Financial Summary: Thursday, January 29, 2026

Indian private banks have increased loan write-offs by over 22% in the December quarter to manage credit costs, despite low bad loan ratios.

The Indian government is focusing on fiscal consolidation in the upcoming Union Budget FY27, emphasizing non-tax revenues and state-led initiatives.

Investors are eagerly awaiting the Indian Budget, which aims to balance market-friendly policies with fiscal stability amid revenue pressures.

India's Chief Economic Adviser warns that the prolonged 'easy money era' since 2008 has inflated stock market valuations and increased financial risks.

Meta's stock surged after strong earnings, while Microsoft's shares fell due to AI spending concerns.

Apple has acquired Israeli start-up Q.AI for nearly $2 billion to enhance its AI capabilities.

The NHTSA is investigating a Waymo incident involving a child, raising safety concerns for driverless vehicles.

Waymo launches ride services to San Francisco airport, with plans for future expansion.

Data breaches reached a record high in 2025, prompting experts to advise on personal information protection.

Gold prices surged over 3% to record highs amid stock market volatility and geopolitical tensions.

The Federal Reserve signaled no immediate interest rate cuts, citing strong economic growth.

Indian stock markets closed higher for the third consecutive day, with the Sensex gaining 222 points.

Hindustan Copper shares surged 40% in four days, driven by rising global copper prices.

European shares rose as mining and energy stocks gained, buoyed by higher oil and precious metal prices.

Software stocks entered a bear market, with ServiceNow experiencing a significant 12% drop amid AI disruption fears.

U.S. natural gas futures increased as cold weather is expected to sustain heating demand.

Experts warn that ongoing investor anxiety continues to drive speculative trading behaviors in the stock market.

Two software stocks are being highlighted as potential buys amid a sector downturn.

The U.S. government faces a potential shutdown as Congress struggles to finalize spending measures ahead of the deadline.

The UK and China have agreed to enhance intelligence sharing to combat human trafficking in the English Channel.

Venezuela plans to significantly boost its oil production from 800,000 to 3 million barrels per day.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to gain more seats in the upcoming Lower House election, impacting government bond yields.

Denmark and the U.S. have resumed discussions regarding Greenland, following a framework deal to avoid tariffs on several European nations.

Oil prices surged over 2% as President Trump considers targeted strikes on Iranian security forces to support protesters.

President Trump announced that Russian President Putin has agreed to suspend attacks on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, amid ongoing tensions.

Norway's $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund has conducted stress tests indicating potential significant losses from climate shocks and AI market corrections.

Meta's shares surged 10% after a strong earnings report, despite losses in its Reality Labs division.

Samsung Electronics reported record Q4 profits, tripling earnings due to high demand for AI chips.

Home Depot announced layoffs of 800 workers as sales decline in the housing market.

Tesla is reducing its car lineup and shifting focus to AI after its first annual revenue decline.

IBM shares rose 8% after better-than-expected earnings, significantly boosted by its AI business.

ABB announced a $2 billion share buyback and a positive outlook for 2026 after exceeding earnings forecasts.

SAP shares dropped significantly after disappointing growth in cloud contracts for the fourth quarter.

Dow announced plans to cut 4,500 jobs as part of a cost-saving initiative while focusing on AI.

Paytm's Q3 net profit soared 971% to Rs 225 crore, marking a significant turnaround from a loss last year.

Starbucks plans to open thousands of new coffee shops globally, marking a significant expansion after previous store closures.