Business

New Delhi, February 16: As Indian equity markets navigate a consolidation phase, PL Wealth, the wealth management arm of PL Capital, has said that medium term risk reward dynamics are gradually improving, creating opportunities for calibrated portfolio allocation.In its latest report, PL Wealth outlined differentiated strategies for aggressive and conservative investors, aligning asset allocation with evolving macro and policy signals.Aggressive Portfolios May Raise Equity Allocation According to the report, investors with a higher risk appetite can consider allocating 60 to 65 percent of their portfolio to equities, reflecting improved medium term visibility.Conservative investors, on the other hand, are advised to maintain a...

Gold and silver prices declined on Monday as the US dollar strengthened following in-line US inflation data and steady economic indicators.MCX Gold and Silver Futures Trade Lower On the Multi Commodity Exchange, MCX gold April futures slipped 0.56 percent to Rs 1,55,023 per 10 grams around 12:30 am intra-day.At the same time, MCX silver March futures fell 1.99 percent to Rs 2,39,501 per kg.The decline in domestic bullion prices mirrored global cues, with strength in the US dollar weighing on sentiment.US Dollar Index Rises on Inflation, Jobs Data The dollar index rose 0.10 percent to 97, tracking the moderation in US Consumer Price Index data for January. The index had earlier found support from strong US jobs data, which...

India’s retail market is on course for a significant transformation, with its size projected to more than double to Rs 210 to 215 trillion by 2035 from approximately Rs 90 to 95 trillion in 2025, according to a joint report released on Monday.The study, unveiled by Boston Consulting Group and Retailers Association of India at the Retail Leadership Summit 2026 in Mumbai, highlights the powerful consumption momentum shaping the sector and underscores the growing role of artificial intelligence in defining the next decade of retail expansion.Strong Consumption Momentum Fuels Retail Growth India continues to rank among the fastest growing major economies globally, with GDP growth of 8 per cent in 2025. The report attributes the retail...

India is hosting what Union Minister Jitin Prasada described as the “Maha Kumbh” of artificial intelligence, as global leaders, startups, innovators, and researchers gather in the national capital for the five day AI Impact Summit.Speaking on Monday, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology said the summit’s outcomes are being closely watched not only in India but across the world, highlighting the scale and significance of the event.Global Convergence at AI Impact Summit According to Prasada, the summit represents a historic moment as the world converges in India to deliberate on the future of artificial intelligence.“The world is converging, and it is truly historic. It is a significant achievement and a...

Arvind Mafatlal Group Flagship Expands Healthcare and Technical Textiles Portfolio New Delhi, February 16: Mafatlal Industries Ltd, the flagship company of the Arvind Mafatlal Group, on Monday announced its entry into the direct to consumer segment with the launch of Mafatlal MedFits, a dedicated digital platform focused on medical apparel.The move marks the company’s expansion into the fast evolving healthcare apparel space through an e commerce model designed to directly serve healthcare professionals across India.Mafatlal MedFits to Offer Comprehensive Range of Medical Wear The newly launched Mafatlal MedFits platform will feature an extensive portfolio of medical apparel, including scrubs, lab coats, under scrubs, medical caps...

IFSCA Calls for Guardrails to Support AI Innovation Within Framework New Delhi, February 16: Regulatory sandboxes are critical to ensuring innovation flourishes without compromising market integrity, a senior official of the International Financial Services Centres Authority said on Monday at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.Speaking during a session at the five day summit in the national capital, IFSCA Chief Technology Officer Joseph Joshy underscored the need for regulators to create structured environments where startups and industry players can test emerging technologies before formal regulations are introduced.“We need to ensure that there are regulatory sandboxes among regulators, so that there are guardrails. Before...

The National Payments Corporation of India on Monday announced the expansion of its ‘UPI One World’ wallet service to international visitors attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.The summit, being held from February 16 to 20, is drawing participants from more than 40 countries. With this move, global delegates can now make seamless and secure Unified Payments Interface transactions during their stay in India.Real-Time UPI Payments Without Indian Mobile or Bank Account Under this pilot initiative, foreign travelers can make real-time Person-to-Merchant payments using UPI without requiring an Indian mobile number or a local bank account.The rollout enables international guests to access India’s digital payment...

