Urban-Rural Spending Gap Narrows in 2023-24

Top Loser : -

• Bharat Electronics Ltd: Declined by 3.10%, closing at ₹270.35.

• Tata Motors Ltd: Declined by 2.37%, closing at ₹742.75.

• Trent Ltd: Declined by 1.93%, closing at ₹5,626.35.

• Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd: Declined by 1.59%, closing at ₹297.55.

• Axis Bank Ltd: Declined by 1.12%, closing at ₹959.30.

Top Gainer : -

• Wipro Ltd: Gained by 3.60%, closing at ₹309.10.

• Infosys Ltd: Gained by 3.10%, closing at ₹1,856.45.

• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd: Gained by 2.99%, closing at ₹4,156.60.

• Tech Mahindra Ltd: Gained by 2.65%, closing at ₹1,683.95.

• Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd: Gained by 2.06%, closing at ₹1,798.95

In the Union Budget of July 2024, the Indian government increased taxes on equity investments. Short-term capital gains (STCG) tax rose from 15% to 20%, and long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax increased from 10% to 12.5%. Additionally, the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on equity derivatives was nearly doubled, with futures now taxed at 0.02% and options at 0.1%. As the 2025 Union Budget approaches, retail investors are hopeful for tax relief. The broking industry is advocating for the rationalization or removal of STT, as it currently adds to trading costs and affects profitability. There's also a call for simplifying the capital gains tax structure to reduce complexities for investors.

Macrotech Developers, led by Abhishek Lodha, has filed a ₹5,000 crore lawsuit in Bombay High Court against his brother, Abhinandan Lodha, for using the 'Lodha' trademark. The company claims exclusive rights to the name, which represents its real estate legacy since the 1980s. Abhinandan's firm, House of Abhinandan Lodha, allegedly attempted to use the Lodha logo and similar branding to mislead customers. Abhishek claims Abhinandan's earlier business exit included ₹1,000 crore, leaving the family with ₹20,000 crore debt. A hearing is set for January 27.

Today, around 50 prominent companies, including HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), Coforge, Polycab India, Tata Communications, and HUDCO, are set to reveal their October-December 2024 quarterly (Q3) results. Investors and market enthusiasts eagerly await these updates to gauge the financial performance and trends in key sectors. The announcements will provide insights into the banking, FMCG, energy, and IT sectors. Stay tuned as these results shape market sentiment and guide investment strategies for the year ahead.

Navi Technologies, the fintech startup founded by Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal, suffered a loss of ₹14.26 crore due to fraud. The incident occurred over 14 days in December when scammers exploited a bug in Navi's payment system.

Using the app’s third-party payment gateway (TPAP), fraudsters initiated transactions and edited the payable amount to Re 1 after processing payments for higher amounts like ₹500 or ₹1,000. This loophole falsely recorded transactions as successful, resulting in Navi being charged the full original amount. Bengaluru’s Whitefield Cyber Crime Police have initiated an investigation into the matter.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced significant reforms to the H-1B visa program, effective January 17, 2025. These changes aim to streamline the visa approval process, allowing Indian professionals to renew their visas within the U.S. and facilitating smoother transitions from F-1 student visas to H-1B status. In 2023, 72.3% of H-1B visas were issued to Indians, highlighting the importance of these reforms for the Indian community. The updated policies also exempt research-focused institutions from the annual visa cap and enhance monitoring of visa holders and employers to ensure compliance.

The parent company of financial services platform Groww Invest Tech Pvt .Ltd could file for an Initial Public Offering ( IPO ) this year. The IPO would be to raise $ 750 million ( ₹ 6,477.95 crore ) or more . Groww was founded in 2016 by four Flipkart colleagues as an investing platform.

It currently has more than 50 million users and is backed by Microsoft 's Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadellapeak XV Partners ,formerly known as Sequoia Capital India & Southeast Asia ,Ribbit Capital and Tiger Global .

The central government has approved the establishment of the 8th Central Pay Commission in 2026 . Currently, central government employees get salaries based on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. The seventh pay commission was introduced in 2014 -15 and its term will end on December 31, 2025. It will replace the previous pay bands and grade pay systems, introducing a new pay matrix . A study by the Institute of Economic Growth ,New Delhi ,says the biggest jump in salaries came during the 6th pay Commission, when they jumped by 54 %, according to the article.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the highest number of consecutive Union budgets on February 1. She will present her eighth consecutive annual financial statement, a new record in India 's Parliamentary history.

