Business

New Delhi: Following the recent 25 basis points cut in the repo rate by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country’s largest government bank, State Bank of India (SBI), has reduced interest rates across its loan portfolio. The move is expected to make borrowing cheaper for both retail and corporate customers, resulting in lower EMIs. SBI Reduces Key Lending RatesSBI has cut interest rates on all its major loan benchmarks, including MCLR (Marginal Cost of Funds-Based Lending Rate), EBLR (External Benchmark Lending Rate), and RLLR (Repo-Linked Lending Rate). The bank has also revised its BPLR and base rates, ensuring that the recent RBI rate cut benefits borrowers immediately. Here’s how MCLR rates have changed: Overnight & 1-month MCLR: 7.90% → 7.85% 3-month MCLR: 8.30% →...

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has released the official trading holiday calendar for 2026, revealing a notable surprise for investors: there will be no full market closure on Diwali, as the festival falls on a Sunday this year. For traders and market participants, knowing the holiday schedule is crucial for portfolio planning, derivatives strategies, and liquidity management. 2026 Trading Holidays Overview In 2026, equity, equity derivatives, and currency derivatives markets will remain closed for a total of 15 days. Key holidays include: 26 January: Republic Day 3 March: Holi 26 March: Ram Navami 31 March: Mahavir Jayanti 3 April: Good Friday 14 April: Ambedkar Jayanti 1 May: Maharashtra Day 28 May: Bakri-Eid Other notable closures are: 26 June: ...

China has emerged as the world’s leading trading powerhouse, reaching an unprecedented $1 trillion trade surplus for the first time in history. Despite U.S. tariffs under former President Donald Trump, China has demonstrated remarkable resilience, expanding exports to multiple global markets and securing its dominance as the top trading partner for 80 countries, including India. From Parity to Global Leadership In the early 1990s, India and China had comparable economies and per capita incomes. Today, China’s economy is nearly four times larger than India’s, with per capita income far higher. Over the past three decades, China has transformed from a low-income agrarian society into the world’s second-largest economy, leveraging industrial policy, mass manufacturing, and export-led gr...

The period from 2020 to 2025 proved to be one of the most lucrative five-year spans in India’s stock market history, generating substantial wealth for investors. However, it was also a time of significant losses for some, highlighting the high-risk, high-reward nature of equities. Top Wealth Creators According to a recent study by Motilal Oswal, India’s top 100 wealth-creating companies delivered exceptional returns, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38%—well above the Sensex’s 21% CAGR during the same period. Leading the pack was Bharti Airtel, which added ₹7.9 lakh crore to its market value over five years. ICICI Bank followed closely with a market value increase of ₹7.4 lakh crore. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) itself was among the fastest wealth creators, del...

In a landmark initiative aimed at expanding financial inclusion, India’s rural and semi-urban population can now invest in mutual funds directly through post offices. The move comes after the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Posts on Friday, enabling millions of people in Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns to access mutual fund investment opportunities. Bringing Mutual Funds Closer to Rural India Traditionally, the benefits of the stock market and mutual fund investments have been largely restricted to urban populations. Rural participation has been limited due to lack of awareness and access. With this partnership, post offices—India’s most extensive physical network—will act as distributors of mutual fund products, helping bridge th...

Bridging the Wealth Gap: How Life for India’s Poor Has Improved Over the Last Decade While India’s richest 1% still hold nearly 40% of the nation’s wealth, recent data shows that the gap between the rich and the poor has narrowed in several key aspects over the past decade. The country’s rapid economic growth and targeted policy interventions have enabled millions of lower-income households to access goods and services that were once considered luxuries. Vehicles in Rural and Urban Households About ten years ago, fewer than one in ten of India’s poorest rural families owned a bicycle, scooter, or car. Today, nearly half of these households have at least one vehicle. Urban areas show an even higher rate of vehicle ownership. Comparing the top 20% and bottom 40% of households by veh...

Shares of A-1 Limited, a Gujarat-based chemical trading and logistics company (BSE: 542012), surged to the upper circuit on Friday after the company announced a significant supply agreement, reversing a prolonged spell of lower circuit closures since November 28. Earlier known as A-1 Acid Limited, the company had faced consecutive days of lower circuit limits, reflecting subdued investor sentiment. However, the market responded sharply to Friday’s announcement, pushing the stock up by ₹177.05 to hit its upper circuit of ₹1,864.05, marking a 10% intraday gain from its opening price of ₹1,686.55. The Supply Agreement A-1 Limited disclosed that it has signed a tripartite supply agreement to provide 10,000 tons of concentrated nitric acid for industrial use between November 2025 and M...

Amid rising inflation in the United States, several American lawmakers have called for the removal of tariffs imposed on Indian goods. The US had earlier levied a 50% tariff on products from India, including an additional 25% “secondary” tariff targeting imports linked to India’s continued purchase of oil from Russia. Three members of the US House of Representatives—Deborah Ross, Marc Veasey, and Raja Krishnamoorthi—have introduced a proposal challenging the 25% secondary tariff imposed on August 27, 2025. The proposal seeks to utilise powers granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to reverse the additional costs imposed on imports from India. Impact on US Businesses and Consumers The lawmakers highlighted that the tariffs have significantly increased...

The ongoing crisis at IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is beginning to reshape the competitive landscape of the aviation sector. As thousands of IndiGo flights have been cancelled in recent weeks—causing widespread disruption for passengers—the Tata Group–owned Air India Group is reportedly moving to seize the opportunity. However, this strategy has triggered growing anxiety and opposition among pilots of Air India Express. According to a report by The Times of India, the Air India Group has issued recruitment advertisements for experienced Airbus A320 captains, a move widely seen as an attempt to attract talent amid IndiGo’s operational difficulties. While the step may strengthen the group’s capacity in the long run, it has raised serious concerns internally, particularly among A320 pi...

In a major reform aimed at expanding insurance coverage across the country, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved a Bill allowing 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector. The proposed legislation, which is likely to be introduced in Parliament during the ongoing Winter Session, marks a significant step in India’s long-term financial sector reforms. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the proposal in her Budget speech earlier this year, outlining the government’s plan to raise the FDI cap in insurance from the existing 74% to 100%. The move is intended to accelerate sectoral growth, improve ease of doing business, and strengthen policyholder protection. Expanding Insurance Reach The primary objective of the reform is to deepen insurance penetration...