Ahead of Budget 2026, the mutual fund industry has urged the government to restore debt fund indexation, offer ELSS tax relief under the new regime, and allow pension-oriented MF schemes. Experts also expect tax stability, fiscal discipline, and policy clarity to boost long-term investing and investor confidence.
The upcoming Budget must focus not just on attracting capital but improving how efficiently it circulates through the economy. Faster corporate restructurings, stronger recovery mechanisms, better mobilisation of household gold and simpler capital-gains rules can meaningfully enhance market depth, investor confidence and long-term capital formation, earning the Budget full marks from markets.
The Lake County Council approved an economic revitalization area for John Deere Thursday during a special meeting, during which eight members of the public spoke to voice overall support but also some concerns.
Over the five trading sessions that ended January 30, the Sensex remained largely flat, slipping 0.05% or 38 points to close at 82,270. The benchmark ended higher in three of the five sessions between January 23 and 30.Despite the subdued market, nine stocks from the BSE Smallcap index advanced in all five sessions, clocking cumulative gains of up to 23% during the period. (Data source: ACE Equity)
As Budget 2026 approaches, analysts expect a low-impact event for equities amid muted expectations. With Nifty already down sharply in January, a non-event Budget may help stabilise sentiment rather than trigger volatility in a cautious, range-bound market.
The U.S. dollar strengthened on Friday. This followed the selection of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair. The currency recovered from an earlier sharp decline. Analysts suggest the short-term selloff was overdone. Warsh is seen as a safe choice, unlikely to aggressively lower interest rates. This news boosted the dollar's performance.
European stocks closed higher on Friday, extending a winning streak to seven months. Investors reacted to corporate earnings and news of a US presidential nominee for the Federal Reserve. Banks led gains, with Spanish lender Caixabank seeing a significant rise. Swiss watchmaker Swatch and German sportswear maker Adidas also reported positive results. However, some companies faced weaker-than-expected earnings.
In a strategic move, Canara Bank will raise 4,000 crore through tier-2 bonds by the end of March, aiming to support a promising 13% increase in fiscal year advances. With board approval for a more ambitious fundraising strategy, the bank also plans to reinvest profits to boost its expansion efforts.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India has given the National Stock Exchange the go-ahead for its initial public offering. This marks a significant milestone after a decade of planning. The NSE's IPO is anticipated to be the largest in terms of size and post-market capitalization. Investor interest is high, with a surge in retail participation in unlisted shares.
The Indian stock markets faced a downturn on Friday, ending January with a notable 3.1% declinethe sharpest drop seen in January since 2016. Analysts suggest that investors are holding back in anticipation of the upcoming budget. Still, there's a silver lining on the horizon, with expectations of a gradual market recovery soon.
