Business

New Delhi, Apr 14 The global spotlight is turning toward India's trade policies as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Policy Review (TPR) report nears completion. Officials confirmed that the comprehensive analysis of India's trade practices is anticipated to be released in July.The preparation phase has been in full swing, marked by a recent visit from a team of officials from the WTO Secretariat. During the visit, officials emphasized that the process is rigorous, involving submissions from both the government and the WTO Secretariat itself.This high-level review aims to provide deep insights into India’s trade policies and its overall macroeconomic standing. The report structure is detailed, covering policies, practices...

New Delhi, April 14 - India has established itself as a dominant force in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region for agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption. According to a recent report, Indian enterprises are rapidly moving beyond mere experimentation, achieving tangible, real-world returns from deploying AI agents.The survey revealed that while 97 per cent of global organizations are exploring agentic AI strategies, India exhibits the highest concentration of 'expert' users among all surveyed countries in the APAC market.Market Leadership and Deployment Acceleration The data confirms a significant global shift from theoretical exploration to active deployment. Globally, roughly 49 per cent of enterprises have successfully...

The resumption of limited commercial flight operations across the Gulf region marks a significant phase of stabilization for travel into India. Authorities confirm that connectivity is slowly normalizing, with substantial flight numbers expected from key destinations, facilitating the movement of Indian nationals.The Ministry of External Affairs provided an update detailing the ongoing operational status of airlines from the Gulf countries. The primary focus remains on ensuring the safety and security of the Indian community in the region.Key Connectivity Routes Stabilize From Gulf Nations A notable revival of air service is anticipated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with approximately 100 flights expected to arrive in India...

Dubai's gold market continues to show close alignment with global bullion movements. Gold rates in the Emirates are not solely dictated by international benchmarks. Instead, they are influenced by a complex interplay of currency fluctuations and persistent inflation risks tied to oil price movements.The pricing landscape remains robust, with multiple major jewellers providing granular rates for different karats. The 22K gold price, which is highly sought after, shows slight variations across prime shopping destinations like Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, and Kalyan Jewellers.Comparative Snapshot of 24K and 22K Gold Rates in Dubai Comparing rates across top retailers reveals a tight range for the primary gold standards. As of...

One 97 Communications Ltd, operating the Paytm brand, has solidified its position as a majority Indian-owned entity. As of March-end 2026, domestic investors have increased their combined stake to 50.3 per cent. This shift underscores a significant structural change in ownership, reflecting growing institutional confidence in the fintech giant.Domestic Investors Fuel Ownership Shift The surge in domestic shareholding marks a key development for the company. Regulatory filings show that domestic institutional investors raised their stake to a record 23.1 per cent in the March quarter. This represents a sharp increase of 2.8 percentage points sequentially, and 9.1 percentage points from the previous year.Mutual funds spearheaded this...

India's appetite for Russian crude oil has surged dramatically, with purchases more than tripling to 5.3 billion euro in March. This massive spike in imports was accompanied by a doubling of volumes, fueled by both high oil prices and the relaxation of global sanctions.European think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed that following a dip in February, India quickly returned to a significant buying binge in March. In fact, India was recorded as the second-highest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in March 2026.Quantifying the Steep Increase in Russian Imports India purchased a total of EUR 5.8 billion worth of Russian hydrocarbons during March 2026. Within this total, crude oil products accounted for 91 per...

The auto sector is undergoing a critical period of evaluation, with the industry body SIAM announcing it is thoroughly reviewing the draft Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE-III) norms. SIAM confirmed that it will discuss the draft with its members to finalize a consensus regarding the implementation timeline.During a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, SIAM President Shailesh Chandra highlighted the continuing complexities within the industry. Chandra stated that the body is working to finalize its view on the timeline, anticipating a constructive meeting with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in the coming days.Conflict Persists Over Small Car Incentives in CAFE-III A major point of contention remains the inclusion...

