The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its repo rate unchanged at 5.25% in its February 2026 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) review, maintaining a neutral stance amid benign inflation (around 2-2.5%, below the 4% target) and resilient growth. Senior Fixed Income Fund Manager Aditya Pagaria from Axis Mutual Fund discussed the policy's implications. He noted the RBI's cumulative 125 bps rate cuts and ₹17 lakh crore liquidity measures over 1.5 years have supported the economy effectively, signaling the end of the easing cycle with a likely long pause.Despite earlier cuts, 10-year G-Sec yields hardened to around 6.7-6.72% due to demand-supply mismatches (excess supply of ~3.5-4 lakh crore in G-Secs and SDLs) and market anticipation of the pause.Pagadia highlighted portfolio shifts to shorter-duration, accrual-focused strategies (e.g., 1-3 year corporate bonds offering ~200 bps spreads over repo) over volatile long-duration G-Secs. He advised retail and senior investors to consider flexible hybrid funds for managed exposure without timing the market. Short-term yields may see compression post March, while banking remains healthy with low NPAs. The rupee faces reduced pressure post trade deals, expected to stabilize.
TeamLease Services posted a resilient performance in the third quarter, delivering strong profit and margin growth despite sectoral headwinds. Consolidated net profit surged 46.8% year-on-year to ₹41.7 crore, while EBITDA rose 21.8% to ₹42.4 crore, driving margin expansion to 1.4% from 1.2% last year. Revenue growth remained steady at 3%, reflecting a challenging operating environment. The quarter was impacted by labour code-related costs of ₹5.68 crore and a headcount reduction of nearly 27,000 employees, largely concentrated in the BFSI segment. However, sequential and annual EBITDA growth underscores TeamLease’s focus on cost discipline, productivity and profitability. Management discusses margin sustainability, sectoral trends and the evolving demand outlook in this earnings conversation.
Metropolis Healthcare Ltd reported Q3FY26 results with profit rising 63% year-on-year and revenue increasing 26% to ₹406 crore, supported by higher patient and test volumes and a higher contribution from specialty and wellness diagnostics. The company reported margin improvement during a seasonally softer quarter, aided by operating efficiencies and expansion in Tier II and Tier III markets.
India Today Group is on ground at the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai, the biggest global forum shaping the future of West Asia and the Middle East. As the official media partner, we bring you exclusive access to the world’s most influential voices on AI, emerging technology, data, geopolitics, and global governance. From groundbreaking ideas to powerful global leaders, stay connected with India Today Network for live updates, key conversations, and in-depth insights straight from Dubai.
At the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Business Today Group Editor Siddharth Zarabi speaks with Fleur Pellerin—former French Minister of Culture and Founder & CEO of Korelya Capital—on the biggest questions shaping global investing today. Is Generative AI a bubble driven by sky-high valuations, or are we still scratching the surface of its real-world impact? From healthcare and banking to voice AI and productivity gains, Pellerin breaks down where AI is delivering value—and where hype may be running ahead of reality. She also shares why investors must adopt a twin-track strategy: backing cutting-edge AI while simultaneously investing in sectors that are largely immune to disruption, such as consumer lifestyle brands, tourism, and experience-driven businesses. From India’s AI potential to voice-based innovation and post-COVID market shifts, this candid conversation offers rare insight from someone who has shaped policy—and now shapes capital.
Business Today speaks exclusively with Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD of Tata Power, on the company’s Q3 FY26 results, clean energy execution, and growth outlook. Tata Power reported a marginal 0.6% YoY rise in net profit to ₹1,194 crore, while revenue and EBITDA declined amid a challenging quarter. The spotlight, however, remains on renewables, with 1.3 GW of clean energy projects executed, strong rooftop solar additions of 1 GWp, and robust traction in manufacturing. Tata Power’s renewable energy business posted sharp growth, with PAT up 156% and EBITDA rising 66%. Dr Sinha discusses margin trends, execution momentum, rooftop demand, EPC visibility, and how clean energy continues to anchor Tata Power’s long-term strategy.
As artificial intelligence moves from hype to real-world deployment, businesses are only beginning to unlock its productivity potential. In conversation with Business Today Group Editor Siddharth Zarabi, Korelya Capital Founder and former French Minister Fleur Pellerin explains how AI is starting to support human decision-making across sectors like banking, credit assessment and customer services. She highlights voice AI as a powerful growth area - especially for low-value, high-volume tasks such as bookings and appointments - where automation can drive efficiency at scale. Pellerin also shares why India presents a compelling long-term opportunity, given its talent pool, voice-first use cases and rapidly evolving trade landscape. While Korelya has no India exposure yet, AI may soon change that equation.
