Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Japan’s government bond yield curve steepened as investors turned cautious ahead of a 30-year debt auction. Higher oil prices and a weaker yen intensified inflation concerns, lifting long-term yields. Traders are also factoring in global jitters, including geopolitical tensions tied to Iran and strong U.S. payroll data.
Tesla says it plans to bring its humanoid robot Optimus to India “when the time is right,” without giving a specific timeline. Speaking during the launch of the Model Y in India, a senior official also indicated Tesla’s integrated energy solutions business could follow in the future, signaling a wider push beyond cars.
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Bitcoin hovered near $68,000 after easing Iran-related tensions lifted risk appetite, while Ethereum rose about 3%. Most major altcoins were mixed as traders stayed cautious ahead of the March jobs report on April 3. The data could shift expectations for rate cuts, quickly changing market momentum for Bitcoin and broader crypto prices.
Anand Rathi Wealth has announced a 1:1 bonus issue alongside a final dividend of Rs 7 per share for FY26, following board approval. The bonus shares will be issued from free reserves. The company’s Q4 FY26 results also showed a 40.5% year-on-year profit jump, helping push the stock higher after the announcements.
Afghan spin star Rashid Khan declined citizenship offers from India and Australia, choosing to represent Afghanistan instead. A new book says he was approached during the 2023 IPL with an offer of Indian documents and the chance to play in India. Khan reportedly remained firm on loyalty to his homeland, earning praise for putting country over career advantage.
Former Mumbai and Baroda cricketer Kiran Powar has been appointed head coach of Assam’s Ranji Trophy team for the 2026-27 domestic season. Powar said he was delighted, citing the Assam Cricket Association’s vision after a prior visit. The appointment marks his first senior-team coaching job, following his experience managing the U-23 Mumbai side.
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India’s alcoholic beverage industry faces fresh profit stress, with Crisil warning that alcobev margins may fall by 150–200 basis points this financial year. The trigger is soaring glass bottle costs, linked to global supply chain disruptions. Revenue growth is also expected to slow. Still, companies are tightening financial discipline to manage the impact.
The Reserve Bank of India has decided to keep the foreign portfolio investor limit for government securities via the general route unchanged for 2026-27. The RBI set the ceiling at 6% of the outstanding stock of securities, signaling continuity in how foreign flows into G-secs will be managed despite evolving market conditions.
India is preparing a proposal that would require banks to report offshore rupee derivative trades, even as lenders push back against the plan, according to two sources. The move aims to boost transparency in a fast-growing offshore market that has intensified pressure on the rupee, potentially affecting how currency risks are tracked.
PNB Housing Finance expects 18–20% loan growth this fiscal year, with an ambitious push to build its loan book to Rs 1 lakh crore by FY27. The strategy leans on affordable and emerging customer segments, while recoveries from previously written-off loans are expected to keep credit costs under control.
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The Reserve Bank of India has launched a special foreign exchange window to provide dollars to state-run refiners, a step designed to ease rupee pressure. The supply is expected to be routed through state-run lenders, reducing the heavy daily dollar demand tied to oil imports. Analysts say the move could support rupee appreciation in the near term.
Chris Gayle has become co-owner and global brand ambassador of the Glasgow Mugafians, as the franchise prepares for the inaugural ICC-sanctioned European T20 competition. The European T20 Premier League is set to begin on August 26, 2026, with the Abhishek Bachchan-backed Mugafians aiming to make an early statement in a new era of cricket across Europe.
The rupee fell 36 paise to around 93.13 per dollar after the RBI rolled back some forex curbs following Monday’s market close. Bank treasury heads said they remain cautious and are holding back non-deliverable forward (NDF) contracts to corporates as RBI likely monitors such trades. Dollar-rupee forward premiums rose, lifting hedging costs, with the 1-year forward yield up 10 bps to 3.10%.
Tata Trusts is reviewing trustee roles for two entities after Maharashtra introduced rules limiting how long individuals can hold lifetime positions. The change affects the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Tata Education and Development Trust, aiming to strengthen governance and reduce legal conflicts linked to prolonged control in charitable bodies.
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CoinDCX co-founders were granted bail after a court concluded there was no prima facie case of cheating against them. The crypto firm said the arrests were triggered by a fraudulent website impersonating CoinDCX, deceiving a complainant. CoinDCX added that its official platform is “.pro” and claimed it was also a victim of the scam.
Jio is set to start the Q2 earnings season, with Airtel and Vodafone Idea to follow in the weeks ahead. Analysts will focus on subscriber and revenue momentum, margins, and operating performance. While Airtel is expected to show relatively healthy growth, Jio’s outlook appears modest and Vodafone Idea’s results may continue to reflect its ongoing struggle to sustain traction.
