MUMBAI: A structural shift is reshaping India’s microfinance sector, with regulated lenders displacing informal sources as borrowing from moneylenders fell to 1% in 2024–25 from 46% in 2011, according to a survey by Microfinance Industry Network and National Council of Applied Economic Research.The survey, which covered 10,342 borrowers across 10 states, shows a maturing market…
The Middle East crisis has stretched beyond the one month mark, sending ripples across the globe. While somes nations are hiking fuel prices, others are introducing other measures to cushion consumers from the impact while balancing energy reserves. Pakistan is no stranger to the ongoing energy volitality as the country imports almost 85% of its…
MUMBAI: Credit growth continued to outpace deposit mobilisation for Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India and IDFC FIRST Bank at the end of the March quarter, reflecting sustained loan demand in a tight liquidity environment.Punjab National Bank reported global advances of Rs 12,61,420 crore as of March 31, 2026, up nearly 13% year-onyear, while…
MUMBAI: India’s foreign exchange reserves fell sharply by $10.3 billion in the week ended March 27, 2026, taking the total to $688.1 billion, driven largely by a decline in foreign currency assets and gold holdings amid currency market intervention by RBI.The fall was led by foreign currency assets, which dropped by $6.6 billion. These assets,…
Pakistan will repay a $2 billion loan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the end of this month, a media report said on Friday.“The UAE recently asked for the immediate return of the funds in the wake of the recent situation in the Middle East following the US-Israel war on Iran,” sources told Geo…
MUMBAI: The rupee recorded its strongest recovery in 13 years, rising 173 paise to close at 93.1 from Tuesday’s 94.83, after RBI tightened rules to curb speculative bets and forced a sharp unwinding of dollar positions.However, with a fresh round of US bombing in Iran post market hours, which resulted in global oil prices surging…
MUMBAI: Staging a spirited recovery, stock markets pared early losses to close higher on Thursday, sensex rising by 185 points and Nifty settling above 22,700 on strong value buying in IT and banking shares and a sharp rebound in the rupee.Rebounding more than 2,000 points from the day’s low, sensex finally settled higher by 185…
NEW DELHI: Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran has asked over 30 CEOs and managing directors of group companies to brace for a tougher business environment, as the war in West Asia is disrupting supply chains, sources said.At a review meeting on the war’s implications on Thursday, Chandrasekaran told top executives that more than 10,000 Tata…
NEW DELHI: Russia has offered to increase its supply of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India as the ongoing Middle East crisis adds volatility to the global energy market, reported PTI citing officials familiar with the discussions. The energy cooperation formed a key part of talks on Thursday between Russia’s first deputy…
NEW DELHI: The next six weeks could see at least three of the trade deals finalised by India — with Oman, the UK and New Zealand — being operationalised, even as it seeks to ensure a preferential duty advantage in the US, once Washington finalises its strategy after the Supreme Court setback on reciprocal tariffs.Commerce…
