AMC & product-related updates
PPFAS Mutual Fund has introduced two new outbound passive retail funds based out of GIFT City. The New Fund Offers (NFOs) for both schemes are scheduled to open for subscription on 23 February and will close on 16 March 2026.
Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund has rolled out a multi-factor Fund of Funds (FoF), with its NFO currently active and accepting subscriptions until 6 March 2026.
Expanding options in the insurance-linked investment space, ICICI Prudential Life has debuted a new Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) designed with a specific focus on the dividend yield factor.
Regulatory & policy developments
The Indian government has officially rolled out the Asset Monetisation Pipeline 2.0, targeting a massive ₹16.72 lakh crore. This initiative will be driven largely by public sector undertaking (PSU) equity sales, including prominent entities like Coal India and GAIL Gas, with IPOs expected to commence from FY27.
The Union Cabinet has cleared a significant ₹12,236 crore infrastructure boost. This capital allocation will fund the addition of new railway lines, the development of a Srinagar terminal, and Phase 2B of the Ahmedabad Metro.
At the state level, the Chhattisgarh government presented its 2026–27 budget, highlighting a newly proposed financial assistance scheme aimed at supporting girls.
Mutual fund & distribution signals
SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey has underscored the critical role of Portfolio Management Service (PMS) distributors, delivering a strong message that the industry must remain vigilant and proactively guard against mis-selling practices.
VSRK Capital Pvt. Ltd. has successfully acquired a Corporate Agent license from the IRDAI. This regulatory nod allows the wealth and investment management firm to broaden its service portfolio by distributing life, health, and general insurance products.
Markets & sectoral trends
The domestic stock market experienced a significant downturn, resulting in a ₹3 lakh crore wipeout in investor wealth. The total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies dropped to ₹466 lakh crore from the previous session’s ₹469 lakh crore.
The global trade landscape is bracing for shifts as a 10% universal tariff implemented by the U.S. takes effect. According to estimates from JPMorgan, U.S. duties on Indian exports could average between 15% and 17%. While this may trigger a short-term export surge due to import front-loading in sectors like machinery and textiles, long-term trade clarity remains uncertain.
The IT sector continues to face heavy headwinds. Global brokerage CLSA recently cut the price targets for eight major Indian IT stocks following a steep 1.4% drop in the Nifty IT index. This prolonged tech slump has severely impacted institutional portfolios, with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) witnessing a ₹42,500 crore erosion in its IT investments over just two months, bearing maximum losses in giants like TCS and Infosys.
Technology, AI & digital infrastructure
Fears of AI-driven structural disruptions are shaking tech markets globally. The release of Anthropic’s new Claude Code tool has fueled ongoing fears, triggering a second consecutive day of sell-offs in cybersecurity stocks and leading to a historic, 25-year record plunge in IBM shares.
Despite global tech volatility, India’s tech sector presents a robust outlook. A recent NASSCOM report projects the domestic industry’s revenue to hit $315 billion in FY26, potentially generating 135,000 new jobs, with artificial intelligence acting as the primary revenue and growth catalyst.
Corporate actions, capital flows & business developments
Following recent fraud-related disclosures, IDFC First Bank’s share price traded in the green after the Haryana Chief Minister confirmed the recovery of ₹556 crore from the lender.
In the infrastructure and defence sectors, RVNL secured a ₹270 crore contract from Central Railway to develop a new power system for the Daund–Solapur train route. Additionally, Centum Electronics won a ₹500 crore deal to manufacture advanced radar systems for HAL helicopters.
Canara Bank is preparing to bolster its capital reserves to support future business growth by raising up to ₹5,000 crore via Basel III-compliant Tier 2 bonds on the NSE, scheduled for 26 February 2026.
In the startup ecosystem, creator-commerce platform Wishlink successfully closed a $17.5 million Series B funding round spearheaded by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India, aimed at scaling its brand and creator technology partnerships.
A joint report by JM Financial and Hurun India has identified Reliance Retail, Flipkart, and Malabar Gold and Diamonds as the leading high-potential unlisted companies for 2026, noting their impressive combined revenue generation of ₹8.9 lakh crore in 2025.
Source: Livemint, Cafemutual, Moneycontrol, CNBC TV18
Disclaimer: The content shared above is intended solely for general awareness and educational purposes for mutual fund and financial product distributors. It does not constitute investment advice, solicitation, or a recommendation of any kind. Investments in securities markets are subject to market risks, and distributors and investors should review all relevant scheme-related documents carefully before taking any investment decision
