The Economic Times

Nations are discussing an extension for the e-commerce moratorium. India may end its opposition to prolonging the agreement. The US seeks a permanent ban on tariffs for digital trade. Businesses need predictability for cross-border digital commerce. This WTO meeting is a crucial test for the organization's relevance amid global trade challenges.

India's economic growth forecast of 7-7.4% for 2026-27 faces considerable downside risk due to the West Asia conflict, according to Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran. The ongoing war threatens inflation, fiscal deficit, and external balances, necessitating reprioritized spending and enhanced preparedness.

Indian investments in Azerbaijan saw strong growth in 2025. Investments reached $56.047 million, a rise of 29.8 percent. Over the past decade, total Indian investments in Azerbaijan have climbed substantially. This trend highlights a growing economic partnership. Azerbaijan also assisted in repatriating Indians from Iran. No direct investments from Azerbaijan into India were recorded.

India has strongly opposed the China-led Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement. Minister Piyush Goyal stated its incorporation into the WTO framework risks undermining foundational principles. India stood alone on this contentious issue at the WTO ministerial conference in Cameroon. The agreement would only be binding on signatory members. India remains open to comprehensive discussions on WTO reform.

India backs World Trade Organization talks to limit fishing subsidies. The nation stresses that developing countries and small fishermen must not be unfairly impacted. India highlights its own sustainable fishing practices and conservation efforts. The goal is to protect marine resources and livelihoods through equitable decisions.

A significant agreement on digital trade rules is moving forward. Several World Trade Organization members have decided to implement the pact among themselves. This move aims to create a more open environment for digital commerce globally. The decision comes after previous attempts to adopt the agreement were blocked. This development marks a crucial step towards establishing international digital trade standards.

India's economic growth faces challenges. Higher energy costs and supply disruptions from the Middle East conflict pose risks. The government's economic report highlights these concerns. The current account deficit is expected to worsen. Targeted relief is needed for affected businesses and households. The Indian rupee has weakened amid these pressures. Clearer growth prospects will emerge from April and May data.

Foreign investors sold Indian shares worth over Rs 1.27 lakh crore in March. This marks the worst month for such outflows. Global tensions and a weakening rupee fueled this trend. Investors are also pulling out from other Asian markets. The situation may improve if West Asian hostilities cease and crude prices fall. Indian markets saw significant drops on Friday.

A significant rift has emerged at the WTO ministerial conference in Cameroon over the e-commerce moratorium on customs duties, with the US advocating for a permanent extension while India and other developing nations resist due to revenue and policy concerns.

Indian markets experienced a significant downturn this week, with the Nifty losing over 1.28% and breaching key support levels. Volatility surged as the India VIX climbed, indicating heightened investor caution. While Indian equities showed resilience against global peers, the near-term trend appears weak, suggesting a cautious approach and focus on capital preservation for the upcoming trading sessions.

Indian stock markets faced a sharp decline in March. Geopolitical tensions and rising energy prices impacted investor sentiment. Financials, auto, and consumer stocks saw significant drops. Analysts suggest caution and disciplined risk management. The Nifty and Bank Nifty experienced substantial losses. Investors are advised to monitor key support and resistance levels closely.

Markets are experiencing sharp swings due to global tensions. Experts advise against selling, suggesting this is a time to buy in small parts. Investors should deploy capital gradually over the next few months. Crude supply disruptions will impact corporate earnings in the coming quarter. Volatility is expected to remain high in the near term.

Indian markets face continued downward pressure as technical signals suggest a bearish trend. Analysts highlight that every rise is being sold, with Nifty potentially breaking 22,450 and heading towards 22,000. Global factors and currency concerns are weighing heavily. However, select stocks like Coal India show relative strength, while Ather Energy presents a buying opportunity and BDL is flagged for shorting.

E-marketplace Rentomojo Limited has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus with Sebi for an Initial Public Offering (IPO), aiming to raise Rs 150 crore through fresh equity issuance. The company, a leader in the home furniture and appliance rental segment, plans to utilize the proceeds for debt repayment, lease rentals, and general corporate purposes.

Bitcoin is trading near $66,000, stuck in a range for 50 days. The cryptocurrency market saw a dip of nearly 3% in the last 24 hours. Major altcoins also experienced declines. This weakness is linked to rising Treasury yields and global geopolitical tensions. Experts suggest a sell-on-rise phase unless Bitcoin and Ethereum reclaim key levels.

