Business

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said legally binding FTA commitments on professional services will expand overseas opportunities for Indian professionals, stressing skill upgrades, global best practices, MRAs and stakeholder coordination to leverage India’s demographic dividend and boost services exports

The rupee strengthened by 12 paise to 89.51 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday, aided by RBI liquidity measures, a softer dollar and stronger Asian currencies, while equities posted modest gains and oil prices edged higher.

Indian equities opened higher as Sensex and Nifty tracked firm global cues and steady DII buying. RBI’s Rs 2 lakh crore liquidity infusion via OMO and swaps boosted sentiment, though FII selling capped gains amid consolidation in early trade Wednesday

Dhariwal Buildtech, ESDS Software Solution, and BLS Polymers have received SEBI approval for IPOs consisting entirely of fresh issues. The funds will be used for debt repayment, infrastructure expansion, cloud services, and working capital, with listings on BSE and NSE

The rupee slipped 5 paise to 89.73 against the US dollar in early trade amid FII outflows and weak equities. Losses were capped by a softer dollar and lower crude prices, while markets await key US economic data 

Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty slipped in early trade after a two-day rally, dragged by IT stocks. Weak volumes amid a holiday-shortened week and FII selling weighed on sentiment, despite firm Asian markets and continued DII buying

India and New Zealand have concluded talks on a Free Trade Agreement providing duty-free access to key goods, a $20 billion investment commitment over 15 years, and a new visa pathway for Indian professionals, with trade expected to double in five years

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) will debut the Taj brand in Egypt with a 300-key Taj Cairo at Opera Square, featuring dining, wellness, and event facilities. The project, in partnership with state-owned EGOTH, aligns with IHCL’s global expansion strategy

Deccan Gold Mines Ltd has begun pre-commissioning trials at its Altyn Tor Gold Project in Kyrgyzstan, processing 20,000–30,000 tonnes of ore. The trials aim to validate gold recovery methods ahead of full-scale production, strengthening India’s global mining footprint

Ather Energy announced it will raise prices of its electric scooters by up to Rs 3,000 from January 1, citing rising input costs and adverse forex impact. The hike affects the 450 series and Rizta models across India

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened higher on Monday, supported by foreign fund inflows, strong global cues and sustained domestic institutional buying, fuelling optimism of a year-end rally as IT and metal stocks led the gains.

The rupee strengthened 22 paise to 89.45 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday, aided by foreign fund inflows, positive domestic equities, stable crude prices and firm RBI intervention, while forex reserves also recorded a rise.

Entry of private players will accelerate the expansion of atomic energy as part of India’s long-term energy transition

Delhi Police busted a fake premium mobile phone racket in Karol Bagh, arresting four men and recovering 512 counterfeit phones, fake IMEI stickers, and spare parts. The accused imported components from China, assembled the phones, and sold them as genuine units

Last week, the combined market valuation of six of India’s top-10 firms rose by Rs 75,256.97 crore, led by TCS and Infosys, while HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, and LIC saw declines amid a 338-point drop in the BSE index

Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal reaffirmed commitment to regular dividends even after the NCLT-approved demerger into five pure-play entities. The group plans a US$20 billion expansion across metals, power, and oil & gas, aiming for significant domestic and global growth

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