The Times of India

Beyond oil, its important to note that West Asia plays an important role in supplying India with essential commodities. In 2025, Indias imports from the region of approximately $98.7 billion included critical resources such as energy, fertilisers and industrial inputs.

Despite the rising tensions in West Asia, India remains confident in its energy supply, undertaking daily assessments and maintaining a strong inventory. By diversifying sourcing to include Australia and Canada, India enhances its energy security. In addition, strategic reserves and ongoing dialogues with global energy organizations and the United States reinforce India's readiness against any supply disruptions.

Tensions in the Middle East are raising concerns over disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy shipping route. Goldman Sachs reports early signs of stress, with tanker traffic showing disruptions and financial markets factoring in geopolitical risk. A prolonged closure could significantly impact global oil and LNG supplies, affecting major Asian economies.

India currently offers two parallel tax systems for individuals - Old Personal Tax Regime and New Personal Tax Regime. While the new regime is now the default option, the choice remains with the taxpayer.

Gold prices experienced mixed movements in futures trading on Thursday. Meanwhile, retail bullion rates across major Indian cities saw a slight dip, reflecting recent global market volatility. Consumers in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata observed a Rs 98 decrease per gram for 24K gold, while other cities also reported similar corrections.

The question that matters now is whether this draft becomes a serious rule with genuine enforcement, or another addition to our impressive collection of regulations that exist mainly on paper.

Despite escalating Middle East tensions and a surge in global crude oil prices, petrol and diesel rates in major Indian cities remain steady. Government sources indicate a strategy to shield consumers, with oil marketing companies absorbing some of the price hike. This approach aims to prevent significant inflation and GDP impact, ensuring stability for the public.

Gold and silver price prediction: Gold prices may rally towards Rs 1.72 lakh and silver prices to Rs 3 lakh, says Abhilash Koikkara, Head - Forex & Commodities, Nuvama Professional Clients Group.

Ship-tracking data indicates that two Russian crude shipments which were originally bound for East Asia have redirected their course to India. With its energy security priorities in mind, India has sought to buy Russian crude to avoid supply shortages as Middle East tensions show no sign of abating.

Financial giant Morgan Stanley has reduced its workforce by 2,500 employees. This move impacts investment banking, trading, and wealth management. Financial advisors remain unaffected. The company achieved record revenue in 2025 and saw strong profits. Executives were optimistic for 2026. Job cuts are attributed to strategy and performance. This follows a trend of companies streamlining operations.

The GDP growth target for 2026 appeared in a draft of the governments yearly work report. Although the range broadly matches market expectations, it is the first reduction since officials adjusted the goal to around 5% in 2023.

The Indian rupee rebounded on Thursday, recovering 51 paise to trade at 91.54 against the US dollar after hitting a record low. This recovery follows a significant slump driven by surging crude oil prices linked to the Iran crisis. Traders anticipate continued sensitivity to oil market movements and potential Reserve Bank of India intervention.

Asian stocks saw a modest rise on Thursday, breaking a losing streak as Wall Street rebounded and oil prices stabilized. Japan's Nikkei 225 surged significantly, while South Korea's Kospi experienced a temporary trading halt due to a sharp increase. Global markets remain sensitive to Middle East tensions and oil price fluctuations.

The stock market staged a strong recovery as investor sentiment improved following reports that Irans Deputy Foreign Minister indicated the country was willing to give up its nuclear programme, among other developments that lifted market confidence.

Top stock market recommendations: Solar Industries India, and Coal India are the stocks that Aakash K Hindocha, Deputy Vice President - WM Research of Nuvama Professional Clients Group has recommended to buy today. UNO Minda is a sell call. The market expert shares his detailed analysis on stocks and views on Nifty and Bank Nifty.

A New York judge has ordered the US government to refund companies for tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court. The ruling mandates refunds for duties imposed under a law the court deemed unconstitutional, impacting billions in collected taxes. This follows a Supreme Court decision limiting presidential tariff authority, with attention now on customs agencies to manage the mass payouts.

