Business

Gold prices plummeted by Rs 6,004 to Rs 1,47,704 per 10 grams on Thursday, reversing a four-day rally. Intensifying West Asian geopolitical tensions and a strengthened US dollar, following President Trump’s warnings of further action against Iran, dampened investor sentiment. This shift also saw traders fully price out US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts for…

India’s manufacturing sector experienced a slowdown in March, with growth moderating due to rising costs, intense competition, and global uncertainties like the Middle East conflict. While new orders and output saw slower expansion, employment surged, and export demand remained robust, indicating a mixed but resilient industrial landscape.

The Indian rupee rebounded strongly, gaining 151 paise to 93.19 against the US dollar after the Reserve Bank capped banks’ net open positions. Despite this regulatory intervention, underlying pressures from foreign fund outflows, a firming dollar, and high crude oil prices persist, impacting equity markets as well.

India’s digital payments are getting a security boost from April 1 with stricter RBI authentication rules, requiring two-factor verification for all transactions to combat rising fraud. Beyond digital payments, changes affect credit cards, FASTags, RuPay cards, PAN applications, and banking services, alongside a new income tax framework, aiming for a safer financial ecosystem.

Some of the changes affect credit card users, FASTag subscribers, RuPay debit cardholders. Here are some of the key revisions scheduled for implementation from the start of the new financial year.

Asian nations, facing an energy crunch due to Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions, are increasingly turning to Russian oil. Benefiting from US sanction waivers, countries like the Philippines and South Korea are receiving Russian crude and naphtha. This shift offers a vital alternative for energy-starved economies, with more nations potentially following suit…