Business

Indian Companies Post Strongest Earnings Growth in Eight Quarters in 3QFY26: Motilal Oswal Report Mumbai, February 22: Indian companies have delivered their strongest earnings performance in the past eight quarters during the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, supported by broad-based sectoral momentum and improving demand conditions, according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services.Nifty 500 Earnings Surge 19 Percent Year-on-Year The report, based on data compiled from the Nifty 500 universe, showed that aggregate earnings rose 19 percent year-on-year in 3QFY26.Excluding financial stocks, earnings growth was even stronger at 23 percent. When metal and oil and gas companies were removed from the calculation, aggregate...

Talks in Washington Deferred as Both Sides Review Latest Developments New Delhi, February 22: India and the United States have decided to reschedule the proposed meeting of their chief negotiators in Washington aimed at finalizing the text of the interim trade agreement, according to sources.The Indian delegation was originally scheduled to begin a three-day round of discussions in the US capital from February 23. However, both sides have now agreed that the visit should take place after further internal assessments.“Regarding the visit of the Indian team of negotiators to the US for the India US Trade Deal, both sides believe that the proposed visit of the Indian Chief Negotiator and their team should be scheduled after each side...

India has the potential to become a leading data center hub in the Asia-Pacific region, provided it can overcome complex power and grid challenges while aligning renewable energy integration with rapid digital expansion, according to a Deloitte report presented at the India AI Impact Summit.India’s Data Consumption Outpaces Data Center Capacity Despite accounting for nearly 20 percent of global data consumption, India hosts less than 5 percent of the world’s data centers. This disparity highlights a significant expansion opportunity.Debasish Mishra, Chief Growth Officer at Deloitte South Asia, described India’s position as a “unique structural opportunity” to rise as one of the world’s leading data center hubs.Lower construction...

Middle Eastern Suppliers Gain Share as Russian Volumes Face Sanctions Pressure New Delhi, February 22: India’s crude oil import strategy is moving into a phase of calibrated rebalancing, with Middle Eastern suppliers led by Saudi Arabia regaining market share even as Russian volumes remain significant but increasingly shaped by geopolitical and compliance constraints.According to shipping data and market assessments, India’s total crude imports averaged 4.85 million barrels per day between February 1 and 18. This marks an 8 percent decline from January’s average of 5.25 million barrels per day, following fresh United States sanctions on key Russian exporters and the European Union’s eighteenth sanctions package implemented last month...

Indian Stock Market Outlook: Sensex, Nifty Rebound as GDP Data, US Tariffs and F&O Expiry Come into Focus Mumbai, February 22: Investors are preparing for a data-heavy and event-driven week as global tariff developments in the United States, India’s upcoming GDP figures, and the monthly derivatives expiry are expected to steer market direction.The Indian equity market staged a strong recovery on Friday after witnessing a sharp fall of over 1 percent in the previous session, indicating resilience amid global uncertainties.Sensex and Nifty Close Higher After Sharp Rebound The 30 share BSE Sensex rose 317 points, or 0.38 percent, to settle at 82,814.71.The broader NIFTY 50 advanced 117 points, or 0.46 percent, closing at 25,571.25...

Strategic Pact Signed at India Brazil Business Forum Summit Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Ltd has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with NMDC Ltd and Vale SA to develop an integrated iron ore blending facility and a dedicated Special Economic Zone at Gangavaram Port.The agreement was signed at the India Brazil Business Forum Summit in New Delhi during the official visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to a company statement.Integrated Iron Ore Blending Facility and SEZ-Based Ecosystem Under the MoU, the three companies will jointly develop, operate, and manage a Special Economic Zone based ecosystem focused on iron ore blending...

India’s coal demand, which remained subdued earlier in the current financial year, is now poised for a rebound as electricity consumption accelerates across the country, according to Vinaya Varma, Managing Director of mjunction services ltd.Power Consumption Recovery Signals Coal Demand Uptick Varma noted that after witnessing negative growth in October and November, power demand recorded a strong recovery in December, rising 6.3 percent. The upward momentum has continued into January, supported by harsh winter conditions and a broader improvement in economic activity.He said that the sustained increase in electricity consumption is expected to drive coal demand in the coming days, offering relief to the coal and power sectors...

