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…
India only safeguarded its domestic industries against flooding which happens from a “predator”, the Finance Minister said. File | Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) said global trade is increasingly “getting weaponised” through tariffs and other measures, and India will have to negotiate its way carefully. She said…
Image used for representational purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters The rupee witnessed high volatility in early trade on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), as support from easing crude oil prices was offset by uncertainty over the India-U.S. trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows. Forex traders said the key driver of rupee weakness in December…
Image used for representational purpose only. File | Photo Credit: PTI Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded in early trade on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) driven by value buying at lower levels and a positive trend in Asian markets. Steady buying activity by domestic institutional investors also brought comfort to the markets, according to experts….
The 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange index, Sensex and the 50-share National Stock Exchange Nifty declined during stock market closing on December 16, 2025. File | Photo Credit: PTI Benchmark Sensex tumbled 533.50 points and the broader Nifty declined to the 25,860 level on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) as persistent foreign fund outflows, a weak rupee…
In FY25, India produced 1.05 billion tonne of coal. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Overall coal production in India rose 2.06% in November when assessed with the comparable period last year, although it fell slightly short of the stipulated target for the month, according to provisional data from the Coal Ministry. Essential to note, power…
The prices have dropped in all the major sugar producing States. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters Sugar production from October 1, 2025 to December 15 saw 28 % increase compared with the same period in 2024. According to the Indian Sugar and Bioenergy Manufacturers Association, sugar production touched 78.25 lakh tonnes in the first 75…
Union Minister Piyush Goyal speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Winter session of Parliament, on December 16, 2025. Photo: Sansad TV via PTI Marine exports have seen a 20% growth in the past few months despite the imposition of anti-dumping duty by various countries, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday (December 16, 2025)….
