Mumbai, Oct 27: Indian stock markets opened on a positive note on Monday, supported by progress in trade talks between the United States and China.

Investors showed optimism after reports suggested that both countries are close to signing a deal to ease trade tensions.

The Sensex was trading at 84,450, up by 239 points or 0.28 per cent, while the Nifty stood at 25,874, gaining 79 points or 0.30 per cent.

On the weekly timeframe, the index witnessed a correction of nearly 311 points from its high, indicating heightened volatility and profit booking at higher levels.

“A breakdown below 25,670 could trigger weakness toward 25,500–25,400, while on the upside, resistance is placed at 25,950, followed by 26,000 and 26,100,” analysts said.

“Sustaining above these resistance levels will be crucial for the index to resume its upward trajectory,” they added.

Among the top performers on the Sensex were Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, and HDFC Bank, which rose up to 1.4 per cent.

On the other hand, stocks like Infosys, BEL, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Bajaj Finance were among the laggards, falling up to 1.4 per cent.

Broader markets also traded in the green, with the Nifty MidCap index rising 0.46 per cent and the Nifty SmallCap index up 0.23 per cent.

The rally in domestic equities came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen said on Sunday that President Trump’s proposed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods were “off the table.”

He also mentioned that China is expected to increase soybean imports and delay restrictions on rare earth exports, easing global trade concerns.

All sectoral indices on the NSE were trading higher, with the Nifty Realty index leading the gains, up by 1 per cent.

Experts said that positive global cues and optimism around the US-China trade deal lifted market sentiment, helping Indian equities start the week on a strong note.

“Comments from the US treasury Secretary Scot Bessent that there is a “substantial framework for trade negotiations with China” indicate that a US-China trade deal is on the cards,” analysts said.

“For India, the fundamentals are also turning positive with brisk festival season sales and reports of a smart pick up in capital spending by the private sector. This long awaited trend has significant positive implications for India’s growth and stock market,” they mentioned.

New Delhi, Oct 25: Amid the massive crackdown on cybercriminals in Myanmar, India needs to remain vigilant about numerous cyber scam centres in China-Myanmar border areas that target its citizens, according to a report.

The scam hubs in Kayin State, the Wa region, and the China-Myanmar border areas, where the central government’s reach is limited, lure victims with fake online job postings, confiscate passports, and force them to conduct fraudulent cryptocurrency and romance scams targeting victims worldwide, according to the report in India Narrative

“New Delhi, Beijing, and Bangkok have all demanded that Naypyidaw take action after hundreds of their citizens were trafficked into scam operations,” the report mentioned.

According to reports, a statement by Myanmar’s military information ministry said its forces had “cleared” KK Park, a synonymous with online fraud, money laundering and human trafficking for the past five years.

More than 2,000 people were detained, and around 30 Starlink satellite terminals used to maintain communications networks for scam operations were seized.

For India, these cyber hubs have become a mounting concern.

In March this year, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that almost 300 nationals had been rescued from cyber-scam compounds in Southeast Asia, including in Myanmar. According to reports, up to 540 individuals were repatriated in a subsequent phase via Thailand.

Notably, a hybrid form of governance, blending armed-group control, corruption, and foreign criminal investment, has turned Kayin State into a cybercrime haven.

“For the Myanmar junta, the KK Park raid signals to neighbouring countries that it can enforce border security and control hybrid criminal-militia activities,” the report noted.

However, the challenges remain as the networks behind these compounds are deeply embedded in cross-border trafficking and crypto-fraud.

According to media reports, more than 5,400 Chinese suspects involved in telecom fraud in Myawaddy, Myanmar, have been repatriated in a joint crackdown on cross-border telecom fraud launched by China, Myanmar, and Thailand since the beginning of 2025.

New Delhi, Oct 24: Gold ended a nine-week winning streak this week, with a sharp correction as the market reassessed a rally that had pushed prices into overbought territory.

The price of 24-carat gold (10 grams) ended at Rs 1,22,419 on Friday, down from Rs 1,23,827 from its previous close, according to data published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA).

Spot gold fell 0.3 per cent to close at $4,113.05 an ounce in New York, resulting in a weekly loss of approximately 3.3 per cent.

The price for 10 grams of bullion closed last week at Rs 1,30,874, and the price had been declining throughout the week. Analysts said that the pullback was sharp, but the yellow metal pared losses on Friday due to a weaker-than-expected U.S. inflation report, which bolstered expectations for further monetary easing by the Federal Reserve.

This development also led to a slight decline in bond yields and an increase in bullion prices. Traders anticipate two rate cuts before year-end, a scenario that bolstered gold prices.

Investors also assessed the potential for improved US-China relations as US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping prepare for their upcoming meeting. There are forecasts that a de-escalation of trade tensions may lessen demand for safe-haven assets like gold.

A recent correction occurred after a strong rally that started in mid-August, which saw prices reach an all-time high of $4,381.52 an ounce on Monday. Profit-taking and significant outflows from gold-backed ETFs intensified the selling pressure.

Gold is up by 57 per cent this year, driven by central-bank purchases, dovish signals from the US Federal Reserve and strong ETF inflows.

Earlier this week, a Ventura Securities report said that gold has generated returns of approximately 63 per cent in rupee terms since last Dhanteras, and a possible rally towards Rs.1.5 lakh per 10 grams is possible by 2026.