| Photo Credit: iStockphoto While gold and silver have been making headlines with soaring prices, platinum has quietly surged to an 18-year high as investors bet on precious metals to hedge against falling currencies. Platinum, a key precious metal, ruled at $1,975 an ounce in the global market at 1320 hours IST. In the futures…
Image used for representational purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters The rupee traded in a narrow range against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Thursday (December 18, 2025) as the support from fresh foreign fund inflows was negated by trade deal uncertainty and risk-off sentiment. Forex traders said lack of progress in the India-U.S….
Representational image of immigration counters at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru | Photo Credit: G.P. Sampath Kumar The government on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) said it has simplified and streamlined the process for domestic companies to seek e-visas for foreign professionals, including engineers and technical experts, whose services are required for machine installation, quality checks, training…
Image used for representational purpose only | Photo Credit: PTI Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty edged lower in early trade on Thursday (December 18, 2025) tracking a weak trend in global markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 214.87 points to 84,344.78 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 56.1 points to 25,762.45. From…
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Wednesday invited bids for the first round of allocation of gold import quota under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) for 2025-26. | Photo Credit: AJAY VERMA The directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) on Wednesday said it has invited bids for the first round of…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) revised the total expense ratio charged by mutual funds, reviewed the two-decade-old brokerage regulations, and proposed to discuss public comments on the high-level committee (HLC) regarding its report on conflict of interest. The markets regulator, in its board meeting, also announced measures for…
Stock markets declined for the third consecutive day on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), with the benchmark Sensex closing lower by 120 points at a week’s low due to relentless foreign fund outflows. The 30-share BSE Sensex edged lower by 120.21 points or 0.14% to settle at 84,559.65. During the day, it dropped 263.88 points or…
Image used for representational purposes. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto The quality of microfinance loans has been improving since December 2024, with the ratio of delinquencies falling steadily since then and coming in at a four-quarter low in the September 2025 quarter, according to the latest Quarterly Microfinance Report by microfinance self-regulatory body Sa-Dhan. For…
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. File. | Photo Credit: PTI Confirming that India and Oman will be signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Thursday (December 18, 2025), Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the FTA offers “immense opportunities” in a number of sectors, including textiles, footwear, automobiles, gems and jewellery, renewable energy, and auto…
The rupee recovered 55 paise from its all-time low level to close at 90.38 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar after a volatile trade on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), amid suspected aggressive central bank intervention. Analysts said the rupee’s recent fall against the U.S. dollar was primarily driven by external factors, not domestic economic weakness, and…
