Business Standard

• Corporate Capex Surge: Fixed asset creation by leading listed Indian firms hit a six-year high of 13.1% in H1FY26, signaling that the private investment cycle has shifted into top gear.
• AI Summit Luxury Boom: Delhi’s luxury hotels are seeing room rates soar to as much as ₹30 lakh per night as the city prepares to host 35,000 global delegates for the India AI Impact Summit on February 19-20.
• Record Tea Exports: India’s tea exports reached an all-time high of 280.40 million kg in 2025, driven by a sharp increase in demand from the UAE, Iraq, and China.
• Cricket Diplomacy: The Pakistan government has officially ended its boycott threat for the T20 World Cup, confirming that the high-stakes India-Pakistan match will proceed on February 15.
• BSE Financials: BSE reported a massive 166% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit to ₹603 crore for Q3FY26, bolstered by a surge in transaction charges.

Mint

• MAT Overhaul Impact: Experts warn that the Budget 2026 overhaul of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT)—which limits the use of tax credits to 25% per year—could force startups and power companies to pivot to the new tax regime.
• Growth Forecast Upgrade: Goldman Sachs has raised India’s 2026 growth forecast to 6.9%, citing the positive impact of lower US tariffs following the recent bilateral trade agreement.
• Ambuja-Sanghi Merger: Adani-owned Ambuja Cements has received the final nod from the NCLT for its merger with Sanghi Industries, further consolidating the group's position in the cement sector.
• Energy Policy: The Indian government reaffirmed its "multi-source" approach to oil procurement, defending continued Russian oil purchases as essential for national energy security.
• New Income Tax Rules: The Income Tax Department has issued draft rules under the new Income Tax Act, with final notifications expected by March 2026.

Economic Times

• US-India Trade Pact: Details of the landmark trade deal reveal that India has adopted quota-based auto duty cuts and provided relief on alcohol tariffs in exchange for wider market access for Indian exports.
• PSB Profit Records: Public Sector Banks (PSBs) posted a combined Q3 profit of ₹52,603 crore, with State Bank of India (SBI) leading the record-breaking growth.
• Monetary Policy Signal: The RBI has signaled a potential pause in interest rate cuts following the December reduction, as emerging inflation pressures keep the central bank cautious.
• 8th Pay Commission: The official website for the 8th Pay Commission has gone live, inviting feedback from government employees as the committee begins its deliberations on salary revisions.
• Market Trends: Seafood stocks faced selling pressure today due to rising competition and margin concerns, while the broader market remained optimistic about the "D-Street" impact of the US trade deal.

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