Investors eye the Union Budget 2026 for policy direction amidst global uncertainty. Tata Asset Management's CIO Rahul Singh anticipates a focus on capital expenditure and customs duty rationalisation, with limited room for fiscal stimulus. He notes a decline in India's valuation premium, making it more attractive for emerging market flows.
CME Group has raised margin requirements for gold and silver futures after historic price crashes triggered extreme volatility. The hikes, effective Monday, aim to stabilise markets as collateral demands rise across precious metals. The move follows steep declines in gold and silver, intensifying pressure on leveraged traders.
Bitcoin hovered near $84,000 as markets reacted to Kevin Warshs nomination as US Federal Reserve Chair. While short-term volatility persists amid ETF outflows and macro uncertainty, reduced leverage and oversold conditions may support a near-term rebound across major cryptocurrencies if sentiment stabilises.
Budget 2026 arrives amid weak market sentiment, thin participation, and geopolitical pressures. With fiscal constraints and limited scope for major tax changes, the focus is expected on structural reforms like power sector and IBC revamps. While these could support long-term equities, short-term market revival may remain muted.
Gold and silver ETFs experienced a sharp decline following a significant selloff in precious metals, with spot gold falling 5.4% and silver dropping 10.7%. This correction was attributed to a strengthening US dollar and profit-booking after a strong January rally. Experts advise caution due to near-term volatility but maintain a bullish long-term outlook.
Gold and silver demand remains robust despite record-high prices, driven by investment, industrial use, and central-bank accumulation. China and India continue strong consumption, while Western markets increase allocations for diversification and hedging. Tight supply and resilient global appetite suggest that upward price momentum for precious metals may persist in 2026.
Madhusudan Kelas portfolio faced sharp volatility with nine stocks plunging 1545% over the past seven months, even as he introduced one fresh bet in Q3.
Transformation has been coming quickly for the patchwork of farmlands around Interstate 65 and Indiana 2, where the Flying J sign was once the sole illuminator of the rural interstate exit.
A weakening rupee is often cited as a reason to hold metals, but history shows that currency weakness alone cannot shield investors from sharp, speculative market crashes, according to WhiteOak Capital Mutual Funds report Gold is Talking, Silver is Screaming A Case for Prudent Repositioning
Benchmark indices and broader markets have historically shown subdued performance on Union Budget day, with less than 1% movement. However, a week after the event, both Nifty and Sensex have shown stronger gains. Three months post-budget, while the Nifty experienced significant swings, it generally trended upwards, with the exception of a notable fall in 2020.
