Business

US Market Action Pauses Ahead of Middle East Developments U.S. stocks closed mixed on Friday, with investors adopting a cautious stance. Market participants are keeping a close watch on ongoing peace negotiations in the Middle East.This indecision was set against the backdrop of an inflation report. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed consumer price growth accelerating, which was attributed to price pressures stemming from the conflict involving Iran.On the index front, the Dow and the S&P 500 both posted lower readings. However, technology stocks provided a significant lift, pushing the Nasdaq to register gains for the session.Geopolitical Friction Underpins Market Volatility Market attention remains fixed on the fragile truce...

For decades, conducting basic financial transactions in India demanded significant time, effort, and physical presence. Paying bills often meant long queues, while sending money required bank visits and waiting days for confirmation. This reality left millions outside the formal banking system entirely. That era, however, is now firmly in the past.India’s financial history is one of continuous evolution, moving from barter systems to cheque-based payments. While modern banking introduced formal methods, their reach was traditionally limited to urban centers, leaving vast rural and remote populations underserved.The introduction of systems like RTGS in 2004 and IMPS in 2010 marked critical steps forward. Nevertheless, the...

Global Investors Pull Out $18.84 Billion from Indian Equities Amid Energy Shock Warnings Global institutional funds are exiting Indian equities at a record velocity. This selling pressure is significantly heightened by energy shocks stemming from the US-Iran conflict. The crisis threatens to derail the growth outlook for what is considered one of the world's fastest-growing major economies.In the last quarter alone, global funds have withdrawn a cumulative $18.84 billion from local Indian shares. This figure surpassed the full-year record outflow of $18.79 billion recorded in 2025, according to Central Depository Services India Ltd.The sustained selling has kept market sentiment subdued. Even a modest rebound following a temporary...

A fragile Middle East ceasefire sparked a sharp rally in risk assets this week, pushing the S&P 500 Index up 3.6%, marking its largest jump since late November. Emerging-market equities surged, Bitcoin climbed back past $70,000, and Treasury yields dipped as the dollar tracked oil prices lower.However, that initial momentum stuttered by Friday afternoon. Mounting apprehension regarding potential failures in weekend peace talks cast a shadow, forcing a widespread recalibration among major Wall Street strategists regarding the 2026 outlook.The Impact of Geopolitical Volatility on Global Markets The current market sentiment reflects a profound disconnect between temporary diplomatic optimism and underlying structural risks. The fallout...

SEBI Tightens Grip on AIFs: Broad-Based Norms Now Apply to AMC Managed Funds The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has clarified a significant extension of its regulatory reach into Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). The regulator mandates that Asset Management Companies (AMCs) and their subsidiaries must adhere to the "broad-based fund" requirement when managing or advising AIFs. This move effectively extends established mutual fund norms to these pooled investment vehicles.This clarification was issued in an informal guidance on April 9, following a query received from UTI Alternatives Pvt Ltd. SEBI determined that AIFs fall under the definition of pooled assets within the regulatory framework.Key Compliance...

The gold market witnessed significant bullish momentum last week, logging a notable gains following signals of de-escalation in the US-Iran tensions. This development, coupled with easing inflation fears, has been the primary catalyst supporting the precious metal's upward trajectory.Gold prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) rose from ₹ 1,49,650 per 10 gm to ₹ 1,52,690 per 10 gm last week. This marks a weekly gain of around 2% for the second consecutive session. On the global front, the COMEX gold rate climbed from $4,679.70/oz to $4,787.40/oz, registering a nearly 3% weekly gain.Drivers Fuelling Gold’s Rally Amid Geopolitical Easing Market experts suggest the rally is underpinned by a confluence of global factors. The...

Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh chaired a crucial Seafood Exporters Meet 2026 in New Delhi, charting an aggressive strategy to expand global market reach. The high-level meeting focused on scaling up value-added seafood exports and unlocking the vast marine potential from India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and high seas.The forum brought together government bodies and industry leaders to address current challenges. Discussions centered on market access hurdles, pricing pressures, and necessary regulatory enhancements for the seafood sector.Government Focus: Scaling Value Addition and Global Market Diversification Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh praised the robust performance of India's seafood exports despite global...

Mixed Equities Performance Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty Global equity markets displayed a mixed performance on Friday, underpinned by escalating uncertainty surrounding crucial U.S.-Iran talks slated for the weekend. Investors are keenly awaiting potential de-escalation following the recent cease-fire agreement, which aims to curb the near six-week conflict.Despite this caution, the week was notable for positive momentum across major indices. U.S. stock indexes registered their best performance since November. Furthermore, a broad Asian stocks index recorded its strongest weekly advance in over three years.Key Triggers for Global Market Sentiment The recent breakthrough included an agreement between the U.S. and Iran to establish a...

Vijayawada, April 10 Volvo Group India President and Managing Director Kamal Bali said on Friday that the ongoing conflict between Israel, the US, and Iran has not yet directly affected the automotive industry in the country, but that if supply chain constraints arise, the automotive industry, including his company, will be impacted.Bali said he is unable to determine how the conflict is directly impacting the industry right now, noting that the impact may manifest with a slight delay."There is no direct impact right now. It's difficult to say how it's directly affecting things. The impact will occur with a slight delay. If the supply chain becomes constrained, it will be a problem for Volvo and the rest of the automotive industry,"...

