Business

New Delhi: U.S. President Donald Trump recently unveiled an ambitious plan to ramp up oil production in Venezuela, proposing a massive $100 billion investment from major American and European oil companies. However, the response from industry leaders was lukewarm, raising questions about the feasibility of Trump’s strategy. Industry Skepticism During a meeting on Friday, executives from leading oil companies expressed serious reservations about Venezuela’s long-term stability. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods reportedly told officials that doing business in Venezuela is extremely challenging. Following the potential departure of President Nicolas Maduro, the country faces significant political and operational uncertainty, which could persist for years. Woods highlighted that Venezuela hol...

New Delhi: In 2025, Mumbai firmly established itself as India’s largest residential real estate market, according to the latest report by Knight Frank India. The city also recorded the second-highest office leasing activity in the past decade, highlighting its continued dominance in both residential and commercial real estate. Office Leasing Performance The report, India Real Estate: Office and Residential Market, July–December 2025 (H2 2025), reveals that 9.8 million sq. ft. of office space was leased in Mumbai during 2025. While this marks a 5% decline compared to 2024, it still represents the second-strongest annual leasing performance in the last ten years. In the second half of 2025 alone, 4.3 million sq. ft. of office space was leased. Residential Market Trends In the res...

In recent years, central banks—including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)—have been actively increasing gold reserves while simultaneously reducing their holdings in US Treasury bonds. Policy changes under US President Donald Trump have also prompted several countries to rethink their foreign reserve strategies. RBI Cuts US Treasury Exposure New Delhi: The RBI’s investment in US Treasury bonds has fallen below $200 billion. According to a report by Economic Times, India is not alone—several other nations have also reduced their US Treasury holdings. As of October 2025, the RBI held $190 billion in US Treasuries, $50.7 billion less than the same period last year. Meanwhile, the RBI increased its gold reserves, signaling a strategic shift in managing foreign exchange reserves. As per...

The Indian Railways, the nation’s lifeline, is undergoing a major transformation, with new Vande Bharat trains, upcoming sleeper Vande Bharat services, and modernized railway stations. In a historic step, the Railway Ministry has announced a significant change in staff uniforms, signaling the end of colonial-era attire. Colonial Black Coats to Be Retired Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Friday that the black closed-collar coats, introduced during British rule, will no longer be part of the formal dress for railway employees. “We need to remove every symbol of colonial legacy,” he said. “It is not just about uniforms; we must rid ourselves of the colonial mindset in our thinking and working methods.” According to a Times of India report, Vaishnaw added, “Today, I make...

The initial public offering (IPO) of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, received an overwhelming response from investors on the very first day. The IPO was oversubscribed more than eight times, highlighting strong interest from both retail and non-institutional investors. Record Demand on Day One Mumbai: When BCCL’s IPO opened at 10 AM on Friday, all shares were fully subscribed within just half an hour. By the end of the first day at 5 PM, the IPO had received an 8.08 times subscription, reflecting extraordinary investor enthusiasm. Retail and Big Investors Join the Race BCCL had put 34.69 crore shares on sale. However, bids were placed for nearly 280 crore shares, indicating massive demand. Both retail investors (RIIs) and non-institutional...

December brought a mixed picture for India’s mutual fund industry. While equity mutual fund investments fell, Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows reached an all-time high, reflecting continued investor confidence. Equity Mutual Fund Investments Drop New Delhi: Volatility in the stock market led to a 6% decline in equity mutual fund inflows in December, which totaled ₹28,054 crore. Despite this, retail investors set a new record through SIPs, contributing ₹31,000 crore, up from ₹29,445 crore in November. According to AMFI data, the industry’s total assets under management (AUM) fell from ₹80.80 lakh crore in November to ₹80.23 lakh crore in December, primarily due to large-scale withdrawals from debt schemes. SIP Investments Continue to Shine Anand Rathi Wealth’s Joint CEO,...

Digital fraud in India is rising at an alarming pace, prompting warnings from RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra. He emphasized that this issue has become a nationwide challenge and urged all stakeholders to work together to curb it. Banks Must Follow Rules in Letter and Spirit Addressing a program in Mumbai on Friday, Governor Malhotra urged banks and financial institutions not to treat regulations as mere formalities. “It is essential to understand the true purpose and intent behind the rules,” he said. Highlighting the risks of digital banking, he warned that lack of proper security, hidden charges, incomplete customer information, and unethical loan recovery practices could cause serious harm. Collaboration and Technology Are Key Governor Malhotra stressed that while digitalizati...

When we think of salt, the image of plain, white granules often comes to mind. But in the hills of Uttarakhand, Shashi Bahuguna Raturi is redefining how people see this humble ingredient. Famous as the “Namakwali”, Shashi has turned finely ground Himalayan salt into a thriving business that now earns millions of rupees annually and reaches customers abroad. From Kitchen Hobby to Global Brand Shashi’s love for traditional hill cuisine inspired her entrepreneurial journey. With the support of her son, she launched her venture in 2018. According to her younger son Suvendu, “Many local women used to grind salt at home and share it freely. We called her ‘Namakwali.’ At 58, we decided to turn our mother into a businesswoman. We asked these women to make the most of their kitchen mortars an...

India’s foreign exchange reserves suffered a major setback in the first week of the new year, falling by $9.809 billion after four consecutive weeks of growth. Sharp Decline in Forex Reserves Mumbai: The new year began with a jolt for India’s foreign exchange reserves. During the week ending January 2, 2026, the country’s reserves declined by $9.809 billion, reversing the previous week’s gain of $3.29 billion. The total reserves now stand at $686.801 billion. For context, India’s reserves had previously reached a record high of $704.885 billion during the week ending September 27, 2024. Foreign Currency Assets Fall Significantly Data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicates that India’s Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs) saw a sharp drop of $7.622 billion in the same w...

The United States may impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports from India, China, and Brazil, particularly targeting countries purchasing Russian oil. However, China could again receive preferential treatment, highlighting the starkly different approaches the U.S. is taking toward India and China. India, China, and U.S.: A Divergent Approach New Delhi: U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed a bill allowing the United States to impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries buying Russian oil, including India, China, and Brazil. Following the news, Indian stock markets experienced a sharp decline. Analysts warn that such high tariffs could make exporting goods to the U.S. nearly impossible for India. However, experts point out that India is likely to feel the brunt of these measures mo...