Bengaluru-based chip design startup C2i Semiconductors has secured $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Peak XV Partners, strengthening its push into next-generation power-management semiconductor solutions for AI data centers and cloud infrastructure.The latest investment takes the company’s total private funding to approximately ₹170 crore, following an earlier $4 million round in 2024 led by Yali Capital.Funding to Boost High-Density Power Delivery Technology The Series A round is expected to accelerate the development of high-density, ultra-reliable system-level power delivery solutions. Alongside the fresh capital, the startup continues to receive support under the government’s Design Linked Incentive Scheme...

Premium Homes Dominate India Housing Market in 2025 India’s residential real estate market continues to demonstrate resilience, supported by a stable macroeconomic environment and recent repo rate cuts, according to the H2 2025 report by Knight Frank India.The data shows a clear structural transformation in housing demand, with premium homes priced at Rs 1 crore and above now accounting for 50 percent of total annual residential sales across the country.In 2025, overall housing sales stood at 3,48,207 units. Within this, sales of homes priced above Rs 1 crore rose 14 percent year on year, reinforcing the growing dominance of the premium segment in India’s property cycle.Affordable Housing Sees Sharp Demand and Supply Contraction...

Policymakers Emphasize Immediate Action on Artificial Intelligence Mumbai, February 16: The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced in New Delhi on Monday, drawing senior policymakers and global leaders who called for urgent and coordinated action to harness artificial intelligence for inclusive economic growth.The summit opened with a strong focus on ensuring that AI development delivers broad-based societal and economic benefits.CEA V. Anantha Nageswaran Advocates “Team India” Strategy Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran cautioned that delaying AI advancement each year narrows India’s economic and technological options.He said India must act decisively to leverage AI for inclusive growth, adding that the country has the...

Mumbai, February 16, 2026 – Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (BSE: 544622 | NSE: KWIL) has received a public announcement from The Magnum Ice Cream Company HoldCo 1 Netherlands B.V., along with Magnum ICC Finance B.V. and The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V., regarding a controlling stake acquisition and a subsequent open offer to public shareholders. The acquirer has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire 145,44,12,858 equity shares, representing 61.90% of the voting share capital, for a total consideration of EUR 278.55 million, equivalent to ₹2,997.84 crore. Following this transaction, a mandatory open offer has been launched to acquire up to 61,08,93,729 equity shares, representing 26.00% of the voting share capital, at a...

Gurugram, February 16, 2026 (IST) – Amber Enterprises India Limited (BSE: 540902 | NSE: AMBER) has announced that its material subsidiary, IL JIN Electronics (India) Private Limited, has executed an amendment to its existing joint venture agreement, resulting in acquisition of control over Stelltek Technologies Private Limited. The amendment agreement was executed on February 15, 2026, between IL JIN, Stelltek Technologies Private Limited, and Nexxbase Marketing Private Limited. Following the amendment, IL JIN has secured the right to nominate and appoint a majority of directors on the board of Stelltek, thereby acquiring management and policy control. Key Transaction HighlightsParticularsBefore AmendmentAfter Amendment...

Mumbai, February 16, 2026: Tata Communications Limited (NSE: TATACOMM; BSE: 500483) on Monday announced the launch of a new global corporate brand identity, “Together, limitless,” marking a strategic milestone in its evolution as a global communications technology player.The company described the move as a defining moment in its 24-year journey, aimed at sharpening its differentiated competitiveness, reinforcing long-term momentum, and strengthening its leadership position in the emerging intelligent digital era.New Identity Aligns Strategy, Culture and Customer Experience The new brand positioning is designed to unify employee experience, customer engagement and commercial strategy under a single narrative. According to the...

Currency in Circulation Surges to Historic High Mumbai, February 16: India’s currency in circulation has climbed to a record high of approximately Rs 40 lakh crore by the end of January 2026, according to a report released by SBI Research on Monday.The report noted that year on year growth in currency in circulation accelerated sharply to 11.1 per cent, compared with 5.3 per cent in the previous year, indicating a stronger expansion in cash usage over the past 12 months.On an incremental year to date basis, the currency held by the public, which accounts for 97.6 per cent of total circulating currency, reached an all time high of around Rs 39 lakh crore. During the same period, currency in circulation rose by Rs 2.76 lakh crore...

