Financial Summary: Sunday, February 1, 2026
Financial news summary and key insights from Sunday, February 1, 2026. Browse summaries by category below.
India
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a comprehensive overhaul of FEMA rules and introduced total return swaps for corporate bonds in the Union Budget 2026.
The Union Budget 2026 proposed a tax holiday until 2047 for foreign cloud companies, significantly boosting Indian data centre stocks.
Tourism and hospitality stocks surged after the Union Budget 2026 announced initiatives to boost medical tourism and infrastructure.
The Union Budget 2026 unveiled India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research.
Railway stocks rose following the announcement of seven high-speed rail corridors in the Union Budget 2026, enhancing investment sentiment.
The Budget 2026 raised overseas investment limits for non-resident Indians in Indian equities to deepen capital markets.
Healthcare stocks gained after the Budget 2026 announced measures to enhance medical tourism and establish regional medical hubs.
Infrastructure stocks rose after the Union Budget 2026 increased capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore, supporting growth in various sectors.
The Budget 2026 announced a dedicated rare earths corridor, boosting shares of GMDC and NMDC as part of a critical minerals supply chain initiative.
Morgan Stanley remains optimistic about Indian stocks, citing support from cyclical growth and structural reforms post-Budget.
India has announced a zero tax policy for global AI workloads until 2047 to attract international investments in artificial intelligence.
Markets
The S&P 500 closed lower after briefly surpassing 7,000, raising concerns about market stability.
Bitcoin's price fell below $80,000 amid liquidity concerns, attracting attention from major investors.
Indian stocks experienced a significant sell-off, with the Sensex dropping 1,000 points due to increased Securities Transaction Tax.
Electronics manufacturing services stocks surged up to 7% following a government announcement of a Rs 40,000 crore outlay for the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme.
Foreign investors withdrew $23 billion from Indian stocks amid hopes for tax relief in the upcoming budget.
PSU bank stocks fell sharply after the Union Budget's borrowing plan raised fears of mark-to-market losses.
Despite the drop in the Sensex, four stocks including Oil India and Axis Bank reached 52-week highs, indicating strong market momentum.
Top Wall Street analysts recommend three dividend stocks for investors seeking stable income amidst market volatility.
Silver prices surged 17% in the past month, prompting analysts to recommend three stocks that could benefit from this upward trend.
The January barometer for stocks is under scrutiny this year, raising questions about its reliability as an indicator.
Tech
AI models forecast a significant increase in cryptocurrency investments by 2026, signaling a bullish market trend.
Experts believe the rise of AI technology will create new job opportunities rather than cause major job losses.
Tesla is initiating a major rebranding effort to align with evolving consumer expectations.
Investors are advised to focus on infrastructure investments to mitigate risks from potential overheating in the AI sector.
Analysts predict that artificial intelligence will significantly boost the tech sector, highlighting a semiconductor stock as a key investment.
A leading cybersecurity firm is adapting its business model to focus on recurring revenue in response to rising cyber threats.
Apple's CEO has hinted at significant changes for the upcoming iPhone 18, which may reshape consumer expectations.
General
A financial guide offers strategies for individuals to eliminate $30,000 in debt by 2026 through budgeting and management.
New homeowners are grappling with unexpected costs, including a $5,000 HOA fee and $1 million in deferred maintenance.
Congressman Ro Khanna criticizes the DOJ for only releasing part of the Epstein files, calling for full transparency.
Individuals in their mid-30s reflect on financial mistakes, highlighting the critical role of timing in financial decisions.
A retired homeowner in Fort Worth seeks guidance on managing $143,000 in cash savings effectively.
World
Documents reveal Jeffrey Epstein made payments to former UK power broker Peter Mandelson from his JPMorgan account.
SpaceX has halted unauthorized use of its Starlink system by Russia, following Ukraine's discovery of US satellite technology in Russian drones.
Former President Trump claims Iran is negotiating on nuclear weapons, urging a no-nuclear stance amid regional tensions.
The U.S. government has entered a shutdown as Senate Democrats push for changes to a spending package following recent violent incidents in Minnesota.
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticizes the UAE's 'Spy Sheikh' for secretly acquiring a stake in a Trump-affiliated cryptocurrency company, calling it corruption.
Biden's administration is praised for its antidiscrimination efforts, countering claims that diversity initiatives have undermined fair lending laws.
Companies
Diana Shipping announced a buyback program and a decarbonization plan at the Capital Link Conference.
Viavi Solutions' stock surged 30% after announcing restructuring plans, reflecting strong investor confidence.
Seagate's stock climbed 17.8% following an earnings report that exceeded expectations, showcasing robust financial health.
Deckers Outdoor's stock jumped 19% as profits soared, driven by strong sales of its Ugg and Hoka brands.
Paytm's shares surged 9% after the Budget 2026 announced increased incentives for UPI and RuPay, boosting investor confidence in the fintech sector.
Verizon reports its best subscriber growth since 2019, signaling a strong recovery in its customer base.
Walmart increases pay for pharmacy technicians as part of its health initiative, reflecting a broader trend in employee compensation.
Tesla's stock is projected to potentially double as its AI robot, Optimus, is expected to reach human-level proficiency this year.