Q4 Pre-Sales Performance Surges on Strong Residential Demand Real estate developer Puravankara Ltd reported significant momentum in its sales bookings during the last quarter. The company announced that its pre-sales witnessed a near 3-fold jump, reaching ₹3,547 crore. This robust performance marks a considerable increase from the ₹1,225 crore recorded during the corresponding period last year.The positive trend indicates heightened consumer appetite for high-quality residential properties across India. This strong quarter underlines the sustained demand fundamentals supporting the sector's growth narrative.Company Forecast and FY26 Growth Trajectory Looking ahead, Puravankara has shared an optimistic outlook for the 2025-26 fiscal...

Crude oil prices cooled off on Tuesday, 14 April, as heightened expectations of renewed dialogue between the US and Iran took effect. The market sentiment shifted dramatically, driving down key benchmarks despite continuous geopolitical tension.The international oil complex reacted sharply to reports of potential conflict resolution. The benchmark US crude retreated significantly by $4, settling at $95 a barrel. Brent crude, the globally traded benchmark, also dropped, falling $2.77 to reach $96.59 a barrel.This pullback contrasts sharply with the previous session, when both benchmarks had closed with notable gains of up to 4.3% due to resurfacing supply disruption concerns.Oil Prices Retreat as Talks Resume: US Crude, Brent Drop...

European stock markets experienced a significant rally on Tuesday, climbing to their highest intraday levels in over a month. The surge was fueled by renewed optimism stemming from potential Middle East peace talks, even as major luxury groups sounded warnings regarding the conflict's fallout.The pan-European index advanced 0.8% at 618.85 points, marking its strongest intraday trading level since March 3. This rebound was triggered by developments suggesting that negotiating teams from the U.S. and Iran might return to Islamabad this week.Market Rebound Driven by Geopolitical Calming The prospect of dialogue has provided a substantial lift to the equity markets. The positive development has been enough to spark a broad rebound...

U.S. stock index futures climbed sharply on Tuesday, fueled by persistent hope for de-escalation in the Middle East and intense anticipation for quarterly corporate earnings. Traders are holding onto any positive news, as the market awaits a fresh reading of the Producer Price Index and a slate of major financial reports.Front-running this sentiment, the Dow e-minis gained 74 points, or 0.15%, while the S&P 500 E-minis climbed 14.5 points, or 0.21%. The Nasdaq 100 E-minis saw the most significant advance, climbing 107.75 points, or 0.42%.Geopolitical Hopes Propel Market Indices The primary driver behind the uptick remains the de-escalation narrative. Donald Trump mentioned that Iran had contacted him on Monday regarding a potential...

A significant structural alteration has been identified in India's household financial landscape, pivoting the nation's savings toward physical assets. New reports indicate that real estate now accounts for a massive 70 per cent of Indian household savings, a steep increase from the pre-pandemic average of 58 per cent recorded during FY16-FY20.The findings paint a detailed picture of changing consumer behavior and investment patterns among Indian families. While India remains one of the world's top saving nations, the manner in which domestic capital is held and utilized has shifted dramatically since the pandemic.Real Estate Dominance Reshapes Savings Structure The dramatic pivot toward physical assets suggests deep structural...

The Indian automotive sector faces a complex challenge following escalating global geopolitical tensions. Shailesh Chandra, President of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), cautioned that the West Asia conflict poses potential adverse implications for the industry's near-term trajectory. He noted that while the sector concluded the 2025-26 year from a position of strength, current uncertainties require close monitoring.Geopolitical Risks and Operational Hurdles Chandra highlighted that the evolving West Asia situation creates risks for vehicle production. These include adverse impacts on commodity and input prices, fuel costs, and freight rates. Such volatility could significantly challenge the industry's immediate...

Amid continuous geopolitical developments in West Asia, the Government of India has maintained a high degree of operational vigilance. Key sectors, including energy, logistics, and maritime operations, are showing stability through proactive government measures. This comprehensive update details the strategies deployed to ensure uninterrupted supply and the sustained welfare of Indian citizens both at home and abroad.Ensuring Fuel Security and Managing LPG Supply The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry addressed concerns regarding the supply chain, emphasizing that measures are in place to safeguard critical petroleum products. Officials advised citizens to avoid panic purchases of petrol, diesel, and LPG, assuring the public that all...

