Business

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz (representational image) The Middle East conflict has put the world’s energy lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz, in a chokehold.But the Gulf might be looking for an escape route.Over the next five years, countries in the region could invest in alternative logistics corridors and energy pipelines to loosen their dependence … Read more

India – New Zealand trade deal kicks in NEW DELHI: The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into force on Tuesday opening up new opportunities for Indian exporters, manufacturers, farmers, professionals and businesses. The agreement provides 100% duty-free access to the New Zealand market for all Indian export tariff lines, removing peak tariffs of … Read more

Nepal has barred the import, sale and distribution of Priyagold biscuits made by India based Surya Food and Agro Ltd, after food safety concerns flagged by Indian authorities.Nepal’s Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) announced the restrictions in a notice issued on Monday, classifying the biscuits as sub-standard. The move follows action by the … Read more

US homebuilder confidence hits 14-year low as costs soar US homebuilder confidence fell to its lowest level in more than 14 years in October, with rising mortgage rates, expensive construction materials and labour shortages weighing on the housing market, according to a survey released on Monday.The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market … Read more

The findings also highlighted a distinct regional divergence in welfare impact NEW DELHI: In-kind social transfers ranging from free foodgrains under the public distribution system (PDS) to laptops, bicycles and school uniforms have pushed nearly 22 crore people — comprising around 19% of rural population and 8.4% of those in urban areas — into higher … Read more

The AO treated the alleged amount as undisclosed cash receipts and made an addition under Section 69A. (Image for representative purpose only) Property related transactions can sometimes be complicated. Recording the same in your income tax return is equally important. But what if the Income Tax Department sends you a notice for unexplained cash receipts, … Read more

Stock market holiday on Dussehra NEW DELHI: Domestic equity markets will remain closed on Tuesday, October 20, for Dussehra, giving investors a break from regular trading on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The festival is listed as a full trading holiday in the 2026 market calendar.Investors will not be … Read more

In an earnings call, managing director and CEO Vinay Tonse said the bank was examining the judgment and its options MUMBAI: Yes Bank has told investors that Supreme Court’s order to restore Rs 8,415 crore of additional tier-1 (AT1) bonds written off during its March 2020 restructuring would not constrain growth, citing deferred tax assets … Read more

Two-and three-wheeler imports have shot up to $107 million during April-Aug, compared with $2 million a year ago NEW DELHI: Every cheer for electric vehicle sales in the country also means that import of batteries from China goes up too given the complete dominance India’s neighbour enjoys in the global trade of this product.Not surprisingly, … Read more

Bagchi said he would consult regulators, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders before setting organisational priorities MUMBAI: Anup Bagchi, who is set to take over as HDFC Bank’s managing director and CEO, said he would soon draw up a strategic roadmap covering growth, margins, asset quality and productivity, as outgoing chief Sashidhar Jagdishan said the bank’s … Read more

Crude prices ease below $110 per barrel Oil prices fell on Monday as US President Donald Trump’s decision to waive sanctions and tariffs on Russia raised the prospect of additional fuel supplies entering the market. However, continuing security threats in the Middle East and uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations kept the outlook for crude volatile.Brent crude … Read more

‘Hospitals may still find ways to hike charges of other items and packages,’ warns a civil society group NEW DELHI: Govt’s move to cap trade margins at 30% of MRP on 137 cancer drugs, covering over 1,000 medicine brands, puts the focus on actual patient savings, with effective implementation and monitoring needed to ensure it … Read more

The move is part of an exercise to win back customers who have flocked to more nimble private banks in recent years NEW DELHI: From facilitating loans to startups to special savings accounts for students and credit card offers, state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) is rolling out the red carpet for young customers.“Every young person … Read more

Russia’s Arctic oil shipments exceeded 2025’s full-season total of 13 million barrels, with another 5-10 million barrels expected by the end of the current navigation period Russia has shipped nearly 20 million barrels of oil to Asia through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) since the start of the navigation season in July, almost 50 per … Read more

File photo: Bottles of Absolut vodka, produced by Pernod Ricard, are displayed at a wine shop (Picture credit: Reuters) Indian tax authorities are investigating whether liquor makers Pernod Ricard and Diageo wrongly classified bulk Scotch whisky imports to claim lower tariffs under the India-UK trade agreement, Reuters reported, citing five industry sources familiar with the … Read more

India puts coal import plan on hold, prioritises domestic production and transport (representative image) India has shelved a proposal to make power plants import coal to replenish dwindling stockpiles, as elevated international prices and a weaker rupee have increased the cost of overseas shipments, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the discussions.The government … Read more

The Bombay High Court examined whether accepting delayed performance could deprive homebuyers of their right to interest under Section 18 of RERA. (Image for representative purpose only) What happens if the possession of your dream home is delayed? You buy an apartment, sign an agreement, make the necessary payments, but the builder repeatedly fails to … Read more

Gold enters the week around $4,175 with a relatively resilient undertone. Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are seeing a range-bound bias, says Manav Modi, Senior Analyst, Commodity Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. Let’s take a look at what the analyst has to say:Gold enters the week near Rs 148,000 after a sharp … Read more

India gets 100 per cent duty-free access for its goods exports to New Zealand. NEW DELHI: The Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand will be enforced on Tuesday (October 20), allowing duty-free access to Indian goods across Wellington’s entire market.The announcement comes from a ministry of commerce and industry presentation, cited by ANI.Labour-intensive … Read more

The Assessing Officer restricted the deduction by approximately Rs 55 lakh. (Image for representative purpose only) You sell a property and reinvest the money you get from the sale in another property, and claim capital gains exemption in your income tax return. The catch however is that the property you buy as a replacement is … Read more

Global container freight rates have surged by 130 percent Global container freight rates have climbed 130% since February 2026, with renewed tensions in the Middle East driving up shipping costs. India’s container-based export-import trade, however, continues to expand, according to a Jefferies report.The surge marks a reversal after a prolonged period of easing freight rates. … Read more

One drawback of verbal or unregistered rental arrangements is the difficulty of establishing proof. (Image for representative purpose only) Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government announced plans to revamp the state’s tenancy rules, including changes to the stamp duty and registration charges that are applicable to rental agreements.At a press conference, Ravindra Jaiswal, Minister of State … Read more

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio NEW DELHI: US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Monday said that India and the US are close to finalising a trade deal. He also explained the reason behind Washington’s consideration of India energy needs before imposing sanctions or tariffs linked to Russian oil.Speaking to reporters in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, … Read more

Sugar stocks slip after govt’s latest ethanol procurement tender NEW DELHI: Sugar stocks turned sour on Monday, tumbling over 5% after the government halted sugar-based ethanol supplies for 2026-27.Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar led the losses among the listed companies, with its shares falling 5.22% to Rs 20.16 on the Bombay Stock Exchange in early trade. Dwarikesh … Read more

India has officially entered the festive season, with celebrations lined up one after another. But while the calendar fills up with festivals, bank customers may want to keep an eye on another list: the October bank holidays.Before setting out for a branch visit, it is worth checking whether the bank is open or taking a … Read more