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RBI MPC Meeting 2025: Repo Rate Cut By 25 bps, Now At 5.25%
The MPC has decided to maintain a neutral stance. The RBI will also carry out Open Market Purchases (OMO) of government securities worth Rs 1 lakh crore, along with a three-year dollar–rupee buy-sell swap to support liquidity in the system. The central bank noted that economic growth may ease slightly in the coming months.
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RBI MPC Meeting 2025 Live Updates: RBI Cuts Repo Rate By 25 Bps, To Conduct OMO Purchases Of Govt Securities Of Rs 1 Lakh Crore
Shiv Garg, Director, Forteasia Realty Pvt. Ltd..
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decreased the policy rate to 5.25% and made a bold statement by adopting the theme of growth support. The developers will be able to get working capital more easily, which will, in turn, make it possible for them to get their projects financed and thus, speed up the construction of townships, plotted, and large integrated projects that are heavy on capital expenditure. Lowering the monthly home loan EMI by Rs 1,850 for a 20-year Rs 35 lakh loan will make housing more affordable. It will happen at the time when banks and NBFCs are lowering their loan rates, and the developers with strong balance sheets can refinance at lower costs and pass on the benefits to the buyers in terms of limited-time offers and schemes. This policy measure, along with an upgraded FY26 GDP forecast, will usher in a new cycle of launches, the consolidation of weaker players, and increased institutional investment in residential, commercial, and warehousing assets.
Anurag Goel, Director, Goel Ganga Developments
The recent reduction of the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% is expected to have a significant impact on home loan rates in the coming months, assuming banks and HFCs quickly pass the benefit on to the borrowers. Upward revision of GDP growth forecasts for FY26 leads to a better income view and increased job confidence, which is exactly what makes those who are undecided finally turn their inquiries into bookings. The combination of lower EMIs and a more optimistic growth outlook creates a perfect timing for the end-users in the affordable and mid-income segments, particularly in Tier II and III cities where EMI sensitivity is high. This act can spark a revival in the areas where the price hike was already felt, and at the same time, it would contribute to pro-cyclical and healthy upcycling rather than speculative froth.
Pramod Kumar Gupta, Director, Kadamashree Developers India LLP
The repo rate of 5.25% which came after the series of cuts in 2025, significantly boosted the relative appeal of real estate as an investment class compared to fixed-income products. Investors are likely to see Grade A residential, commercial strata units and listed REITs as the new places for superior risk-adjusted returns and regular cash flows as safer instruments yields go lower. The increased FY26 GDP growth expectancy points to a long-lasting demand situation for the likes of office, retail and logistics that will in turn support rental growth and reduced vacancy rates midterm. The policy change is like rolling out the carpet for homebuyers and investors who think long-term as it indicates the start of a friendly interest rate cycle where getting in on quality assets during the rise could provide both capital appreciation and income stability for the next 3–5 years.
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Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for December 5, 2025 – check list – The Times of India
Stock market recommendations: According to Bajaj Broking Research, the top stock picks for December 5, 2025 are Max Healthcare, and Tata Power. Here’s its view on Nifty and Bank Nifty:Index View: NIFTYBenchmark indices spent the previous week oscillating within a defined consolidation band, digesting their recent up move. The Nifty registered a fresh lifetime peak of 26,325 during Monday’s trade. However, lost momentum at elevated levels amid bouts of profit-taking, triggered in part by renewed pressure on the Indian rupee, which depreciated to a record low against the US dollar. Persistent foreign portfolio outflows (FPI selling) further exacerbated currency weakness, injecting a note of caution into risk sentiment.In the near term, market trajectory is likely to be dictated by currency stabilization dynamics, especially whether the rupee can find a durable floor. Additionally, investors will be closely tracking the RBI’s upcoming monetary policy statement for cues on the central bank’s stance regarding inflation management, liquidity calibration, and potential interventions to support the rupee. On the global front, the US FOMC policy outcome will remain a critical macro catalyst, shaping expectations around global rate differentials and capital flows. Moreover, clarity on evolving India–US trade negotiations could influence sector-specific outlooks, particularly in export-linked and tariff-sensitive industries. A key observation on the Nifty daily chart is that the entire up-move over the past two months has remained well within a rising channel, indicating sustained buying interest at higher levels and reinforcing an overall positive bias.We believe the current 3-4 sessions breather should be used to accumulate quality stocks in a staggered manner for the next leg of up move towards 26,500 and then towards 26,800 in the coming weeks being the measuring implication of the recent range breakout and the upper band of the last two months rising channel.Nifty has key support in the range of 25700-25900 being the confluence of the 50-day EMA, the bullish gap from November 12 and the lower band of the rising channel of the last two months. Holding above the support area will keep the overall bias positive and only a breakdown below the support area will signal a pause in the current positive trend. NIFTY BANKBank Nifty traded in a range, digesting its last four weeks strong gains. Earlier during the week, it formed a fresh all-time high of 26114. However, profit booking at higher levels saw the index traded in a range ahead of the RBI monetary policy outcome.We expect the index to consolidate and form a base in the range of 58500-60100 in the coming sessions. A follow through strength above Monday’s high (60114) will open further upside towards 60,400 and then towards 61,000 levels in the coming weeks.The entire up move of the last 2 months is well channelled signaling sustained demand at elevated levels. Key support is placed at 58,300-58,600 levels being the confluence of the last two weeks lows and recent breakout area. Holding above the support area will keep the short-term bias positive.
