Business
Post Office confirms final dates to send Christmas cards and gifts
The Post Office has issued its crucial Christmas posting deadlines, advising customers to send gifts and cards promptly to ensure they arrive before the festive season.
This guidance comes as a survey revealed that a significant 67 per cent of Britons have previously received Christmas mail after 25 December.
Postmasters are actively encouraging the public to post early, aiming to prevent a repeat of the 17 per cent who, in past years, have left their festive deliveries too late.
While the majority of international posting dates have now passed, some carriers still offer Christmas delivery to selected countries until 15 December.
For those requiring guaranteed next-day delivery within the UK, the final opportunity to send gifts and cards via Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed or DPD Gold is 23 December.
Postmaster Arif Matadar said: “After 15 years as a postmaster, I’ve seen it all when it comes to festive sending, and a little preparation really helps everything go smoothly so here are my top tips to ensure precious gifts arrive on time.
“When you’re posting a parcel, we’ll always ask what’s inside as we need to find out if it’s safe to post and make sure your item can be sent to its destination. For example, perfume can be sent within the UK but not overseas.
“We’ll also check the value, how quickly you want it delivered and what tracking you want which helps us recommend the best delivery option.”
Mr Matadar urged consumers to package parcels securely to ensure they are protected and to write addresses, including a return, as clearly as possible.
If sending abroad, details about the contents will have to be provided to ensure correct customs information meets international regulations.
The Post Office offers delivery options from carriers other than Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide, with options from Evri and DPD offered in selected branches.
Candice Ohandjanian, mails and parcels director at the Post Office, said: “We’re at that time of year when celebrations are in full swing but we still have important last-minute present-buying to do.
“We know customers want to make the most of the festive season – not wait at home for deliveries. That’s why our convenient Pick Up and Drop Off service continues to be a favourite, especially during this busy period.
“By choosing your local Post Office branch as a delivery address, customers can collect parcels at a time that suits them, with the reassurance that we’ll keep everything safe and secure. It’s all part of our commitment to being the one-stop shop for all your posting and parcel needs this festive season.”
The last posting dates are:
Last Royal Mail 2nd Class: Wednesday, 17 December
Last Parcelforce express48 date: Friday, 19 December
Last Royal Mail Tracked 48 date: Friday, 19 December
Last Evri Standard date: Friday, 19 December
Last Royal Mail 1st Class date: Saturday, 20 December
Last DPD 2Day date: Saturday, 20 December
Last Parcelforce express24 date: Monday, 22 December
Last Royal Mail Tracked 24 date: Monday, 22 December
Last Evri Next Day date: Monday, 22 December
Last DPD Next Day date: Monday, 22 December (some postcode exceptions)
Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed: Tuesday, 23 December
DPD Gold: Tuesday, 23 December
Business
Infosys, Wipro, TCS Gain As IT Stocks Rise For 4th Straight Day; Key Reasons Behind The Rally
Last Updated:
Shares of Indian IT companies rallied on December 2, pushing the Nifty IT index into positive territory for the fourth straight session
IT Stocks Surge
IT Shares Surge: Shares of Indian IT companies rallied on December 2, pushing the Nifty IT index into positive territory for the fourth straight session. Growing expectations of further interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve and a sharp surge in Infosys ADRs were among the six key drivers behind the move.
The Nifty IT index rose 1.35 per cent to 39,214.90 as of 10:10 am. The index has now climbed over 1,150 points, or more than 3 per cent, over the past four sessions.
Infosys ADR surge
Infosys Ltd’s American Depository Receipts (ADRs) jumped sharply to fresh record highs on Friday, even as the company clarified that it was not aware of any material event behind the sudden spike. The ADRs hit a 52-week high amid aggressive short-covering, opening nearly 40 per cent higher before paring some gains.
Traders told Moneycontrol that the sharp rally was triggered by a short squeeze after a major lender recalled a large quantity of stock lent in the market. The sudden recall forced traders holding short positions to rush to cover their exposure, sharply driving up prices in a relatively illiquid counter.
“It looks like there is some buying interest after the surge in ADRs. But there doesn’t seem to be much substance to it as fundamentals and export competitiveness have not changed. Therefore, we expect things to return to normalcy,” said UR Bhat, co-founder of Alphaniti Fintech.
Soft US inflation data
US consumer price inflation eased more than expected in November. Consumer prices rose 2.7 per cent year-on-year, slowing from a 3 per cent increase recorded in the 12 months through September.
The moderation in the US Consumer Price Index, reported by the Labour Department’s Bureau of Labour Statistics on Thursday, has revived hopes of additional rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in the near term.
Rising hopes of further Fed rate cuts
Alongside softer inflation data, positive commentary from US central bank officials also lifted expectations of further easing. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Wednesday that the Fed still has room to cut interest rates amid signs of weakness in the labour market.
“I still think we’re probably, you know, maybe we’re 50 to 100 basis points off of neutral,” Waller said at the Yale School of Management CEO Summit in New York, indicating scope for rate cuts if required.
