Business

The Finance Ministry is considering raising the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in public sector banks (PSBs) to 49 per cent from the current 20 per cent to strengthen their capital base, PTI reported.“We are still considering, and inter-ministerial consultation is on for raising FDI cap to 49 per cent,” Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju…

Wall Street opened on a subdued note Monday as big technology stocks weighed on US indices, even as gold and silver prices clawed back part of their recent losses, according to AP.The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, putting it on track for a fourth straight modest decline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 173 points, while…

The United States is preparing to launch a $12 billion critical minerals stockpile initiative aimed at reducing dependence on China for rare earths and other strategic resources, according to a White House official, as Washington intensifies efforts to secure supply chains for key industries, AFP reported.The project is expected to combine about $1.7 billion in…

Global investors pulled out more than $3 billion in January, following withdrawals of over $18 billion in 2025. (AI image) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2026 has sought to enhance stability in India’s stock market by increasing the investment limits for NRIs. The government is seeking to draw more money from NRIs in the…

The government is considering further dilution of its holding in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) through a follow-on public offering in the next financial year, as it moves towards meeting minimum public shareholding norms, PTI reported.Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju said the process will be gradual and linked to market conditions, with the Department of Investment…

In a move expected to bring relief to employers and reduce routine tax disallowances, the finance bill has proposed a key change to the treatment of employees’ provident fund (PF), ESI and similar contributions, allowing deductions even where there is a delay in deposit, provided the amount is deposited by the employer entity with the…

Seeking to ease procedural hardship in search-related tax cases, the finance bill has proposed a calibrated approach to block assessments for third parties, alongside changes to standardise limitation timelines — moves experts say could reduce disproportionate compliance burdens and bring greater predictability to the process.Under the existing framework, when tax authorities uncover undisclosed income belonging…

Budget 2026: Top stocks to buy (AI image) Budget 2026 stock market picks: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1, 2026. Post the Union Budget, investors are wondering which stocks should they bet on. Motilal Oswal Financial Services shares its top 10 stock picks that investors can consider buying….

The finance bill proposes to give statutory backing to guidelines issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), making them binding not just on income-tax authorities but also on taxpayers responsible for deducting or collecting tax.So far, CBDT circulars and instructions were treated as binding only on the tax department and not on the…

NEW DELHI: The Budget has rolled out a sweeping reset of India’s transfer pricing framework, aiming to cut litigation, improve tax certainty and make the country a more attractive base for multinational companies (MNCs) and global capability centres.Presenting the proposals, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced far-reaching reforms to safe harbour rules and Advance Pricing Agreements…