Business

The Railway Ministry announced a fare hike effective December 26, 2025: 1 paise per km for ordinary class beyond 215 km, 2 paise per km for non-AC mail/express and AC classes, expected to generate ₹600 crore by March 2026

Saudi Arabia has quietly expanded alcohol sales at its sole store, allowing non-Muslim foreigners with Premium Residency to purchase. The move reflects the kingdom’s cautious liberalisation, while general alcohol consumption remains banned and highly regulated under strict Sharia law

A parliamentary panel urged India to strengthen IREL with targeted budgetary support to boost rare earth element exploration and mining. Recommendations include domestic supply strategies, international collaborations, and leveraging GSI projects to reduce import dependence for critical minerals

CERT-In has flagged a high-severity WhatsApp vulnerability called GhostPairing, which allows attackers to hijack accounts via the device-linking feature. Cyber criminals can access messages, photos, and videos without passwords or SIM swaps. Users are advised to avoid suspicious links

The RBI has allowed compounding of Genpact India’s FEMA case, ending litigation with a one-time payment of Rs 4.72 lakh. The ED confirmed the closure, emphasizing the policy of promoting ease of doing business and avoiding frivolous litigation

A deal with Oman could provide the springboard India needs to find other markets in the region and in Africa

India’s net direct tax collection rose 8 per cent to Rs 17.04 lakh crore till December 17, driven by higher corporate advance tax payments and slower refunds. Corporate tax revenues outpaced non-corporate collections, official data showed

Flipkart has acquired a majority stake in Minivet AI, an AI/ML solutions provider, to enhance generative AI capabilities for e-commerce. The move aims to create interactive, immersive shopping experiences with AI-driven video and advanced product discovery

The rupee appreciated 24 paise to 89.96 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, supported by corporate dollar inflows, easing crude oil prices and likely RBI intervention, even as experts said the currency may trade in a narrow range.

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded sharply in early trade on Friday after four days of losses, tracking a global market rally driven by softer US inflation data and renewed expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Mumbai stocks rebounded sharply as Sensex and Nifty rose in early trade after four losing sessions, tracking global market gains, easing US inflation data, expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, and strong foreign and domestic institutional buying, boosting investor sentiment

TikTok has agreed to sell its US business to investors Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, with the deal expected to close on January 22. The new venture will store user data locally, retrain its algorithm on US data and operate under American majority oversight, ending uncertainty over a potential US ban

Deeper partnerships can help India mitigate geopolitical risks in the Indo-Pacific and reduce dependence on China

Government’s move to raise FDI limit in the insurance sector to 100 per cent is welcome, but it must address genuine concerns with openness and fairness

MTAR Technologies has secured a Rs 310 crore order from Megha Engineering & Infrastructures for equipment supply to Kaiga 5 and 6 nuclear reactors in Karnataka. This adds to previous orders, bringing total Kaiga reactor orders to Rs 504 crore, with deliveries scheduled in phases up to February 2030

Global investment firm L Catterton has acquired a stake in Haldiram, forming a strategic partnership to strengthen its domestic leadership and international expansion. Led by former HUL CEO Sanjiv Mehta, the collaboration aims to boost brand building, product development, distribution, and talent initiatives

The rupee traded in a narrow range against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday as trade deal uncertainty and strong dollar demand offset support from foreign inflows. Weak sentiment persisted despite stable crude prices and equity inflows.

Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL), a One97 Communications subsidiary, received RBI approval to operate as a Payment Aggregator for offline and cross-border transactions, complementing its existing online aggregation license, enabling end-to-end payment solutions for merchants

Indian equities opened lower as Sensex and Nifty slipped amid weak global cues, Asian market declines and cautious sentiment before US inflation data. IT stocks gained, auto and pharma lagged, while FIIs and DIIs turned buyers in early trade Thursday

Gold and silver prices slipped on the MCX on Thursday as investors booked profits ahead of key US inflation data. Markets are closely watching CPI and PCE figures for cues on the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said global trade is increasingly being "weaponised" through tariffs and other measures. She emphasized India must negotiate carefully, leveraging its economic strength to safeguard domestic industries amid rising international protectionism

The rupee showed early volatility on Wednesday as easing Brent crude support was offset by persistent FII selling and uncertainty over India-US trade talks. The domestic unit recovered partially, while Sensex and Nifty rose on early session buying.

Sensex and Nifty rose in early trade on Wednesday, supported by value buying and positive Asian cues. Domestic investors provided support despite heavy FII outflows. Brent crude gained, while select Sensex stocks led gains, and ICICI Bank, HDFC lagged.

Silver prices surged to record highs in domestic and global markets, driven by strong global cues, safe-haven demand, and rising expectations of US interest rate cuts, while gold prices remained subdued amid mixed trends and a weaker dollar