When the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 50000 for the first time this month, President Trump celebrated and predicted it would be double that by the end of his term.

In China, officials have had a different reaction to the country’s own stock-market boom. A group of state-linked investors has stepped in, unloading holdings to cool things down. 

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To the Editor:
The new robotic industry may have some surprise funding sources (“The Robot Revolution Is Real. Tesla, Hyundai, and More Stocks to Play It,” Cover Story, Feb. 6). For example, long-term care insurance may cover the cost of robots for home healthcare associated with daily-living activities for the elderly. The longer we can keep people in their homes, the better the quality of life and the longer expensive assisted-living centers can be put off. Robots, self-driving cars, and home delivery of groceries and goods should, in theory, reduce the cost of caring for aging people. Lawn care and landscaping may be one of the first service industries to be disrupted by robotics.

India’s recent trade agreements mark more than incremental policy changes. They signal a strategic repositioning. India is no longer competing only on cost or capability; it is competing on market access. For a country that runs a structural current account deficit driven by energy and electronics imports, export competitiveness becomes central to macro stability. The real challenge, therefore, is not reducing imports but funding them sustainably. Exports remain India’s most dependable answer.

Global trade today is intensely competitive. Countries that combine lower production costs with preferential tariff access capture supply chains quickly. Even small tariff differences can gradually shift sourcing decisions. If a competing manufacturing hub offers similar quality at lower cost and enjoys better tariff access, global buyers will move. India’s industrial and services capabilities are globally competitive; what increasingly determines success is whether exporters compete on equal terms.

India’s approach to trade partnerships is undergoing a subtle but important evolution. The country is no longer negotiating trade agreements from a position of vulnerability, but from a position of capability. Recent engagements with major economic blocs, including the United States, the UK and the European Union, reflect this shift. Preferential access to large consumption markets such as Europe strengthens export visibility and industrial scale.

Improved tariff alignment with the United States enhances competitiveness in sectors directly linked to global manufacturing realignment. Collectively, these agreements are gradually repositioning India from being primarily a consumption-led economy to becoming an increasingly important participant in global production networks.

Securing competitive access

The India-EU trade agreement brings India into deeper economic engagement with a bloc that includes major industrial powerhouses such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands and significantly expands India’s global trade integration by providing preferential market access for most exports. Given that India and the EU together account for roughly 25% of global GDP and a third of world trade flows, the pact marks a structural milestone in India’s journey toward export competitiveness and deeper global capital alignment.

Improved tariff parity can drive tangible outcomes:

• Higher export volumes in labour-intensive sectors
• Greater participation in the US friend-shoring supply chains
• Increased manufacturing scale and employment

India’s tariff position is now broadly comparable to that of other major exporting economies supplying the US. In labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and leather, where even marginal cost differences matter, the earlier tariff disadvantage has narrowed significantly. In global trade, sourcing decisions are often made on narrow margins. India is now firmly on equal footing, competing on capability rather than tariff differential.

Markets prefer visibility

Recent tariff clarity coincided with renewed FII inflows of approximately USD 1.7 billion, highlighting how trade visibility influences capital allocation decisions. Stronger export momentum is increasingly shaping earnings quality and market valuations.
Export-oriented businesses typically demonstrate better earnings visibility and natural currency support during periods of rupee weakness. Export-heavy sectors such as IT and pharmaceuticals reflect this trend, with Nifty IT trading at 24-25x P/E and Nifty Pharma at c.30x, compared with discounted valuations in commodity cyclicals.

Few sectors illustrate India’s export transformation more clearly than electronics manufacturing. Not too long ago, India was largely a consumption market for global electronics brands. Today, it is emerging as a major production hub. Electronics exports have climbed to USD 48.2 billion in 2025, moving from seventh to third among India’s export categories. Yet India’s export-to-GDP ratio remains c.21%, well below several Asian manufacturing economies – highlighting the scale of opportunity ahead.

Over the past year, FPI flows into Indian equities have turned volatile. After strong inflows through 2023-24, India saw net FPI outflows of nearly USD 17-18 billion in 2025 as global liquidity tightened and US yields moved higher. Even in early 2026, flows have remained uneven, with brief inflow spurts followed by profit-taking.

For an economy managing a current account deficit driven by oil and electronics imports, strong export growth reduces dependence on unpredictable capital flows. It strengthens foreign exchange reserves, supports currency stability and enhances macro credibility. For investors, that stability matters. This is one reason export-oriented sectors such as IT services and pharmaceuticals have historically commanded premium valuations relative to purely domestic cyclicals.

A clear strategic shift

If India intends to sustain high growth while managing external stability, trade integration will be important. India is gradually moving from protection-led caution to competitiveness-led integration. At a time when global supply chains are being redefined, this shift is timely.

Trade agreements do three important things: First, they improve export competitiveness and protect market share. Second, they strengthen foreign exchange management by expanding stable earnings. Third, they enhance India’s attractiveness as a global manufacturing and services partner.

These agreements reflect India’s aspiration to lead, to compete, and to be counted among the world’s most open, dynamic, and forward-looking economies. The message is clear: the world is opening its markets to India. It’s time for us to step forward and lead from the front.

(The author, Neerja Ajit, is Vice President at NovaaOne)

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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WSJ ProFeb. 13, 2026 6:14 pm ET

Los Angeles County accused American Industrial Partners of conspiring to monopolize the market for firetrucks, alleging the private-equity firm’s tactics led to shortages and high prices. 

