The Economic Times

Chairman Noel Tata, in the Trusts' Annual Report for 2025-26, said that the group will also build lasting public institutions and be judged on measurable results, not money spent.

The Supreme Court upheld the Madras HC's ruling that religious conversion from Hinduism to another religion does not entitle a person to SC or OBC reservation. The case concerns Tamil Nadu's 3.5% quota for Muslim OBCs. In March 2024, the then DMK government allowed OBCs, SCs and Denotified Communities members who converted to Islam to claim the quota. The Madras HC struck down the order in June 2024 as unconstitutional. The TVK government's appeal was rejected by the SC.

Weather Tomorrow: IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across parts of southern India, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu among the affected regions. Rain is expected to continue in several areas through October 23. Fishermen have also been advised to exercise caution along parts of the Arabian Sea coast.

No Kings anti-Trump movement: More than 3,200 events had been planned in all 50 states, after the two previous nationwide events attracted millions of participants.

Richa Parashar, a journalist, filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi for manhandling during a protest. The incident occurred on October 12 while covering a demonstration by Opposition leaders. Parashar alleged that Gandhi grabbed her and caused her to fall, resulting in injuries. She emphasized the lack of assistance from his supporters after the fall. Parashar has requested that media organizations release footage of the incident.

Yes Bank reported a 65% year-on-year rise in second-quarter profit to Rs 1,080 crore, beating analyst estimates. However, the lender said it could have posted a loss of Rs 5,217 crore had it accounted for the Supreme Court ruling setting aside its Rs 8,400 crore AT1 bond write-off. The bank is evaluating the ruling's financial implications and possible legal options.

HDFC Bank has made significant strides in integrating its merger with HDFC Ltd after its completion in July. The bank's incoming CEO, Anup Bagchi, emphasized the importance of maintaining strong credit quality during varying economic cycles. Bagchi also acknowledged the contributions of Deputy Managing Director Kaizad Bharucha and the wider team. The bank plans to further improve its branch network and technology capabilities in the future.

A cargo vessels sinking in the Strait of Hormuz has left questions over maritime safety after Iranian fishermen recovered goods from the surrounding waters. All 21 crew members of the GFS Pride escaped, but competing explanations for the incident, including a mine or a possible missile or drone strike, remain unconfirmed.

Central Bank of India reported a 21% rise in September 2026 quarterly net profit to Rs 1,469 crore, supported by 26% net interest income growth and 30% loan expansion. Asset quality improved, with net NPA declining to 0.31%, while operating efficiency strengthened.

ICICI Bank reported a 20% year-on-year rise in Q2 net profit to 14,843 crore, supported by an 18% increase in net interest income. However, net interest margin narrowed to 4.18% from 4.36% in the previous quarter, with the bank expecting further pressure in Q3 due to foreign currency non-resident bank (FCNR-B) deposit mobilisation and branch expansion costs.

Axis Bank's digital payments platform Freecharge has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India. The approval allows Freecharge to operate under PA-O1 and PA-P1 categories starting in FY27. The bank has reported a 34% year-on-year growth in UPI transaction value for July-September. Digital transactions represented 98% of the total financial transactions during this quarter. Axis Bank continues to expand its digital payments operations, reflecting ongoing investment in technolo

HDFC Bank CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan, who will step down on October 26 after deciding against seeking a second reappointment, expressed confidence in the lenders resilience and growth prospects. He said the bank had overcome regulatory restrictions, the Covid-19 pandemic, a complex merger and monetary tightening, adding that governance issues had been settled.

Kaizad Bharucha has submitted his resignation as deputy managing director of HDFC Bank, effective December 31, 2026. This decision follows the Reserve Bank of India's approval for Anup Bagchi to become the new managing director. Bharucha has served as a whole-time director since June 2014 and would have exceeded the 15-year tenure limit by June 2029. His departure marks a significant leadership change at Indias largest private-sector lender.

Central Bank of India reported a 21% increase in net profit amounting to Rs 1469 crore for September 2026. Net interest income grew by 26% to Rs 4146 crore, reflecting strong loan growth. Total advances rose by 30% to Rs 3.81 lakh crore, driven by retail, agriculture and MSME sectors. Despite a drop in other income, asset quality improved with net NPA decreasing to 0.31%.