Lower US interest rates could boost discretionary spending, benefiting Indian IT companies that derive a large share of their revenues from the US market.
Strong Accenture results
Accenture posted better-than-expected first-quarter results on Thursday, driven by strong demand for artificial intelligence solutions that help clients improve productivity.
The IT consulting major reported revenue of USD 18.74 billion, beating analysts’ average estimate of USD 18.52 billion, according to LSEG data. New bookings rose 12 per cent to USD 20.9 billion, including USD 9.88 billion in consulting bookings and USD 11.06 billion in managed services.
During its post-earnings call, Accenture’s management said overall and discretionary spending levels remained broadly in line with the previous year.
Value buying
The rally in IT stocks may also have been supported by value buying following months of underperformance. The sector has remained under pressure this year due to factors such as concerns over H1-B visa changes, tariff uncertainties and other global headwinds.
After a prolonged correction, investors may be re-entering the space, attracted by relatively attractive valuations.
Weakening rupee
After opening stronger, the rupee pared gains and slipped against the US dollar. Around 11:30 am, the rupee was trading at 89.70 per dollar.
A weaker rupee tends to benefit IT companies, as a significant portion of their revenues is denominated in US dollars.
Top IT gainers today
Wipro and Infosys were the top gainers on the Nifty IT index, rising more than 2 per cent each. Persistent Systems gained nearly 2 per cent.
HCL Technologies, Coforge and Tech Mahindra advanced over 1 per cent each, while Tata Consultancy Services added around 1 per cent. LTI Mindtree was trading marginally higher, while Mphasis slipped 1 per cent, bucking the broader sectoral trend.
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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December 22, 2025, 12:23 IST
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Ellen Knightin Church Stretton
ELLEN KNIGHT/BBCA family florist has said they are working “twelve to fifteen hour days” to keep up with the demand’s of Christmas.
John R Thomas Florist, in Church Stretton, Shropshire, was celebrating the end of a bumper year which included the shop’s 40th anniversary and a national award nomination.
Catherine Thomas, whose husband John founded the shop, said the team has been “really, really busy”.
Her daughter Bea Prosser added the community has given them “phenomenal” support at a time when “small businesses have struggled.”
Mrs Thomas said the shop has been manic as staff work to keep up with orders and run workshops.
Wreath-making classes had sold out by October and there has been an uptick in customers making orders, which Mrs Prosser has put down to the firm being a finalist in the British Florist Association’s annual award.
Despite not winning, Mrs Prosser said they have received “lots of orders” and “more people following us on [social media].”
ELLEN KNIGHT/BBCNow, though, it is “all about Christmas bouquets and Christmas arrangements,” Mrs Thomas said.
Christmas is busier than Mothers’ Day and Valentine’s Day, she added, with staff working seven days a week to fulfill orders and serve customers.
ELLEN KNIGHT/BBC“It’s been amazing,” she said of the shop’s 40th year.
“I feel like we’re really valued – we’re part of a community, and we love them and they love us.
“Small businesses in particular have struggled with change to the National [Living] Wage etc, but people are still out and spending money in local shops.”
New Delhi: India’s capital market infrastructure sector, comprising brokers, stock exchanges, depositories and registry and transfer agents (RTAs), generated revenues of over Rs 700 billion in FY25, a report has said.
The report from global brokerage Jefferies said the growth in revenues was due to rise in market volumes and increasing investor participation. The sector’s outlook will be shaped by faster growth in select segments, diversification into adjacent businesses and resilience to regulatory change, it added.
The brokerage projects mutual fund assets under management to grow at a 16 per cent compound annual rate over FY26–FY28, with mutual fund AUM projected to rise from Rs 67 trillion in FY25 to Rs 103 trillion by FY28.
Cash market average daily turnover (ADTO) is projected to grow 15 per cent and F&O premium ADTO will rise 12 per cent, reflecting moderation in derivatives activity after recent regulatory changes, the report forecasted.
The brokerage expects the number of demat accounts to increase from 192 million in FY25 to 304 million by FY28, and mutual fund folios to climb from 235 million to 377 million.
Brokers accounted for nearly Rs 500 billion of FY25 revenues and exchanges about Rs 200 billion, with depositories and registry and transfer agents contributing to the rest.
Brokers and exchanges are expected to grow faster than other capital market infrastructure segments, it added.
The stock exchanges’ growth will come from rising traction in index options, estimated to grow to around 35 per cent share of options market by FY28.
Brokers’ growth will come from expansion across products including margin trading facilities, commodities, bonds and wealth management, the report noted.
Younger investors are driving incremental participation, with those below 30 years constituting about 40 per cent of the base in FY25.
Analysts noted that the market is likely heading for a year-end rally. The rupee’s sharp reversal and FIIs’ cash market purchases can accelerate this rally, as they lead to short covering, pushing benchmark indices higher.
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