In Business Today's "What's Hot," anchor Sakshi Batra analyzes sharp volatility in precious metals amid a fresh crash in silver prices on MCX. Silver plunges ~9% intraday, falling below $75/oz globally and to ₹2.44 lakh/kg, after testing ₹4.8 lakh highs earlier - driven by heavy profit-booking, margin calls, speculative unwind, and reduced geopolitical fears. Abhishek Basumallick views the parabolic rally as unsustainable; silver lacks gold's central bank/fundamental support, facing more downside risk. He advises caution - prefer gold over silver for stability if holding metals, with potential further consolidation/correction before recovery. Avoid aggressive buys; focus on long-term fundamentals. Markets remain range-bound (Nifty ~25,780, mildly higher) despite US-India trade deal sentiment fade - uncertainty on fine print, IT selloff from Anthropic AI tools, and mixed Q3 earnings. Defense stocks like HAL tumble 12%+ on exclusion from stealth program and Morgan Stanley downgrade. Trent margins beat via efficiencies but growth slowdown concerns persist. Tata Power Q3 mixed but renewables/rooftop strong; management optimistic on FY27 growth, Odisha DISCOM turnaround, EV charging expansion.
As India re-engages with the global economy through a series of trade deals, the mood among foreign investors is evolving. While global mutual funds remain cautious amid concerns over market valuations, currency depreciation and risk-return dynamics, recent trade agreements have helped restore confidence in India’s macro story. The response of the rupee and renewed optimism among global funds signal that India is back in focus. Strategic priorities-especially government-led investments in AI, R&D and semiconductors - are being closely watched. At the same time, investors flag lingering concerns around taxation clarity and capital exit frameworks. The consensus: India’s long-term opportunity remains compelling, but sustained foreign capital will depend on stable policies, predictable taxation and an open, globally competitive investment ecosystem.
At the World Government Summit in Dubai, Accenture’s Managing Director for the UAE, Xavier, explains a major new report analysing how governments worldwide are adopting Artificial Intelligence. Based on interviews with over 7,000 citizens and 4,000 public servants across 14 countries, the report examines whether massive AI investments are actually improving public services. The findings suggest India and the Middle East are emerging as leaders by using AI not just to automate processes but to reinvent how governments serve citizens — moving towards what experts call an “invisible government” where services become seamless and predictive. Xavier also discusses India’s position in the global AI race against the US and China, highlighting strong talent advantages but stressing the need for sustained infrastructure investment, especially in data centres, to power future AI-driven governance and digital services.
TCI Management On Q3 Results: Steady Growth Momentum Continues
Indian markets are entering a phase of recalibration after three major events - the Union Budget, the India-US trade deal, and the India-EU agreement - removed key uncertainties. According to Devarsh Vakil of HDFC Securities, the completion of the US trade deal has eased pressure on the rupee and is likely to slow FII selling, with selective foreign inflows returning. While IT remains market-weight amid disruption and potential buybacks, Vakil sees strong mean-reversion opportunities in value-driven sectors. Cement and road construction stand out due to attractive valuations and higher infrastructure spending post-budget. BFSI, auto, capital goods, and telecom remain core portfolio holdings, while healthcare warrants caution after a strong run. Investors should focus on quality stocks, valuation comfort, and patience to capture medium-term gains.
Silver and gold investors who entered at peak levels are facing short-term pain, especially in Silver ETFs bought around ₹3.5–4.5 lakh levels. Commodity expert Vandana Bharti believes the correction has been emotionally difficult, but not structurally damaging. She emphasises that both gold and silver remain fundamentally strong metals and are unlikely to stay trapped in a prolonged bottom. Drawing parallels with gold’s recent sharp fall and swift recovery, she expects a similar trend for silver. ETFs may feel more pressure due to tracking mechanisms, but recovery could be equally sharp. Vandana suggests investors extend their holding period, potentially till Diwali, as prices stabilise and recover, increasing the probability of returning to the green zone rather than exiting in panic.
In Business Today's "What's Hot," anchor Sakshi Batra examines the sharp meltdown in Indian IT stocks, triggered by Anthropic's new Claude Cowork AI plugins. These agentic tools automate tasks in legal (contract review, compliance, NDAs), sales, marketing, data analysis, and more, sparking global fears of disruption to data processing, outsourcing, and professional services. Guest Expert Mayuresh Joshi (Head of Equity Research, William O'Neill India) notes US stocks like Accenture, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Gartner also fell sharply. He differentiates: US firms lead in AI products/platforms, while Indian IT excels in application-layer services and outsourcing. However, fierce global competition (including from China) demands evolution - embracing AI, upskilling, and model diversification beyond traditional outsourcing. Q3 earnings were stable but predictable; no margin surprises expected. Mid-cap IT firms may fare better short-term due to smaller-order focus. He stays cautious on the sector long-term (2-3 years of pressure), advising patience amid automation race. On the US-India trade deal (tariffs cut to 18%), sentiment improved post-overhang, but fine print awaited-limited immediate balance sheet impact; benefits for textiles, shrimp, jewellery, auto ancillaries. Budget seen balanced (capex, infra, defense focus), STT hike minor for FIIs but curbs retail speculation. Long-term themes: power/renewables, capital goods, banking, consumer durables; 5-10% gold/silver allocation for hedging. Markets poised for recovery if earnings rebound 12-14%.