New Delhi, February 22: The growing presence of Indian-origin executives at the helm of global technology giants should not be seen as a case of brain drain, but as a net positive for both India and the global economy, according to Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco.Talent Export Is Not a Zero Sum Equation Responding to the ongoing debate over whether India loses out when its top professionals assume leadership roles in the United States and other advanced economies, Patel dismissed the notion that the country suffers a loss.He rejected the zero sum framing of the issue and emphasized that India’s global talent footprint should be viewed as a strength rather than a setback.“I think of India as a net exporter...

New Delhi, February 22: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Sunday reiterated that India remains firmly committed to accelerating the global shift towards clean energy in a manner that is faster, fairer, and development-oriented.Responding to UN Secretary-General António Guterres on X, the minister said India’s clean energy journey is anchored in action, ambition, and inclusion.India’s Clean Energy Push Backed by Policy and Scale Joshi stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is scaling up renewable energy capacity while simultaneously strengthening industry, livelihoods, and innovation.He emphasized that India’s transition is not limited to environmental objectives but is...

New Delhi, February 22: The combined market valuation of six of India’s top-10 most valued companies surged by ₹63,478.46 crore last week, with gains led by Larsen & Toubro and State Bank of India.The rally came alongside a modest rise in the benchmark BSE Sensex, which advanced 187.95 points, or 0.22 percent, over the week.Larsen & Toubro, SBI Post Strongest Valuation Gains Among the top gainers, Larsen & Toubro recorded the sharpest increase in market capitalization. The company’s valuation climbed ₹28,523.31 crore to reach ₹6,02,552.24 crore.State Bank of India followed, adding ₹16,015.12 crore to take its total market value to ₹11,22,581.56 crore.Financial Majors and Reliance Industries Also Advance HDFC Bank saw its...

GST Rate Cut, Infrastructure Push to Drive Sector Momentum New Delhi, February 22: India’s two wheeler industry is poised for sustained long term expansion, with growth potential of 8 to 9 percent CAGR, according to TVS Motor Company CEO KN Radhakrishnan.Speaking about the sector’s outlook, Radhakrishnan expressed confidence that structural tailwinds such as the GST rate cut, increased government infrastructure spending, and overall economic expansion will continue to fuel demand.“Overall, I am confident that an 8 percent to 9 percent CAGR can be considered on a long term basis,” he said while responding to queries on growth prospects for the next fiscal year following a strong third quarter performance.Strong First Half Expected...

No Listing Plan for India Business in Deleveraging Roadmap French liquor major Pernod Ricard has ruled out any plans to launch an initial public offering of its India business as part of its deleveraging strategy, even as the company reported a 4 percent rise in net sales in the country.Responding to queries on the possibility of an India listing, Chief Financial Officer Helene de Tissot clarified that the group’s plan to reduce leverage does not assume a public listing in India.She stated that the company aims to bring its Net Debt to EBITDA ratio below 3x by Fiscal Year 2029, but this objective does not include any IPO of the India arm.India Delivers 4 Percent Sales Growth, 8 Percent Excluding Imperial Blue Pernod Ricard posted...

New Breweries, Aluminium Can Plants and Glass Units Planned Across State New Delhi, February 22: The brewing industry is set to invest around Rs 5,500 crore in Uttar Pradesh over the next three years, marking a significant expansion push in the state. The announcement was made by the Brewers' Association of India, which described the move as a major commitment to strengthening the beer manufacturing ecosystem in the region.The industry body stated that the beer sector is making a big bet on Uttar Pradesh, citing the state government’s newly announced excise policy as a key enabler. The policy has been described as progressive and structured with a well-balanced approach aimed at supporting industry growth.Two New Breweries Already...

