The Indian benchmark indices continued their decline on Monday amid rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding the India-US trade deal.

As of 9.22 am, Sensex slipped 95 points, or 0.44 per cent to 83,212 and Nifty eased by 95 points, or 0.37 per cent to 25,588.

Main broad-cap indices were in line with benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.33 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 lost 0.57 per cent.

Realty firm Signature Global on Sunday reported a sharp decline in its sales bookings for the December quarter, even as the housing market usually sees strong demand during the festive season.

The Gurugram-based company said its sales bookings fell 27 per cent to Rs 2,020 crore in the October–December quarter, compared to Rs 2,770 crore in the same period last financial year, according to its stock exchange filing.

The company sold 408 housing units during the quarter, a steep drop from 1,518 units sold a year ago.

Analysts on Sunday said that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) will turn buyers in India with positive developments on the US-India trade agreement and uptick in earnings growth, which will improve investor sentiment.

FII investment in early 2026 has begun with the continuation of the trend of the previous year.

In 2025, FIIs had net sold equity for Rs 166,283 crore, impacting the performance of the Indian market and also weakening the rupee by about 5 per cent.

Indian stock markets are expected to remain volatile in the coming week as investors brace for a mix of key domestic and global triggers, including the start of the December quarter earnings season, the release of crucial inflation data, and continued uncertainty over US trade policies.

Benchmark indices ended the past week on a weak note, extending their losing streak to five sessions, as caution ahead of corporate results and persistent foreign fund outflows kept sentiment subdued.

The focus will now shift to how companies perform in the December quarter and whether macroeconomic numbers provide any relief to markets.

Gold and silver continued their structural bull run into the start of 2026 on the back of enhanced safe haven demand and industrial demand, analysts said on Saturday.

Gold futures with February expiry gained significantly during the week touching Rs 1,38,875 per 10 grams, up from Rs 1,35,752 at last week's close. The price of 10 grams of 24-carat gold closed the week at Rs 1,37,122 up from Rs 1,34,782 of the prior week, according to data published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA).

The Nifty delivered a strong annual return of 10.51 per cent, even as broader markets remained largely flat in December, a new report said on Saturday.

The data compiled by latest Global Market Snapshot report by Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund showed that while short-term market movement was mixed, select sectors such as metals and automobiles continued to outperform over longer periods.

The government should consider enhancing standard deduction for salaried employees, allowing more time for belated tax returns and several measures to improve ease of doing business in the upcoming Union Budget, a report has said.

Markets regulator Securities and Exchanges Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of trading‑related rules at stock exchanges to consolidate overlapping provisions and ease compliance for market participants.

The consultation paper recommended merging overlapping provisions on trading, price bands, circuit breakers, bulk and block deal disclosures, call auctions and liquidity enhancement schemes, according to an official statement.

The Indian equity benchmarks closed this week down around 2.5 per cent, continuing decline through five sessions amid persistent uncertainty over the US-India tariff talks and escalating geopolitical tensions.

Profit-booking in autos, metals, and oil and gas weighed on indices during the week, while selective buying in consumer durables, on hopes of a demand revival, offered brief respite.

Nifty dipped 2.45 per cent this week and 0.75 per cent on the last trading day to end at 25,638. At close, Sensex was down 604 points or 0.72 per cent at 83,576. It dipped 2.55 per cent during the week.

The Indian equity markets slipped for the fifth consecutive session on Friday, weighed down by sustained foreign outflows and increasing uncertainties about the trade deal between India and the US and fresh tariff threats.

At the closing bell, the Sensex lost 605 points, or 0.72 per cent, and settled at 83,576. The Nifty had edged down by 193.5 points, or 0.75 per cent, to close at 25,683.

The Indian economy is in good shape with an expected growth of 7.5 per cent or higher in the current financial year and jobs are being created at a fast pace, so the Budget for 2026-27 must keep up the "focus on jobs, jobs, and jobs", business leader and former Infosys board member TV Mohandas Pai said.

Pai pointed out that 1.2 to 1.4 crore new people are joining EPFO, paying money with Aadhaar. "Don't believe all these leftist JNU people who say there are no jobs. The jobs are happening," he remarked.

Equity mutual fund (MF) inflows stood at Rs 28,054 crore in the month of December as systematic investment plans (SIPs) scaled a fresh record high last month, according to the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) data released on Friday.

The monthly mutual fund SIP inflows reached a new record high in December at Rs 31,002 crore, compared to Rs 29,445 crore in November. The SIP investments rose by 5 per cent and 17 per cent on a monthly and yearly basis, respectively.

