Business

Oil prices surged sharply on Monday after tensions in the Middle East intensified and the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz continues to stay shut, with disruptions now having crossed 70 days. Meanwhile, the Middle East conflict has continued to intensify as US President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s response to Washington’s peace proposal and Iran issued…

Kotak Securities has an add rating on Punjab National Bank (PNB) with the target price at Rs 125, down from the earlier target of Rs 140. Analysts said that in the Jan-March quarter (Q4FY26), the lender had shown steady profitability overall with the return on equity (RoE) supported by low credit costs and decline in…

MUMBAI: Net outflow by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) from the stock market for the current year crossed the Rs 2-lakh-crore mark for the first time ever. This also showed up in aggregate foreign holding in Indian stocks falling to a 14-year low at 14.7%, a level much below the comparative data for domestic institutions, which…

NEW DELHI: Gig and platform workers need to work for at least 90 days annually with an aggregator to avail of social security benefits, said the final set of rules formulated under the new Code on Social Security (CoSS). In case a worker is engaged with multiple aggregators, the threshold is raised to 120 days,…

NEW DELHI: Crude oil prices are likely to stay higher for longer due to the disruption caused by the longer-than-expected Middle East crisis, ADB Chief Economist Albert Park has said.“With a higher oil price expectation, we actually have it as USD 96 per barrel as average for 2026 as per the new reference scenario. It…

MUMBAI: Indian banks are navigating a paradox where credit growth is outstripping deposit growth but margins are under pressure. On paper, a scenario where credit outstrips deposit growth should be a recipe for soaring profitability. However, a deeper look into the recent earnings calls of major public sector lenders shows that margins remain under pressure…

The Competition Commission of India has ordered a detailed probe into French spirits giant Pernod Ricard and seven other entities for alleged cartelisation in the Indian-made foreign liquor market. The investigation will examine restrictive conduct by Pernod Ricard with retailers and wholesalers, potentially violating competition laws. The CCI’s Director General will lead the inquiry, looking…

MUMBAI: Noel Tata has voted against the reappointment of Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh as trustees of Tata Education and Development Trust (TEDT), the largest corpus trust within Tata Trusts, in a move that widens fault lines within one of India’s most powerful philanthropic structures. It marks the first time Noel has made his opposition…

NEW DELHI: Swiss pharma major Novartis is sharpening its strategy in India as a pure-play innovator across core therapy segments, including cardiovascular, oncology and immunology, after divesting its stake in its listed arm earlier this year.Significantly, India increasingly contributes to nearly every molecule that Novartis commercialises globally, and is moving further up the value chain,…

There’s a war brewing far away between the US, Israel and Iran. But why is your monthly budget suddenly acting like it’s in danger too?The Middle East war that began as a geopolitical conflict over two months ago has slowly turned into a cost-of-living problem for households, as disruptions to oil supply routes, rising freight…