Business

US stocks slipped as rising oil prices linked to the Iran conflict weighed on markets. Airline and retail shares declined while investors watched the Strait of Hormuz closely. Higher energy prices may also delay Federal Reserve interest rate cuts

The Indian pharmaceutical industry could face losses between Rs 2,500 crore and Rs 5,000 crore due to supply disruptions and rising freight costs linked to the West Asia conflict. Key export markets in the Gulf region remain heavily dependent on Indian medicines

Ride-hailing platform Rapido has entered the food delivery market with the launch of its Ownly app in Bengaluru. The platform offers a zero-commission model for restaurants and charges customers a flat delivery fee, potentially challenging Swiggy and Zomato

Morgan Stanley has reportedly laid off about 2,500 employees, nearly 3% of its global workforce, amid shifting business priorities and performance reviews. The cuts span multiple divisions despite record 2025 revenues, while other firms like Amazon and Oracle also trim jobs

Mark Carney’s India visit stood out for both symbolism and substance, particularly against the backdrop of diplomatic tensions in the recent past

India, heavily reliant on long-term LNG contracts with Qatar, faces a temporary cargo suspension, causing up to 40% supply cuts for industries and city gas distributors

BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty plunged over 2% as West Asia conflict escalated, driving Brent crude higher. Major losers included Tata Steel and Larsen & Toubro

Asian markets plunged as the Iran-US-Israel conflict escalated, with South Korea’s Kospi falling over 12% and oil prices surging. Investor fears over supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz drove global market volatility and rising inflation concerns

Apple has unveiled its latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by the new M5 series chips, promising significant improvements in CPU, GPU, and AI performance. Pre-orders begin on March 4, with availability from March 11.

HDFC Bank has announced that UPI-based cardless cash withdrawals will be counted within customers’ monthly free ATM transaction limits from April 1. The move standardises withdrawal charges across channels, with excess transactions attracting regular ATM fees under the bank’s revised policy

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, leaped another 7.8% to $83.84. That's up from close to $70 less than a week ago

With 25 days of crude and fuel stocks, plus strategic reserves and diversified imports, India is confident of maintaining supplies even if the West Asia crisis continues, a top oil ministry official said

Crude oil prices rose over 1 per cent amid West Asia tensions and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude touched $79.2 per barrel, with analysts warning prolonged disruptions could sharply impact India’s imports

Gold prices extended gains for a fifth session as Middle East tensions and rising oil prices boosted safe-haven demand. On Multi Commodity Exchange, April gold futures surged, while investors tracked US data and Federal Reserve cues amid inflation concerns

Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s visit to New Delhi underscored a strong commitment by two of the largest democracies in the Global South to strengthen bilateral trade, critical minerals cooperation, and long-term strategic ties beyond symbolic diplomacy

Indian companies are closely watching the Middle East conflict, fearing higher costs for packaging and freight. Parle Products expects pressure on prices, while auto and FMCG firms are monitoring exports and market exposure amid regional instability

After government ratification, the 2025–26 interest rate will be credited to the accounts of over seven crore subscribers of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation 

Indian equity markets opened sharply lower as escalating tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran triggered global risk-off sentiment. Sensex and Nifty fell over 1 per cent, while crude oil surged and Asian markets traded in the red amid war concerns.

A key risk arising from the current political vacuum in Iran is that the militant Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps may take over

The Adani Group has confirmed that its Haifa port in Israel remains fully secure and operational despite ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran. In a statement, Adani Ports & SEZ said all employees are safe and infrastructure remains intact.

Deepak Gupta, a mechanical engineer and veteran of the energy sector, has taken over as chairman and managing director of GAIL (India) Limited. He has overseen landmark projects including the Dabhol breakwater and the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria.

India’s digital payments platform Unified Payments Interface recorded 27% annual growth in February transaction volumes, reaching 20.39 billion, as per National Payments Corporation of India data, strengthening its global expansion and dominance over cash transactions domestically

Rising Israel-Iran tensions may pressure Indian markets as crude prices climb on Strait of Hormuz concerns. Analysts warn inflation risks if oil tops $80, while energy and defence stocks could gain. Nifty 50 signals weakness amid volatility and geopolitical uncertainty 

PM Narendra Modi called on the private sector to drive India’s next growth phase, emphasising investment, innovation, and collaboration with government and knowledge partners.