Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to sign a U.S. proposal for access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, citing a lack of security guarantees in return. The rejection came during talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference. The U.S. proposal was seen as prioritizing American interests, prompting Ukraine to prepare a counterproposal.
The IRS will lay off thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season, according to two sources familiar with the agency's plans, and cuts could happen as soon as next week.
In the five trading sessions leading up to February 14, the BSE Sensex index posted a weekly decline of 2.47%, with losses recorded across all five sessions. Amid this broader market downturn, several smallcap stocks experienced sustained declines. Heres a look at the top 10 worst-performing stocks from the BSE Smallcap index during the week.
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have been net sellers of Indian equities, offloading Rs 21,272 crore in February and Rs 99,299 crore in 2025. Despite positive developments in the Indian market, factors such as high US bond yields and slow corporate sales growth in India have driven this trend.
President Trump has announced reciprocal tariffs targeting countries like China and India, among others. The move challenges WTO principles and has sparked discussions on potential retaliatory measures. Developing countries face higher tariffs to protect their industries, while developed nations benefit from lower tariffs and open markets.
Indian equity markets experienced sustained weakness over the past week, with Nifty50 struggling at key levels and declining by 2.68%. Market volatility surged, and critical support levels are crucial for determining short-term trajectory. Approaching sessions require cautious engagement and emphasis on risk management.
Spot gold was highly volatile amid weak US data and tariff policies. The yellow metal posted a seventh consecutive weekly gain. Poor US retail sales data and Trump's reciprocal tariffs impacted the market. The US Dollar Index fell over 1 percent. Gold prices are influenced by mixed economic data, political uncertainties, and proposed Ukraine peace talks.
Indian real estate stocks experienced notable selling pressure this week, with the BSE Realty benchmark index dropping by 9.4%, significantly underperforming the broader market. Despite a recent RBI rate cut aimed at boosting economic growth, global trade tensions, foreign investor outflows, and weak corporate earnings weighed on market sentiment.
The real estate sector faced significant losses due to dimming hopes of interest rate cuts, while broader markets witnessed declines in Nifty Midcap and Small Cap indices by 7.38% and 9.41%, respectively. Analysts suggest cautious trading with a focus on banking stocks for stability and emphasize the importance of managing risk in a volatile market.
