Stock markets rally as RBI cuts rate; Sensex jumps 447 points

Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied on Friday after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut key benchmark interest rate for the first time in six months and took steps to boost liquidity to support a “goldilocks” economy

Auto: ‘After E20, India should now focus on flex fuel’

As of now, no firm has launched a flex-fuel vehicle in India, as these models are more expensive than comparable petrol-run vehicles. IMAGE: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri launches ‘Ethanol-100’, at Indian Oil Retail Outlet.

How insurers stand to gain from GST rate cut

The exemption of individual life and health insurance premiums from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) enables the insurance industry to make products affordable and attractive, said Ajay Seth, chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) at

Tax forms for charitable institutions set for overhaul

As the new Income Tax (I-T) Act, 2025 moves towards implementation from April 1, 2026, the finance ministry is reviewing and simplifying the compliance forms used by charitable institutions. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Debjyoti Das, principal chief commissioner of income tax

Sensex climbs over 158 points on buying in tech and IT shares

Snapping the four-day losing run, benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded on Thursday on buying in tech and IT shares. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters The 30-share BSE Sensex edged higher by 158.51 points or 0.19 per cent to settle at

Fitch ups India’s FY’26 GDP growth forecast to 7.4%

Fitch Ratings on Thursday raised India’s GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal to 7.4 per cent, from 6.9 per cent, on increased consumer spending and improved sentiment boosted by GST reforms. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters It said falling inflation gives

Why Rupee Depreciation Should Not Be Resisted

In this domestic and global context, calibrated depreciation will help rebalance external fundamentals, offset some of the tariff differentials with competitors, improve the competitiveness of domestic substitutes vis-à-vis Chinese imports, points out Sajjid Z Chinoy. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Last week’s

Rupee touches Rs 90 a dollar for first time in early trade

The rupee breached the 90-a-dollar level for the first time to settle at a fresh all-time low of 90.15 on Wednesday, down 19 paise from its previous close, amid sustained foreign fund outflows and higher crude oil prices. Uncertainty over

Sensex dips 31 points amid relentless foreign fund outflows

Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower in a largely range-bound trade on Wednesday amid persistent foreign fund outflows and profit-taking by investors. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Falling for the fourth day in a row, the 30-share BSE Sensex

With firefighting behind them, insurers can now shift gears and focus on growth

Recent years have been turbulent for the insurance industry due to direct and indirect tax reforms, regulatory overhaul and other external pressures. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh The events cumulatively slowed growth rate to single digits from the high teens seen earlier.