Business
Gold, silver outlook: Bullion markets brace for volatile week as Middle East tensions and Fed cues weigh
Precious metals are likely to remain in a corrective phase in the coming week, with investors expected to closely track developments in the Middle East and a packed calendar of global economic data for fresh cues.Analysts cited by news agency PTI said that speeches by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday, along with…
Airlines must offer 60% seats free from April 20, DGCA says amid row over seat selection charges
Passengers flying within India will be able to choose a larger share of seats without paying extra from April 20, after aviation regulator DGCA directed airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight free of charge.The move follows concerns over airlines charging steep fees for seat selection, with the civil…
NSE to launch Brent Crude futures from April after Sebi nod
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced that launching Dated Brent Crude Oil (Platts) futures contracts in its commodity derivatives segment after receiving approval from Sebi. Trading in these contracts will begin on April 13, 2026.According to an NSE circular, the contracts will be introduced with monthly expiries extending up to 2027. They will be…
Strait of Hormuz chokehold: What is happening to petrol prices in India and neighbouring nations amid oil supply crunch?
Global crude markets are strained as Middle East conflict escalates, pushing oil prices up and impacting fuel supplies worldwide. Countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh are implementing measures such as price adjustments, import increases, and conservation efforts to manage the crisis. A month into the Middle East conflict, global crude…
Helium And India: Up, up and away: Is the world running out of Helium gas?
Helium isn’t something most people think about, unless you’re in a lab, running an MRI, building chips, or inhaling it for that squeaky balloon voice. But what if the world suddenly runs out of this invisible gas? As exaggerating as the question may sound, it’s exactly what’s raising concerns right now. As tensions in the…
Saudi Arabia pumps 7 million bpd via east-west pipeline amid Hormuz disruption
Saudi Arabia has brought its East-West pipeline into full operation, pushing 7 million barrels of oil a day through the route as it works to maintain supplies following the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a person familiar with the matter said. The pipeline, which runs across the kingdom to the Red Sea, has…
From office desks to dark streets: How the oil crunch is reshaping daily life in different nations
A month into the Middle East conflict, its ripple effects are felt across economies worldwide. The crisis was triggered on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, setting off a chain of events that has tightened Tehran’s grip over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This narrow sea passage,…
Rupee breaches 94, worst fiscal year fall in over a decade
MUMBAI: The rupee breached the 94 level for the first time to close at 94.81 per dollar after hitting a record low of 94.84, declining about 4% since late Feb and 11% in the current fiscal year, marking its worst financial year performance in over a decade.Many analysts are forecasting that oil prices will remain…
Steel, auto, chemicals to gain from more LPG flow
The govt on Friday moved to cushion key industries from the ongoing gas supply disruption, boosting commercial LPG allocations by 20% to reach 70% of pre-crisis levels. The extra supply will prioritise labour-intensive sectors such as steel, automobiles, textiles, dyes, chemicals, and plastics, which are critical for broader economic activity.The move is aimed at stabilising…
WTO talks: Sharp divide over e-commerce duty moratorium as India opposes permanent extension
A sharp divide has emerged at the ongoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference in Cameroon over the continuation of the e-commerce moratorium on customs duties, think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Saturday, reported PTI.It noted that while the US is pushing for a permanent extension of the moratorium, India and several…