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NSE Holidays for New Year 2026: NSE and BSE will remain open for trading on January 1, even as most major global markets stay shut. Commodity exchanges MCX and NCDEX will be open during the day session but will remain closed in the evening session.

Indian equities are poised for a cautious yet potentially rewarding 2026, with the Sensex and Nifty projected to gain between 8% and 14%. While near-term volatility is expected due to domestic liquidity and currency pressures, a rebound in earnings for FY27 is anticipated to sustain valuations. Investors are advised to deploy capital systematically, with large caps being the preferred segment.

Banking sector profitability strengthened and asset quality improved in FY25, reaching a multi-decadal low GNPA ratio of 2.2%. Banks significantly increased sales of stressed assets to ARCs, with private and foreign banks leading the trend. Non-bank lenders, including NBFCs and HFCs, also reported growth and improved profitability.

Varun Beverages' acquisition of South African brand Twizza is set to double its market share in the region to 20% by 2027. Analysts have raised target prices, citing VBL's consistent domestic performance and international expansion potential. The deal is expected to yield cost synergies and enhance VBL's manufacturing and distribution capabilities in South Africa.

Multi-asset allocation funds led performance in 2025, driven by a significant surge in gold and silver prices. These diversified funds delivered an average return of nearly 17%, outperforming equity-oriented categories. Equity funds, including large-cap, midcap, and small-cap, struggled to beat their benchmarks, with small-cap funds experiencing losses.

Japanese memory chipmaker Kioxia Holdings Corp has seen its stock surge by an astonishing 540% this year, becoming the top performer on Japan's Topix index. This remarkable gain is fueled by the insatiable demand for data storage driven by the AI boom, with Kioxia's NAND flash memory chips being crucial for AI training and data centers.

Asim Munir Daughter Wedding: Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's daughter, Mahnoor, recently married her cousin, Abdur Rehman, the son of his brother Qasim Munir. The high-profile wedding in Rawalpindi was attended by top political leaders and military figures but was kept discreet for security reasons.

India is poised for a significant economic year in 2025, with real GDP expanding at an 8.2% rate in Q2 FY25-26, a six-quarter high. Inflation remained low, with CPI softening to 0.71% in November, while unemployment dropped to 4.7%. Strong export performance and robust foreign exchange reserves further bolster the economy, now the world's fourth-largest.

Citgroup on Monday said it is selling the last of its business operations in Russia, and expecting to log a $1.1 billion loss in the process. AO Citibank, which conducts the company's remaining operations in Russia, is being sold to Renaissance Capital, according to the financial institution. gc/sla

Chinese auto giant BYD is set to overtake Tesla as the world's top electric vehicle seller for 2025. BYD's sales have significantly outpaced Tesla's, with projections indicating a decline for the American company. Industry watchers anticipate a transition period for EV demand in the US following tax credit changes.

A train derailed in Oaxaca, Mexico, resulting in 13 fatalities. The train was carrying 250 individuals, including passengers and crew. Authorities reported 98 injuries, with 36 individuals receiving medical attention. Many passengers were confirmed to be out of danger following the incident. Rescue and recovery efforts were underway.

A new political party, the Bangladesh Minority Janta Party (BMJP), is aiming to unite Hindu and other minority votes in Bangladesh for the upcoming elections. The BMJP plans to contest 91 seats, seeking to secure victories in around 40-45 constituencies, and is exploring alliances to ensure minority safety during voting.

America is restarting its graphite mines after decades. Demand for this key battery material is soaring, driven by electric cars and electronics. Companies like Titan Mining in New York are developing new sites. This move aims to secure domestic supply chains and lessen dependence on China. Future production could meet significant US needs.

India and New Zealand have finalized a free trade pact with an investment arrangement allowing New Zealand dairy firms to process raw materials in India for re-export. This initiative aims to boost India's exports and includes a fast-track mechanism for New Zealand products. India also committed to future consultations on dairy access for comparable economies.

India and New Zealand have concluded a free trade agreement, granting 100% zero-duty access for Indian exports to New Zealand. This pact is set to benefit Indian farmers, MSMEs, artisans, youth, and women-led enterprises, fostering significant trade growth and investment opportunities.

Axis Bank chief economist Neelkanth Mishra projects India's real GDP to grow 7.5% in the next fiscal, driven by reforms and supportive policies. Headline inflation is expected to remain within the RBI's comfort zone around 4%, with the central bank likely maintaining a softer monetary stance.

The Reserve Bank of India is injecting Rs 1.5 lakh crore into the financial system. This move aims to prevent any cash crunch as advance tax and GST payments are due. The central bank is conducting a dollar-rupee buy-sell swap to add more liquidity. This action will help keep overnight interest rates stable.

India and France are nearing a revised tax treaty that will reduce dividend taxes for French parent companies holding over 10% stakes to 5%, while increasing it to 15% for minority shareholders. The agreement also proposes allowing India to tax share sales by any French entity, shifting to a source-based capital gains framework.

Kaynes has plunged 43.5% from its October peak, with Friday’s 12.5% drop marking the steepest single-day decline. Momentum indicators remain bearish, signaling a risk of further slide toward the year’s low of Rs 3,825. However, being nearly 26% below its 200-day SMA suggests potential mean-reversion, with a contrarian recovery target at Rs 4,541 and downside below Rs 4,300.

Warren Buffett and Michael Burry are taking opposing stances on the AI boom, highlighting investor uncertainty. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has added a major stake in Alphabet, signaling confidence in the AI-driven growth, while Burry shorts Palantir and Nvidia, criticizing Big Tech accounting practices. Their contrasting positions coincide with transitions in their careers and growing debate over whether AI hype is justified or a bubble.

