IBTimes

HDFC Bank has appointed former Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar as its new part-time Chairman for a three-year term. Kumar, a retired 1984-batch IAS officer, succeeds Atanu Chakraborty, who resigned earlier this year on ethical grounds.

India's external debt increased by $26.3 billion year-on-year to $762.8 billion at the end of March 2026, according to RBI data. The external debt-to-GDP ratio rose to 20.8 per cent from 19.8 per cent a year earlier, driven mainly by higher non-government borrowings, while government debt declined.

Filing your Income Tax Return is not enough unless it is verified within 30 days. The Income Tax Department offers six e-verification methods. Missing this step can make your return invalid, though delayed verification may still be allowed after approval.

Axis Bank Chief Financial Officer Puneet Sharma has resigned after serving in the role since March 2020, citing his decision to pursue the next phase of his professional career. He will continue until August 31, 2026, while the bank is yet to announce his successor.

Several important financial changes will come into effect from July 1, 2026, impacting taxpayers, bank customers, credit card users, passport applicants and Aadhaar holders. These include ITR deadlines, free Aadhaar updates, revised credit card benefits, higher passport fees and stricter banking rules.

Indian stock markets ended the holiday-shortened week with gains, keeping the positive trend intact. Analysts believe the Nifty could move higher if it crosses 24,500, while the Sensex may rally towards 79,000. Falling crude oil prices and easing geopolitical tensions have improved investor confidence.

Currently, gold futures stand at Rs 1,44,199 and silver futures at Rs 2,22,100 per kg.

Speaking at the JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation event, he said public listings help startups and MSMEs raise growth capital while retaining promoter control, improve governance and credibility, attract talent, and make it easier to access financing and plan succession.

The RBI also issued operational clarifications on FCNR-B deposits and announced swap support measures, which are expected to boost foreign currency inflows from non-resident Indians.

The investment bank also increased its FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.5 per cent, lowered its inflation estimate to 4.4 per cent and reduced the current account deficit forecast to 1.1 per cent of GDP. It said India's resilient economic activity, lower energy costs and improved external sector outlook have strengthened the country's macroeconomic prospects.

Indian investors are the world's biggest adopters of AI for finance, with 98% using the technology and 86% applying it to investing, according to an HSBC-Ipsos survey. Despite high AI adoption, investors continue to rely on professional financial advisers for final investment decisions, highlighting the growing preference for a hybrid approach that combines AI-driven insights with human expertise.

Paytm has developed Prism, a proprietary AI-powered multi-agent system that ranked No. 2 globally on the Spider 2.0 Snow Leaderboard for Text-to-SQL capabilities. As the only Indian company on the prestigious ranking, Prism outperformed several global AI firms by accurately handling complex enterprise database queries

Global crude oil prices remained near four-month lows as easing tensions in West Asia and progress in US-Iran peace talks reduced fears of supply disruptions. Brent crude traded near $76 per barrel and WTI around $72 per barrel, with both benchmarks down more than 20 per cent over the past month.

System to monitor flood-prone areas. Adani Electricity has also carried out extensive pre-monsoon inspections, elevated equipment in low-lying locations, and positioned emergency vehicles, generators and essential materials for rapid response.

Analysts said gold faces resistance around 1.45 lakh-1.46 lakh, while silver faces resistance near 2.25 lakh-2.26 lakh. Experts maintain a cautious near-term outlook, citing persistent selling pressure, while a stronger US dollar index also added to the weakness in bullion prices.