Oil prices rose on Wednesday as supplies from Russia and OPEC members tightened, while data showing an unexpected increase in U.S. jobs openings pointed to expanding economic activity and consequent growth in oil demand. Brent crude was up 32 cents, or 0.42%, to $77.37 a barrel at 0135 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 42 cents, or 0.57%, to $74.67.

Stocks in Asia followed US peers lower after a selloff in Treasuries on bets the Federal Reserve will delay cutting interest rates due to inflation risks. Equities fell in Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo, sending a regional gauge lower. A drop in Big Tech weighed on US trading, with Nvidia Corp. sinking more than 6% as a product presentation left investors wanting more.

Tata Steel shares will remain in focus on Wednesday, January 8, following the company's Q3 update. Tata Steel India's crude steel production increased by 6% year-on-year and 8% sequentially to 5.68 million tonnes, driven by the commissioning of the 5 MTPA blast furnace at Kalinganagar in September. For the first nine months of FY25, production rose 5% YoY to 16.2 million tonnes.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday as supplies from Russia and OPEC members tightened, while data showing an unexpected increase in U.S. jobs openings pointed to expanding economic activity and consequent growth in oil demand. Brent crude was up 32 cents, or 0.42%, to $77.37 a barrel at 0135 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 42 cents, or 0.57%, to $74.67.

📌GIFT Nifty (Earlier SGX Nifty) signals a muted start. 📌India VIX, which is a measure of the fear in the markets, fell 6.33% to settle at 14.66 levels. 📌FPIs turned net sellers at Rs 1,491 crore on Tuesday. 📌DIIs bought shares worth Rs 1615 crore. 📌The rupee fell 6 paise to settle at 85.74 against the US dollar on Tuesday. 📌The dollar stood tall on Wednesday.

📌Tata Steel India's crude steel production jumped 6% Y/Y. 📌Tata Elxsi has inked an initial pact with CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories. 📌NTPC incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam for nuclear energy initiatives. 📌The Board of Jindal Worldwide approved a bonus issue of 4 shares for every 1 share held. 📌RVNL signed an MoU with Dubai’s GBH International Contracting.

India’s investment rate likely declined to a three-year low of 30.1 percent of GDP in 2024-25 compared with 30.8 percent in the previous fiscal, as the government’s capex spending slowed during the year, according to data released on January 7. The investment rate, calculated in nominal terms, was even lower than the pre-pandemic average of 30.2 percent.

The UK's new car market experienced its second consecutive year of growth in 2024, with 1,952,778 new cars registered, marking a 2.6% increase from 2023, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). However, the electric vehicle (EV) market share, while growing, faced challenges due to weak private demand. Fleet registrations drove the market growth.

Shares of Indo Farm Equipment on January 7 ended with a premium of over 27 percent against the issue price of Rs 215.The stock started the trade at Rs 258.40, reflecting a premium of 20.18 percent on the BSE. During the day, it jumped 33.44 percent to Rs 286.90. Shares of the firm ended at Rs 272.70, up 26.83 percent. At the NSE, it listed at Rs 256, up 19 percent.

The initial public offering (IPO) of Capital Infra Trust, an infrastructure investment trust (InvIT), received 39 percent subscription on the first day of bidding on January 7. The issue received bids for 3,46,59,300 units against the offered 8,83,83,750 units, according to data available on the stock exchanges. Other investors portion received 87 percent subscription.

Job openings were higher than expected in November, suggesting a stronger economy and less need for interest rate cuts U.S. stocks fell in morning trading Tuesday as signs of a strong economy sent bond yields higher. The broad S&P 500 index slipped 0.2% to trade near 5,965, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index slid 0.7%, or 140 points, to about 19,725.

State-owned RVNL on Tuesday (January 7) said it has signed a MoU with GBH International Contracting LLC (GBHIC), a Dubai-based company, to collaborate on civil infrastructure projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. RVNL’s net profit fell 27% year-on-year (YoY) to ₹286.9 crore, down from ₹394.3 crore in the same period last year, due to lower operating margins and reduced earnings.

AXIS Capital Holdings has appointed Sara Farrup as the head of global markets, part of the company's planned leadership transition announced in September 2024. Farrup will report to AXIS president and CEO Vince Tizzio and join the executive committee. In the new role, Farrup is operating out of London, replacing Mark Gregory, who will remain involved as a strategic advisor until March.

The Indian rupee logged its biggest one-day gain in more than a month on Tuesday as the dollar dipped towards a one-week low, boosting regional currencies, while foreign banks' dollar sales also helped. The rupee closed up 0.1% at 85.7125 against the U.S. dollar, its strongest daily gain since late-November. The dollar index fell 0.3% to 107.9.

India's economic growth rate has declined to 6.4% in FY25, its lowest level in four years, according to preliminary data, with the first half averaging 6% and the second half expected to be below 7%. India's growth dipped in the second quarter to 5.4%, a near two-year low, and high-frequency numbers are not encouraging.