BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI) Following are the top business stories at 2120 hours:
    
     DEL27 BIZ-LD-STOCKS
     * Sensex rallies 1,436 pts to end at 2-week high on gains in financial, auto shares
     Mumbai: Benchmark Sensex rallied 1,436 points to close at a two-week high on Thursday on buying in financial, auto and IT shares, extending gains to the second day of the New Year. *

     DEL51 BIZ-LD RUPEE
     * Rupee falls 11 paise to close at record low of 85.75 against US dollar
     Mumbai: The rupee depreciated 11 paise to close at a record low of 85.75 against the US dollar on Thursday, as strong dollar demand from importers and foreign fund outflows dented investor sentiments. *
         
     DEL19 BIZ-GOYAL-EFTA
     * India-EFTA trade pact likely to be implemented before end of 2025: Goyal
     New Delhi: The implementation process of free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA is progressing fast and is expected to come into force before the end of this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. *
    
     DEL8 BIZ-PMI-MANUFACTURING
    * India's manufacturing growth hits 12-month low in Dec amid softer rise in output, new orders
     New Delhi: India's manufacturing sector growth fell to a 12-month low in December, as new business orders and production expanded at softer rates, a monthly survey said on Thursday.

    
     DCM34 BIZ-STOCKS-WEALTH
     * Investors richer by Rs 8.52 lakh cr in two days of market rally
     New Delhi: Investors' wealth surged Rs 8.52 lakh crore in two days of market rally, with the benchmark Sensex climbing nearly 2 per cent on Thursday alone. *
    
     DEL36 BIZ-SEBI-ZEEL
     * Sebi to continue proceedings against ZEEL, issue fresh show cause notice
     New Delhi: Markets watchdog Sebi on Thursday said it will slap a fresh show cause notice on ZEEL founder chairman Subhash Chandra, and his son Punit Goenka as it vowed to continue the investigation into alleged violation of listing norms against the media baron and his company.
    
     DCM58 BIZ-SEBI-LD-KETAN PAREKH
     * Sebi bans Ketan Parekh, 2 others from securities markets in front-running matter
     New Delhi: Markets regulator Sebi on Thursday barred three individuals, including Ketan Parekh, from the securities markets with immediate effect for their alleged involvement in a front-running scheme which generated illegal gains of Rs 65.77 crore.
    
     DEL39 BIZ-GOLD-PRICE
     * Gold climbs Rs 330 to Rs 79,720 per 10 gm; silver rises Rs 130
     New Delhi: Gold prices climbed Rs 330 to Rs 79,720 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday due to persistent buying by jewellers and retailers, according to the All India Sarafa Association. **

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)