India Financial News

Mint explains why this winter surge matters, after a year in which power consumption remained weaker than expected due to a prolonged monsoon.Power demand typically rises during December and January as colder temperatures increase the use of heating appliances. This year, a sharp cold wave across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh pushed up electricity consumption, with temperatures dropping to as low as 4 degrees Celsius in some areas.

From the Sensex delivering over 9% return in 2025 to industrial output rising to a two-year high, Indian exports getting zero-duty access to Australia, the US’s humanitarian aid commitment to the United Nations plunging to the lowest in over 25 years, and a sharp rise in bank fraud amount—here's a compilation of this week's news in numbers. The Indian stock market remained resilient in 2025 despite several external risks like US tariffs lingering throughout the year. The BSE Sensex gained 7,082 points in 2025, recording an increase of 9.1%.

₹8,000 crore, with assets surpassing ₹9,000 crore across 55 plants across India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Egypt.Often seen in impeccably tailored suits, he possessed a quiet, scholarly gravitas, though his interests spanned flying and painting. In his definitive biography of Birla, author Minhaz Merchant captures the essence of a man who managed to be both a “soft-spoken, sensitive individual” and a “hard-driving, visionary industrialist”.This refinement was anchored by a fierce sense of national pride.

NEW DELHI: The Centre is considering extending the 5% concessional basic customs duty (BCD) on lithium-ion cells used in battery packs for electric vehicles (EVs) for another two years in the upcoming Union budget, according to two people familiar with the matter, as domestic manufacturing has failed to gain momentum.“The proposal from the country’s automobile industry came up during consultations with the ministry of finance,” said one of the two people cited above.“The recommendation is being considered by the Union ministry of finance,” said the second person. Both persons quoted earlier did not want to be identified.The battery accounts for up to half of an EV’s price, and India’s lithium-ion cell imports have surged to $3 billion in FY25 from $1.8 billion in FY22, according to data from the commerce ministry's trade portal.India currently only assembles imported batteries, and demand for these cells is expected to quadruple from the existing 15 gigawatt-hours (GWh) to 60-65 GWh by FY30.

Many investors look for dividend stocks to include their portfolios as dividends provide steady income and can contribute significantly to long-term returns. They also signal strong fundamentals and offer stability during market downturns.However, dividends should not be the sole focus when buying a stock.

Dear reader, as 2025, a year of global tumult and volatility, rolls by, Mint's reporters and columnists look around the corner on what is coming in 2026—to help you know what to expect and prepare for it. Tell us what you think at [email protected] volume at the growth stage and private equity level, in the $30-100 million range, has increased from last year, even as the number of mega deals (greater than $100 million) in the Indian market has decreased.

Russian crude suppliers are now offering Indian refiners a higher discount of up to $8 a barrel, doubling since October after sanctions were announced on Rosneft and Lukoil, according to three people aware of the development. That could increase oil shipments from the non-sanctioned oil suppliers from the Eurasian nation, experts said.The discounts on Urals crude hovered around $2-4 a barrel after the 23 October US decision to impose sanctions on the two largest Russian crude suppliers, according to data from Finnish think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

tax hike on cigarettes.Globally, Indian equities lagged their East Asian peers, with the South Korean and Taiwanese markets outperforming sharply, posting weekly gains of about 4% and 3%, respectively. The divergence was driven largely by valuation-led sector rotation and strong rallies in technology and semiconductor stocks in those markets, where India has limited representation, said Robin Arya, founder of GoalFi, a Securities and Exchange Board of India-registered corporate research analysis firm.

planning to soften its stance on e-commerce rules for exports, as it considers allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in inventory-based e-commerce models, but only for export purposes. India has about 165,000 post offices, including over 149,000 in rural areas and around 15,000 in urban centres.Currently, India’s FDI rules do not allow foreign-funded e-commerce companies to operate an inventory-based model, under which they own the goods sold on their platforms.

The KG‑D6 oil and gas block in the Bay of Bengal has been at the centre of two disputes involving its operator Reliance Industries, India’s most valuable company, after failing to live up to its potential. Reuters reported earlier this week that the Indian government is seeking a multi-billion-dollar compensation from the Mukesh Ambani-led company.

