India's IT companies are looking to speed up their acquisitions in the US, and increase hiring from American colleges to combat new norms that are likely from the incoming US administration. Trump has promised to tighten outsourcing and visa rules within his first 100 days. Signs that the new government is likely to follow through is reflected in the President Elect's pick for Attorney General - Jeff Sessions, who has repeatedly criticised the H1B visa program in the past and suggested doing away with it entirely. The move to reduce guest workers travelling from India to the US is set to impact operating margins of Indian IT, as they realign towards local hiring. 

Small-time financers in the informal lending markets are reeling under demonetization and with the drying up of funds. These rural moneylenders typically do daily lending to farmers and traders, and are struggling with large amounts of old notes they are unable to exchange and use with limits on withdrawals, and the long queues at rural banks.  

Stock in spotlight: The pharma company Jubiliant LifeSciences, which has received approvals for generic versions of high blood pressure medication, and is now seeking shareholder approval to raise an additional Rs. 1000 crore. The stock has gained 92.8% in the past six months. 

Photo of the day: Contestants pose during a beard and mustache competition in Bangalore. Kiran Manjunath/AFP/Getty