The county on Thursday brought the antitrust lawsuit against the private-equity firm and Rev Group, a firetruck manufacturer AIP formed two decades ago, as well as Pierce Manufacturing and its parent company, Oshkosh Corp., which aren’t affiliated with private equity. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

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Indian benchmark indices closed sharply lower on Friday, dragged down by broad-based selling across sectors. Consumer, IT, and energy stocks were among the biggest laggards.

The Nifty settled at 25,471.10, down 336 points or 1.30%, while the BSE Sensex tumbled 1,048.16 points, or 1.25%, to close at 82,626.76.

The volatility gauge, India VIX, ended at 11.73, down 1.53% from the previous close.

Analysts’ Take

Nilesh Jain, Vice President – Head of Technical & Derivative Research at Centrum Finverse, said the Nifty opened with a gap-down and slipped below its key 21-, 50-, and 100-day moving averages, placed at 25,480, 25,770, and 25,690, respectively.
The index is attempting to fill last week’s downside gap, and the crucial support at the 200-DMA near 25,300 is likely to be tested in the near term, Jain added.

“India VIX had surged sharply earlier to around 13, and any further rise in volatility could be a cause for concern. Overall, the market structure appears sideways to weak, and pullback rallies are likely to face selling pressure as long as the Nifty remains below 25,800,” he said.

European Markets

Most major European indices were trading broadly positive around 2:07 p.m. GMT (7:52 p.m. IST). Germany’s DAX was higher, while France’s CAC 40, the Stoxx 600, and the UK’s FTSE 100 were also trading in the green. Spain’s IBEX, however, was marginally lower.

Tech View

Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, said India VIX has moved back above its 200-DMA, indicating rising caution among market participants.

From a technical perspective, the setup has turned relatively cautious, with the index slipping below its 20-DMA for the first time in recent sessions. He added that the Nifty has breached the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the prior upward move from 24,571 to 26,341.

“With the index closing below the key support level of 25,500, the near-term bias appears weak, with potential for a decline toward 25,000 in the short term. On the upside, immediate resistance is seen around 25,800,” he said.

Most Active Stocks (Value)

Bajaj Finance (Rs 591 crore), Infosys (Rs 377 crore), HDFC Bank (Rs 375 crore), Larsen & Toubro (Rs 222 crore), TCS (Rs 211 crore), HCL Technologies (Rs 194 crore), and Reliance Industries (Rs 144 crore) were among the most active stocks on the BSE in value terms.

Most Active Stocks (Volume)

SpiceJet (4.86 crore shares), Vodafone Idea (3.59 crore shares), YES Bank (78.48 lakh shares), Suzlon Energy (66.30 lakh shares), Bajaj Finance (58.42 lakh shares), Eternal (44.23 lakh shares), and Ola Electric (43.51 lakh shares) were among the most actively traded stocks in volume terms on the BSE

Stocks Showing Buying Interest

Bajaj Finance, Lenskart Solutions, Engineers India (EIL), GE Power India, Universus Photo Imagings, Repro India, Laxmi Cotspin, and Anmol India witnessed notable buying interest.

52-Week High/Low

A total of 83 stocks hit their 52-week highs, while 193 slipped to 52-week lows. Stocks touching fresh highs included Apex, Avanti Feeds, Bharat Forge, Eicher Motors, Jamna Auto Industries, Lenskart, and Sharda Cropchem.

Stocks Seeing Selling Pressure

Among large-cap names, HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, and ICICI Bank saw significant selling pressure. Other laggards included SpiceJet, Hindustan Unilever, Hindalco Industries, Eternal, Adani Enterprises, Crown Lifters, Muthoot Finance, and ONGC.

Market Breadth

Heavyweights such as HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, and Hindustan Unilever weighed on the indices. Market breadth remained negative. Of the 4,364 stocks traded on the BSE, 1,253 advanced, 2,960 declined, and 151 remained unchanged.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

Nifty ended Friday with sharp cuts amid selling pressure across the board, with consumer, IT and energy stocks dragging the markets the most. India VIX also moved back above its 200-DMA, indicating rising fear among the market participants.

Commenting on the technical charts, Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, said that the setup has turned relatively cautious, with the index slipping below its 20-DMA for the first time in the past few sessions. Additionally, it has breached the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the prior up move from 24,571 to 26,341, he added. “With the index closing below the key support level of 25,500, the near-term bias appears weak, and there is potential for a decline toward the 25,000 mark in the short term. On the upside, immediate resistance is seen around 25,800,” De said.

Here are 2 stock recommendations for Friday:

Buy Kirloskar Oil Engines at Rs 1,375-1,385 | Upside: 5% | Target: Rs 1,500 | Stop Loss: Rs 1,320

Kirloskar Oil Engines is currently taking a breakout of the rounding bottom formation on the daily time frame. The RSI is trending upward, reflecting positive momentum, and the stock finds support at the 21-day EMA, with all key EMAs rising. The stock is trading above important moving averages, indicating a bullish trend. 1,320 could work as an immediate support, and a hurdle can be seen at 1,500.(Drumil Vithlani, Technical Research Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio)

Buy Bajaj Finance at Rs 1,024-1,026 | Upside: 4% | Stop Loss: Rs 990 | Target: Rs 1,070

Bajaj Finance is currently taking a breakout of the downward-moving channel on the daily time frame. The lower trend line has provided support, accompanied by the formation of a bullish candlestick pattern, indicating a potential short-term upward movement in the stock. Momentum Indicator RSI is trading near the overbought region, which confirms the bullishness in the script.

(Drumil Vithlani, Technical Research Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio)
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)