Markets seemed to have liked the budget: Sensex up 262 points and the Nifty is up 73 points.

Piyush Goyal concludes his speech.

Benefit of rollover of capital tax gains to be increased from investment in one residential house to that in two residential houses, for a taxpayer having capital gains up to 2 crore rupees; can be exercised once in a lifetime: FM Piyush Goyal

Individuals with gross income up to 6.5 lakh rupees will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities: FM Shri Piyush Goyal

Standard deduction also raised to Rs 50,000.

Income tax changes: Individuals tax payers up to Rs 5 lakh income, will get full tax rebate.

Fiscal deficit for 2019-20 pegged at 3.4 per cent.

We are poised to become a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next 5 yrs, we aspire to become a 10 trillion dollar economy in the next eight years: FM Piyush Goyal

GST is the undoubtedly the biggest taxation reform implemented since Independence; through tax consolidation, India became one common market; inter-state movements became faster through e-way bills, improving ease of doing business:Goyal

Direct tax collections up from Rs 6.38 lakh crore rupees in 2013-14 to almost 12 lakh crore rupees; tax base up from 3.79 crore to 6.85 crore: Piyush Goyal

Tax slabs were hiked and tax rates were reduced deductions were hiked attempted to give benefits to the salaried in last budget: Goyal

Allocation for North Eastern Region proposed to be increased to Rs 58,166 crore in this year, a 21% rise over previous year: FM Shri Piyush Goyal

Markets have barely exhibited any volatility. The Sensex is up 134 points, while the Nifty is up 35 points. Vedanta continues be the top loser, down 17 per cent over governance issues.

To ensure cleaner fuel and health assurance, we embarked on PM Ujjwala Yojana, a programme to give 8 crore free LPG connections to rural households, 6 crore connections given already: FM Shri Piyush Goyal

Empowerment of women: 75% of woman beneficiaries under PM Mudra Yojana, 26 weeks of maternity leave and Pradhan Mantri Matritva Yojana, are all empowering women.

Committee under NITIAayog to be set up to identify and denotify nomadic and semi-nomadic communities; Welfare Development Board to be set up under MSJEGOI for welfare of these hard-to-reach communities and for tailored strategic interventions:Piyush Goyal

Mega Pension Yojana, namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan, to provide assured monthly pension of 3000 rupees per month, with contribution of 100 rupees per month, for workers in unorganized sector after 60 years of age: FM

In place of rescheduling of crop loans, all farmers severely affected by severe natural calamities will get 2% interest subvention and additional 3% interest subvention upon timely repayment: FM Piyush Goyal

Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, 6000 rupees per year for each farmer, in three installments, to be transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts, for farmers with less than 2 hectares land holding: FM Shri Piyush Goyal

Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, 6000 rupees per year for each farmer, in three installments, to be transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts, for farmers with less than 2 hectares land holding: FM Shri Piyush Goyal

2% interest subvention to farmers pursuing animal husbandry and fisheries: FM Shri Piyush Goyal

Ayushman Bharat to provide medical relief to 50 crore people. Massive Scale-Up in healthcare in last 5 years providing medicines at discounted rates to the poor.

1,70,000 crore spent for bringing food at affordable rates to poor people: FM

Rs 3 lakh crore amount has already been recovered in name of bad loans: Finance Minister.

Bond yields have moved lower on hopes that the fiscal deficit would be contained. Markets are little changed and have been moving in a tight range since morning. Sensex up 135 points, while the Nifty is up 35 points.

Fiscal deficit is likely to be 2.5% in 2019-20, says Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. Not sure whether this looks increasingly optimistic.

Fiscal deficit has been brought down to 3.4% in the revised estimate of 2018-19: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal

We have prepared the foundation for sustainable progress and prosperity for our people; we are moving towards realizing the dream of New India by 2022: Goyal.

Budget presentation begins. Piyush Goyal rises to present the Interim Budget.

The Cabinet has approved the Budget proposals. Jobs, farm sector, MSME and aam admi tax sops maybe on the cards, though nothing is certain until the announcements are made. Fiscal prudence would also be watched carefully.

Stock markets have come-off a bit. Vedanta is down a huge 16 per cent on governance related issues. Automobile stocks are doing well led by Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra and Mahindra. Hopes are that increase in farm sops and tax benefits for the middle class could spur demand for vehicles.

The government must also deliver a budget that focuses on employment. There have been reports that unemployment has surged in the last few years. This is not good news for any government in an election year.

The Middle Class expects tax sops. The income tax exemption being raised, 80C limit being hiked from the present limit of Rs 1.5 lakhs and increase in medical insurance tax exemption are some of the expectations.

Markets have now moved to the highest point of the day, with the Sensex now higher by 172 points. The Nifty is up 47 points in trade. Asian markets are trading mixed, with the Hang Sang lower, while the Shanghai Composite and the Japanese Nikkei is higher.

The Interim Finance Minister, Piyush Goyal has now met with President Ramnath Kovind.

The Sensex is up 95 points, while the Nifty is higher by 26 points. Again, it is the three heavyweight stocks Reliance, TCS and Infosys that are leading gainers. Banking stocks like ICICI Bank are seeing some selling pressure in early trade.

The Budget Papers have arrived in parliament. Expectations are running so high, it hardly seems like an Interim Budget. The common man is eagerly awaiting the Budget, given that it is the last Budget for this government and the hopes are for some sops.

Higher tax sops pose a risk to a higher fiscal deficit number. Apart from this, addressing farm distress may also increase the fiscal deficit target. This is one number that would be watched by economists, rating agencies and stock market analysts alike.

Mahindra and Mahindra is seeing good buying support in trade on hopes that there would be a big boost to the farming sector. M&M is one of the largest manufacturers of tractors in the world. The shares of the company were last seen trading higher by almost 2 per cent.

Sensex opens with gains of 33 points, while the Nifty opens 12 points higher. Shares of DHFL are down a huge 10 per cent.IT shares, which have been in the limelight on Thursday are seeing some selling pressure.

Rupee opens at 71 to the dollar. Pre-opening session of the markets show gains of 72 points on the Sensex. Expect immense volatility going ahead. FPI buying numbers of Thursday in excess of Rs 3,000 crores is extremely encouraging, going into the Budget.

Interim Finance Minister, Piyush Goyal has entered North Block. Much is expected from the Interim Budget by way of relief for farmers, who are facing challenges with declining farm income. Middle Class are also expecting some changes in the Income Tax structure.

The SGX Nifty is now declining. At the moment the SGX Nifty is up 33 points, which suggests that the markets may open higher, ahead of the Budget 2019.

Many foreign investors are looking at fiscal prudence. It would be surprise in an election year to expect the same.

Fiscal deficit numbers would be eagerly watched. If the 2018-19 and the estimates for 2019-20 are higher than expected, the stock markets would not like it too much. In fact, expect a decent amount of volatility in the stock markets today.

Fiscal deficit numbers would be eagerly watched. If the 2018-19 and the estimates for 2019-20 are higher than expected, the stock markets would not like it too much. In fact, expect a decent amount of volatility in the stock markets today.

Among the sops that could be expected today according to news reports is raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakhs and sops for the agriculture sector.

SGX Nifty is up 41 points, indicating yet another day of positive opening for the markets. If the fiscal deficit numbers disappoint, we might see a slide in the markets.

Markets closed with whopping gains on Thursday, with nearly 2 per cent gains on anticipation of a solid budget. It would now be interesting to see the direction of the markets. Some analysts are expecting a breakout for the Indian markets from the current range.