SEBI Takes Action Following Explosive Price Surge in RRP Semiconductor Shares The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued an interim order, taking significant punitive action against multiple individuals and entities. The regulator has restrained 39 individuals, including Rajendra Kamalakant Chodankar, from accessing the securities market. This action centers on the trading activities and share price movement within RRP Semiconductor Limited.SEBI further directed the impounding of nearly Rs 2 crore, citing alleged unlawful gains made during the period under review. The investigation was prompted by a preliminary examination into the sharp and dramatic movement in the company's share price and trading patterns...

New Delhi, April 10 – Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday that nearly 90 per cent of the backlog cargo at major ports has been cleared, following swift intervention and continuous monitoring by the government amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.Chairing a high-level review meeting with senior officials and port authorities, Sonowal said that coordinated and proactive measures helped stabilize operations quickly, ensuring minimal impact on India’s trade.He noted that the evolving situation in West Asia had initially led to delays and congestion at ports, but the government’s timely response enabled efficient clearance of cargo.“We acted swiftly and in a coordinated manner to...

FIIs flipped to net buyers of Indian equities for the first time since February 25, signaling a potential shift in foreign investor sentiment. They purchased shares worth ₹672.09 crore on April 10. Simultaneously, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) added another ₹410.05 crore to their positions, according to provisional exchange data.The market saw significant institutional support during Friday's trading session. DIIs were active, picking up shares worth ₹15,982 crore against sales of ₹15,572 crore. FII buying interest was notable, with firms purchasing ₹18,304 crore while offloading shares valued at ₹17,632 crore.Key Market Indexes Rally on Global Optimism Benchmark indices mirrored the strong buying sentiment. The Sensex...

Mumbai, April 10 The Maharashtra government on Friday directed city gas distribution companies to operationalize 24x7 helplines and increase the number of centers to accept applications for piped natural gas (PNG) connections.A Government Resolution (GR), issued by the food and civil supplies department in the context of the West Asia conflict and its impact on global energy supply chains, asked companies to expand outreach and infrastructure to ensure wider PNG coverage across the state.The GR stated that disruptions in global energy supply have affected the availability of petroleum products, leading to constraints in LPG supply, and emphasized the need to accelerate PNG connections as a short-term mitigation measure.It directed...

New Delhi, April 10 A key government scheme for processing critical minerals is at an advanced stage of finalization, Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal said on Friday, as India races to secure its supply chain amid global competition for lithium and other vital resources needed for clean energy and defense technologies.Speaking to reporters here, Goyal said India is unable to import lithium available abroad due to the absence of a domestic processing value chain."The scheme for processing of critical mineral value chain is at an advanced stage," he said.This is expected to significantly enhance the resilience of EV batteries in the country.Details of the scheme will be shared once it is approved, Goyal said.He further said India is...

Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran recently addressed Air India employees, urging the workforce to maintain focus and execution amid significant industry challenges. His remarks came following developments at the airline, notably the departure of Chief Executive Campbell Wilson.Chandrasekaran reportedly addressed staff at a townhall in Air India's headquarters in Gurugram on Friday. He acknowledged that while the company possesses a bright future and a strong foundation, the industry is currently navigating a challenging period."What matters now is staying focused on execution," he stated. He emphasized concentrating efforts on controllable areas, stressing the need for cost precision and remaining grounded in current...

Mumbai, April 10 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday approved the acquisition of land owned by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) in Borivali for the development of affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).The decision was made at a meeting of the Maharashtra Housing Development Authority, chaired by the chief minister, at the Sahyadri Guest House here, officials said.A total of 28.84 acres of reserved land owned by BSNL at Gorai and by MTNL at Shimpoli in Borivali will be acquired at rates determined by the government, for a total of Rs 729 crore, according to a government release.More than 1,000 housing units will be constructed under the scheme.

Crisil Warns West Asia Conflict Could Hit India's Key Income Streams Crisil Ratings has sounded a note of caution regarding the impact of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The agency highlighted that approximately one-third of India's vital diaspora remittance inflows originate from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.The institution warned that a decline in the incomes of the diaspora could negatively affect India's current account deficit. This concern is amplified given that the nation's trade deficit is already facing pressure.India remains the world's foremost recipient of remittances from its diaspora. For fiscal year 2025 (FY25), the nation is projected to receive over USD 135 billion in these crucial foreign...

Noida, April 10 The real estate developers' association, Credai, has appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government to intervene in the ongoing shortage of LPG, stating that it is severely impacting construction activities and the livelihoods of workers in the region.In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on April 8, the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India, Western UP, pointed out that the disruption in the supply of cooking gas is affecting construction sites and slowing down project execution.The developers' association stated that domestic LPG cylinders are being illegally sold at construction sites for Rs 4,500-5,000, while refilling of smaller cylinders is only available after a long...

Mumbai, April 10 The rupee reversed initial gains and closed the day 32 paise lower at 92.83 against the US dollar on Friday, weighed down by risks from rising global tensions, particularly the US-Iran conflict.Forex traders said the rupee experienced high volatility as the deadline for the RBI's instructions to banks to curb their overnight positions to USD 100 million approached on Friday amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 92.58 against the US dollar and touched a day's high of 92.41, before losing ground to eventually settle at 92.83, down 32 paise from its previous close.On Thursday, the rupee closed with a marginal gain of 3 paise at 92.51 against the US...

New Delhi, April 10 Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed port operations on Friday and directed the Directorate General of Shipping to ensure complete transparency in shipping-related charges, saying this ongoing crisis in West Asia must not become an opportunity for profiteering.According to an official statement, Sonowal said that timely intervention by the government cleared 90 per cent of the cargo backlog amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.In a strong message to the sector, the minister instructed the Directorate General of Shipping to ensure complete transparency in shipping-related charges."This crisis must not become an opportunity for profiteering. All charges must be clearly documented and monitored to...