Business
Tech oversight: Sebi to form working group on exchange technology; aim to strengthen market resilience – The Times of India
Markets regulator Sebi is planning to constitute a working group to identify the next technological frontier for stock exchanges, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Saturday, underlining the regulator’s focus on strengthening market infrastructure amid rapid technological change, PTI reported.The proposed group will examine how exchange technology should evolve over the next five to 10 years, benchmark global best practices and suggest new approaches to enhance market systems. “We are going to constitute a working group on how it is going to be our next technological frontier in our stock exchanges,” Pandey told reporters on the sidelines of the 11th International Convention of the Commodity & Capital Participants Association of India (CPAI).Pandey explained that the technological frontier refers to the use of cutting-edge tools to improve market oversight, operational efficiency and investor protection. He stressed that technological robustness remains critical for the regulator, adding that Sebi takes every exchange-related glitch seriously.While acknowledging that disruptions can occur in a fast-evolving technology environment, he said there is a need for stronger safeguards. To address technical flaws, exchanges are required to carry out detailed root-cause analyses and submit comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) along with corrective measures to the regulator.Responding to a query on the recent outage at the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), Pandey said Sebi follows a clearly defined process whenever a technical issue occurs at an exchange. This includes imposing strict penalties if the disruption crosses specified thresholds.He added that the regulator is also examining such incidents from a systemic perspective. “By identifying commonalities in these glitches, we aim to understand how we can better secure and strengthen our market technology,” Pandey said.
Business
Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for February 4, 2026 – check list – The Times of India
Stock market recommendations: According to Mehul Kothari, DVP – Technical Research, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers, the top stocks to buy today (February 4, 2026) are Indian Oil Corporation, Tata Elxsi, and IFCI. Let’s take a look:IOC – Trendline Breakout with Indicator ConfirmationBuy: ₹165–₹163 | Stop Loss: ₹159 | Target: ₹172Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has formed a strong base near its 100-DEMA, which has acted as a reliable dynamic support in recent sessions. The stock has also delivered a decisive trendline breakout, indicating a potential shift in short-term momentum.On the indicator front, a bullish MACD crossover is visible, signalling strengthening upside momentum. The Stochastic Oscillator has reversed higher near the 30 zone without entering deep oversold territory, suggesting improving price strength and underlying buying interest.The confluence of 100-DEMA support, trendline breakout, MACD bullish crossover and stochastic reversal points towards a constructive setup with scope for further upside if the breakout sustains.TATA ELXSI – Alligator Breakout with Bullish MomentumBuy: ₹5,500–₹5,400 | Stop Loss: ₹4,900 (closing basis) | Target: ₹6,275 & ₹6,550 (1–3 months)TATA ELXSI has closed decisively above the Williams Alligator indicator, confirming a fresh uptrend and improvement in overall price structure.Momentum indicators remain supportive, with DMI in bullish mode (+DI above −DI), indicating strengthening buying pressure and positive directional movement. Additionally, the MACD sustaining above the zero line reflects strong trend momentum and increases the probability of continued upside.This combination of Alligator breakout, bullish DMI structure and positive MACD trend suggests a trend-continuation setup with scope for further upside in the coming weeks.IFCI – Alligator Breakout & Retest ConfirmationBuy: ₹56–₹50 | Stop Loss: ₹46 (closing basis) | Target: ₹63.5 & ₹67 (1–3 months)IFCI has closed decisively above the Williams Alligator indicator and has successfully completed a retest of the breakout zone, confirming continuation of the emerging uptrend and strengthening bullish structure.The DMI has turned positive (+DI above −DI), indicating buyers are in control and directional momentum is favouring the upside. The MACD sustaining above the zero line further supports positive trend momentum and enhances the probability of further upside movement.The alignment of price breakout, retest confirmation and bullish indicators suggests a constructive medium-term setup with favourable risk-reward.(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)
Younger and entry-level workers are being squeezed the hardest by higher employment costs slowing the rate that firms are hiring, new analysis shows.
Some UK businesses have seen the cost of employing workers rise on the back of recent policy measures, including tax and minimum wage increases and reforms to employment rights, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) said in its latest economic outlook.
These factors have raised the marginal cost of hiring by around 7%, in real terms, for an entry level position, according to its findings.