However, despite the overall slump, six stocks bucked the trend, delivering gains in the range of 20105% over the same period. We also highlighted three newly added stocks in the December 2025 quarter, including Inox, WeWork Management, and Midwest. (Data Source: ACE Equity, Trendlyne)

Online rental platform Rentomojo Ltd has filed preliminary papers with Sebi for an IPO, aiming to raise funds through a fresh issue of Rs 150 crore and an offer-for-sale. The company plans to use the proceeds for debt repayment, warehouse expenses, and general corporate needs. Rentomojo is a leading player in the organized online rental segment for furniture and appliances.

The primary market anticipates a quiet week with no new IPOs. Focus shifts to the listing of Coal India's subsidiary, CMPDI, on Monday. Six companies, including three mainboard and three SME issues, are set to debut. Emiac Technologies' SME IPO continues bidding until Wednesday, while Sai Parenteral and Powerica are expected to list on Thursday.

India has said discussions on including plurilateral agreements within the World Trade Organization framework should move forward only with consensus and proper safeguards to protect non-participating members.

Amidst global market volatility, legendary investors like Warren Buffett offer timeless wisdom. Key traits include independent thinking, emotional discipline, and a long-term perspective. Embracing discomfort, continuous learning, and focusing on quality businesses are crucial. These simple yet powerful qualities, not complex strategies, define success in investing, emphasizing temperament over environment.

Geopolitical shocks like the West Asian conflict can unsettle markets, but history shows resilience. For India, managing oil price spikes and inflation is key. Investors should stick to disciplined plans, rebalancing portfolios and upgrading quality during dips. Long-term growth remains the focus, urging calm, liquidity, and discipline.

GIFT City is transforming global investing for Indians and attracting foreign capital. Its unique IFSC structure offers a unified regulatory framework. NRIs and foreign investors find investing in India simpler with relaxed compliance and tax norms. The city is rapidly scaling as a financial hub, providing regulatory comfort and a stable environment for capital allocation.

Geopolitical tensions have impacted India's housing market, with sales dipping 7% sequentially in Q1 2026, despite a 7% annual rise. New launches outpaced sales, leading to a 4% quarterly increase in unsold inventory. While developers remain confident, global uncertainties and rising costs are affecting buyer sentiment and investment, particularly from Middle Eastern buyers.

Middle East conflict sent oil prices soaring, impacting Indian markets. While valuations have cooled to fair levels, analysts caution against aggressive buying. The market remains fragile, with a durable bottom yet to be confirmed. Investors are advised to adopt a staggered or wait-and-watch approach, as the situation hinges on the war's duration and its effect on India's economy.

India's investment landscape is shifting as investors from smaller towns increasingly drive growth. Digital penetration in these 'Bharat' cities is expanding the investor base significantly. Platforms are adapting product design and education for this new cohort. This trend is set to redefine wealth management and boost India's investor numbers substantially over the next decade.

India's metabolic therapy market is transforming post-semaglutide patent expiry, shifting to a competitive, volume-driven model. With significant price drops and increased launches, demand is surging among millions needing obesity management. Broader specialist adoption and a growing prescriber base are fueling this expansion, promising substantial market growth.

Global markets are ending a turbulent first quarter. War in Iran has significantly impacted stocks and energy prices. Investors are bracing for more volatility with upcoming U.S. jobs data and South Korean trade figures. Euro zone inflation is also expected to rise, potentially pressuring the European Central Bank. The coming week promises crucial economic indicators and continued market uncertainty.

Stock markets are bracing for a volatile week, with investors closely watching the ongoing Iran conflict's impact on oil prices and inflation. A crucial U.S. jobs report is due, with expectations for a positive number after recent weakness. Rising Treasury yields are also pressuring equity valuations, as concerns about AI and credit markets persist.

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi held a productive call discussing the West Asia conflict, the White House said. The talks marked their first conversation since the crisis began. According to a The New York Times report, Elon Musk also joined the call, an unusual move for a private individual during discussions between two heads of state. It remains unclear why he was included or whether he spoke.

Bank of America has agreed to pay 72.5 million dollars to settle a lawsuit. Women accused the bank of facilitating their abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. The settlement avoids a trial. Lawyers for the women stated the deal offers financial relief. Bank of America said the resolution allows them to move past the matter. This follows earlier settlements with other banks.

U.S. stocks plunged Friday, with major indexes hitting seven-month lows as a Middle East war continued to suppress risk appetite. The Dow entered correction territory, down over 10% from its record high. Rising oil prices fueled inflation fears, dampening hopes for Fed rate cuts.

India's Nifty index shows resilience against potential oil price surges from the Gulf conflict. Companies within the Nifty that supply energy like coal and electricity stand to gain. Demand for these energy sources is expected to rise as alternatives to oil and gas. Conversely, smaller companies face greater impact from rising fuel costs.