Former finance minister Morarji Desai has presented 10 union budgets ,a feat yet to be surpassed. India's prime ministers have also delivered union budgets in the past. Budget of independent India was presented by then finance minister RK Shanmugam Chetty on November 26 , 1947, for ₹ 197.1 crore.

Top Loser : -

1. Trent Ltd: Declined by 5.80%, closing at ₹5,736.95.

2. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone: Declined by 3.70%, closing at ₹1,106.20.

3. NTPC Ltd: Declined by 3.50%, closing at ₹324.30.

4. ICICI Bank Ltd: Declined by 2.98%, closing at ₹1,196.15.

5. State Bank of India (SBI): Declined by 2.59%, closing at ₹759.05.

Top Gainer : -

1. Apollo Hospitals: Gained by 2.04%, closing at ₹6,919.15.

2. Tata Consumer Products: Gained by 1.23%, closing at ₹972.10.

3. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL): Gained by 1.05%, closing at ₹280.20.

4. JSW Steel Ltd: Gained by 0.83%, closing at ₹926.85.

5. Shriram Finance Ltd: Gained by 0.70%, closing at ₹520.30.

The Stallion India IPO has taken the market by storm, receiving an impressive subscription of over 188 times on its final day. Retail investors oversubscribed their quota by 65 times, while qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) booked 230 times their portion. High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs) also showed strong interest with a 187-times subscription. The allotment of shares is set for tomorrow, and investors can check their status online. The IPO's overwhelming demand reflects strong investor confidence and highlights Stallion India's growth potential in the market.

Adani Energy Solutions has won its biggest power transmission order yet, worth ₹20,000 crore. The project, part of the Ministry of Power's tariff-based competitive bidding, involves connecting renewable energy zones in Gujarat to the national grid. This major deal will enhance India's clean energy infrastructure, aligning with the country’s renewable energy goals. With this order, Adani Energy strengthens its position in the power sector, highlighting its capability to deliver large-scale projects critical for India's energy transition. This milestone reinforces the company's commitment to sustainable energy solutions.

On Tuesday, Indian stock markets experienced significant declines due to uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed trade tariffs. The Nifty 50 index dropped 1.37% to close at 23,024.65, while the BSE Sensex fell 1.6% to 75,838.36

Trump's announcement of impending tariffs on Mexico and Canada raised concerns about potential similar actions against countries like India, Brazil, and China. This led to increased market volatility, with the volatility index reaching 17, its highest since August 6, 2024.

Former US President Donald Trump has announced that, if re-elected, he will end birthright citizenship through an executive order on his first day. This move could strip automatic citizenship rights for children born in the US to non-citizens, impacting many, including Indian immigrants. The proposed change aims to discourage undocumented migration but raises legal and constitutional debates. Birthright citizenship, rooted in the 14th Amendment, has long been a cornerstone of US immigration policy. Experts believe this could lead to significant challenges for Indian families pursuing the American dream.

Former US President Donald Trump has warned of imposing 100% tariffs on goods from BRICS nations, including India, if he wins the 2024 elections. Trump criticized the US trade deficit, blaming it on unfair practices by countries like India, Brazil, China, and Russia.

He stated that his administration would enforce strict tariffs to protect American industries and jobs. This announcement comes after Trump's criticism of BRICS' growing influence and trade collaborations, which he claims undermine US interests globally. Trump emphasized restoring America's trade dominance as a key policy focus.

The Indian stock market saw a sharp decline, erasing nearly ₹5 lakh crore of investor wealth as the total BSE market capitalization fell to ₹427 lakh crore from ₹432 lakh crore. Key factors include foreign investor selloff, with FPIs offloading ₹51,000 crore this month, and weak Q3 earnings across sectors. Concerns over India’s slowing economy, delayed private capex, and weak demand growth added to the pressure. Additionally, global uncertainty, driven by Donald Trump’s trade policies, and caution ahead of the Union Budget 2025, have further impacted market sentiment.