Ixigo reported a remarkable turnaround with a consolidated net profit of Rs 63.42 crore for the September quarter, bouncing back from a net loss of Rs 3.46 crore from last year. The surge in hotel bookings played a key role in this financial upswing, leading to operational revenue of Rs 320.96 crore.

IDBI Bank reported a 39% year-on-year profit decline to Rs 2,205 crore in Q2 FY27, impacted by a one-off gain in the previous year. Excluding this, profit rose 14%. Asset quality improved, deposits grew 17%, advances increased 18%, and net interest margins strengthened sequentially to 4.11%.

IDBI Bank reported a 39% year-on-year decline in Q2 FY27 net profit to Rs 2,205 crore, mainly due to the absence of a one-time Rs 1,699 crore gain from the NSDL stake sale in the year-ago quarter. Excluding that gain, net profit would have risen 14%.

Indian equity markets rebounded 2.78%, with the Nifty reclaiming its crucial 200-week moving average. However, weak momentum indicators and overhead resistance warrant caution. Banking, metal, media, pharma and IT stocks show relative strength. Investors should monitor key support levels, prioritise fundamentally strong stocks and maintain disciplined risk management strategies.

Indias instant househelp startups are scaling rapidly by offering affordable, on-demand domestic services, but steep losses and high customer-acquisition costs are raising questions about whether the model can become profitable. Snabbit spent Rs 195 crore in FY26 against Rs 12.2 crore in operating revenue, while Urban Companys InstaHelp is also prioritising scale over near-term profits as the sector competes to build a regular household habit.

Despite a nearly 4% decline in the Nifty 50 over three months, several Nifty Smallcap 250 stocks have rallied sharply. Cupid led with 66% gains, followed by Sterlite Technologies and Welspun Corp, highlighting pockets of resilience amid market volatility.

HDFC Bank Q2 Results: Indias largest private lender HDFC Bank on Saturday reported a net profit of Rs 19,509 crore for the second quarter of FY27, marking a 4.6% year-on-year jump from Rs 18,641 crore posted in the same period last year.

In a collective effort in 2018, over 6,000 volunteers joined the BashTheBug project, focusing on tuberculosis bacteria images. Utilizing the Zooniverse platform, they gathered crucial data on antibiotic resistance through crowd-sourced analysis. Participants meticulously assessed photographs to evaluate bacterial growth under varying antibiotic conditions. Remarkably, their findings resonated with those of seasoned experts, reinforcing the integrity of the evaluations.

The Centre has declared 18,093 villages Adarsh Grams under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), while 785 student hostels have been completed, the Social Justice Ministry said. The scheme supports infrastructure development, livelihoods and educational access for Scheduled Caste communities, with Rs 1,730 crore released to states between 2021-22 and 2025-26.

Axis Bank Q2 Results: Private lender Axis Bank on Saturday reported a net profit of Rs 7,003 crore for the second quarter of FY27, marking a jump of 38% from Rs 5,089 crore posted in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

Nicholas Sleeps investment philosophy emphasises independent thinking, patience, and understanding business fundamentals. His successful Nomad Investment Partnership demonstrated the value of identifying high-quality businesses, assessing sustainable competitive advantages, and focusing on long-term value rather than daily price movements. He advocated disciplined research, selective diversification, emotional control, continuous learning, and adapting decisions when circumstances change.

Fairfax Financial Holdings $5.6 billion acquisition of a controlling stake in IDBI Bank is significant not just for being the biggest foreign investment in Indias banking sector, but also because the transaction was handled without the involvement of major investment banks. Fairfax and IDBI Bank did not launch a formal process to appoint financial advisers, while KPMG advised the government on the sale and two professional agencies helped determine the governments fair valuation.

Over the five trading sessions ended October 16, the Sensex gained 3.11%, or 2,257 points, to close at 74,729. The benchmark index closed higher in three of the five sessions between October 12 and 16. Amid the broader market rally, around 22 BSE 500 stocks advanced in each of the five consecutive trading sessions. Of these, we identified 15 stocks that gained consistently throughout the period, delivering cumulative returns ranging from 5% to 25%. (Data Source: ACE Equity)

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The Finance Ministry clarified the legislative developments regarding IDBI Bank's government stake in 2003. An amendment to restrict the dilution of the government's ownership was proposed but ultimately rejected during parliamentary discussions. The ministry highlighted that this issue was previously examined by the Delhi High Court. This examination took place in the case of All India IDBI Officers' Association v. Union of India & Others.