Specialised equipment maker Kay Bouvet Engineering's Rs 1,000 crore debt is poised for takeover by NARCL. Banks will see a 13% recovery through NARCL's Rs 130 crore offer, which faced no competition in a Swiss challenge auction. This marks a potential final acquisition for the bad loan aggregator this fiscal year.

The yield on India's 10-year government bond rose sharply Friday. This increase follows a cut in fuel excise duty which impacted the fiscal outlook. High state bond sales and rising oil prices also contributed to the jump. The benchmark yield has seen its biggest weekly rise since May 2022.

The Reserve Bank of India's Payments Vision 2028 introduces a shared liability model for unauthorized digital transactions, placing responsibility on both customer and beneficiary banks. This aims to boost fraud detection and inter-bank coordination. The RBI also plans to expand the 'switch on/off' feature, currently for cards, to all digital payment modes, empowering users and enhancing ecosystem trust.

The Reserve Bank of India has mandated all market participants, both resident and nonresident, to obtain a valid Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) code. Entities without an LEI will be ineligible for transactions in RBI-regulated financial markets. Participants in the over-the-counter derivative market must also secure a unique transaction identifier.

The Indian rupee hit a record low against the dollar, breaching 94 and nearing 95, as rising crude oil prices fueled fears of a prolonged Gulf war. Indian equities also suffered significant declines, marking a fifth consecutive week of losses. Analysts warn of further depreciation for the rupee if the conflict persists and central bank intervention remains subdued.

The Indian money market's hawala sector is experiencing an unusual discount on the dollar-rupee exchange rate, a shift attributed to stalled flights and reduced trade with the Gulf. This irregular market, typically seeing a dollar premium, is now operating 1-2% below official rates, impacting informal remittance channels.

U.S. stocks plunged Friday, with major indexes hitting over six-month lows as the Middle East war suppressed risk appetite. Megacap and software stocks led the decline, while rising oil prices fueled inflation fears and dampened rate cut expectations. Markets now anticipate potential Fed rate hikes.

The Reserve Bank of India has set a new limit for banks on their foreign currency dealings in the rupee. This move aims to control speculative trading and stabilize the Indian currency. Banks must now keep their open positions within 100 million US dollars each day. This regulation comes as the rupee faces pressure and has depreciated significantly.

Online furniture rental platform Rentomojo has filed for an initial public offering in Mumbai, according to a draft prospectus dated Friday.

Doha Bank is exiting its branch operations in India. The Qatari bank will close its Mumbai and Kochi branches after more than a decade. It will now operate solely through a representative office in the country. This strategic shift was approved by the bank's board of directors. Doha Bank had launched its India operations in June 2014.

India's foreign exchange reserves dropped significantly last week. Gold prices fell, impacting the overall reserves. The Indian Rupee also weakened against the US Dollar. Oil prices rose due to geopolitical concerns. The Reserve Bank of India's intervention in the currency market was limited. Traders anticipate further Rupee depreciation, with some forecasting levels around 100 against the Dollar.

Small exporters and e-commerce shipments will receive a boost. The government has removed the value limit for exports via courier services. This change takes effect from April 1, 2026. Previously, a limit of 10 lakh rupees per consignment was in place. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced this significant update.

India and Europe are strengthening ties following a trade agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Oslo for the India-Nordic Summit and Italy for bilateral talks. He will also attend the G-7 Summit in France. These engagements aim to boost collaboration amid global supply chain challenges. India's participation highlights its role in addressing key international issues.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on the sidelines of the WTO Ministerial Conference. Discussions focused on the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement and bilateral trade matters with China, amidst India's growing trade deficit with the latter.

The government plans to borrow 8.2 lakh crore in the first half of the next fiscal year. This amount represents 51% of the revised borrowing target. The move aims to stabilize the bond market amid global uncertainties. This strategy allows for flexibility in future borrowing plans. The government will also issue 15,000 crore in green bonds.

A Moody's report warns that India and other Asia-Pacific economies face rising credit stress due to the ongoing Gulf conflict. Higher energy prices and supply disruptions, particularly for fuel, food, and industrial inputs, will impact import-dependent nations. Producers heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil and naphtha are most exposed.

Indian exports to the US are navigating rocky waters. With consumer confidence waning and policy instability looming, shipments are feeling the pinch. The shrimp and textile sectors are struggling to bounce back from setbacks, and ongoing scrutiny of manufacturing practices raises additional red flags. On a brighter note, gems and jewellery exports are showing glimmers of recovery.