Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher on Wednesday, extending the previous session’s rally as investor sentiment was buoyed by optimism over the landmark India-EU free trade agreement. The BSE Sensex advanced 487.20 points, or 0.60 per cent, to settle at 82,344.68, while the NSE Nifty rose 167.35 points, or 0.66 per cent, to…
Reintroduce tax holiday for affordable housing with a tweak that the eligibility for affordable housing should be based on size of flat rather than value. (AI image) By Adarsh RankaIndia’s real estate sector continued its strong growth trajectory in 2025, reinforcing its position as a core pillar of the country’s economic expansion.Government-led reforms continued to…
NEW DELHI: Pointing out that the union government’s spending on health has continued to decline in the post-Covid period, as a percentage of GDP and in terms of its share in total expenditure, a network of 350 organisations and individuals have demanded that the health budget be at least doubled this year. A statement issued…
The Maharashtra state government has declared a three day state mourning after the passing away of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The veteran leader of Nationalist Congress Party, died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning in Baramati.Along with Pawar, his personal security officer, an aide, and two crew members comprising the pilot in command…
US stocks edged higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 breaching the 7,000-point mark for the first time, underscoring sustained investor optimism around artificial intelligence, resilient Big Tech earnings prospects and expectations of eventual monetary easing.The benchmark index rose 0.3 per cent, extending gains after its latest record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced…
The rupee on Wednesday depreciated 31 paise to close at an all-time low of 91.99 against the US dollar, marking the second instance in less than a week that the currency has settled at its weakest-ever level, pressured by heightened month-end demand for the greenback and lingering geopolitical concerns, traders said.At the interbank foreign exchange,…
Canada has conveyed its intent to expedite the launch of formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, signalling a reset in bilateral trade engagement after talks were paused in 2023, PTI reported citing an official statement on Wednesday.Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Maninder Sidhu has invited Commerce…
The Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) on Wednesday described the India–European Union free trade agreement as a significant step in India’s global trade engagement, while cautioning that adequate safeguards will be needed to protect domestic stainless steel producers, PTI reported.India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for the FTA earlier this week….
MUMBAI: Star Health and Allied Insurance reported a sharp jump in profitability in the December quarter, with net profit rising more than four-fold, aided by higher premium growth, improved underwriting performance and a surge in investment income.The Chennai-based standalone health insurer posted a profit after tax of Rs 449 crore in the third quarter of…
The Union Budget 2026–27 will be framed against an increasingly fragile global backdrop marked by geopolitical flux, volatile financial markets and a sharp rally in commodities, but India is expected to retain its macro stability with a calibrated fiscal strategy and sustained public investment, according to a pre-Budget assessment by State Bank of India Research.SBI…