Major indexes like the Dow and S&P 500 closed higher on Friday, ending a four-day losing streak to begin 2026. Chip makers, industrials, and utilities fueled the gains, while tech giants and consumer discretionary stocks saw declines.
ITC shares plummeted to a three-year low following a government excise duty hike on tobacco products. Brokerages downgraded the stock, citing fears of dampened cigarette demand and significant impact on profitability. Investors are advised to wait for clarity on price hikes and volume trends before considering buying.
Sebi is developing an AI-powered tool to analyze the cyber safety preparedness of regulated entities, aiming to strengthen risk-based supervision. Additionally, a working group is being formed to create a technology roadmap for market infrastructure institutions, ensuring innovation enhances market integrity.
The Indian rupee depreciated by 22 paise to settle at 90.20 against the US dollar on Friday. This decline was attributed to disappointing macroeconomic data, foreign fund outflows, and strong dollar demand from importers. However, weak crude prices and a surge in domestic equities provided some support.
Indian benchmark indices, Nifty50 and Sensex, closed at record highs on Friday, marking their best weekly gains in seven weeks. This surge followed a period of range-bound trading, with analysts predicting further upward movement. Market participants anticipate significant gains for both indices in 2026, despite a cautious VIX.
The personal information of more than 670,000 Illinois residents may have been publicly accessible online for several years, the Illinois Department of Human Services said Friday.
President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the unraveling of a $2.9 million computer chips deal that he concluded threatened U.S. security interests if the current owner, HieFo Corp., remained in control of the technology.