Stock Recommendations:
Max HealthcareBuy in the range of ₹ 1070-1090
The stock is forming base at the 52 week EMA and the 61.8% retracement of the previous major up move (940-1314).We believe the current decline is approaching price and time wise maturity and the stock is likely to resume up move and head towards 1190 levels being the confluence of the high of November and key retracement area. The daily stochastic has approached extreme oversold territory and we expect the stock to resume its positive momentum in the coming weeks.Tata PowerBuy in the range of 381-386
Tata Power continues to trade sideways on the daily timeframe, oscillating within a well-defined range of ₹380–₹420. The stock is currently forming a rectangle pattern, with consistent buying support emerging near the ₹380 zone.Historically, the counter has shown a tendency to rebound from these lower levels and head towards the upper end of the range, which lies near ₹420.Given the prevailing price structure and renewed momentum, the stock appears poised to extend its upward trajectory, first towards the upper band of ₹420, and potentially up to ₹430, which aligns with the 127.2% Fibonacci extension of the previous swing.(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)
Felicity Hannah,Big Boss Interviewand
Michael Sheils McNamee,Business reporter
PAWaterstones would stock books created using artificial intelligence, the company’s boss has said, as long as they were clearly labelled, and if customers wanted them.
However, James Daunt, a veteran of the bookselling industry, said he personally did not expect that to happen.
“There’s a huge proliferation of AI generated content and most of it are not books that we should be selling,” he said.
But it would be “up to the reader”.
An explosion in the use of artificial intelligence, or AI, has prompted heated debate in the publishing industry, with writers concerned about the impact on their livelihoods.
In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC’s Big Boss podcast, Daunt said while Waterstones uses AI for logistics they currently try to keep AI generated content out of the shops.
“As a bookseller, we sell what publishers publish, but I can say that instinctively that is something that we would recoil [from],” he said.
Daunt, who is heading into his 36th Christmas season in the book trade, said Waterstones’ success had been built on handing more control to individual store managers to serve their own communities.
“Head office is there to make life easier,” he said.
“Make sure the books that they order turn up on time, but do not tell [managers] where to put them.”
Daunt also said he was a bit of an outlier in welcoming last week’s Budget and he raised the prospect of a stock market flotation of the book chain.
‘Disdain for AI’
A report published last month by the University of Cambridge found that more than half of published authors feared being replaced by artificial intelligence.
Two-thirds also said their work had been used without permission or payment to train the large language models which lie behind generative AI tools.
But some writers use AI themselves, especially for research, and AI tools are being used to edit novels, and even produce full-length works.
“Do I think that our booksellers are likely to put those kind of books front and centre? I would be surprised,” Daunt says.
“Who’s to know? [Technology firms] are spending trillions and trillions on AI and maybe it’s going to produce the next War and Peace.
“And if people want to read that book, AI-generated or not, we will be selling it – as long as it doesn’t pretend to [be] something that it isn’t.
“We as booksellers would certainly naturally and instinctively disdain it,” Daunt said.
Readers value a connection with the author “that does require a real person” he added. Any AI-generated book would always be clearly labelled as such.
The softly spoken former banker has overturned convention before.
When he took over at Waterstones in 2011, he took the bold decision to end the practice of publishers paying to have their books displayed prominently in stores. It cost him £27m in lost revenue and prompted a “nervous breakdown” among publishers, he said, but it paid off and in 2016 the company returned to profit.
Now Waterstones staff write their own book recommendations, choose books of the month, and the manager selects what goes on the display tables.
As well as books, the chain stocks pens, reading lights, games, wrapping paper and other stationery.
The strategy has helped it defy the decline on the High Street, with around ten new stores opening a year, and profits in 2024 of £33m against sales of £528m.
Waterstones is part of a wider stable, including Foyles and Blackwell’s, owned by hedge fund Elliott Advisers.
Daunt has also been appointed chief executive of Barnes and Noble, the large US bookstore chain also owned by Elliot Advisers.
Share sale
Success on both sides of the Atlantic has led to speculation that shares in Waterstones and Barnes and Noble could be jointly floated in either New York or London.
“It feels like an inevitability and probably better than being flipped to the next private equity person,” says Daunt.
Private owners naturally aim to sell businesses on, he points out. “It’s what they do.”
But it is not clear that London, which he says has been “suffering” as a location for initial public offerings lately, would be considered suitable.
“We’re based out of London but we have a huge American business; Barnes and Noble is much larger than Waterstones.”
Helpful rate change
As for last week’s Budget, Daunt says it sometimes feels like he might be “the only person who is sympathetic” to the situation the chancellor is in.
The government has drawn the ire of the business community for raising employer National Insurance and the minimum wage and not coming up with more growth-boosting measures.
But the Budget included changes that were “very helpful” to companies like his, said Daunt.
Getty ImagesBusiness rates will be lower for retailers operating out of small sites, while larger business properties, like warehouses will pay more.
Daunt said that although Waterstones does have larger premises, levelling the playing field between High Street and online retailers was something he has been calling for for a long time.
With the days of advent now ticking past, the company is well into the se portion of the year when Waterstones makes about 70% of its annual profit.
He says the post-pandemic rebound, with people returning to bookshops, does not seem to have gone away.
Personally he has also retained his love of reading, even after 36 years in the industry. But he does have one bad book habit, he said.
“Because I read professionally, I do a rather awful thing which is start a lot of books and then not finish them.
“I love the excitement of opening up a first novel and not knowing what’s going to come of it. But if it isn’t quite that good, I’ll just move on.”
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RBI MPC Meeting 2025 Live Updates: RBI Cuts Repo Rate By 25 Bps, To Conduct OMO Purchases Of Govt Securities Of Rs 1 Lakh Crore
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