HDFC Bank reported a 6.6% increase in standalone net profit for Q4 FY25, reaching Rs 17,616 crore. Total income remained nearly flat at Rs 89,488 crore, while interest income rose to Rs 77,460 crore. The board recommended a dividend of Rs 22 per share. Asset quality slightly deteriorated, with gross NPAs rising to 1.33%.

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, predicts a financial crisis. He cites rising debt and struggling retirement funds as indicators. Kiyosaki advises people to invest in gold, silver, and Bitcoin. He believes these assets will increase in value. He also cautions against relying solely on traditional pensions. Kiyosaki emphasizes the importance of financial education and proactive planning.

HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are poised to release their Q4 FY25 financial results, with HDFC Bank showcasing a 7.7% year-on-year increase in advances, reaching Rs 27.73 lakh crore. ICICI Bank is anticipated to reveal robust earnings, projecting a 10-15% rise in net profit, driven by improvements in asset quality and a stable outlook from Fitch Ratings.

India's central bank witnessed a significant surge in its gold reserves' value, driven by a global rally in gold prices amidst geopolitical and economic uncertainties. The RBI's gold holdings nearly tripled in value over the past year, reflecting a broader trend of central banks worldwide accumulating gold to hedge against global risks.

The government has issued a clarification regarding Goods and Services Tax. It states that there will be no GST levied on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000. Reports suggesting such a levy are false and misleading. Currently, no Merchant Discount Rate is charged on UPI transactions. Therefore, GST is not applicable. UPI transactions have significantly increased over the years.

Fintech giants PhonePe and Razorpay are transitioning into public limited companies, signaling their IPO readiness in India. PhonePe's conversion awaits approvals, while Razorpay's move aligns with its re-domiciliation and anticipated 2026-27 IPO. These steps enable both companies to access Indian capital markets, with PhonePe addressing UPI market-share limits and Razorpay streamlining its structure.

Indian IT firms are exhibiting cautious hiring approaches amidst economic uncertainties and increased automation. While some firms saw slight headcount increases in the March quarter, overall hiring remains subdued compared to previous years. Companies are prioritizing cost efficiency and maximizing existing resources, leading to a challenging job market for college graduates, with expectations of flat hiring trends throughout 2025.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has dismissed attempts to halt insolvency proceedings against Byju's without creditor approval, reinforcing the authority of the Committee of Creditors (CoC). NCLAT upheld that any settlement proposal after CoC formation requires 90% creditor consent, as per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

India's electronics manufacturing has surged, increasing fivefold in the last decade to over Rs 11 lakh crore, according to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Exports have also seen remarkable growth, multiplying six times to exceed Rs 3.3 lakh crore, creating 25 lakh jobs. Indian products are now globally recognized for their reliability and respect for intellectual property rights.

Indonesian coffee chain Kopi Kenangan, valued at over $1 billion, is entering the Indian market to compete with Starbucks and Tim Hortons. The company aims to attract customers with lower prices and a menu tailored to Indian tastes.

The government has refuted claims of imposing GST on UPI transactions exceeding 2,000, dismissing them as baseless. The finance ministry clarified that GST applies only to charges like MDR, which are not levied on UPI. UPI transactions have surged, reaching 260.56 lakh crore projected by March 2025.

Indian markets concluded the week with significant gains, fueled by returning foreign investment and easing inflation. The Sensex and Nifty surged over 6% in four sessions, boosting investor wealth substantially. A favorable monsoon forecast and the RBI's accommodative stance further contributed to the market's positive momentum.

A NITI Aayog report reveals that India's automotive ambitions are hindered by a lack of innovation due to inadequate R&D infrastructure and low spending. This limits competitiveness in emerging technologies like EVs and autonomous driving. The report emphasizes the need for increased R&D investment, collaboration, and a robust innovation ecosystem to achieve long-term growth and global parity.

