Core Viewpoint - The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for a nationwide strike on January 27 to demand the implementation of a five-day work week, following unsuccessful conciliation talks with the chief labour commissioner on January 23 [1][10]. Group 1: Strike Details - The strike will disrupt branch-level services for three consecutive days, as banks will be closed on January 25 and January 26 due to the weekend and Republic Day [1][10]. - The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) stated that the lack of assurance on their demands has compelled them to proceed with the strike action [2][10]. - The All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) mentioned that the decision to declare all Saturdays as holidays was agreed upon during the wage revision settlement in March 2024 [3][10]. Group 2: Union Demands and Rationale - The unions are advocating for the declaration of all Saturdays as holidays, a demand that was reportedly agreed upon but is pending government notification [9][11]. - The National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE) emphasized that the movement is aimed at creating a sustainable and efficient banking system, asserting that a rested banker serves the nation better [7][10]. Group 3: Impact on Banking Operations - Services such as cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances, and administrative work at public sector banks (PSBs) are expected to be significantly affected [11]. - Major private sector banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are anticipated to remain largely unaffected as their employees are not part of the striking unions [11]. - Digital banking services, including UPI and internet banking, will continue to operate, although ATM cash availability may face localized issues due to logistical delays [11].

Group 1 - All banks in India, including major public and private lenders, will be closed on Monday, 26 January, due to Republic Day celebrations, as per the RBI bank holiday calendar [1][3] - Republic Day marks the 77th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950, celebrated with a grand ceremonial parade in New Delhi [2] - January has around 10 RBI-declared bank holidays, with most already passed, and the upcoming Republic Day creates a long weekend for banks, closing them for three consecutive days [3] Group 2 - The next official bank holiday will be on 18 February, but a potential nationwide strike by bank employees on 27 January could disrupt banking operations [4] - Public sector banks have already informed customers about possible disruptions in services if the strike occurs [5] - Digital banking services, including mobile apps and online banking, remain available during bank holidays for urgent transactions, and ATM services are operational 24/7 [6][7]

Market Overview - The combined market valuation of nine of the top-10 most valued firms decreased by ₹2.51 lakh crore last week, with Reliance Industries experiencing the largest decline [1][2] - The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by 2,032.65 points or 2.43 percent during the same period [1] Company Valuations - Reliance Industries' market valuation dropped by ₹96,960.17 crore to ₹18,75,533.04 crore [3] - ICICI Bank's valuation decreased by ₹48,644.99 crore to ₹9,60,825.29 crore [3] - HDFC Bank's market valuation fell by ₹22,923.02 crore to ₹14,09,611.89 crore [3] - Bharti Airtel's valuation diminished by ₹17,533.97 crore to ₹11,32,010.46 crore [3] - Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) saw a decline of ₹16,588.93 crore in its market capitalisation, bringing it to ₹11,43,623.19 crore [3] - Larsen & Toubro's market capitalisation decreased by ₹15,248.32 crore to ₹5,15,161.91 crore [3] - Bajaj Finance's valuation declined by ₹14,093.93 crore to ₹5,77,353.23 crore [4] - State Bank of India's market capitalisation edged lower by ₹11,907.5 crore to ₹9,50,199.77 crore [4] - Infosys' market valuation dived by ₹7,810.77 crore to ₹6,94,078.82 crore [4] - In contrast, Hindustan Unilever's market capitalisation increased by ₹12,311.86 crore to ₹5,66,733.16 crore [4] Market Sentiment - The market correction was attributed to several factors, including escalating geopolitical tensions, aggressive foreign institutional investor (FII) selling, and concerns regarding the depreciation of the rupee [5]

Market Performance - Indian stock markets experienced significant volatility, with Nifty closing near 25,050 and Sensex around 81,540 by the end of the week, marking a decline of 2.51% and 2.43% respectively [2][3] - The market capitalization of BSE-listed companies fell by Rs 6,95,963.98 crore to Rs 4,51,56,045.07 crore, equivalent to $4.93 trillion, with a total market value erosion of Rs 16,28,561.85 crore over the week [2][3] Key Drivers of Market Decline - Heavy selling pressure was noted, particularly in heavyweight stocks such as those from the Adani Group, which contributed to the overall market downturn [4][8] - Weak quarterly performances from major companies like ICICI Bank and HCL Technologies raised concerns about the earnings outlook, further dampening market sentiment [5][7] - The Indian rupee hit an all-time low against the US dollar, exacerbating macroeconomic worries related to inflation and trade deficits [5][9] Foreign Investment and Market Sentiment - Persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows and a shift towards safe-haven assets have negatively impacted market sentiment [5][8] - The absence of strong domestic cues and the lack of major players in the artificial intelligence sector have been cited as reasons for the Indian market lagging behind global peers [5][6] Expert Insights - Analysts suggest that the market's direction in the coming week will be influenced by global macroeconomic signals and domestic fiscal expectations, with a focus on guidance from the Federal Reserve regarding interest rate cuts [9] - Stock-specific movements are expected to remain prominent as the Q3 earnings season continues, with cautious sentiment prevailing due to global developments and currency trends [9]