The Indian IT sector experienced an impressive surge, achieving its highest weekly increase in 18 years, driven by unexpectedly strong quarterly results from companies like HCLTech. The Nifty IT index jumped 11.7%, amidst falling semiconductor stock prices in Asia. Furthermore, the rupee showed notable strength, closing below the 95-mark for the first time in 38 days, reflecting the effective measures implemented by the Reserve Bank of India.

AISA president Neha Bora was released early Saturday after being taken into preventive custody ahead of the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest march at Connaught Place on Friday. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was also detained, was arrested under relevant BNSS provisions and will be produced before the SEM court.

The move would mark the next legal step for the lender after the apex court upheld the Bombay High Court judgment quashing the March 2020 write-down of the AT1 instruments issued by Yes Bank.

Panasonic has recently appointed Japanese executives to senior roles in its Indian operations. The company is restructuring its leadership back to an expat-led model after focusing on Indian leadership. Former executives, such as Manish Sharma and Sandeep Sehgal, have left the company, leading to significant changes in strategy. Panasonic has downsized its operations and streamlined its product offerings to focus on air-conditioners.

HSBC has deployed more than half of its $1 billion loan commitment to Indian startups within a year of launching its innovation banking platform. The British lender has reported strong demand across consumer technology, e-commerce and enterprise software, and is open to increasing its funding allocation. HSBC Global Head of Innovation Banking David Sabow said the bank expects to add at least 500 clients in India over the next year.

In responses to the regulator's consultation paper on insurance distribution reforms, some industry participants said automobile manufacturers and dealers influence commissions, discounting and repair costs, which could blunt the impact of the proposed curbs on intermediary remuneration, according to people aware of the matter.

Theodoros Kokkalas, chief operating officer of ERGO International said greater predictability would help insurers make long-term business plans. We make plans, and today making long-term plans is like science fiction in the dynamic environment that we live in, he said. While India's general insurance industry is struggling to bring its combined ratio below 100%, with the industry average at 110-115% and ERGO is targeting a ratio of 80-85%, Kokkalas said there was no standard timeline for a marke

The Supreme Court has mandated the central government to provide details on the implementation of menstrual hygiene rights. This ruling emphasises that menstrual hygiene is crucial for Article 21 of the Constitution. The court is apprehensive about the effective execution of this directive in remote areas. Chief secretaries from non-complying states may face contempt proceedings for failing to respond.

The US budget deficit for fiscal 2026 rose to $1.99 trillion, driven by increased tariff refunds and spending. Total spending for the year reached a record $7.40 trillion, while total receipts were $5.40 trillion. Net tariff receipts fell significantly, contributing to the deficit increase as refunds reached $145 billion. The debt-service outlays recorded a new high of $1.36 trillion during this fiscal year.

The total valuation of businesses run by individuals under 35 in India rose significantly this year. The number of young business leaders increased from 155 to 180, showing notable growth. A total of 37 companies on the list are valued at over $1 billion, employing more than 5.88 lakh people. Meanwhile, the emergence of founders in the artificial intelligence sector has quadrupled.

At just 12 years old, Evan LaBelle discovered his passion for 3D printing, which ultimately led him to establish Autotiv Manufacturing. His company currently boasts an expansive production facility equipped with over 200 3D printers, catering to the aerospace and robotics sectors. Honored as Young Entrepreneur of the Year, LaBelle is celebrated for his innovative contributions and dedication to community.

Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) aims for 18-20 percent growth in total advances for the fiscal year 2027. The bank focuses on retail, agriculture, and MSME lending, which constitutes 86 percent of its advances. Though corporate lending will be increased, high-value loans will be capped at 20 percent going forward. Gold loans are expected to see significant growth supported by lower borrowing costs.

Yes Bank is examining the Supreme Court ruling regarding the write-down of Additional Tier-1 bonds. The Supreme Court upheld a prior Bombay High Court decision that quashed the bank's March 2020 action. Following the judgment, the bank is considering its legal options and future steps. The Reserve Bank of India and Yes Bank had previously appealed the High Court's ruling.