Niesr warned that sectors most exposed to cost increases were experiencing a bigger impact, pointing to data showing a link between exposure to the national minimum wage and rising unemployment.
This includes typically lower-paid industries such as hotels, hospitality and food chains, which also have a greater concentration of younger and early-career workers.
Its analysis found that, rather than cutting existing jobs, many firms have chosen to slow the rate that they hire staff.
Therefore younger workers and those “at the margins of the labour market” are being disproportionately squeezed, the think tank said.
Official figures at the end of last year showed that the unemployment rate rose to its highest level since early 2021 over the three months to September.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that young people especially were struggling in the tougher hiring climate, with an 85,000 increase in those unemployed aged between 18 to 24 in the three months to October – the biggest jump since November 2022.
The number of young people not in employment, education or training – so-called Neets – has been rising since 2021, and hit the highest level since 2014.
In its report, Niesr said it was “hard to escape the conclusion that the rising cost of labour has deterred full-time job creation, particularly for younger workers”.
Lord Frost, director general of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said the findings “laid bare the costs of the Government’s national insurance and minimum wage hikes, and Employment Rights Act: a spike in the cost of hiring entry-level workers, meaning fewer jobs and opportunities for young people”.
A Chipotle store stands in the Bronx in New York City on April 23, 2025.
Spencer Platt | Getty Images
Chipotle Mexican Grill on Tuesday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped analysts’ expectations, although traffic to its restaurants fell for the fourth straight quarter.
For 2026, the company is projecting flat same-store sales growth, signaling that the burrito chain’s woes are not expected to disappear quickly. Chipotle ended a bumpy 2025 with a full-year same-store sales decline of 1.7%.
Shares of the company fell as much as 11% in extended trading.
Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:
- Earnings per share: 25 cents adjusted vs. 24 cents expected
- Revenue: $2.98 billion vs. $2.96 billion expected
The fast-casual chain reported fourth-quarter net income of $330.9 million, or 25 cents per share, down from $331.8 million, or 24 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding impairment costs, gains from terminating restaurant leases and other items, Chipotle earned 25 cents per share.
Net sales rose 4.9% to $2.98 billion.
The company’s same-store sales fell 2.5% for the quarter, making this reporting period the third quarter of the year with same-store sales declines. However, Wall Street was anticipating a steeper same-store sales decrease of 3%, according to StreetAccount estimates.
Traffic to Chipotle restaurants fell by 3.2%. Executives have previously said they have seen a pullback in spending from consumers of all income cohorts, although low-income diners have made the most significant shift to their behavior.
Over the past year, shares of Chipotle have lost roughly a third of their value, dragging the company’s market value down to about $51 billion. Investor enthusiasm for the stock waned after the fast-casual chain began reporting shrinking traffic to its restaurants.
To bring back customers, Chipotle is focusing on improving the chain’s operations and adding new menu items, rather than leaning into discounts. In December, at the tail end of the quarter, the company unveiled “protein cups,” with the goal of convincing protein-obsessed customers to stop by for a snack, not just lunch or dinner.
Chipotle opened 132 company-owned locations and seven restaurants run by international licensees during the quarter. That brought its total to 334 company-owned locations and 11 international partner restaurants opened for the year.
In 2026, the company is projecting that it will open 350 to 370 new restaurants, including 10 to 15 international locations that will be run by licensees.
ICE cotton slides as strong dollar, metal sell-off hit prices
James Harden-Darius Garland trade grades: What’s next for Cavs, Clips?
Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for February 4, 2026 – check list – The Times of India
-
Sports1 week agoPSL 11: Local players’ category renewals unveiled ahead of auction
-
Sports1 week agoCollege football’s top 100 games of the 2025 season
-
Entertainment1 week agoClaire Danes reveals how she reacted to pregnancy at 44
-
Business1 week agoBanking services disrupted as bank employees go on nationwide strike demanding five-day work week
-
Politics1 week agoTrump vows to ‘de-escalate’ after Minneapolis shootings
-
Sports1 week agoTammy Abraham joins Aston Villa 1 day after Besiktas transfer
-
Tech1 week agoBrighten Your Darkest Time (of Year) With This Smart Home Upgrade
-
Entertainment1 week agoK-Pop star Rosé to appear in special podcast before Grammy’s