The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) is in ongoing discussions with the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) to launch an Indian Natural Gas Futures contract, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s natural gas market ecosystem, according to an official statement on Friday.

The proposed futures product aims to offer market participants a transparent, efficient risk‑management tool aligned with India’s evolving natural gas pricing framework, the exchange said.

The Indian benchmark indices posted mild losses early on Friday amid rising geopolitical tensions and renewed threats of 500 per cent US tariffs on Indian goods under the provisions of the Russia Sanctioning Act.

As of 9.29 am, Sensex slipped 107 points, or 0.13 per cent to 84,073 and Nifty eased 26 points, or 0.10 per cent to 26,850.

A new United Nations (UN) report has said that GDP growth in India is estimated at 6.6 per cent for 2026 and 6.7 per cent for 2027 -- supported by resilient consumption and strong public investment, which should largely offset the adverse impact of higher United States tariffs.

Recent tax reforms and monetary easing should provide additional near-term support, said the 'World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026’ report.

“Several large developing economies, including China, India, and Indonesia, are expected to continue experiencing solid growth driven by resilient domestic demand or targeted policy measures,” the UN report mentioned.

Silver prices fell sharply on Thursday as selling pressure increased ahead of the annual rebalancing of global commodity indexes and the release of key US economic data.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver dropped nearly 3.5 per cent to trade below Rs 2,42,000 per kilogram during the session.

India’s GDP will grow around 6.6 per cent by FY27, driven by growth engines including digital economy, AI, quick commerce, tourism, the silver economy, and green ports, a report said on Thursday.

The report Business data analytics firm Dun & Bradstreet said the digital economy is expected to grow almost twice as fast as the overall economy and account for nearly 20 per cent of gross value added by 203.

India’s economic growth is expected to outpace the National Statistical Office’s (NSO) first advance estimate, reflecting "buoyant high‑frequency data since September 2025 led by policy impetus," a new report has said.

The report from Morgan Stanley estimated real GDP growth at 7.6 per cent year‑on‑year for FY26 -- above the NSO’s first advance estimate which pegged real GDP growth at 7.4 per cent YoY.

The consensus estimate for FY26 growth is at 7.5 per cent and the Reserve Bank of India’s estimate is 7.3 per cent, the report said.

Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has found that a Bank of America (BofA) unit improperly shared material non‑public information about a $180 million block sale and misled investigators, a report has claimed.

SEBI’s November show‑cause notice alleges the bank’s deal team disclosed price‑sensitive details of a 2024 sale of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC shares to employees outside the execution team and later provided inaccurate statements to investigators, the report from the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Indian benchmark indices posted mild losses on Thursday amid profit booking, rising geopolitical tensions and muted sentiment from the Asian markets.

As of 9.23 am, Sensex slipped 108 points, or 0.13 per cent to 84,852 and Nifty eased 46 points, or 0.18 per cent to 26,094.

Business chamber PHDCCI has, as part of its wishlist for Union Budget 2026–27, sought easier access to finance at lower interest rates and a reduction in the regulatory burden, to cut costs for the MSME sector, which is driving growth and employment generation in the economy.

Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) hold the key to catapulting India’s economy to a 10 per cent growth path, according to a statement issued by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on Wednesday.

India’s equity markets could provide robust returns in near future due to impressive valuations, trailing performance, macro stability and the growth cycle, a report said on Wednesday.

The report from MS Research predicted a 13 per cent upside for BSE Sensex to touch 95,000 by December 2026 citing a 50 per cent probability.

The firm assumed continued fiscal consolidation, higher private investment and a positive gap between real growth and real rates to provide this base case scenario of Sensex touching 95,000.

Indian specialists accounted for roughly 34 per cent of specialist‑level talent moving to Finland in 2025, with tech and engineering professionals employed at firms including Nokia, Kone, Wärtsilä, HCL, Infosys and TCS, a report showed on Wednesday.

The report from Finnish government organisation Business Finland said that the country issued about 300 first‑time specialist residence permits to Indian professionals between January and November 2025, adding to over 20,000 Indians already living in the country.

India's tax collections could surge in FY27, with gross tax buoyancy rising to 1.1 from a projected 0.64 in FY26, a report said on Wednesday.

The report from HDFC Bank said that nominal GDP growth is expected at about 10.1 per cent in FY27 after an estimated 8.5 per cent in FY26. It said that capital expenditure is expected to grow by 10.5 per cent to about Rs 11.5–12 lakh crore while revenue expenditure may rise 9.5 per cent to Rs 41.9 lakh crore.

The government's fiscal deficit target of 4.4 per cent for FY26 is likely to be achieved, with the deficit pegged at about Rs 15.79 lakh crore versus the budget estimate of Rs 15.69 lakh crore, the report said.

