RBI's Digital Payments Index for September 2023 in Mumbai has increased to 418.77 from 395.57 in March 2023, reflecting growing digitisation of payments in the country. This index was introduced in January 2021 with a base of 100 in March 2018. The rise is seen in all sectors, with UPI transactions also increasing significantly to ₹18.2 lakh crore from ₹12.8 lakh crore in December.

Latest data shows India's manufacturing sector growth gained momentum in January, with the HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index reaching a four-month high of 56.5. This is slightly lower than the earlier estimated flash PMI, but still above the expansion threshold for the 31st consecutive month. The growth was driven by domestic demand and manufacturers were able to pass on higher costs to consumers.

Indus Towers sold a 9.2% stake worth Rs 5,229 crore in a block deal on February 1, leading to a 1.2% decline in share price. The buyers and sellers have not been identified, but it is reported that KKR and Canadian pension fund CPPIB were looking to exit the telecom tower company through a $465 million deal.

India's gold demand in 2023 saw a decline of 3% due to high prices, according to the World Gold Council. The global trend also saw a 5% decrease. In India, jewellery demand dropped by 6% while investment demand increased by 7%. China saw a rise of 16% in total demand. Gold imports in India increased by 20%, with the fourth quarter showing a significant increase of 43%.

A survey of economists predicts that FinMin will budget for a gross tax collection of Rs 38.3 lakh cr and a net collection of Rs 26.6 lakh cr in 2024-25, a 14% increase from the previous year. The relationship between GDP growth and tax collections is now complicated, but experts expect tax revenues to exceed budget estimates due to factors such as formalization, compliance, and improving growth.

Tax experts suggest that shifting the tax burden from listed companies to shareholders would be more equitable, bringing buyback taxation in line with dividend taxation. Currently, companies pay a flat 23.3% tax on distributed income through buybacks, while shareholders pay no tax. However, there are concerns that this could result in value erosion for shareholders who do not participate.

Indian markets have performed exceptionally well, surpassing global markets since the last budget. This success is due to good macroeconomic conditions, overcoming concerns about interest rates and economic slowdown. Sensex and Nifty saw significant gains, outperforming global benchmarks like S&P500 and Dow Jones. Foreign investor inflows also boosted sentiment.

Nova Agritech's IPO saw a 109.37 times subscription, with the stock rallying by nearly 41% on its listing day. The company offers soil health, crop nutrition and protection products, using a tech-driven approach. With a price band of Rs 39-41 per share, the IPO raised Rs 144 crore through a mix of fresh issuance and an offer-for-sale. The stock traded with volumes of 83.55 lakh shares on NSE.

Gold prices on February 1, traded slightly lower as investors awaited the budget announcement. The April 5 gold futures on MCX were down by 0.14% at Rs 62,648 per ten grams, with the interim budget potentially impacting its prices. Traders were advised to exercise caution and avoid heavy positions. The FOMC signaling an end to the monetary policy cycle lifted precious metal sentiments.

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to receive a 25% increase in budget allocation for its regional air connectivity scheme (UDAN) in the upcoming Interim Budget. This will help revive airports shut down due to COVID and launch new routes. The government aims to operationalize 1000 UDAN routes and revive/develop 100 unserved/underserved airports by 2024.

Boeing reported a smaller fourth-quarter loss than expected and increased production of its best-selling plane, but a recent safety incident has raised concerns. The company declined to provide a 2024 forecast due to uncertainty surrounding ongoing investigations into quality-control issues. CEO David Calhoun emphasized a focus on improving quality and working transparently with the FAA.

Standalone quarterly numbers for Suven Life Sciences were reported, with net sales at Rs. 2.45 crore in December 2023, down 18.37% from the previous year. Quarterly net loss was at Rs. 4.77 crore, up 28.1%, while EBITDA stood negative at Rs. 3.13 crore. The company's shares closed at Rs. 108.30 on January 31, 2024.

Reported Standalone quarterly numbers for Sun Pharmaceutical Industries are: Net Sales at Rs 5,073.75 crore in December 2023 up 9.21% from Rs. 4,645.75 crore in December 2022. Quarterly Net Profit at Rs. 721.31 crore in December 2023 up 48.2% from Rs. 486.73 crore in December 2022. EBITDA stands at Rs. 1,435.80 crore in December 2023 up 34.51% from Rs. 1,067.41 crore in December 2022.

January 2024 saw a rise in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections to Rs 1.72 lakh crore, making it the second-highest ever. The provisional data is 10.4% higher than that of last month, but shows a 9.3% increase when compared to the previous year's final figure. This marks the 11th consecutive month of GST collections above Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

Reliance and Walt Disney are in talks to merge their media businesses in India, with Reliance set to hold a 51-54% stake. Bodhi Tree, a joint venture between James Murdoch and a former Disney exec, is also looking to invest around 9%. This deal will combine Viacom18, owned by Reliance, and Disney's Indian operations to create a major player in the entertainment industry.