Gold and silver are expected to prolong their record-setting surge in the coming week as traders turn their attention to a heavy line-up of global inflation data and macroeconomic indicators that will shape central bank policy expectations, analysts said. The focus will be on inflation prints from India, the US, Europe and the UK, along with provisional manufacturing and services PMI readings across major economies.In the US, investors will also monitor non-farm payroll and weekly jobless claims data, housing indicators and consumer sentiment surveys, all of which could influence bullion prices in the near term.“Gold and silver’s momentum will remain positive as (traders) focus on key data from China, followed by inflation numbers from India, the US, and the UK, along with provisional manufacturing/ services PMI data from across regions,” said Pranav Mer, Vice President, EBG – Commodity & Currency Research, JM Financial Services.On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures rose Rs 3,160, or 2.42 per cent over the past week, closing at record levels. “Gold prices continued their positive momentum after Fed rate cuts, and liquidity boost measures. However, the central bank maintained a cautious tone, signalling it would wait for more data before additional easing. This stance triggered a sharp sell-off in US treasuries and pressured the dollar index, which in turn helped gold prices,” Mer added, PTI quoted.He also noted that geopolitical tensions between the US and Venezuela, along with concerns over unwinding of yen carry trades ahead of the Bank of Japan’s expected 25-basis-point rate hike on December 18, have boosted gold’s safe-haven appeal. On Friday, MCX gold touched a lifetime high of Rs 1,35,263 per 10 grams, aided by a weaker dollar and strong investor buying.Pankaj Singh, smallcase manager and SmartWealth AI Founder and Principal Researcher, said the rupee’s recent depreciation has amplified domestic gold returns. “Gold prices extended their upward momentum last week, as the rupee fell to record lows against the US dollar amid trade frictions, tariff uncertainty, and persistent capital outflows. The currency’s weakness continues to reinforce gold’s role as an foreign exchange hedge for Indian investors,” he said, adding that the medium-term outlook remains constructive.Internationally, Comex gold futures gained USD 85.3, or 2.01 per cent last week. “Gold extended its gains as the US Treasury and the dollar softened after the Federal Reserve’s third consecutive 25 basis point rate cut, signalling potential further easing in 2026 despite internal dissent,” said Riya Singh, Research Analyst, Commodities and Currency, Emkay Global Financial Services.Silver, too, continued its rally, marking a third consecutive week of gains. MCX silver futures climbed Rs 9,443, or 5.15 per cent, to hit an all-time high of Rs 2,01,615 per kg on Friday before easing on profit booking. Overseas silver futures jumped USD 2.95, or 5 per cent, breaching USD 65 per ounce for the first time.“Silver prices surged to yet another all-time high on Friday, breaching past Rs 2,00,000-level in the domestic market. However, the metal pared gains in a sharp sell-off of more than 4 per cent during the US trading session,” Mer said.Riya Singh added that investor participation remains strong. “India continues to see record ETF participation, while China’s silver market shows elevated speculative interest, with Shanghai trading volumes returning to levels seen during past supply squeezes,” she said.According to her, silver remains supported by falling yields, ample liquidity, central-bank buying, ETF inflows and firm industrial demand from solar and electronics. “The volatility may persist, unless US monetary expectations shift meaningfully, precious metals are poised to retain an upward bias into early 2026,” she added.Mer said silver is likely to stay bullish in the near term. “Silver prices look positive and may move further up towards Rs 2,25,000-2,40,000 per kilogram level,” he said.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday criticised Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, saying that it is not appropriate to mock anyone taking a “Vipassana,” despite both of them having political differences over the handling of the pollution crisis in the national capital region. “You (Rekha Gupta) harbor political enmity towards me. Due to this, it does not behove you to mock the divine Vipassana meditation method taught by Lord Buddha in this manner. You too should certainly try Vipassana once. You will like it a lot, and you will experience boundless peace. Going to do Vipassana is not called “running away.” Only those with great fortune are blessed with Vipassana,” Kejriwal wrote on X, replying to an earlier post by CM Gupta.The AAP leader’s comments come a day after CM Gupta alleged that while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are trying to fight pollution by staying in Delhi, Kejriwal simply abandons Delhi by taking a Vipassana every six months.“We are finding solutions to the pollution problem in Delhi by living in Delhi itself. We are not like them who abandon Delhi to its fate and run off for Vipassana every 6 months. My Delhi, My Responsibility-we are working with this sentiment. The problem is here too, and the solution will also emerge from here…for Delhi, by staying in Delhi,” the Delhi CM said. Meanwhile, AAP’s Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj also hit out at the Delhi government for the illnesses people are getting due to increased pollution. He criticised CM Rekha Gupta over the worsening air quality in the national capital, stating that she is unaware of the air quality index (AQI) and its parameters, adding that she must leave the pollution problem for the experts to deal with.Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said, “This government has been in power for almost a year. Nowhere in this country are there incidents of stubble burning. The condition of pollution is that even inside a closed room, we can see smog. The CM of Delhi doesn’t know what AQI is? She says any instrument can measure AQI. She can’t even properly pronounce AQI. What will the people of Delhi expect from the chief minister for the next 4 years?”“I think experts should come in front and the Chief Minister should take a step back,” he added.Residents of Delhi on Sunday expressed deep concern over deteriorating air quality as the city’s AQI surged to 497, remaining in the ‘severe’ category, according to the central pollution control board (CPCB).In response to the severe pollution, the Delhi Government’s Directorate of Education on Saturday directed that schools conduct classes for grades IX and XI in hybrid mode. This decision followed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoking Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as AQI levels approached the ‘severe’ mark.