Gold-backed lending has witnessed a dramatic transformation in India, with the market for gold loans expanding fourfold over the past three years. New reports indicate a sharp rise in consumer demand and the mainstream acceptance of gold as a secure collateral for credit. This growth signals a structural shift, cementing gold-backed lending as a vital component of India’s retail credit ecosystem.The analysis, provided by TransUnion CIBIL, highlights that gold loan balances have multiplied nearly four times since March 2022. Consequently, the segment's contribution to India’s retail credit portfolio has climbed significantly, moving from 5.9 per cent to approximately 11 per cent by December 2025. This elevates gold loans to the...

Pakistan's stock markets experienced a powerful rebound on Tuesday, April 14, gaining significant ground fueled by optimism surrounding renewed diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran. The KSE 100 index surged sharply, recovering from previous steep losses and signaling a strong risk-on sentiment in the region. This rally was further underpinned by positive developments in global commodity prices.KSE 100 and KSE 30 Lead Strong Rebound After Volatility The benchmark Pakistan indices saw a major upturn, bouncing back after shedding more than 4% in the preceding session. The KSE 100 index surged as much as 4,977 points, or 3%, hitting an intraday high of 165,150.38.The broader KSE 30 index also mirrored this strength...

Wall Street futures are showing renewed strength, rising up to 0.4 per cent on Tuesday. The gains signal a potential firm opening for US markets later in the day, following positive reports on global diplomacy. This optimism comes amid renewed speculation regarding the second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran.Optimism Builds Ahead of US-Iran Peace Talks The primary catalyst driving global market sentiment is the possibility of renewed high-level dialogue between the US and Iran. Reports cite five sources indicating that negotiating teams could potentially reconvene for a second round of talks later this week.While the earlier round of talks failed to secure a breakthrough, a senior Iranian source stated that...

Stock broker firm Angel One Ltd. is poised to release crucial financial updates this week, drawing intense focus from institutional investors. The company's upcoming earnings call and board meeting will provide comprehensive insights into its operational health and future growth vectors. Market participants are closely tracking the numbers, particularly the company's trajectory into FY27.Reviewing Angel One's Q3 Financial Performance Angel One reported a notable increase in its consolidated revenue for Q3FY26. The revenue stood at Rs 1,337 crore, marking a climb from Rs 1,264 crore recorded in the corresponding quarter of FY25.However, the profitability metrics showed a shift year-over-year. The company's Ebdat declined to Rs 405...

Eimco Elecon (India) Limited, a major player in the mining and construction equipment sector, reported a sharp downturn in profitability for the fourth quarter (Q4) of FY26. The Gujarat-based manufacturer disclosed that its Q4 profit saw a dramatic decline of 57.22 per cent year-on-year.For the quarter ending March 31, the company posted a profit of ₹6.36 crore. This figure marks a significant drop when compared to the ₹14.87 crore recorded in the same period of the previous financial year (Q4 FY25).Analyzing the Q4 Profitability Dip While the profit figure dipped sharply, the company’s top line showed signs of operational stability. Revenue from operations increased modestly by 4.04 per cent, reaching ₹66.88 crore in Q4 FY26. This...

India is on an aggressive path to reshape its energy landscape, with projections placing it as the world's second-largest solar market by 2026. This ambitious growth trajectory, according to the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), is fueled by robust domestic policy support and unprecedented solar capacity additions.The sector has demonstrated remarkable momentum, marking a significant acceleration in its expansion rate. India successfully added 50 GW of solar capacity within just 14 months, achieving the major milestone of 150 GW.This pace marks a substantial improvement over historical growth. It contrasts sharply with the eleven years required to reach the initial 50 GW, and the nearly three years needed to scale...