Top-quality Kashmir saffron is now selling at about INR4,950 per 10g—far above silver varq, which is roughly INR800 for the same quantity. Gold leaf remains pricey too, but saffron’s climb is sharper, reaching INR4.9 lakh per kilogram after its geographical indication tag boosted perceived origin and quality.
Bitcoin ended 2025 down 5% and about 30% from its October peak after a wave of volatility and mass liquidations. Analysts point to stabilisers already emerging: better liquidity, low exchange reserves, increased institutional interest, and clearer regulation. With major central banks easing and crypto infrastructure expanding, 2026 may bring a steadier, more sustainable recovery.
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Artemis II astronauts have returned home to a hero’s welcome at NASA’s Johnson Space Center after a historic deep space mission. The crew traveled farther than earlier moon missions, bringing back fresh views of the lunar far side. Their successful return marks a key milestone toward renewed lunar exploration and future human missions beyond Earth.
Indian bond yields fell about 0.15% on Wednesday, slipping to below the key 7% mark as investors drew comfort from a conditional ceasefire in West Asia. The move also followed the Reserve Bank of India holding its policy rate steady, reinforcing expectations that monetary policy would remain unchanged for now.
A Delhi court has remanded Vinesh Chandel, director of I-PAC, to 14 days of judicial custody in a money laundering probe connected to an alleged coal pilferage case. Chandel has filed for regular bail. The Enforcement Directorate’s custody concluded on the day of the hearing, and the court noted the arrest followed required legal procedures.
The RBI has released draft guidelines for prepaid payment instruments, focusing on stronger compliance and better customer protection. The proposal highlights expanded use of UPI-linked wallets for foreign visitors and deeper integration between prepaid instruments and UPI rails. The RBI also plans stricter handling of dormant balances, signaling tighter oversight for issuers and platforms.
India’s 10-year government bond yield jumped sharply on Friday, with the biggest weekly rise since May 2022. The move followed a cut in fuel excise duty that worsened the fiscal outlook, alongside heavy state bond sales and higher oil prices. Investors now face renewed uncertainty over borrowing costs and policy direction.
Researchers in the Salish Sea are repurposing miles of existing underwater fiber-optic cables into a huge listening network using Distributed Acoustic Sensing. The system can detect orca vocalizations, helping scientists track how the whales respond to ship traffic, dwindling food, and climate-related changes. If proven, it could reshape conservation monitoring far beyond one region.
The rupee jumped about 2% in early trade, rising above 93 for the first time in nearly two weeks, after the RBI introduced measures to curb FX speculation and arbitrage flows. Analysts expect the steps to trigger more onshore dollar sales as traders unwind positions. However, pressures remain as energy prices climb amid Middle East risks and political remarks from the US.
The Indian rupee rallied sharply on Thursday, hitting its best day in more than a decade. The surge followed tighter RBI measures aimed at curbing speculative positions against the currency. Markets are now watching whether the crackdown can sustain gains, recalling 2013 when extraordinary steps were used to stabilize FX conditions amid similar stress.
Karnataka’s proposed labour law changes triggered outrage over a reported 14-hour workday, but the real controversy lies in the details. A close read of the amendment focuses on scheduling, overtime thresholds, and applicability across sectors. The move could reshape how work hours are counted and compensated—meaning the impact may differ sharply from headlines.
India’s thriving IPO market is helping global investors lock in major exits, but it’s also squeezing the rupee. As PE and VC funds repatriate returns, net FDI has fallen sharply, increasing vulnerability to shifting capital flows. Analysts say the current churn looks like stress, yet it could also be the beginning of a more mature, stable capital cycle by FY27.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has surged, with Hezbollah firing missiles toward Tel Aviv and Israel responding with sweeping strikes across Lebanon. The escalation has already caused heavy civilian harm—hundreds dead in Lebanon and dozens in Israel—while analysts warn the conflict could expand beyond the border, pulling in regional interests and raising the risk of a broader war.
As work from home fades, employees are returning to their metro workplaces, reigniting demand for rented homes and offices. But supply hasn’t caught up, leaving rents to jump and rental yields to rise from about 2%–3% to 4%–5%. The key question now is whether this crunch is temporary or a durable post-pandemic shift.
Indian government bonds logged their strongest week in more than six years after a fragile US Iran truce helped cool oil prices. With inflation pressure easing and sentiment supported by a neutral central bank stance, yields moved favorably, driving the rally into Friday and marking the best weekly performance in over six and a half years.
Rising sovereign bond yields are likely to trigger mark to market losses for Indian banks in the March quarter. Even as the RBI conducted open market operation purchases, 10-year government bond yields climbed to a 12-month high, driven by geopolitical risks and persistent inflation worries, pressuring banks’ bond portfolios.
Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha announced he is leaving the Aam Aadmi Party and merging with the Bharatiya Janata Party, a switch involving seven MPs. By moving as a merged group, the proposal aims to avoid anti-defection disqualification rules. The decision reshapes AAP’s Rajya Sabha numbers, especially from Punjab, leaving only three MPs with the party.