15 days after Rohtak bodybuilder’s murder, 3 arrested in Bengaluru

ROHTAK: Haryana Police have arrested three men from Bengaluru, Karnataka, in connection with the Nov 28 murder of Rohtak-based bodybuilder Rohit Dhankhar in Bhiwani, an official said on Saturday.Director general of police (DGP) O P Singh announced the arrests in a post on X, stating that “two main killers” had been caught in Bengaluru. He added that the remaining accused would be nabbed soon and would “rot in jail for years”. Later, a statement issued by Bhiwani police said three men — Varun, his brother Tarun, and Deepak, all residents of Tigadana village in Bhiwani district — had been arrested.Dhankhar was killed in an alleged reprisal attack after he reportedly objected to some men using obscene words for women at a wedding. The arrests came on a day when the state’s Sarv Khap, during a mahapanchayat at Rohtak’s Jat Bhawan, issued a Dec 16 ultimatum to the govt to act in the case. It also demanded a govt job for a family member of the deceased and financial assistance of Rs 1 crore.According to police, Dhankhar, a resident of Humayunpur village in Rohtak, had gone to Bhiwani with his friend Jatin, a resident of Charkhi Dadri, to attend a wedding at Rewari Kheda village. A dispute broke out during the wedding procession after some youths allegedly used obscene words for women, to which Rohit objected.As per the complaint lodged by Rohit’s mother Saroj at Bhiwani Sadar police station, the argument escalated into a clash. Later, when Rohit and Jatin were returning home around 11 pm, the same persons allegedly rammed their vehicle near the railway crossing on Bawmla Road. The attackers allegedly assaulted Rohit, inflicting injuries to his head and body. He was taken to PGIMER, Rohtak, for treatment, where he died the next day.Bhiwani SP said all three arrested accused would be produced in court and taken into police custody.Rohit’s uncle Satish said the DGP had informed the family about the arrests. He added that the family hoped police would complete the investigation promptly and also accept the decision taken by the Sarv Khap.