The US has informed the WTO that its steel and aluminium tariffs were imposed for national security, not as a safeguard measure, challenging India's complaint. India argues the tariffs are essentially safeguards, requiring WTO notifications and consultations. The US maintains it acted under a national security statute, shielding the move from WTO scrutiny.

US stocks experienced mixed performance as investors analyzed recent earnings reports amidst President Trump's tariff policies and criticism of the central bank. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw slight fluctuations. Upcoming tariff negotiations with numerous countries will be a key area of focus for traders.

Gensol Engineering faces further turmoil as two more independent directors, Harsh Singh and Kuljit Singh Popli, resign amidst allegations of fund misuse. This follows Arun Menon's resignation, who cited concerns about the company's increasing debt burden to finance capital expenditures for other ventures and its ability to manage the associated high debt servicing costs.

Fitch Ratings has lowered India's GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year by 0.1% to 6.4%, citing concerns over the escalating global trade war. The agency also reduced global growth projections and anticipates weaker growth in China and the US. Despite this, India's growth for fiscal year 2026-27 is maintained at 6.3%.

BluSmart, an electric cab aggregator, has extended its refund timeline for wallet balances to 90 days due to a temporary halt in ride bookings. This decision follows a Sebi probe into Gensol Engineering, linked to BluSmart's promoters, regarding alleged loan diversions.

SEBI is actively exploring solutions for the long-delayed NSE IPO, forming a committee to address outstanding issues. NSE has been directed to resolve all IPO-related concerns promptly. The regulator emphasized its commitment to prioritizing public interest over commercial gains, particularly for institutions with both social and profit motives, ensuring a balanced approach.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledged global trade recalibrations as worrisome, emphasizing India's policy agility to navigate disruptions. Despite risks from tariff wars, India's resilient economy, bolstered by infrastructure development and inclusive growth, is poised to weather the storm. Sitharaman highlighted India's policy stability and urged market intermediaries to prioritize investor interests.

The rupee experienced its strongest weekly gain in a month, closing at 85.37 against the dollar, driven by increased foreign portfolio inflows into Indian equities. A persistently weak dollar and bullish sentiment towards emerging Asian currencies, including the rupee, further contributed to the currency's rise. Markets were closed on Friday for Good Friday.

Indian education loan companies are facing challenges due to the Trump administration's immigration policies, impacting US loan disbursements. Lenders are tightening assessment checks amid concerns about repayment abilities, leading to a decrease in US loan applications. InCred Finance reports a halving of US loan inquiries.

Despite Wall Street's turmoil fueled by trade war anxieties and cautious Fed remarks, Indian stock markets witnessed a significant rally. Banking and financial stocks, along with Reliance Industries, spearheaded the surge, reversing an early decline. Positive monsoon forecasts and easing inflation ignited hopes for RBI rate cuts, attracting substantial foreign investment and boosting investor wealth.

Infosys projects a modest 0-3% revenue growth for 2025-26, citing macroeconomic uncertainties and cautious client spending. This marks one of the company's weakest forecasts in over a decade, excluding pandemic-related suspensions. While revenue growth fell short of projections in 2024-25, Infosys retains its margin guidance of 20-22% amidst client discussions on cost efficiency.

Gautam Adani plans to transfer ownership of an Australian port terminal to Adani Ports for $2 billion through a preferential share issuance. Carmichael Rail and Port Singapore Holdings will acquire a 6.2% stake, increasing the promoter shareholding in Adani Ports to 68%. The North Queensland Export Terminal, with a 50 million tonne capacity, offers potential for future green hydrogen exports.

Indian stock markets, including NSE and BSE, will be closed on April 18, 2025, for Good Friday. Trading will be suspended across all segments, encompassing equities, derivatives, and the SLB platform. The MCX will also remain shut, affecting commodity trading. Regular trading activities will resume on Monday, April 21. Good Friday is among the 14 scheduled market holidays in 2025.

