Analysts predict that the ongoing US-Iran conflict, fluctuations in crude oil prices, and foreign institutional investor (FII) flows will be the primary factors influencing Dalal Street this week, with inflation concerns adding to investor anxiety.
Rising income feels like success but unchecked lifestyle inflation traps urban professionals into financing a more expensive version of living paycheck-to-paycheck -- buying material upgrades instead of true future financial freedom.
The combined market valuation of four of India's top-10 most valued firms, including State Bank of India, Bharti Airtel, Tata Consultancy Services, and Larsen & Toubro, eroded by Rs 1 lakh crore last week amidst a volatile and range-bound equity market.
'Once the currency goes out of the hand, then possibly your major challenge is that it will not come back.'
The total reserves increased to $701.3 billion on the back of a rise in foreign currency assets which increased by $9.6 billion to $560 billion during the reported week.
Stock market is gearing up for an eventful week ahead where key triggers such as quarterly earnings from corporates, the US Fed interest rate decision and the upcoming Union Budget for 2026-27 would grab the limelight, analysts said.
India and the US have reported positive progress in recent trade talks in Washington, agreeing to maintain engagement to finalise a bilateral trade agreement, which now requires recalibration following new US tariffs.
India's foreign exchange reserves have surged to an all-time high, reaching USD 728.494 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India. This increase is attributed to a rise in foreign currency assets and gold reserves.
The rupee declined 31 paise to settle at 90.65 against the US dollar on Friday, weighed down by geopolitical uncertainties over the US-Iran talks, and a sharp rise in global crude oil prices.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a July hearing for the Rs 500 crore money decree case involving Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) and industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad, following the failure of a mediation process led by former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit.
State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has reported a net profit of over Rs 23,400 crore for the January-March quarter, making it the highest profit-making firm in the Indian financial sector during this period, surpassing major banks like SBI and HDFC Bank.
State-owned enterprises in India are projected to significantly increase their overseas borrowings, potentially exceeding $15 billion in FY27, driven by the Reserve Bank of India's new concessional forex swap facility which offers a 3 per cent funding-cost advantage.
Bengaluru-based Priyanka* reveals how resuming her career and becoming financially independent taught her to feel confident about herself.
In an event-heavy week ahead, stock markets are expected to track Q3 corporate earnings from several blue-chip firms, including TCS and Infosys, while inflation data and global trends would also dictate investors' sentiment, analysts said.
India's net oil import bill could rise by $56 billion to $64 billion annually assuming global crude averages $110 to $115 per barrel in FY27.
OpenAI reports India is a leading AI market with strengths in coding, data analysis, and reasoning, but adoption is heavily concentrated in top cities, highlighting a significant regional disparity.
India's forex reserves decreased by $2.119 billion to $723.608 billion during the week ended February 20, according to the RBI.
A host of macroeconomic data announcements, global trends and trading activity of foreign investors would dictate investors' sentiment in the stock market this week, analysts said. Besides, auto sales data will be closely tracked, experts noted.
India has been designated as a country with an 'extremely high' risk of doping by World Athletics, leading to more stringent anti-doping measures for Indian athletes.
Macroeconomic data announcements, global trends and trading activity of foreign investors would be major driving factors for market movement this week, analysts said. Unabated capital infusion by domestic institutional investors have supported the positive trend in the stock market last week, traders said.
India's forex reserves dropped by $6.71 billion to $717 billion during the week ended February 6, the RBI said on Friday.
India's forex reserves jumped $8.663 billion to hit a new all-time high of $725.727 billion in the week ended February 13, the RBI said on Friday.
The Indian government has issued an updated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for processing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) applications, aiming to clear all proposals within 12 weeks, a two-week extension from the previous 10-week target, to ensure a fully paperless and transparent process.
Trading pattern in the stock market this week will largely depend on the ongoing Q3 earnings announcement from corporates, global trends, and foreign fund movement, analysts said. Moreover, geopolitical developments and any update on trade negotiations would also be keenly tracked by investors, experts noted.
'Cyberbullying has become extremely worrisome now, with several complaints being received from schools.'
Learners in India prefer to pursue newer courses, such as Gen AI by building apps and code using the technology, along with learning about it.
The selloff in domestic information technology stocks intensified on Friday, with the Nifty IT index sliding as much as 5.2 per cent during the session before paring losses to close 1.44 per cent lower.
After three consecutive months of heavy selling, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned net buyers in the first week of February, infusing more than Rs 8,100 crore in Indian equities, aided by improving risk sentiment, along with a trade deal with the US.
Eight of India's top-10 most valued firms saw their combined market valuation increase by Rs 1,87,497.45 crore last week, with Bharti Airtel emerging as the largest gainer, reflecting a positive trend in the equities market.
The World Bank has affirmed India's strong position to withstand the current global energy shock, citing high foreign exchange reserves, fiscal space, and low inflation as key buffers supporting continued growth despite international headwinds.
Indian equities declined on Friday, with the benchmark Nifty posting its worst weekly fall since September, as foreign investor sentiment remained weak amid tepid earnings growth and little progress on the India-US trade front.
Delhi should keep all its options open in what is essentially a transitional period in the geopolitics of energy rather than remain a gatekeeper serving Trump's 'America First', suggests Ambasssador M K Bhadrakumar.
India's forex reserves jumped by another $14.36 billion to a new all-time high of $723.77 billion during the week ended January 30, the Reserve Bank said on Friday.
Macroeconomic data, global market trends and trading activity of foreign investors will be the key drivers for dictating market sentiment this week, analysts said. "This week, volatility may increase ahead of the November derivatives expiry. Domestically, markets will track several high-impact macro releases, including Q2 GDP data and industrial production.
'Refined carbohydrates are the quiet troublemaker in our diet.' 'We eat plenty of calories, but not enough nutrition.'
This could come as a setback to thousands of Indian engineers who have waited for years for their work visas to pave the way for the coveted Green Card.
'At the first sign of real trouble, that money will move. There will be a run.'
Male central government employees are entitled to 15 days under service rules and provisions in the private sector depends on the company's policy.
India's top 16 IT services companies distributed a record 1.3 trillion to shareholders in FY26 through dividends and share buybacks, a 36.3 per cent increase from FY25, even as the industry grappled with AI-driven business model threats and a significant decline in market capitalisation.
Following through announcements with enforcement of measures is key, as a run through recent Indian economic history shows, points out A K Bhattacharya.
