Business

New Delhi, April 2 Agri-warehousing company Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM) has filed preliminary papers with markets regulator Sebi through the confidential route for an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Business news subscriptionIn a public notice on Thursday, SLCM said it has filed "the pre-filed draft red herring prospectus with Sebi and the stock exchanges...in relation to the proposed initial public offering of its equity shares on the main-board of the stock exchanges".The company, which focuses on technology-driven agricultural logistics, has opted for the confidential pre-filing route, which allows the company to engage with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for initial feedback on its draft document...

New Delhi, April 2 Employees in India are reporting significantly higher exposure to workplace disruption than the global average, while also demonstrating a stronger push toward upskilling and skills validation, according to the latest Human Progress Report by Educational Testing Services (ETS).Princeton-based ETS, which is known for conducting crucial exams like TOEFL and GRE, conducted the study, which found how the Indian workforce is navigating rapid shifts in technology, job responsibilities, and performance expectations, as professionals increasingly link career stability to their ability to continuously build and demonstrate relevant skills.According to the report, 86 per cent of workers in India experienced major workplace...

New Delhi, April 2 Core4 Engineers, a company based in Mysuru and specializing in EPCC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning), has filed its draft papers with the BSE's SME platform to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO).According to the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) filed on March 29, the IPO involves the issuance of up to 58.94 lakh equity shares with a face value of Rs 10 each.The net proceeds from the IPO will be used to fund capital expenditure for acquiring a property consisting of land and an existing building, which will be used to establish and operate a new manufacturing unit and corporate office.The company will also use the funds to meet its incremental working capital...

New Delhi, April 2 Foreign investors were cautious about investing in Indian real estate during January-March, amidst the West Asia conflict, as their investments plunged by 75 per cent to USD 400 million compared to the previous quarter, according to Colliers.Real estate consultant Colliers India expects foreign investors to remain cautious throughout this year due to global economic uncertainties.The consultant's data showed that total institutional investments in real estate fell drastically by 61 per cent to USD 1.6 billion in January-March from USD 4.2 billion in the preceding October-December quarter of 2025.Of this, domestic investors invested USD 1.2 billion while foreign players invested just USD 0.4 billion during the...

New Delhi, April 2 India's systemic credit growth stood at 13.8 per cent (as of March 15), supported by liquidity buffers and a consumption-led recovery after GST cuts, a report said on Thursday.The report from Motilal Oswal Financial Services said that banks have room to further expand their credit-to-deposit (CD) ratios as deposit growth remained stable at 10.8 per cent while the CD ratio climbed to 83 per cent with faster credit growth."With competition for deposits remaining intense, banks continue to face challenges in mobilizing low-cost deposits. We expect term deposit rates to remain sticky, given the continued pressure on low-cost deposit mobilization," the report predicted.The brokerage found the residual benefits from...

Mumbai, April 2 Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn ₹17,689 crore of their investments in Fully Accessible Route (FAR) government securities since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East, reflecting heightened risk aversion among global investors and growing concerns over inflationary pressures linked to surging crude oil prices.According to data from the Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL), FPI investment in FAR government securities declined to ₹3,13,318.661 crore as of April 1, from ₹3,31,007.648 crore as of February 27, indicating a steady unwinding of positions by overseas investors in recent weeks.Market participants said the outflows coincided with a sharp rise in domestic bond yields, particularly after...

New Delhi, April 2 – The government's calibrated 8.5 per cent increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines may offer short-term relief to oil marketing companies (OMCs), according to analysts.Analysts at global brokerage firm Nomura estimate that state-owned fuel retailers continue to suffer significant losses on ATF sales amid a war-driven surge in global oil prices.At current prices, the brokerage estimates that OMCs are losing around ₹64 per litre on domestic ATF sales, implying a marketing loss of approximately $109 per barrel.Based on prevailing prices, the brokerage pegs annual ATF losses at ₹23,600 crore for Indian Oil Corporation, ₹9,500 crore for Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and ₹5,300 crore for...