CLSA maintains an outperform rating on Reliance Industries, citing improved confidence in its new ventures. HSBC has a reduce rating on Avenue Supermart, noting its pricing advantage is not substantial. Morgan Stanley raises Delhivery's target price, expecting strong volume growth and margin expansion due to a favorable industry environment.

India's Petronet LNG declared force majeure on LNG shipments from QatarEnergy due to West Asian security risks disrupting maritime navigation. The crisis has already led to reduced gas supplies to Indian industries, impacting fertilizer production, though household and auto sectors remain unaffected so far.

RBI Deputy Governor J Swaminathan highlighted that governance failures, not lack of knowledge, cause financial crises. He noted that misaligned incentives often lead to ignored red flags, allowing risks to grow. Swaminathan emphasized that strong leadership, judgment, and discipline are crucial for India's financial future, especially as technology amplifies both successes and failures.

Indian stock markets experienced a significant downturn for the second consecutive session following the West Asian conflict, pushing key indices to over six-month lows. The rupee's historic fall and rising crude oil prices, coupled with aggressive foreign fund outflows, contributed to the sharp decline. Investors lost nearly Rs 10 lakh crore in a single day.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated President Trump's plan to raise universal tariffs to 15% could happen this week. While a temporary 10% levy is in place, authorities aim to reinstate previous tariffs within five months. Bessent also downplayed oil market risks from Middle East tensions, citing ample global supply and US support measures.

Middle East tensions are set to inflate your grocery bills, with prices for dal, dry fruits, and sweets potentially soaring up to 30%. Disruptions to trade routes and rising freight charges are impacting supply chains linked to Iran, Israel, and the US. While rice might offer some relief, expect your favorite comfort foods and kitchen staples to become significantly costlier.

Middle East tensions could temporarily disrupt India's global capability center (GCC) growth. While immediate investments might pause due to uncertainty, experts suggest companies may eventually shift operations to India for greater stability. This could position India as a key beneficiary, though prolonged conflict impacting oil prices poses a risk to global tech spending and India's GCC ambitions.

India is the worlds fastest growing major economy and a fast-growing consumer of oil. Its vulnerability to supply shocks stems from the relatively small reserves and strategic oil reserves.

Amidst rising geopolitical tensions, investors are flocking to safe-haven assets like gold and silver ETFs. Experts suggest a higher allocation to gold for stability, with silver playing a complementary role. While gold ETFs offer primary protection, silver's industrial demand makes it more volatile. A 10-15% portfolio allocation to precious metals is advised.

Qatar remains Indias largest LNG supplier - it accounts for nearly half of the countrys imports last year, based on vessel-tracking information. Qatar remains Indias largest LNG supplier - it accounts for nearly half of the countrys imports last year.

The Sensex plunged by more than 1,000 points, slipping below the 81,000 mark for the first time in over a month. The Nifty 50 also dropped sharply, losing upwards of 300 points and falling beneath the crucial 25,000 support level.

The geopolitical strain has pushed up global oil and gas prices. For India, which relies heavily on imports, this surge translates into a higher import bill and adds to inflationary pressures. India depends on overseas purchases for almost 90 per cent of its crude oil needs.

Asian stocks tumbled Tuesday amid escalating Iran tensions, impacting regional energy supplies. Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's Kospi saw significant drops, with energy and defense shares hit hard. Oil prices climbed, while US airline stocks faced pressure from rising fuel costs and potential travel disruptions.

Gold and silver prices surged on Monday due to escalating Middle East geopolitical tensions, with gold reaching Rs 1.66 lakh per 10 grams and silver Rs 2.86 lakh per kg. Experts predict further record highs if the conflict persists, driven by gold's safe-haven status. Investors are capitalizing on price dips to accumulate despite the rally.