Core Insights - Earth Science Tech Inc. has engaged IBN to enhance its corporate communications strategy, aiming to improve investor awareness and outreach [1][4]. Company Overview - Earth Science Tech operates as a strategic holding company focused on a diversified portfolio within regulated healthcare markets, emphasizing execution, compliance, and disciplined scaling [2]. - The company prioritizes hands-on operational oversight to build sustainable revenue streams and long-term shareholder value, rather than passive asset ownership [2]. Business Strategy - The company's diversified operations include licensed pharmaceutical compounding, digital health and telemedicine platforms, specialty healthcare services, and complementary assets [3]. - Earth Science Tech maintains direct control over day-to-day operations through wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, allowing flexibility in capital and resource allocation [3]. Partnership with IBN - IBN will leverage its extensive investor-focused distribution network, which includes over 5,000 syndication outlets and various media channels, to increase awareness for Earth Science Tech [4][5]. - IBN has over 20 years of experience and a large audience, positioning it to effectively reach investors, journalists, and the general public [5]. Additional Information - Earth Science Tech's portfolio includes subsidiaries such as RxCompoundStore.com, Peaks Curative, Avenvi, Mister Meds, and others, focusing on health and wellness [5].

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a -16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the month of January 2026 Form 20-F X Form 40-F Commission File Number: 001-15002 ICICI Bank Limited (Translation of registrant's name into English) ICICI Bank Towers, Bandra-Kurla Complex Mumbai, India 400 051 (Address of principal executive office) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual re ...

Group 1 - Indian equity markets experienced a rebound after three sessions of losses, with the BSE Sensex rising by 397.74 points, or 0.49%, closing at 82,307.37 [3][9] - The NSE Nifty increased by 132.40 points, or 0.53%, settling at 25,289.90, with an intraday high of 25,435.75 [5] - Key gainers included Bharat Electronics Ltd, Tata Steel, Adani Ports, State Bank of India, and Bajaj Finserv, while laggards included ICICI Bank, Maruti Suzuki India, and HDFC Bank [4][8] Group 2 - Market sentiment improved due to US President Donald Trump's withdrawal of tariff threats against the EU and positive remarks regarding a potential India-US trade deal, which encouraged risk-taking [9] - Experts noted that initial corporate earnings did not significantly support current valuation levels, but there is potential upside from robust domestic demand expected in upcoming quarterly earnings [10] - Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 1,787.66 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased stocks worth Rs 4,520.47 crore [11]

Core Insights - Public sector banks (PSBs) are increasingly entering the QR-code led merchant payments space, aiming to compete with fintech companies like BharatPe, PhonePe, and Paytm [15] - This shift in strategy is driven by the revenue opportunities in the small merchant ecosystem and the dominance of UPI payments [2][15] - Banks are focusing on building direct relationships with merchants and enhancing their payment platforms with features like instant onboarding and on-demand settlement [10][15] Industry Trends - The Reserve Bank of India reports approximately 728 million QR codes deployed in the country, compared to only 11 million POS terminals, indicating a significant market potential [7] - Industry estimates suggest there are around 30 million soundbox terminals in India, further highlighting the growth opportunities in the small merchant payment sector [7] - Paytm has disclosed quarterly disbursals of around ₹4,500 crore for merchants, with a significant portion of transactions driven by UPI QR code-based payments [8][9] Competitive Landscape - Players like Worldline are collaborating with banks to provide technology stacks and backend settlements, enabling a comprehensive payment service for small merchants [5][15] - Banks are motivated by the low cost of deploying payment solutions and the potential for data and lending opportunities in this market [6][15] - The entry of banks into the small merchant payment business may lead to competition with fintechs, although industry insiders believe this conflict may not be immediate [12][15]

Market Overview - Indian equity markets experienced losses for the third consecutive session due to heightened geopolitical tensions, weak global peers, and persistent foreign fund outflows [3][9] - The 30-share BSE Sensex closed at 81,909.63, down 270.84 points or 0.33 percent, while the NSE Nifty declined 75 points or 0.30 percent to 25,157.50 [4][5] Stock Performance - Major laggards included ICICI Bank, Trent, Bharat Electronics, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Larsen & Toubro, State Bank of India, and Maruti [6][7] - Gainers in the market were Eternal, UltraTech Cement, InterGlobe Aviation, and Reliance Industries [7][8] Investor Activity - Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth ₹2,938.33 crore, while domestic institutional investors purchased stocks worth ₹3,665.69 crore [8] Market Sentiment - Analysts noted that domestic markets were affected by global risk factors, leading to volatility, although some value buying helped recover early losses [10] - The weakening rupee and uncertainties regarding trade ties are expected to prolong market volatility [10]

Group 1 - The article discusses the Asia Value & Moat Stocks research service, which targets value investors looking for Asia-listed stocks with significant discrepancies between price and intrinsic value, focusing on deep value balance sheet bargains and wide moat stocks [1][2] - The recent 3QFY2026 disclosures revealed both positive and negative aspects, with a disappointing net profit that fell below expectations, although credit and leadership-related risks have been mitigated [1] Group 2 - The Value Pendulum is highlighted as a specialist in the Asian equity market, with over a decade of experience on both buy and sell sides, focusing on investment opportunities in the Hong Kong market [2]