India has emerged as the leading developing economy in offering duty-free market access to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), outpacing both China and the European Union, according to the latest report by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO has credited India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme for significantly boosting exports from the world’s poorest nations,…
India’s eight core infrastructure sectors posted a 3% year-on-year growth in September 2025, up from 2.4% in September 2024, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. While the pace marks a slowdown from August’s revised 6.5%, the improvement over last year reflects resilience in key segments like steel, cement, electricity, and…
In a major Diwali-season boost for gold investors, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the early redemption price for the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2020–21 Series-VII, offering a staggering 153% return over five years. Investors who subscribed to this tranche in October 2020 at ₹5,051 per gram can now redeem their holdings at…
In a sharp reversal of sentiment, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and Mutual Funds (MFs) have significantly reduced their stake in at least seven smallcap stocks during the second quarter of FY26, triggering a steep correction in their share prices—some plunging as much as 60%. The selloff reflects a broader trend of profit booking, valuation concerns,…
India’s two largest private sector lenders—HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank—delivered their Q2 FY26 earnings over the weekend, but their share prices moved in opposite directions on October 21, 2025. While HDFC Bank shares surged 1.75% to ₹1,020 apiece, ICICI Bank shares declined 2.57% to ₹1,399.65. The divergence has sparked investor curiosity, especially as both banks…
Even as gold prices soar to an unprecedented $4,321 per ounce in October 2025, legendary investor Warren Buffett remains unmoved. The 93-year-old chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, often dubbed the “Oracle of Omaha,” has once again reiterated his long-standing aversion to investing in gold, emphasizing that the yellow metal, despite its meteoric rise, remains…
Amid global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, has reaffirmed that the Indian stock market remains a safe bet on a medium-term basis, driven by strong domestic fundamentals, policy continuity, and resilient corporate earnings. Speaking on October 19, 2025, Nair emphasized that while short-term volatility may persist…
In a poignant moment for India’s financial history, the Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE)—one of the country’s oldest bourses—is set to celebrate its final Diwali and Kali Puja as a functioning exchange on October 20, 2025, before formally shutting down operations. Founded in 1908, the CSE once rivalled the Bombay Stock Exchange in trading volumes and…
Amid rising concerns over US credit losses, trade tensions, and rate volatility, global banks and financial institutions are increasingly turning to India’s financial services sector as a safe and scalable investment destination. According to Bloomberg data compiled in October 2025, over $15 billion worth of deals have been struck this year involving Indian banks, NBFCs,…
In a transformative move for India’s financial services sector, Dubai-based Emirates NBD Bank PJSC has announced its decision to acquire a 60% controlling stake in RBL Bank Ltd. through a $3 billion (₹26,850 crore) preferential share issue. The deal, confirmed on October 19, 2025, marks the largest-ever foreign direct investment (FDI) in an Indian private…