The official IPL 2026 mini-auction is scheduled for December 16, but the pre-auction frenzy has already begun, thanks to former Indian  cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ravichandran Ashwin conducts a high-stakes IPL 2026 mock auction 

Ahead of the real-life bidding war, Ashwin conducted a high-stakes mock auction on his YouTube channel, titled “Winning Bid,” designed to replicate the drama and strategic decisions of the IPL room. This simulated event, featuring invited panels bidding as franchise representatives, immediately became the focus of the IPL chatter. It showcased the immense valuation of high-impact all-rounders and the critical need for quality Indian spinners, offering a clear, non-poetic preview of the dynamics likely to unfold in Abu Dhabi. With only 77 slots available for 359 shortlisted players, the mock auction demonstrated that competition for elite talent will be intense, setting the stage for major financial headlines.

Cameron Green triggers record bidding frenzy

The mock auction’s first major blockbuster was the Australian all-rounder, Cameron Green. Walking in with a base price of ₹2 crore, Green’s value rapidly escalated due to his rare profile as a middle-order batter, seam bowler, and strong fielder. The bidding quickly became a fierce contest, initially between Delhi and Lucknow, before the heavyweights, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), jumped in. The ultimate bidding war ended with CSK securing Green for a whopping ₹21 crore, making him the most expensive player of the mock auction. KKR pushed hard but strategically stepped away at this price, acknowledging that Green’s purchase forces a team to build the rest of its XI around his cost. This massive bid underscores the premium franchises are willing to pay for versatile, game-changing overseas all-rounders who offer unique balance to a squad structure.

🚨 ASHWIN’S MOCK AUCTION HIGHLIGHT 🚨

📌 (1/2)

▪️Liam Livingstone – 18.5 crore (KKR)
▪️Venkatesh Iyer – 17.5 crore (KKR)
▪️Prithvi Shaw – 5.25 crore (KKR)
▪️Jonny Bairstow – 3.75 crore (KKR)
▪️Cameron Green — 21 crore (CSK)#IPL2026 #CameronGreen pic.twitter.com/Qs63CJqgo8

— 𝑅𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑠ℎ. (@cricket12craze) December 14, 2025

KKR’s tactical counter in form of Liam Livingstone

Having exited the Green race, KKR executed a strategic “counterpunch” by redirecting their significant purse towards other high-impact all-rounders. KKR’s first major acquisition was England’s Liam Livingstone, whom they successfully landed for ₹18.5 crore after another intense tug-of-war. This move highlighted a deliberate choice: trading Green’s structural balance for Livingstone’s pure impact and “chaos value”, the ability to change a game instantly with boundary-hitting. KKR didn’t stop there, also securing Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for a substantial ₹17.5 crore. This aggressive double-swoop demonstrated KKR’s intent to load up on powerful all-rounders who can provide flexibility and match-winning performances, even if it meant letting CSK take the headline-grabbing Green signing. KKR further strengthened their Indian core by acquiring opener Prithvi Shaw for ₹5.25 crore.

Also READ: Cameron Green reveals the real reason behind being listed as a ‘batter’ in IPL 2026 auction

Key acquisitions for specific team needs

Beyond the major all-rounder battles, the mock auction saw franchises targeting specific team needs, particularly for established Indian players. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), identified as being in dire need of a quality spinner, successfully acquired the talented Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for ₹10.5 crore, a key strategic fix for their bowling unit. Similarly, Delhi Capitals bolstered their death-bowling by signing Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana for ₹7 crore. On the batting front, Sarfaraz Khan, following a maiden T20 hundred, found a buyer in Bengaluru for ₹1.50 crore, showing teams are willing to back in-form capped Indian talent. Finally, the highest price for an uncapped player went to wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma, demonstrating the intense competition for young Indian wicketkeeping prospects

Also READ: GOAT India tour 2025: When Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni picked between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Full list of sold and unsold players in Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL 2026 mock auction

