Business Standard

• India-EU Trade Pact Near Conclusion: India and the European Union are reportedly closing in on "the mother of all deals." Sources indicate India may slash import tariffs on European cars to 40% from the current 110%, with a further reduction to 10% over time.
• Veteran Journalist Mark Tully Passes Away: Legendary BBC journalist Sir Mark Tully, widely known as the "voice of India," has died at the age of 90. His reporting spanned decades of India's post-independence history.
• Padma Awards 2026 Announced: The government has honored several business and sports icons. Notable awardees include veteran banker Uday Kotak, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, and women’s cricket star Harmanpreet Kaur.
• Smartphone Exports Surge: India’s smartphone exports to the US have witnessed a massive 200% growth in the April-November FY26 period, highlighting the success of the "Make in India" initiative in the electronics sector.
• Rupee Forecast: A Business Standard poll suggests the Indian Rupee is likely to trade around 92.50 per dollar by the end of March, though a potential trade deal with the US could provide some relief.

Economic Times

• Rupee Hits Record Low: The Indian Rupee plummeted to a historic low of 91.70 against the US Dollar. Triggers include a Greenland-US diplomatic dispute, sustained FPI sell-offs, and the unwinding of yen carry trades.
• Budget 2026 CSR Expectations: Reports suggest the upcoming Union Budget may introduce income tax exemptions for companies that deploy Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds into vocational training and skill development.
• Stock Market Holiday: The BSE and NSE are closed today in observance of Republic Day. Trading will resume tomorrow, with investors keeping a close eye on the ongoing Q3 earnings season.
• Axis Bank Q3 Preview: Analysts expect Axis Bank to report a soft third quarter, with Profit After Tax (PAT) potentially falling by 8% year-on-year due to margin pressures, despite a recovery in loan growth.
• AI for Viksit Bharat: Discussions at Davos 2026 emphasize India’s push for "AI for Viksit Bharat," focusing on infrastructure reforms and large-scale re-skilling to integrate AI into the core economy.

Mint

• 77th Republic Day Celebrations: The nation celebrates under the theme "150 Years of Vande Mataram." The parade at Kartavya Path features 30 tableaux and showcases India’s military prowess, including the BrahMos and Akash weapon systems.
• Major Q3 Earnings This Week: Despite the holiday today, a heavy earnings calendar awaits investors this week, with Axis Bank, L&T, Maruti Suzuki, and Vodafone Idea scheduled to announce their results.
• Quick Commerce Price Wars: Competition is intensifying in the quick commerce space as giants like Amazon and Flipkart launch aggressive discount campaigns to challenge established players like Blinkit and Zepto.
• Market Outlook: Mahindra Manulife’s Anthony Heredia suggests that market returns in 2026 may stay 2-3% above nominal GDP growth, though he cautioned that investor interest in IPOs might decline due to high supply.
• Bank Holidays: Customers are advised to plan ahead as banks in several states may be closed for up to three days this week due to the Republic Day long weekend and regional holidays.

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