The recently concluded India AI Impact Summit 2026 has drawn to a close in New Delhi, but the conversations it sparked continue to resonate. According to an official statement, the summit ended not with finality, but with forward momentum, reinforcing the message that the world sees India not merely as a market, but as a strategic partner in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.India AI Impact Expo Spans 70,000 Square Metres Across 10 Arenas During the week-long summit, the India AI Impact Expo unfolded across ten arenas covering more than 70,000 square metres. The exhibition space brought together global delegates, technology leaders, researchers, and students, all moving through expansive halls designed to encourage...

Penicillin G Expansion Gains Momentum in Kakinada SEZ Aurobindo Pharma is stepping up its Penicillin G production, with plans to manufacture more than 10,000 metric tonnes annually over the next 12 months, according to Chief Financial Officer S Subramanian.The Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical major said the expansion of its Penicillin G facility in a Special Economic Zone in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, is progressing as planned. The plant is expected to gradually scale up to a production capacity of 15,000 metric tonnes per annum.Subramanian noted that yield levels at the facility remain stable and are consistently improving, positioning the company for stronger profitability over time.Policy Boost to Strengthen Domestic Antibiotic...

Company Targets Rooftop Solar Growth and 1 GWp Renewable Portfolio by 2030 New Delhi, February 22: OMC Power has entered the energy storage segment by deploying repurposed electric vehicle batteries to deliver storage solutions across residential and commercial sectors, marking a new phase in its renewable energy expansion.Rohit Chandra, Co founder and CEO of OMC Power, said the company is introducing one of India’s earliest large scale applications of repurposed EV batteries in collaboration with Honda Motor Co. Ltd.“Repurposing EV batteries is a very new application area in India. We are likely to be the first to do this with Honda Motors Japan,” Chandra said.Second Life for EV Batteries in UPS and Hybrid Solar Installations OMC...

Foreign investors have offloaded nearly ₩9 trillion worth of shares on South Korea’s main bourse so far in 2026, even as the benchmark index climbs to an all-time high.Data released on Sunday by the Korea Exchange showed that overseas investors recorded net sales of ₩9.1 trillion through Friday this year. This compares sharply with net sales of ₩4.6 trillion during the entirety of 2025.Heavy Selling in Samsung Electronics Despite Strong Rally A significant portion of the selling activity was concentrated in chipmaking giant Samsung Electronics Co..Foreign investors net-sold ₩9.5 trillion worth of Samsung shares this year. The move comes despite the company’s stock surging 59 percent in 2026 alone and crossing the ₩190,000 mark for...

Four Officials Suspended as Bank Initiates Criminal and Forensic Action New Delhi, February 22: IDFC First Bank has disclosed a fraud amounting to ₹590 crore at its Chandigarh branch, involving accounts linked to the Haryana government. The bank confirmed on Sunday that four suspected officials have been placed under suspension pending investigation.In a regulatory filing, the bank stated that certain employees at its Chandigarh branch were involved in fraudulent activities concerning ₹590 crore from accounts associated with the Haryana government. The lender said it will pursue strict disciplinary, civil, and criminal action against the employees and any external individuals found responsible, in accordance with applicable law...

New Delhi, February 22 – As foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continue to sell in the domestic markets, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also continue to provide strong support, driven by robust cues, according to analysts.FIIs recorded net outflows of approximately ₹7,000 crore in the cash market for the week ending February 20, amid volatile trading sessions marked by heavy selling on February 13 (₹7,395 crore outflow).“Despite this, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) provided strong support with net inflows exceeding ₹8,000 crore, highlighted by robust buying on February 13 and 16. Benchmark indices faced pressure, with Nifty closing around 25,454 on February 19 after a 1.41 per cent drop, influenced by global...

New Delhi, February 22 – The tariffs collected by the US administration from various jurisdictions range from $160-175 billion (with Chinese companies likely paying the highest), and the refunds could be "chaotic," but they would also serve as a psychological deterrent in imposing future tariffs, according to a new SBI Research report.US President Donald Trump has now raised global tariffs to 15 percent, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a move that escalates his trade offensive a day after the US Supreme Court struck down much of his earlier tariffs.According to the report, the court's decision to scrap the tariff structure could create uncertainty going forward, and jurisdictions need to engage in counter-intuitive...