample Fails Initial Testing The issue dates back to 2020, when a routine inspection at Karan General Store in Kasni, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, collected a sample of Patanjali cow ghee. The sample was first tested at Rudrapur lab, where officials found it substandard and potentially harmful for consumption. Second Test Confirms Concerns Following the initial findings, Patanjali was issued a notice in 2021 but failed to respond. Subsequently, the company requested a retest at a central lab, paying...

New Delhi: Taking a family business to new heights requires vision, innovation, and relentless hard work. Viren Khuller, the third-generation entrepreneur of the Khuller family, has done just that. Starting with a modest investment of ₹10,000, he has transformed the family’s dental care brand STIM into a company generating ₹250 crore in turnover today. A Legacy Reimagined The journey began in the 1970s, when Viren’s grandfather, the late V.D. Khuller, laid the foundation of the business with a small investment. By 2015, when Viren took charge, the company’s annual turnover was ₹80 crore. Through strategic expansion, modern management practices, and innovative products, Viren propelled the business to ₹250 crore by 2024. Today, Global Dent Aids Private Limited, as the company is of...

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a significant step to streamline digital banking operations across the country. On Friday, the central bank issued seven new ‘Master Directions’ specifically targeting digital banking practices for commercial banks, small finance banks, and other financial institutions. This move is part of RBI’s broader mission to simplify and consolidate regulations, reducing unnecessary paperwork and making banking operations more efficient. With these new directives, banks and financial institutions will face less administrative burden, improving both internal workflows and customer service. Consolidating Regulations RBI has so far issued a total of 244 Master Directions, which consolidate previously fragmented and scattered instructions. Th...

New Delhi: In a landmark decision, India’s capital market regulator SEBI has reclassified Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) under the equity category, effective 1 January 2026. This move aims to encourage mutual funds (MFs) and Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs) to invest more freely in the real estate sector. According to SEBI’s circular, any investments made by MFs and SIFs in REITs after 1 January 2026 will be treated as equity investments. Meanwhile, Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) will continue to remain in the hybrid category, combining equity and debt. Impact on Existing Investments Investments in REITs under debt schemes until 31 December 2025 will remain unaffected by the new rules. However, fund houses are advised to gradually exit these old debt-based REI...