New Delhi: After five consecutive days of declines, IT stocks bounced back today, lifting domestic markets sharply. Early trading saw the BSE Sensex rise over 700 points, while the Nifty 50 gained more than 200 points, adding roughly ₹3 lakh crore to the market capitalization of BSE-listed companies. The previous session had seen heavy losses, with the Sensex falling 1,069 points and the Nifty dropping 288 points. Today, the rally was primarily driven by IT sector gains after a multi-day selloff. Market Performance By 11:30 AM, the Sensex was trading at 82,761.06, up 535.14 points (0.65%), while the Nifty reached 25,616, up 191.35 points (0.75%). Among Sensex constituents, HCL Tech, Tata Steel, and Infosys led the gains, whereas Eternal, SBI, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ITC, and Asian Pa...

Bengaluru: Citizens in Bengaluru are facing an unusual cash crunch as ATMs across the city report severe shortages. Residents are moving from one ATM to another but are often unable to withdraw sufficient cash. Even ₹500 notes, which form the backbone of daily transactions, have become increasingly difficult to find. According to The Economic Times, banks in the city are struggling to meet the surge in demand. While cash is still arriving at banks, the sudden spike in withdrawals has left many ATMs understocked, with only limited cash being dispensed. Rising Cash Withdrawals Bankers report that cash withdrawals from current and overdraft accounts have increased sharply, especially among businesses in construction, property development, and government civic projects, where salaries...

New Delhi: Gold and silver prices witnessed a significant rise today on the MCX. Silver jumped over ₹7,000 per kg, while gold increased by more than ₹1,100 per 10 grams in early trading. Silver Prices Silver for 5 March delivery closed at ₹2,60,744 per kg in the previous session. Today, it opened at ₹2,65,944 and surged to a high of ₹2,67,990 in early trades, marking a gain of over ₹7,246. At 9:30 AM, silver was trading at ₹2,66,353, up ₹5,609. Gold Prices Gold for 2 April delivery closed at ₹1,59,969 per 10 grams in the previous session and opened today at ₹1,60,977. Early trading saw prices climb above ₹1,61,072, up over ₹1,100. By 9:30 AM, gold was trading at ₹1,60,612 per 10 grams, up ₹643. International Trends Globally, gold gained 0.5%, reaching $5,174.76 per ounce....

New Delhi: Retail investors now have a chance to buy shares of Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) at a discounted price as the government plans a stake sale via the Offer for Sale (OFS) route. IRFC, a Navratna company under the Ministry of Railways, reported a record profit in the last quarter. The OFS will open for non-retail investors on Wednesday, while retail bidding will be allowed on Thursday, according to Arunesh Chawla, Secretary of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management. The government is offering 2% equity in this sale, with an additional 2% Green Shoe option. The floor price has been set at ₹104 per share, compared to the previous session’s closing of ₹109.40 on the BSE. The stock’s 52-week high and low are ₹148.90 and ₹108.05, respectively. Throug...

New Delhi: The Trump administration has significantly raised tariffs on solar imports from India, imposing an initial duty of 126%. This move comes amid allegations that India provided unfair subsidies to its solar manufacturing sector. According to The Economic Times, the decision is aimed at protecting American manufacturers but could increase the cost of clean energy projects in the United States. The U.S. Department of Commerce has also imposed initial duties ranging from 86% to 143% on solar imports from Indonesia and 81% from Laos. The administration claims these countries have benefited from government subsidies, allowing their solar products to be sold in the U.S. at prices far below domestic producers. The increased tariffs are intended to level the playing field and support U....

New Delhi: The Marwari community in India is widely recognized for its business acumen. Known for quietly building wealth without ostentation, Marwari entrepreneurs have developed investment principles that focus on discipline, patience, and capital preservation. Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik highlights seven key traits that underpin this long-standing financial wisdom. 1. Capital Preservation Comes First Unlike most investors chasing high returns, Marwaris prioritize protecting their capital. Before seeking growth, they ask whether their investments can survive a prolonged economic downturn. Emergency funds are untouchable, and business and personal finances are kept strictly separate. Only surplus funds are deployed into riskier ventures—a strategy that acknowledges that losse...

New Delhi: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is planning a major overhaul in the way it invests members’ funds, aiming to reduce market-related risks. Instead of allocating money across five separate schemes, EPFO will now pool funds into a single shared fund and invest collectively. Additionally, large investments will be made annually rather than monthly, shielding members’ money from short-term market fluctuations. According to The Economic Times, the final approval for these changes could come in the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) meeting scheduled for March 2. However, announcements regarding interest rates for the financial year 2025-26 are not expected during this session. Since 2015, EPFO has allocated 5–15% of new earnings into exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ...

New Delhi: Vineeta Singh, former judge on Shark Tank India, is the co-founder and CEO of Sugar Cosmetics, a premium beauty brand that has captured the hearts of Indian women. Despite being offered a lucrative ₹1 crore job at the age of 23, Vineeta chose the uncertain path of entrepreneurship—and today, her company is valued at ₹4,000 crore. Born in 1983 in Anand, Gujarat, Vineeta grew up in a highly educated household. Her mother held a PhD, while her father was a biophysicist at AIIMS. Excelling academically from an early age, she completed her schooling at Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, followed by a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. At just 23, she received an offer from an investment bank with a salary of ₹1 crore—but Vineeta decide...