Anthropic’s AI launch has acted as a tipping point for global technology markets, triggering a sharp reassessment of traditional IT services and outsourcing models. Over the last 18 months, caution around Indian IT stocks had already been building despite occasional positive cues from the US economy. The rapid acceleration of automation, agentic AI and heavy capital investment by global software players has intensified fears that AI may replace, not just assist, large parts of the services value chain. Added to this is rising competition from China in AI platforms, further challenging India’s services-led dominance. While near-term revenues may hold up, the market is now pricing in long-term disruption. Investors are being forced to recalibrate expectations, with stock sell-offs reflecting the urgency for Indian IT companies to pivot towards AI-driven, higher-value business models.
In Business Today's Market Commentary, Shailendra Bhatnagar discusses the volatile mood in precious metals amid sharp corrections and recoveries on MCX. Silver trades ~4% higher at ₹2,80,500 per kg (after falling from ₹4.8 lakh highs to ₹2.3 lakh in speculative shakeout), while gold rises ~5% to ₹1,49,244 per tola (10g equivalent). Guest Vandana Bharti (SMC Global) views the recent plunge as a necessary "reset" due to over-speculation, margin calls, and profit-booking - sharper and quicker than expected. Physical premiums washed out, but demand remains resilient. Gold shows more stability; both metals now in recovery. Fundamentals remain strong (not like lithium/nickel traps) - central banks, crypto/stablecoins, and geopolitical factors drive upside. Advice for investors stuck at ₹3.5-4 lakh in silver ETFs: Hold longer (till Diwali for green zone potential); average on dips (wait for March demand correction, international $78-82, MCX ~₹2.60 lakh). Prefer ETFs for easy entry/exit over physical (premiums apply). Limit to 10-20% portfolio allocation. Outlook: Gold targets $5,400-5,500; silver/industrial metals (copper/aluminum/zinc) strong on deficits, strategic reserves, and demand. Crude needs geopolitics for upside.
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Russian oil flows into India remain steady for now, easing near-term concerns for refiners. A Kepler report suggests there is no immediate risk of a sharp cut in Russian crude imports, with supply deals already locked in for the next 10 weeks. Any rapid exit from Russian oil would pose operational challenges for Indian refiners. The report adds that US crude imports are expected to rise to about 10% of India’s total intake, largely replacing African barrels rather than Russian supplies. With OPEC keeping production unchanged amid geopolitical uncertainty, oil and gas stocks gained, led by ONGC and Oil India, while refiners traded higher, supporting the broader market.
Indian IT stocks witnessed a sharp selloff, with the Nifty IT index plunging over 5% amid global tech jitters triggered by fresh AI developments from Anthropic. Wall Street saw heavy corrections overnight, spilling over into domestic markets and dragging down frontline IT names. Market experts Sharad Avasthi, Head of Research (PCG), SMIFS believe the reaction may be overdone, highlighting that Indian IT companies have already transitioned towards high-margin, complex digital and AI-led services. Large-cap names like TCS and Infosys, along with select mid- and small-cap stocks, could offer attractive long-term opportunities amid the correction.
Dalal Street witnessed a historic surge after India and the US sealed a landmark trade deal, triggering the biggest-ever gap-up opening in Indian market history. The Sensex soared over 4,200 points and the Nifty jumped more than 1,250 points, adding ₹20 lakh crore in market value within minutes. Export-driven sectors led the rally, with textiles, autos, chemicals, solar equipment and consumer stocks emerging as top gainers. The rupee strengthened sharply, reflecting renewed global confidence, while expectations of foreign fund inflows added to the momentum, marking a defining moment for India–US economic ties.
India’s medium- and short-term opportunity set is increasingly centred around GCCs and advanced IT services. Budget clarity on services taxation, including IT and GCCs, has removed long-standing transfer pricing ambiguities through a clear safe harbour framework, boosting confidence among global companies. A 21-year tax holiday and the India–US tax deal further strengthen India’s appeal as a global services hub. Indian IT firms are also moving up the AI value chain-integrating artificial intelligence into software, applications and enterprise solutions rather than just infrastructure. With cloud spending maturing and global tech budgets reviving, large deal pipelines are opening up. Despite being under-rated for months, Indian IT stocks now appear poised for a sharp growth revival, backed by structural reforms, AI adoption and rising global demand for India-led technology solutions.
RBI Says Trade Deals With EU, US & Others Strengthen India’s External Sector Outlook
Jeffrey Sachs Praises Modi On India-US Trade Deal: “Trump Blinked, India Must Not Depend On U.S.”
Agra’s ₹127 Cr Housing Project In Ruins: Flats For Poor Rot Before Occupation
RBI Credit Policy LIVE Analysis | Aditya Pagaria Explains Rate Pause Impact
TeamLease Q3 Results: Profit Jumps 47% As Margins Improve Despite Headcount Loss
