Venezuela oil plan: Donald Trump’s takeover idea unlikely to shift global prices soon; analysts flag hurdles

File photo: US President Donald Trump (Picture credit: AP) US President Donald Trump’s idea of taking control of Venezuela’s oil industry and inviting US companies to rebuild it after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro is unlikely to move global oil prices in the near term, analysts say.As per news agency AP, Venezuela’s oil sector…

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Retail inflation outlook: CPI likely rises to 1.66% in December on food prices; still below year-ago levels

India’s retail inflation likely edged higher in December 2025 to 1.66 per cent from 0.71 per cent in November, driven by a strengthening in food prices across most segments, according to projections by Union Bank of India.The official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for December is scheduled to be released on January 12, 2026, or…

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Gold, silver outlook: Bullion set for volatile week amid US data, Venezuela crisis; analysts warn of swings

Gold and silver prices are expected to remain highly volatile in the coming week as investors react to key US economic data and rising geopolitical tensions following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US forces, analysts said.Market participants will closely track a series of important US indicators, including ISM Manufacturing data, December ADP…

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India-EU FTA talks: Piyush Goyal to visit Brussels this week; talks enter final phase

File photo: Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal (Picture credit: PTI) Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Brussels this week for high-level discussions with the European Union on the long-pending India-EU free trade agreement, with negotiations now in their final and most challenging phase.According to an official, Goyal will be…

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Rice production milestone! India overtakes China as top global producer; output hits 150.18 million tonnes

India has emerged as the world’s largest rice producer, surpassing China with an output of 150.18 million tonnes, Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday.The announcement came as the minister released 184 new varieties of 25 crops developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at an event in the national capital.Addressing…

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Indian equities outlook: ICICI Prudential flags stable macro backdrop; warns valuations already price in optimism

The broader macro backdrop for Indian equities remains stable heading into 2026, supported by healthier corporate balance sheets and early signs of an earnings recovery across sectors, according to ICICI Prudential Alternate Investments. However, after a long market upcycle and widespread rerating, much of the optimism on growth and profits is already reflected in stock…

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Housing inventory: Unsold homes rise 4% across top cities; new supply continues to outpace demand

Unsold housing inventory across India’s top seven cities increased by 4 per cent last year, as the supply of new homes continued to exceed buyer demand, according to data released by real estate consultant Anarock.The total number of unsold residential units in the primary market stood at 5,76,617 at the end of 2025, compared with…

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Cigarette tax hike: Experts warn of surge in illicit trade; fear major revenue losses for government

A sharp increase in taxes on cigarettes, along with a new excise duty structure on tobacco products, could trigger a surge in illicit trade and lead to significant revenue losses for the government, experts have warned.Earlier this week, the finance ministry notified amendments to the Central Excise Act, introducing a fresh excise duty ranging from…

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Insurance mis-selling: Irdai flags sharp rise in unfair practice complaints; asks insurers to fix root causes

Mis-selling continues to be a key concern in the insurance sector, with the regulator asking insurers to dig deeper into the root causes behind such practices, according to the latest annual report of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai).While the total number of grievances against life insurers remained largely unchanged at 1,20,429…

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