Economic Times
World Uncertainty Index hits record 106,862 in February 2026; historic surge surpasses 2008 crisis levels. Global Market Today: Asian shares advance at open as gold and silver edge lower in thin holiday trading. Ashwini Vaishnaw projects $200 billion investment momentum for India’s AI ecosystem over next two years. Draft Income Tax Rules 2026: Company car perks to get costlier; tax bills may rise by ₹4,352 for middle-income earners. Sensex Today Live: Markets open cautious as GIFT Nifty signals 70-point drop amid global tech volatility. Oil Market Update: West Texas Intermediate holds losses on reports of progress in US-Iran nuclear talks. Aye Finance IPO GMP: Gray market premium steady as Day 1 bidding commences for the NBFC. M&M and Titan Q3 Results: Analysts eye margin pressure as retail and auto sectors report quarterly earnings. Silver ETFs crash today as investors pivot to high-yield bonds following US jobs data surprise. Business Standard India and France sign Joint Statement; Leaders inaugurate '2026 India-France Year of Innovation.' RBI’s draft guidelines on sales practices to curb mis-selling and commission-driven banking from July. TATA Advanced Systems and Airbus inaugurate H125 Final Assembly Line; first private sector helicopter facility in India. MSME scale-up: Government identifies AI-linked quality inspection as key growth driver for 76 million units. Macron invites PM Modi to 2026 G7 Summit in France to discuss global macroeconomic imbalances. Indian delegation to visit US next week to negotiate lowering of reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18%. Best of BS Opinion: Financial reform and the rise of precision care in the 2026 health-tech landscape. Digital Infrastructure: Yotta CEO highlights key boost needed for India’s global data centre aspirations. Financial Express France announces visa-free airport transit for Indians; sets target for 30,000 students by 2030. Stocks to watch today: Ola Electric, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Swiggy in focus. Bombay High Court stays arrest warrant against Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal in consumer case. Premium Pain: Health insurance costs to rise by 4.41% as government approves highest hike since 2017. India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership: Major defense and tech cooperation deals signed. Edelweiss Mutual Fund declares IDCW for four schemes; record date set for February 18, 2026. Nifty 50 and Sensex extend recovery; markets eye 83,500 level amid cautious global sentiment. Renewable Surge: Experts claim AI could be a game-changer for distributed RE and grid stability. Mint Invest in Skilling: PM Modi addresses concerns over AI job disruptions at Bharat Mandapam summit. Saudi Arabia surpasses Russia as India’s top oil supplier in February following US tariff reset. Stock Recommendations: MarketSmith India reveals top picks for Feb 18 as Nifty IT leads gains. GIFT City allows Indians to build global portfolios: Sandeep Batra on new wealth management trends. Sensex crashes 1,048 points in previous session; investors lose ₹7 lakh crore over AI-led tech anxiety. Updated Income Tax Rules 2025: Changes to Form 16 and 26AS to take effect from April 1. Your credit score is now your 'Financial DNA': Why lenders are tightening scrutiny in 2026. Retirement Planning: Why ₹20 crore may not be enough for urban India’s rising cost of living. Tax refunds jump 22% so far: Scott Bessent on the impact of new fiscal filings on liquidity.