The UN says global emissions have hit a record high and current national pledges won’t prevent severe climate damage. Under present commitments, warming is projected to stay around 2.5C this century, far above the 1.5C target. Big polluters are being urged to make faster, deeper cuts to reverse the trajectory and “bend the curve.”
Godrej Properties is defying a real-estate slowdown by leveraging consolidation trends, buying distressed opportunities, and using its legacy brand to expand aggressively. However, the same high-growth strategy may be affecting profitability and shareholder returns. The article points to a new business model that is helping it scale across markets, while also creating new performance risks.
The Reserve Bank of India has released a draft proposal to strengthen the Prepaid Payment Instruments framework, aiming to support long-term growth. The plan focuses on enhanced transaction security, and more explicit guidelines for refunds and handling customer grievances. The RBI will consider public feedback until May 22, 2026, before finalizing the changes.
The Indian rupee weakened in step with other oil sensitive Asian currencies, as traders reacted to currency volatility tied to energy price sensitivity. With downside pressure building, expectations are rising that the central bank may step in to stabilise moves and support the rupee in the near term.
Home sales are expected to improve each quarter in 2021 compared with 2020, supported by a revival in the affordable segment led by middle-class buyers. While a second wave of Covid-19 could temporarily hit transactions, industry players believe affordability demand can recover to prior levels or higher. However, rising resale flat supply may soften the longer-term outlook.
HSBC downgraded Indian stocks to “underweight,” citing rising energy prices tied to the Middle East war. The bank warns the shock could cloud India’s earnings recovery and make the market less attractive than North East Asian peers. Foreign investors have also been net sellers, though HSBC points to selective opportunities in private banks, base metals and healthcare.
Harvard economist Jeffrey Frankel says the US faces recession odds about three times the usual level amid Trump’s tariff push. He argues tariffs could mean slower growth alongside higher prices, weaken capital formation, and add uncertainty around the dollar. Frankel also warns that dismantling post-war trade rules could ripple outward, even if some voters still back the plan.
Dubai has earned $29.4 billion from international tourists, placing it at the top worldwide for visitor spending, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The big question now is whether Dubai’s sustainability initiatives can keep pace with its booming tourism economy—turning glitz into a longer-term, lower-impact model.
Improving U.S.-Iran peace talk signals and RBI actions are easing pressure on the rupee, with hedging costs and volatility expectations dropping sharply. The currency has bounced off its recent low, but a durable turnaround depends on trade and investment inflows. Risks remain as the current account deficit widens and capital flows stay weak.
Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party, alleging the party has deviated from its principles and shifted toward personal interests. He announced his exit alongside MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, signaling they are set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. The move adds to political turmoil within AAP and reshapes the opposition landscape.
India’s economy could keep expanding above 7 percent a year even if crude oil stays elevated at about USD 90–100 per barrel, according to Assocham. The industry group points to historical patterns showing consumption-driven resilience and expects growth to remain strong through 2026–27, despite some global forecasts calling for a slowdown.
US senators have unveiled long-awaited draft legislation to build a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. If enacted, it would clarify which financial regulators oversee the fast-growing sector—an issue that has fueled uncertainty. Supporters say clearer jurisdiction could reduce friction for businesses and investors, potentially accelerating mainstream digital asset adoption.
The Indian Air Force is conducting a two-day emergency preparedness exercise on an airstrip along Uttar Pradesh’s Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur. Fighter jets will carry out touch-and-go operations, effectively treating the expressway corridor as an alternate runway. Security has been tightened and a 12-km stretch of the highway is temporarily closed for traffic to support the drill and boost operational readiness.
Yuan trading is expected to overtake the yen as the world’s second most traded currency against the dollar in foreign-exchange options, LCH says. The change, projected for 2028, points to accelerating yuan internationalization and rising demand for diversification beyond dollar-linked hedging strategies.
Market watchers are bracing for a tougher stretch at HCL Tech after the latest quarterly results missed expectations on both growth and margins. Although the company highlighted new deal wins, investors are questioning their quality and long-term sustainability amid ongoing geopolitical risks. Forward guidance implies results may land near the lower end of projections.
President Donald Trump says Navy Secretary John Phelan was dismissed after conflicts tied to shipbuilding. Phelan, a billionaire with reported ties to Trump, was also described as moving too slowly on reforms. The shakeup comes as tensions with Iran persist despite a ceasefire, with Washington boosting naval assets in the Middle East.
NTPC argues it is building a “bridge” between dependable coal generation and future renewables, insisting the transition won’t happen overnight. The stance raises a pointed question: can a company expanding major coal capacity truly position itself as a clean energy leader, or is it simply prolonging fossil dependence while renewables remain a long-term promise?
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