New Delhi: Indian and international airlines are increasingly investing in premium cabins as the number of passengers opting for business and first-class travel continues to rise. Companies including Air India, Emirates, and Lufthansa are upgrading interiors, enhancing in-flight services, and expanding business-class seating, with multi-billion-dollar investments aimed at capturing the high-paying traveler segment. Rising Demand for Premium TravelIn recent years, air travel in India has surged, along with the expansion of domestic and international routes. A notable trend has emerged: Indian travelers on overseas flights are increasingly choosing business and first-class over economy. International carriers servicing India are responding by increasing premium seat availability. Accor...

New Delhi: Indian equity markets experienced a sharp downturn on Tuesday, with both BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 plunging significantly. By 12:30 PM, the Sensex had fallen over 1,000 points to 82,274.88, while the Nifty 50 dropped 284.65 points to 25,428.35. The initial hour of trading alone saw nearly ₹2.94 lakh crore wiped off investors’ wealth, reducing the BSE’s total market capitalization to around ₹466 lakh crore. Top 5 Reasons Behind the Fall Heavy Selling in IT StocksMajor IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and HCL Technologies faced intense selling pressure. The trigger was Anthropic’s announcement that its Claude Code tool could help modernize legacy COBOL systems—an older programming language still used in critical infrastructure—raising concern...

Mumbai: Today marks the final day for bidding in the IPO of Delhi-based Gaudium IVF & Women Health, a company dedicated to fertility treatments for childless couples. The ₹165 crore IPO has already attracted over 300% subscription, but the grey market premium (GMP) has declined to 6.33%, prompting questions among investors about whether to subscribe. IPO Price Band and Listing DetailsThe IPO offers equity shares with a face value of ₹5 at a price band of ₹75-79 per share, with one lot consisting of 189 shares. At the upper band of ₹79, the company’s pre-IPO market capitalization stands at ₹575 crore. If all goes as planned, the shares are expected to list on BSE and NSE on 27 February 2026. Grey Market TrendsOn Friday morning, the GMP stood at 0.76%, translating to a premium of ₹...

New Delhi: Indian-American lawyer Neal Katyal is once again in the spotlight for challenging former U.S. President Donald Trump, this time over tariff refunds for businesses affected by Trump’s trade measures. Supreme Court Victory Sparks Questions on RefundsLast Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s tariffs in a historic 6-3 ruling. The court stated that the Trump administration had overstepped its authority, emphasizing that the power to impose taxes lies primarily with Congress. While the ruling delivered a major setback to Trump’s global trade strategy, it also raised questions about compensation for importers and businesses who suffered financial losses due to the tariffs. Task Force for RefundsTo address this, Katyal has now formed a new legal task force to help bu...

New Delhi: Owners of small cars may soon feel the pinch as auto manufacturers prepare for potential price hikes of up to 10%. The increase is linked to the government’s consideration of the new CAFE-3 draft, aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing vehicle emissions. Impact on Small Car MakersThe new draft, currently under review by multiple ministries, is the third version of CAFE-3 in the past two years. Experts warn that if carmakers reduce production of small cars due to stricter regulations, it could affect consumers planning to upgrade from two-wheelers to cars. Automakers will either have to incorporate expensive fuel-saving technologies to meet the new standards or face heavy penalties, which will inevitably raise the cost of small cars. What is CAFE-3?CAFE, or Corp...

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday issued a stern warning to banks, urging them to stop misleading customers into buying insurance and other financial products. She emphasized that banks should concentrate on their core operations—mobilizing deposits and lending—rather than acting as insurance agents. Mis-Selling ConcernsSitharaman highlighted a persistent issue where banks often push insurance products on customers who already have coverage. “Customers ask why they are being sold insurance when they are already pledging their property for a home loan,” she said. She added that regulatory gaps had contributed to the problem, with RBI assuming insurance matters fell under IRDAI, and vice versa. The finance minister welcomed the RBI’s recent guidelines on mis-sell...

The name Amish Mehta, CEO and MD of CRISIL, one of India’s leading credit rating agencies, is now synonymous with resilience and leadership. Taking charge of the company in 2021 during a challenging phase, Mehta has guided CRISIL to new heights, turning its fortunes around. A Remarkable TurnaroundWhen Mehta assumed leadership, CRISIL faced multiple hurdles. Yet, under his stewardship, the agency’s revenue grew from ₹1,982 crore in FY2020 to ₹3,260 crore by December 2024, while profits increased from ₹355 crore to ₹684 crore. The company’s market capitalization soared from ₹13,949 crore in December 2021 to ₹33,664 crore, reflecting a striking transformation. Humble Roots, Early StrugglesMehta’s story is far removed from corporate privilege. He grew up in the cramped lanes of Matunga, ...

The domestic stock market continued its upward momentum for the second consecutive session on Monday, with investors showing renewed enthusiasm following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling declaring President Donald Trump’s tariffs illegal. Markets SurgeDuring intraday trading, the BSE Sensex jumped nearly 670 points, eventually closing with a gain of 480 points at 83,294.66. Similarly, the NSE Nifty rose 142 points to 25,713. Top MoversAmong Sensex constituents, Adani Ports recorded the highest gains, climbing nearly 3%. Other major gainers included Kotak Mahindra Bank, UltraTech Cement, Axis Bank, Hindustan Unilever, HDFC Bank, Power Grid, SBI, Bharti Airtel, Titan, and Mahindra & Mahindra. On the other hand, Infosys witnessed the sharpest decline, while Tech Mahindra, Trent, H...

The United States is facing a worsening debt crisis, with government obligations reaching unprecedented levels. The Supreme Court has recently ruled President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on various countries as illegal, raising concerns over the country’s fiscal stability. Rising Debt and Social Security BurdenThe federal government’s debt has now crossed $37 trillion. Spending on Social Security programs for seniors has reached a record 9.4% of GDP, up from around 6% in the 1980s—a 56% increase over the past four decades. Analysts predict this could rise further to 11% of GDP in the next ten years. The surge in expenditure is primarily driven by rising healthcare costs and an aging population. With life expectancy approaching 80 years, retirees are drawing benefits for longer ...