The government has listed the key items which have been excluded from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand to protect farmers and domestic industries. The FTA excludes dairy, coffee, milk, cream, cheese, yoghurt, whey, caseins, onions, sugar, spices, edible oils and rubber from tariff concessions. All Indian goods would have duty free-access to New Zealand.

Microsoft has issued an advisory to employees with H-1B visas amid long visa stamping delays. It has advised such employees against travelling abroad and asked those already outside the US to return before their visa expires. The advisory also noted that visa interview rescheduling notifications are concentrated in Chennai and Hyderabad, and new dates are as far as June 2026.

After Japan's MUFG Bank acquired 20% stake in Shriram Finance for over ₹39,600 crore, Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak asked whether the Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) would apply to become a bank. "Getting a banking licence isn't under discussion at all. We prefer to remain where we are," Executive Vice Chairman of Shriram Finance, Umesh Revankar, said.

Industry trackers estimate that over one lakh employees have been laid off by more than 200 companies worldwide in 2025 amid AI shift, The Financial Express reported. Google has cut over 100 jobs, while Microsoft has laid off around 9,000 employees. Accenture has laid off 11,000 employees, and TCS has cut nearly 12,000 jobs. Amazon has announced cutting 14,000 jobs.

Despite trade shocks, tariffs and geopolitical pressure in 2025, India's economy avoided a sharp slowdown. Exports showed signs of recovery, domestic growth stayed steady, inflation eased and foreign investment returned, particularly in technology. The year highlighted India's resilience but also underscored the limits of adaptation without deeper, sustained growth.

India is likely to play a major role in a potential $25 billion global IPO fundraising wave in 2026, as strong inflows from retail and mutual funds encourage companies to list. Bankers say India remains one of the few emerging markets with consistent growth and a deep IPO pipeline, including large-ticket listings.

The Indian rupee strengthened against the US dollar in early Monday trade, supported by a steady dollar ahead of US third quarter GDP data due Tuesday, firm domestic equities, and foreign fund inflows of ₹1,830.89 crore, while investors looked to the data for cues on the US economy and the Federal Reserve's next interest rate move.

Oil India is expanding into critical minerals under India's national mission, targeting graphite-vanadium in Arunachal Pradesh and potash in Rajasthan, while scouting overseas assets with KABIL. The company is also stepping up offshore exploration, including deepwater blocks and appraisal work after reporting natural gas occurrence in the Andaman basin.

Indian financial stocks are outperforming even as broader markets struggle for year-end momentum. Strong foreign interest, landmark banking deals and rising investor activity are lifting sentiment in lenders and NBFCs. Major investments by Japanese and Gulf banks underline confidence in India's financial sector, offsetting concerns over a weak Santa rally.

Cape Town's housing crisis has intensified as Airbnb listings surged 190% since 2022 in tourist hubs. Rising short-term rentals have pushed rents beyond local incomes, forcing families into illegal buildings and distant suburbs. Activists blame unregulated Airbnbs for shrinking housing supply, while officials argue rapid population growth and limited housing stock are the core problems.