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the Centre to adopt a wide-ranging set of reforms in the Union Budget 2026-27 to reinforce India’s investment-led growth cycle and sustain its position as one of the world’s fastest-expanding major economies, PTI reported.In a detailed submission for the upcoming Budget, CII recommended raising central capital expenditure by 12% and increasing capex support to states by 10% in FY27, launching a Rs 150 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) 2.0 for 2026-32, and introducing incremental tax credits or compliance relaxations for companies achieving notable milestones in investment, output or tax contribution. The industry body also sought an NRI Investment Promotion Fund and the reinstatement of accelerated depreciation benefits to spur fresh capital expenditure, especially for MSMEs and manufacturing sectors, without triggering Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) liability.CII said strengthening the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) through a proposed Sovereign Investment Strategy Council (SIFC) would help align investments with national economic priorities. The Union Budget for FY27 is scheduled to be presented on February 1.According to the industry chamber, replacing rigid annual fiscal-deficit rules with an economic-cycle-based public debt framework would bolster resilience and allow counter-cyclical flexibility during global shocks, while ensuring the credibility of medium-term debt sustainability.“The forthcoming Union Budget 2026-27 has to serve the dual role of stabiliser and growth enabler, and promoting investments will be one of the most critical components in this regard,” said CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee.He added that CII’s proposals centre on fiscal prudence, capital efficiency and building investor confidence.CII stressed that public capex has been the backbone of India’s post-pandemic recovery, crowding in private investment. To improve execution, it suggested creating a Capital Expenditure Efficiency Framework (CEEF) for selecting high-impact projects and monitoring outcomes based on productivity and regional growth spillovers.The chamber said facilitating private and foreign investment will be essential in driving the next phase of expansion. It proposed tax incentives linked to new investment and production milestones in high-growth areas such as clean energy, electronics, semiconductors and logistics. It also suggested the creation of an NRI Investment Promotion Fund — a government-private entity with up to 49% government stake — to mobilise overseas and institutional capital into infrastructure and emerging sectors.Further, easing external commercial borrowing norms with higher limits, longer tenures and partial risk cover for infrastructure and manufacturing projects would improve access to foreign capital, CII said. A single-window clearance system with deemed approval within 60-90 days for large FDI proposals was also recommended to accelerate big-ticket investment decisions.To deepen engagement with global investors, CII proposed an India Global Economic Forum — a government-led platform bringing together sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, private equity firms and multinational corporations for structured dialogue with senior policymakers.“An investment-driven growth strategy, anchored in fiscal credibility and institutional reforms, will define India’s next development phase,” Banerjee said.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has now pledged to channel billions of dollars in 2026 towards global health and other development initiatives. emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence in transforming lives. Speaking at Abu Dhabi Finance Week in an interview with CNBC’s Tania Bryer, Gates revealed how the resources of his foundation will be used and deployed in the coming year.Gates mentioned that 2026 will be a “big year for global health”. He further added that the Gates Foundation and its partners will be focusing on Polio erudition, AI-powered healthcare, language support and agricultural productivity.“We can take these wonderful pledges that we’ve just got and make sure we use them very effectively,” Gates said. “It’ll be a year where we’re piloting a lot of those AI tools… most people in Africa are farmers who have very small plots of land, and today very low productivity. We want to dramatically raise their productivity, and we see that’s doable.”

Bill Gates has an AI industry warning

Along with the pledge to donate billions for humanitarian work, Gates also issued a warning to the AI industry. Microsoft co-founder cautioned that many companies with high valuations may not survive in the ‘hyper competitive’ environment. “Does it mean all of these companies with high valuations will be winners? No, it’s going to be hyper competitive,” Gates said. “AI is only a bubble in the sense that not all of these valuations will end up going up. Some of them will go down.”Companies like Palantir and Tesla, with price-to-earnings ratios above 200 compared to the S&P 500 average of 25, exemplify the frothiness in the sector. Gates predicted that “a reasonable percentage of those companies won’t be worth that much.”Despite all these concerns, Gates has reaffirmed his belief in the transformative potential of AI. He also described it as “a deeply profound technology that will reshape the world,” with applications across health, education, and agriculture.“Is this profound and real and is going to provide all of these benefits? Absolutely, nobody should have any doubt about that,” Gates said.As 2026 approaches, Gates’ vision is clear: AI must be used not just to drive profits, but to deliver tangible benefits for humanity.