ITC will have to increase product prices, which won’t go down well with consumers, so investors can expect the company’s cigarette volumes to drop in FY27. Moreover, higher taxes on cigarettes could boost sales of illicit cigarettes and, as a result, dent ITC’s volumes.Unsurprisingly, analysts have cut their earnings estimates for FY27, and some have also downgraded their rating on the stock.

thematic funds can provide targeted exposure to long-term structural trends that may not be adequately captured by diversified equity portfolios. In the right market environment, a well-timed sectoral allocation can enhance portfolio returns.However, experts caution that such gains come with elevated risks.

salary hikes.The changing balance of power is visible in attrition data. According to a Mercer study, voluntary attrition across India Inc stood at 13.1% in 2023 and fell to 11.7% in 2024.

nuclear arsenals are growing, and the weapons themselves are becoming more lethal, more diverse, and more vulnerable. Arms-control talks have stalled, and most agreements have expired or been so hollowed out as to have lost all credibility.

Mumbai: Top investment bankers are likely licking their chops at the prospect of lucrative bonuses, after 2025 delivered record fees on the back of buoyant equity capital markets (ECM) and hectic private-market dealmaking.Data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) shows that investment banking fees for 2025 totalled $1.5 billion, of which $651.8 million came from equity deals, $391.3 million from M&A deals, $232.5 million from bond deals, and $227 million from loan syndications.Comparatively, investment banking fees in the previous two years were $1.36 billion (in 2024) and $1.33 billion (2023). In 2024, bonus payouts to investment bankers were an estimated ₹1,000 crore, according to industry experts and headhunters.The bonuses for 2025 deals are expected to be higher.

The government is discussing an extension or a completely new production-linked incentives plan for assembling mobile phones in India as the existing ₹40,995 crore scheme is set to expire in March, according to a top government official.A final call on the exact contours of the new or an extended mobile phone PLI scheme has not been taken, and the quantum of incentives has not been decided, S Krishnan, secretary at the ministry of electronics and IT (Meity), said in an interview.“There’s an analysis which shows that some degree of disability continues in the mobile phone electronics industry. While the situation has improved significantly, there still are areas that require improvement and support.

The growing popularity of obesity drugs is expected to spur Indian pharma companies to sign licensing partnerships and distribution deals as they eye the lucrative segment. Indian companies started signing big-ticket deals with innovators for novel GLP-1s, as well as generic versions, last year.

Mint explains.India’s housing sector recorded its second consecutive year of declining sales in 2025, as high prices eroded affordability. Despite a fall in sales volume, rising prices led to growth in transaction value, as developers moved towards premium housing.In contrast, commercial real estate surged, with strong leasing momentum for good office space. Flexible workspaces gained more favour among occupiers and investors, as leading operators such as WeWork India Management Ltd, Indiqube Spaces Ltd, Smartworks Coworking Spaces Ltd went public.Global capability centres (GCCs) emerged as a key office occupier class in the top-tier cities.

The animal spirits seem to be stirring, but the scoreboard tells a mixed story. New project announcements rose nearly 16% sequentially in the October-December quarter (Q3 FY26), almost doubling the momentum seen in the previous three months.

Dear reader, as 2025, a year of global tumult and volatility, rolls by, Mint's reporters and columnists look around the corner on what is coming in 2026—to help you know what to expect and prepare for it. Tell us what you think at [email protected] Centre is shaping a wider and more deliberate standards strategy for 2026, moving to realign Quality Control Orders (QCOs) with actual testing and laboratory capacity while easing friction with key trading partners.

Two stock recommendations by MarketSmith India:Buy: Fedbank Financial Services Ltd(current price: ₹154.5) Buy: Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (current price: ₹1047)Nifty 50 RecapIndian equities ended the first trading session of 2026 on a subdued note, with benchmark indices consolidating after recent gains.Nifty 50 closed marginally higher at 26,146.55, up 0.07%, after oscillating within a narrow intraday range, while Sensex also finished largely flat, reflecting a lack of strong directional cues.Market breadth was mildly positive, with 1,683 stocks advancing against 1,448 declines, indicating selective buying interest beneath the surface. On the sectoral front, Auto, IT, Metals, and Realty stocks outperformed, supported by bargain hunting and expectations of steady demand..