New Delhi, April 2 Zinc prices fell by Rs 2.80 to Rs 322.70 per kg in futures trading on Thursday, as speculators reduced their exposure, following negative signals from the spot market.On the Multi Commodity Exchange, zinc contracts for May delivery decreased by Rs 2.80, or 0.86 percent, to Rs 322.70 per kilogram in a trading volume of 29 lots.Analysts said that the reduction in positions by participants, due to weakened demand from consuming industries in the physical market, mainly influenced zinc prices.

New Delhi, April 2 Aluminium prices saw a slight decrease of 20 paise to Rs 355.65 per kg in futures trading on Thursday, as participants reduced their positions in response to a weak trend in spot markets.On the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in May fell by Rs 20 paise or 0.06 percent to Rs 355.65 per kg in 35 lots.Analysts said the reduction in positions by participants, primarily due to easing demand from consuming industries, kept aluminium prices lower.

Seoul, April 2 – South Korea has secured approximately 50 million barrels of alternative oil supplies for this month to replace supplies from the Middle East, which have been disrupted due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, government officials said on Thursday, pledging continued efforts to stably manage energy supplies.The government and oil refineries are working hard to secure alternative oil supplies from different countries, said Yang Ghi-wuk, deputy minister for trade, industry, and resource security, in a regular briefing on energy supply, noting that Seoul has been reaching out to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kazakhstan, the United States, and other countries, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.Yang stated...

Powerica Ltd Shares List at Discount, Make Weak Market Debut Stock Lists Below Issue Price on NSE and BSE New Delhi, April 2: Shares of Powerica Ltd, a power solutions provider, made a subdued entry into the stock market on Thursday, listing at a discount of over 7 per cent compared to its issue price of Rs 395.On the NSE, the stock debuted at Rs 366, reflecting a decline of 7.34 per cent from the issue price. On the BSE, it opened at Rs 375, marking a fall of 5.06 per cent.The company’s market capitalisation stood at Rs 4,684.95 crore on the NSE following the listing.Weak Market Sentiment Weighs on Listing The listing came amid a broader market downturn, with benchmark indices trading sharply lower. The BSE Sensex dropped...

Gold and Silver Prices Drop Up to 5.6% as Middle East Signals Disappoint Markets Precious Metals See Sharp Decline Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty Mumbai, April 2: Gold and silver prices witnessed a sharp decline of up to 5.6 per cent on Thursday after remarks by US President Donald Trump on the ongoing Middle East conflict failed to deliver clear signals of an imminent resolution, dampening investor sentiment.The lack of a definitive ceasefire announcement led to profit booking in precious metals, reversing earlier gains.MCX Gold and Silver Futures Slip Significantly On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for June 5 delivery dropped as much as 2.31 per cent, or Rs 3,563, hitting an intraday low of Rs 1,50,145 around...

Sai Parenteral Shares List at Premium Despite Weak Market Sentiment New Delhi, April 2: Shares of Sai Parenteral, a diversified pharmaceutical formulation company, made a positive stock market debut on Thursday, listing at a premium of over 3 percent compared to its issue price, even as broader markets remained under pressure.Stock Lists Above Issue Price on BSE and NSE The stock opened at Rs 405 on the BSE, reflecting a gain of 3.32 percent over its issue price of Rs 392. On the NSE, shares debuted at Rs 400, marking a 2.04 percent increase.Following the listing, the company’s market valuation stood at Rs 1,784.84 crore on the NSE.Listing Amid Broad Market Weakness Sai Parenteral’s listing comes at a time when domestic equity...

India Manufacturing PMI Eases to 53.9 in March Amid Global Disruptions and Rising Input Costs New Delhi, April 2: India’s manufacturing activity showed signs of moderation in March, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) easing to 53.9, as global disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict weighed on business sentiment and demand, according to HSBC Flash India PMI data released on Thursday.Demand Softens as Output Growth Slows The latest data highlighted a noticeable slowdown in both output and new orders, pointing to softer demand conditions and rising uncertainty among manufacturers. Despite the moderation, the overall pace of expansion remained historically strong, though it slipped to a three-month low.Pranjul...

Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar Shares List at Discount, Slip Further Amid Weak Market Sentiment New Delhi, April 2: Shares of basmati rice exporter Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar (Exports) Ltd made a weak debut on the stock exchanges on Thursday, listing at a discount to the issue price and extending losses during the trading session.Stock Lists Below Issue Price on BSE and NSE The stock opened at Rs 195 on the BSE, marking a decline of 8.02 per cent compared to its issue price of Rs 212. Selling pressure intensified post-listing, dragging the shares further down by 10.59 per cent to Rs 189.55.On the NSE, the shares debuted at Rs 200, reflecting a 5.66 per cent drop, and later slipped 12 per cent to Rs 186.76.Market Capitalisation and Broader...

India Real Estate Investments Rise 25% to $1.6 Billion in Q1 2026, Driven by Domestic Capital Domestic Investors Take the Lead as Foreign Inflows Slow New Delhi, April 2: Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector rose sharply in the January to March quarter of 2026, reaching $1.6 billion, marking a 25 per cent year-on-year increase, according to a report released on Thursday.The growth was largely fueled by a strong surge in domestic capital. As per Colliers, Indian investors contributed $1.2 billion during the quarter, registering a 57 per cent annual rise and accounting for nearly three-fourths of the total inflows. This represents a notable shift compared to the typical domestic share of 20 to 50 per cent observed...

Government Extends SIM Linking Deadline for Messaging Apps to December 31 New Delhi, April 2: The government has extended the deadline for implementing the SIM-binding rule for mobile messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal to December 31, following requests from industry stakeholders, according to official sources.SIM-Binding Rule to Strengthen Device-Level Verification The SIM-binding framework mandates that messaging platforms can provide services on a mobile device only if an active SIM card is present in the device. The move is aimed at ensuring stronger linkage between user accounts and mobile numbers.Web Log-Out Rule Relaxed with Risk-Based Approach In a related update, the Department of...

India Defence Exports Hit Record ₹38,424 Crore in FY26, Surge 62.66% Year-on-Year New Delhi, April 2: India’s defence exports climbed to a record high of ₹38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26, registering a sharp 62.66 percent increase compared to ₹23,622 crore in the previous fiscal, according to an official government statement released on Thursday.DPSUs and Private Sector Drive Export Growth Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) accounted for 54.84 percent of total exports, while the private sector contributed 45.16 percent, reflecting a balanced participation across the industry.In value terms, DPSUs exported ₹21,071 crore worth of defence equipment, a significant jump from ₹8,389 crore in the previous financial year...

Sensex, Nifty Fall Nearly 2% as Iran Tensions Spike Oil Prices and Trigger FII Sell-Off Indian Markets Open Deep in Red Amid Global Uncertainty Mumbai, April 2: India’s benchmark equity indices, the Sensex and Nifty, dropped nearly 2 percent in early trading on Thursday, reflecting heightened investor anxiety after fresh geopolitical tensions in West Asia pushed crude oil prices higher and triggered sustained foreign fund outflows.The 30-share BSE Sensex declined by 1,433.72 points, or 1.96 percent, to trade at 71,700.60, while the NSE Nifty fell 445.70 points, or 1.97 percent, to 22,233.70 during the morning session.Broad-Based Selling Across All Sensex Stocks Selling pressure was visible across the board, with all 30 Sensex...

Indian Rupee Surges 1.7% in Biggest Gain in Over 12 Years Amid RBI Crackdown on Speculation New Delhi, April 2: The Indian rupee recorded its sharpest single-day rise in more than 12 years on Thursday, driven by aggressive regulatory action aimed at curbing currency speculation in both domestic and offshore markets.The rupee strengthened by as much as 1.7 percent to 93.25 against the US dollar, marking its biggest gain since September 2013. The surge came as trading resumed after a three-day holiday break, amplifying market reactions to recent policy measures.RBI Tightens Grip on Currency Derivatives Market The rally follows a series of steps by the Reserve Bank of India to restrict speculative trading. The central bank has extended...