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Indian equities extended losses as escalating US-Iran tensions pushed crude prices higher, dampening investor sentiment. Rising US bond yields and a stronger dollar have triggered risk-off behaviour among foreign investors. Analysts say volatility may persist, though selective value-buying opportunities could emerge for long-term investors amid geopolitical uncertainty and market weakness.

Indian equities are set for a weak start on Monday after global markets ended the week sharply lower. Rising crude oil prices following escalating Middle East tensions and a selloff in US stocks have dampened sentiment. Analysts warn markets may remain volatile as investors track oil prices, foreign flows and geopolitical developments.

The combined market valuation of eight of the top-10 most-valued firms eroded by Rs 2,81,581.53 crore last week, with the State Bank of India taking the biggest hit, in tandem with a weak trend in equities.

Crude oil prices have surged to near one-year highs as escalating conflict in West Asia threatens key supply routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. Rising geopolitical risks, refinery disruptions and tanker delays are pushing prices higher, raising inflation concerns and creating economic vulnerabilities for major Asian importers, including India, China, Japan and South Korea.

India's primary market is set for another busy week with five IPOs opening for subscription, including four mainboard issues and one SME listing. However, grey market signals suggest that investor enthusiasm remains muted, with most upcoming offerings showing little to no grey market premium (GMP) so far. The cautious sentiment comes after a weak run for recent IPO listings and broader volatility in equity markets.

Ten penny stocks with market caps under Rs 1,000 crore and prices below Rs 20 fell 25–53% in one month, highlighting high volatility, liquidity risks, and downside potential in low-priced stocks.

India has secured the best trade deal with the United States among its competitors. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the strong relationship between the two nations. He emphasized that the US economy is the world's largest and cannot be overlooked. India is actively building a global network of trade partnerships.

European nations are reacting to major strikes on Iran by the US and Israel. Leaders are working to safeguard their citizens in the Middle East. Germany is holding an emergency meeting. The European Union is evacuating some staff. France and Italy are urging caution for their citizens. The situation is described as perilous and a military escalation is underway.

Nepal's national elections are just days away as millions of eligible voters prepare to cast their ballots. The campaign centers on jobs and the economy, with a special emphasis on opportunities for youth. India and China are closely watching the outcome.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the seat-sharing deal for the upcoming assembly elections is complete. The NDA alliance, including BJP, AGP, UPPL, and BPF, has finalized its contest plan. The state leadership will present the candidate list to Union Home Minister Amit Shah soon. Elections for the 126-member assembly are anticipated in March-April, following a recent delimitation exercise.

India is preparing to create 'champion' public sector companies. These firms will boost economic growth and technology. The goal is to help India become a developed nation by 2047. These companies will get more freedom in decisions and talent hiring. They will use new technologies for better performance.

India's chief negotiator Darpan Jain will lead a delegation to Washington next week to finalize the legal agreement for the India-US trade deal, aiming for a March signing. The visit follows the finalization of an interim trade agreement framework, with virtual talks ongoing to translate contours into a legal pact.

Bangladesh's new leader Tarique Rahman states national interest and public welfare are paramount. His party, the BNP, is set to govern after a long absence. The BNP is seeking the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. Rahman, son of former leaders, faces expectations for significant change. Relations with India are a key focus for the new administration.

Hermes has reported robust fourth-quarter revenue growth, exceeding expectations. Strong sales in the United States and Japan have bolstered performance. The luxury brand is weathering a sector slowdown better than rivals. Hermes anticipates continued confidence into 2026. Price increases are planned, though at a slightly slower pace. Positive signs are emerging from China.

India's statistics ministry has updated the Consumer Price Index (CPI) base year to 2024 from 2012, reflecting evolving household consumption patterns. The revised index includes more items, expanded price collection, and incorporates online market data, aiming for a more accurate measure of inflation for monetary policy.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted India's strong economic performance, characterized by high growth and low inflation, attributing it to government reforms. She refuted claims of middle-class suppression, citing an expanding taxpayer base and rising real incomes. The budget aims to guide India towards developed nation status by 2047.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell highlights climate action as a vital tool for global security and prosperity. He notes that despite global instability, investments in clean energy are growing rapidly. Renewables are now the leading electricity source, and global emissions have dropped. Stiell acknowledges progress but stresses the need for faster and fairer transitions.

Swiss bank UBS opened accounts for Ghislaine Maxwell in 2014. This happened after JPMorgan Chase ended its relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and flagged Maxwell as a high-risk client. UBS managed millions for Maxwell, including after Epstein's 2019 arrest. Documents reveal the extent of UBS' banking relationship with Maxwell leading up to her conviction.

Monthly registrations for Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) surpassed 10,000 for the first time in January, a 60% year-on-year increase. Company incorporations also saw a significant jump of nearly 39%. These surges are attributed to a strong domestic growth outlook, boosted by recent trade deals with the US and EU, and favorable tax policies.

As global markets outperform India, diversification is gaining urgency. Subho Moulik explains why a 70:30 India global portfolio improves risk adjusted returns, reduces concentration risk, and provides access to long term global growth themes such as AI, defence, and quantum computing.

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.

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.

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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.