ITC Ltd is set to acquire Sresta Natural Bioproducts, the company behind 24 Mantra Organic, for Rs 472.50 crore. This acquisition will strengthen ITC's presence in the rapidly growing organic packaged foods market, both in India and internationally. The deal aligns with ITC's ITC Next strategy, focusing on health and wellness products.

IMF head Kristalina Georgieva says a global recession is unlikely. This is despite trade tensions sparked by US tariffs. However, these trade disruptions will cost significantly. The IMF expects markdowns to global growth. Georgieva urges countries to adjust fiscal policy. She also wants central bank independence. China should boost domestic consumption. The US must address surging public debt.

UnitedHealth Group shares saw a big drop. The company lowered its 2025 earnings prediction. This was due to higher medical costs in its Medicare plans. Other health insurance companies like Elevance and CVS Health also experienced declines. Hospital companies like HCA Healthcare, however, saw gains. The health insurance sector faces increasing challenges.

CEAT is actively pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming for 25% gender diversity on the shop floor and 20% in leadership by 2027, surpassing the industry average. The company is exploring talent from diverse backgrounds and has implemented progressive policies like work-from-anywhere options and menstrual wellness leave. CEAT also measures internal happiness to shape employee-centric policies.

Nothing Before Coffee (NBC), an Indian cafe chain focusing on Tier-II and Tier-III cities, has secured $2.3 million in Pre-Series A funding led by Prath Ventures and SYL Investments. The company plans to use the capital to expand its store presence, optimize its supply chain, and explore new store formats.

US stocks displayed a mixed performance as tech and growth stocks saw a cautious return, while healthcare sector weakness impacted the Dow. Global markets reacted to potential ECB rate cuts and escalating tensions between President Trump and the Federal Reserve. Asian markets closed higher, contrasting with declines in European indices amid ongoing trade and monetary policy uncertainties.

Gold prices in Delhi hit a record high, reaching Rs 98,170 per 10 grams. This surge followed firm global cues. Silver prices, however, saw a sharp decline. Globally, gold initially peaked but later trimmed gains. Investors are now watching US economic data and the European Central Bank's policy decision amid trade concerns.

Infosys reported an 11.7% year-on-year drop in net profit for the March quarter, landing at Rs 7,033 crore, despite surpassing its full-year revenue guidance. While annual revenue increased by 6.06% to Rs 1,62,990 crore, the company projects a revenue growth of 0-3% for FY26. The board has proposed a final dividend of Rs 22 per share.

Indian benchmark indices surged for the fourth consecutive session, with the Sensex soaring over 1,500 points and the Nifty50 closing above 23,850. The rally was fueled by strong buying in financial stocks, driven by positive sentiment from US-Japan trade talks and weakening dollar.

Escalating US-China tensions could force US investors to divest $800 billion in Chinese equities, causing market volatility. India, with minimal trade exposure to the US, emerges as a potential manufacturing alternative, attracting foreign investment and benefiting from companies seeking to de-risk amid the trade war, despite facing structural challenges.

NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam projects India to surpass Germany and Japan, becoming the world's third-largest economy within three years. He envisions India potentially reaching the second position globally by 2047, with a USD 30 trillion economy. Subrahmanyam emphasized India's demographic advantage as a stable supplier of working-age individuals amid global population decline.

Donald Trump has slapped up to 245% tariffs on China. China says it is not afraid of a trade war. China wants dialogue based on equality. But China faces economic challenges. Exports power Chinas economy. China's domestic market is weak. The Communist Partys legitimacy is at stake. Trump's trade policy is easier to escalate. Both Trump and Xi Jinping are in a faceoff.

Amidst US trade tensions, Chinese firms like Shanghai Highly and Haier are showing increased flexibility towards Indian regulations, now accepting minority ownership in joint ventures. This shift is driven by potential exclusion from the US market and India's attractive manufacturing incentives. India's stable environment and tariff advantages are drawing foreign investments, positioning it as a key alternative to China.