Nashik, February 16, 2026: R M Drip and Sprinklers Systems Limited (NSE: RMDRIP | BSE: 544456) has announced a strategic technology partnership to enter the IoT-based smart irrigation and digital agriculture segment, marking a transition toward integrated hardware-plus-software solutions and recurring revenue streams. The initiative, set to commence from March 2026, positions the company in the rapidly expanding irrigation automation market and aligns with its long-term technology-led growth strategy. Market Opportunity: High-Growth Irrigation Automation Segment The company highlighted significant growth potential across domestic and global markets:India Irrigation Automation Market: USD 252 million (2024) projected to reach USD 899...

Indian Equity Markets Open Flat as Global Cues, AI Concerns Weigh on Sentiment Sensex, Nifty Trade With Mild Negative Bias in Early Session Mumbai, February 16: Indian equity markets begin the week on a subdued note on Monday, reflecting a cautious undertone amid weaker-than-expected earnings and sustained pressure on technology stocks linked to artificial intelligence concerns.At 9:25 am, the BSE Sensex slips 22 points, or 0.02 percent, to trade at 83,604. The NSE Nifty declines 6 points, or 0.03 percent, to 25,464.While benchmark indices remain largely flat, broader markets witness relatively sharper declines. The Nifty Midcap 100 falls 0.34 percent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 drops 0.47 percent, indicating selling pressure beyond...

Nirmala Sitharaman Norway Visit: FM to Meet PM Jonas Gahr Store, Hold Talks With Finance and Trade Ministers Finance Minister to Engage With Norwegian Leadership, CEOs and Indian Diaspora in Oslo New Delhi, February 16: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to begin a two day visit to Oslo, where she will meet senior Norwegian leadership, hold bilateral discussions, and engage with business leaders and the Indian diaspora.During her visit, Sitharaman will meet Jonas Gahr Store, Prime Minister of Norway. She will also hold bilateral meetings with Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister for Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth.The Ministry of Finance stated that the engagements will also include a...

Seoul, February 16: South Korea’s secondary stock market index, the KOSDAQ, has become the second-best-performing equity benchmark globally over the past month, ranking just behind the country’s main index, the KOSPI, amid fresh government measures aimed at strengthening the junior market.KOSDAQ Rallies Over 16% in One Month According to data compiled by Yonhap Infomax, the KOSDAQ climbed 16.45 per cent from 949.81 points on January 13 to 1,106.08 points on Friday.The strong performance placed the tech and venture-focused index ahead of several major global benchmarks. Thailand’s SET Index rose 16.05 per cent during the same period, while Turkey’s BIST 100 advanced 15.71 per cent.KOSDAQ Outpaces U.S. Markets The rally in South...

Hyundai Motor India Appoints Madhurendra Malu as Genesis Vertical Head; Anuraag Singh Exits Senior Management Role Gurugram, February 16, 2026 – Hyundai Motor India Ltd (NSE: HYUNDAI | BSE: 544274) has announced a change in its senior management structure with the appointment of Mr. Madhurendra Malu as Vertical Head – Genesis and inclusion in the Senior Management Personnel category, effective February 16, 2026. The company has also excluded Mr. Anuraag Singh, Vertical Head, from the list of Senior Management Personnel from the same date, following a change in reporting structure. Appointment of Madhurendra Malu as Senior Management Personnel Mr. Madhurendra Malu has been appointed as Vertical Head – Genesis with effect from February...

New Delhi, February 16, 2026 – Easy Trip Planners Limited (BSE: 543272 | NSE: EASEMYTRIP) has announced plans to raise up to ₹500 crore to strengthen its growth momentum and expand high-potential segments, particularly hotels and holiday offerings. The company informed the exchanges that its Board has approved, in principle, a proposal to raise funds through the issuance of equity shares and/or other eligible securities, subject to requisite approvals . Capital Raise Plan The proposed fundraise of up to ₹500 crore is aimed at:Expanding presence in high-growth verticals, especially hotels and holidays Investing in technology and platform enhancements Pursuing strategic opportunities aligned with long-term priorities Maintaining...