Business

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.

Shares of Block, Inc. surged over 20% after CEO Jack Dorsey announced 4,000 layoffs, citing artificial intelligence-driven efficiency. Investors welcomed the restructuring as the fintech firm reported strong quarterly profit growth

Netflix declined to raise its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing the way for a higher offer from Paramount Global backed by Skydance, potentially reshaping Hollywood amid regulatory and antitrust scrutiny

Alembic Pharmaceuticals has received final approval from the USFDA for its Lamotrigine orally disintegrating tablets used in the treatment of various seizure disorders.

Sovereign green bonds continue to anchor India’s modest sustainable bond market, dominating 62–94% of issuance. Social bonds remain niche. Despite $180 billion Asia-Pacific maturities in 2026, India’s green bonds gain investor demand, supporting climate finance goals amid economic and regulatory challenges

Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi for fresh questioning in a Rs 40,000 crore bank fraud-linked money laundering case involving Reliance Communications. The ED recently attached his Mumbai residence and formed an SIT

Mumbai markets opened higher as Sensex and Nifty gained on strong IT buying, fresh FII and DII inflows, and positive US cues. Tech Mahindra and Infosys led advances, while banking and cement stocks lagged amid stable domestic fundamentals and sectoral rotation

Budget 2026 rightly focuses on infrastructure investment, but physical assets must be complemented by sustained investment in human capital

The Indian government has directed oil companies to sell petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol and a minimum RON of 95 from April 1, 2026. This move aims to reduce oil imports, cut emissions, and boost demand for crops like sugarcane and maize.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath secured MoUs worth Rs 11,000 crore with leading Japanese firms during his Japan visit. Agreements across manufacturing, automotive electronics, infrastructure, hospitality and real estate aim to boost industrial capacity and strengthen India-Japan economic cooperation

South Eastern Coalfields Ltd, a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, has identified seven mine overburden dumps for rare earth element exploration. Scientific studies and tendering are underway, aiming to boost domestic critical mineral supply and reduce import dependence

Indian equity markets surged in early trade, led by IT stocks tracking Wall Street gains. Sensex jumped 559 points and Nifty rose 157 points. Broad-based buying supported indices, though geopolitical tensions, firm crude prices and AI-related concerns kept overall sentiment cautious