The Indian benchmark indices posted mild losses early on Wednesday amid rising geopolitical tensions and fresh tariff-related concerns, tracking mixed cues from Asian markets.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex slipped 156 points, or 0.18 per cent to 84,907 and Nifty eased 54 points, or 0.21 per cent to 26,124.

Main broad-cap indices showed clear divergence with benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 up 0.22 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.25 per cent.

The price of precious metals including gold and silver opened sharply higher on Monday boosted by safe haven demand due to the United States capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend.

MCX gold February futures were 1.47 per cent up at Rs 1,37,750 per 10 grams around 1:30 p.m., while MCX silver March futures rose 2.92 per cent to Rs 2,43,223 per kg, though both remain below December 2025 record highs of Rs 1,40,465 per 10 grams and Rs 2,54,174 per kg.

The Indian IT industry's revenue growth is expected to recover to 4-5 per cent in FY27, leading to high‑single‑digit EPS growth, a report said on Monday.

The report from HSBC Global Investment Research, however, said that IT stocks, up about 15 per cent from their lows, could still perform broadly in line with the market in 2026.

"We still see an improving outlook, but now expect the IT sector to perform in line with the broader market in FY27. IT is no longer a long-term double-digit compounding sector, with the long-term stock return trajectory gradient lower than in the past," the research firm said.

Public trust in tax remains strongest in Asia and India stands out for its relatively strong tax morale and trust in the fiscal system, a report showed on Monday.

Nearly 45 per cent of Indian respondents believe that tax revenues are spent for the public good, while 41 per cent view paying taxes as a contribution to their community rather than an additional cost, reinforcing the idea of tax as a shared civic responsibility, according to the report released jointly by ACCA, IFAC, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and the OECD.

As the Indian economy continues to grow over robust policy reforms and strong consumption, Bank of America (BofA) has raised the country’s GDP growth projection to 7.6 per cent for current fiscal (FY26), from its earlier estimate of 7 per cent.

BofA has also upgraded its India GDP estimate for fiscal year 2027 to 6.8 per cent, compared to the previous estimate of 6.5 per cent for FY27.

The Indian benchmark indices traded flat with a mild negative bias on Monday over losses in IT stocks and the latest US-Venezuela tensions.

Even as Indian companies showed signs of improving quarterly earnings, optimism was blunted by caution over the implications of US military action in Venezuela.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex eased 62 points, or 0.07 per cent to 85,699 and Nifty gained 9 points, or 0.03 per cent to 26,319.

As 2025 turned out to be historic for precious metals, with gold delivering returns of nearly 65 per cent and silver outperforming with gains of over 140 per cent, an expert said that the positive momentum likely to continue in 2026 as well.

Speaking to IANS, Nainesh Pachchigar, Gujarat President of the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), said gold and silver rewarded investors handsomely in 2025, and given prevailing global conditions, the positive momentum could continue this year as well.

The year 2025 saw record foreign institutional investor (FII) selling in India but significant improvement in the country’s fundamentals is likely to attract net FII inflows in 2026, analysts said on Saturday.

In the month of December, FIIs sold equity worth Rs 30, 332 crore through the exchanges. This takes the total FII selling through the exchanges in 2025 to Rs 240,193 crore.

FIIs have bought or invested equity for Rs 73,909 crore through the primary market, taking the total net sell figure for 2025 to Rs 166,283 crore, as per NSDL data.

Gold and silver entered 2026 with elevated volatility after an exceptional 2025 rally, analysts said on Saturday, adding that the fundamental outlook for precious metals remains constructive.

Gold futures with February expiry eased moderately down 0.04 per cent, settling at Rs 1,35,752 on MCX on Friday. The price of 10 grams of 24-carat gold closed the week at Rs 1,34,782 up from Rs 1,33,195 at the year end, according to data published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA).

The Indian equity benchmarks closed on a strong note this week, touching fresh all-time highs amid strong performance in the banking and auto sectors.

Nifty surged 1.05 per cent during the week and 0.70 per cent on the last trading day to 26,328. At close, Sensex was up 760 points or 0.67 per cent at 85,762. It surged 0.89 per cent during the week.

Bank Nifty also continued its outperformance and scaled fresh record highs above the 60,200 mark.

In clear signs of a pick-up in investment intentions in the country, the momentum strengthened in the first nine months of FY26, with Rs 26.62 lakh crore worth of new investment announcements, significantly higher than Rs 23.88 lakh crore in the same period last year, according to a new report.

This is on the back of a very positive policy package of the government which has focussed on capex, lowering of income tax rates and GST 2.0.