Indian stock markets closed sharply lower on Budget day after investors reacted to tax and investment signals. The Sensex fell 1,546.84 points to 80,722.94 and the Nifty50 dropped 495.20 points to 24,825.45. Losses widened after the Finance Minister’s speech. Market experts pointed to three clear reasons. First, the Budget proposed a higher securities transaction tax on futures and options trades. Second, there were no major new incentives for foreign portfolio investors. Third, foreign investors have continued to pull money out of Indian equities in recent months. PSU bank and metal stocks saw the heaviest selling during the session. (PC: India Today)

Indian stock markets first fell and then recovered partly after the Union Budget 2026 announcements. Sensex and Nifty dropped when the finance minister increased the tax on futures trading from 0.02% to 0.05%, which makes these trades more expensive. After the early fall, some large stocks saw buying and helped markets recover. HDFC, Sun Pharma, and TCS were among the main gainers during the session. Titan, Axis Bank, and ITC were among the major losers. The budget also announced ₹10,000 crore support for the biopharma sector, which pushed some pharma shares higher. Markets were open Sunday due to the Budget. (PC: HT)

Union Budget 2026 announced a new route for individuals living outside India to invest directly in Indian shares through the Portfolio Investment Scheme. The step is aimed at bringing more foreign investors into domestic equity markets. Earlier, most overseas flows came through registered foreign portfolio investors or NRI channels. The finance minister also proposed higher holding limits in listed companies for such investors. The individual ownership cap will rise from 5% to 10%. The combined cap for all such investors will increase from 10% to 24%. A market-making framework was also proposed to improve liquidity in corporate bond trading. (PC: NDTV)

Indian stock markets opened lower on Friday after three days of gains. The Sensex fell over 500 points in early trade, while the Nifty 50 also slipped. At around 9:30 am, the Sensex was down more than 516 points. The fall came despite a positive Economic Survey. Investors booked profits and reduced risk ahead of Budget Day. Selling pressure was seen in metal and IT stocks. Continued foreign investor selling and a weak rupee added to concerns. Broader markets also declined, with midcap and smallcap stocks under pressure. Market mood remained cautious amid global uncertainty.

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced Thursday it will invest $15 billion in China through 2030 to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D capabilities. The investment will leverage China's scientific excellence, advanced manufacturing, and China-UK healthcare ecosystem collaborations to deliver cutting-edge treatments globally. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, currently on an official visit to China, stated the expansion will support thousands of UK jobs. The company plans to develop existing facilities in Wuxi, Taizhou, Qingdao, and Beijing, while establishing new sites. CEO Pascal Soriot emphasized advancing breakthrough treatments like cell therapy and radioconjugates. The investment is expected to grow AstraZeneca's China workforce beyond 20,000 employees. (PC: Marcus Brandt/dpa & X)

India plans to cut import duties on cars from the European Union to 40 per cent from current levels as high as 110 per cent, sources told Reuters. The move is part of a proposed free trade agreement that could be announced soon. The duty cut will initially apply to a limited number of EU-made cars priced above 15,000 euros. Tariffs may fall further to 10 per cent over time. Battery electric vehicles will be excluded for the first five years. The plan is expected to improve access for European carmakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Officials from India and the EU declined to comment. (PC: NDTV)

Apple has requested an Indian court to prevent the Competition Commission of India from seeking its global financial records while it challenges the underlying antitrust law's validity. The US tech giant is embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle with the CCI, whose investigation accused Apple of abusing its position on its app store, allegations Apple denies. Apple fears potential fines up to $38 billion if the watchdog uses its global turnover for penalty calculations. Despite Apple's challenge to India's 2024 penalty rules, the CCI issued a December 31 order demanding financials. Apple's January 15 filing asks Delhi High Court to halt the investigation entirely. The court will hear the matter January 27. (PC: Reuters)

India and the United Arab Emirates have signed a long-term liquefied natural gas agreement worth over $2.5 billion. The deal was sealed between ADNOC Gas and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Under the agreement, ADNOC Gas will supply 500,000 tonnes of LNG to India each year for ten years. ADNOC said the contract makes India its largest natural gas customer. From 2029, Indian firms are expected to take over 20% of ADNOC Gas’s annual output. The agreement was signed during UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit to New Delhi, where both sides also discussed trade and defence cooperation. (PC: X)

Gold prices stayed near record highs, with spot gold around $4,675 per ounce, driven by rising global trade-war risks and a flight to safe-haven assets. U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and push regarding Greenland soured market sentiment, weakening the dollar and triggering sell-offs in stocks and bonds. Silver also traded close to its record level, though slightly lower. Investors favoured precious metals amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and expectations of lower interest rates, which reduce the cost of holding bullion. Continued tensions and potential escalation of trade disputes could push gold above $4,700. (PC: Reuters)

IT major Tata Consultancy Services has said job cuts may continue in 2026 if needed. The company has let go of around 30,000 employees in the last six months. TCS said the exits are part of an ongoing restructuring plan announced in 2025. The company added that there is no fixed target for layoffs. Every exit will follow an internal process and valid reasons. TCS’ total workforce fell to about 5.82 lakh by December 2025. The move comes as firms adjust to AI tools, lower demand, and cost pressures. Tighter office attendance rules and delayed appraisals have also raised employee concerns.