SoftBank-backed digital-commerce ecosystem AceVector Ltd has filed updated draft papers with markets regulator Sebi for an initial public offering (IPO), which will include a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 300 crore.

The combined market valuation of five of the top-10 most valued firms surged by Rs 72,284.74 crore last week, with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys emerging as the biggest winners.

China has regained global investor confidence in a stellar year for stocks, with the MSCI China Index rising about 30%, adding $2.4 trillion in value and outperforming the S&P 500. Fund managers including Amundi, BNP Paribas, Fidelity and Man Group expect further gains in 2026, driven by AI innovation and market resilience, as both passive and active inflows fuel the rally.

The Election Commission's 'Special Intensive Revision' of Bihar's electoral rolls has ignited political debate, differing from past revisions. While intensive revisions aren't new, the timing of Bihar's SIR, months before assembly elections, is unusual. Unlike previous 'de novo' exercises, it builds upon the 2002-03 roll, incorporating new enumeration forms and document submission.

BJP has accused Arvind Kejriwal of orchestrating hoax calls to mislead voters, alleging that the AAP is claiming votes are being cut by the BJP to support AAP. They also allege distribution of money in slum areas and raised concerns about voter data confidentiality, demanding an investigation.

Lok Sabha election 2024: ​​The BJP-Shiv Sena won 41 of the 48 seats in the 2019 polls, but the Sena has split since and a vast majority of the Bal Thackeray-founded party is now allied with the BJP. The Nationalist Congress Party also split as well with Ajit Pawar joining the ruling alliance in the state, led by Eknath Shinde. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP emerged the top party with 23 seats, followed by the undivided Sena with 18.

Gujarat's upcoming Lok Sabha elections are influenced by PM Narendra Modi's charisma, anti-incumbency, unemployment, inflation, education, healthcare challenges, and BJP's endeavor to secure all 26 seats. ​​Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on May 7. Counting of votes will be held on June 4. Anti-incumbency, unemployment, inflation, education and healthcare facilities are some of the other important issues in the election, where the ruling BJP in Gujarat will attempt to retain all the 26 Lok Sabha seats it won in 2019.

The BJP, riding high on its growing voter base in Telangana, is now aiming to win over 12 out of the total 17 seats and 35 per cent vote share, in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The party doubled its vote share to nearly 14 per cent resulting in eight seats in the assembly elections held on November 30, last year. BRS, which ruled the state for about a decade since its emergence, is low on morale following the defeat, even as its founder and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha was arrested on the eve of poll dates announcement, adding insult to the injury.

Kavitha's arrest before Lok Sabha elections may psychologically impact BRS party. Meanwhile, fomer minister Harish Rao announced protests in the state. Moreover, desertion of MPs and leaders who are not contesting polls adds to party's troubles. Nagesh Kumar predictsed that more desertions could happen due to Kavitha's arrest.

Anita Nariani Schulze is part of the Sindhi minority. Her complaint alleges that her senior and direct managers, both male, consistently excluded her from meetings while inviting her male counterparts, criticised her, micromanaged her work and deprived her of bonuses, despite positive performance evaluations and significant team contributions.

But two senior envoys who attended said there was no direct response from the ministers gathered in Brussels when Blinken said: "We must push back on China together and show strength in unity."

This comes as the San-Francisco based firm is at the receiving end of the Indian government over an issue of blocking and unblocking certain handles tweeting about farmer protests.

Foreign companies looking for incentives under the scheme may have to invest Rs 500 crore over four years, while the threshold for domestic firms is likely to be around Rs 20 crore for five years, the source who did not wish to be named said.

Growth More than in MetrosAccording to companies like Aisle and Truly Madly, which have millions of users and position themselves as “serious” dating apps, and bespoke high-end dating services like Sirf Coffee, a lot more users from such places are not only keen on using these apps, but also willing to pay for it.

“Indian companies need to re-skill, train, and acquire more relevant talent, if they are to successfully integrate AI technologies. Most importantly, they should be willing to make the continued investment. It is an uphill race in which there will be winners and losers,” said Deloitte India CEO N Venkatram.

Ambassador Joao Cravinho, head of the EU delegation, led Ambassadors of various European countries to a quiet lunch with Modi at the capital last year.

"It is the collective wisdom of the marketplace that there is action and we will move with speed. That improves the confidence level of industry."

Directives from the Centre have to be executed at the state level. So, there are many things that are not in Modi’s hands, says Raamdeo Agrawal.

"The fact that we are the world’s largest democracy and we are all aware that power and a role in global affairs for a nation comes from economic strength."

"Now there is a stage three and stage four of digitisation, we will take a call on this only after taking all things into account."

"There is a leadership vacuum in the company, because they made the wrong choice of CEO three years ago and that is playing out right now."

Rupee#CAD#Economic crisis#Food Bill

The team behind The Artist will have spent the first day of the rest of their lives conforming to the grandest, and most lucrative, of Hollywood traditions.

It's the World Book fair, which comes around once every two years sprawling across the giant halls of Pragati Maidan. This is the fair's 20th edition.

An elephant figurine gifted by the then HM LK Advani to US Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2002, has made its way to the State Department hall.

Statistical models used by IMD will still be used for monsoon forecast, but the ministry of earth sciences is putting more emphasis on dynamic models.

Newly discovered documents have revealed the first telegraph messages and joy when England was linked for the first time with India on 23 June, 1870.

Hundreds of worried fans of ailing Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan today performed a yagna here to pray for his speedy recovery.

Alfa Laval (India) today said its parent firm has raised the delisting offer price to Rs 2,850 a share.