Fund managers said investing in this product is a bet on profiting from the higher-than-normal difference between overnight interest rates and yields on corporate bonds with one- and two-year maturities.

India is developing a framework to unite public and private steelmakers to enhance global negotiations for raw materials, technology, and exports. The initiative includes partnerships with countries like Australia and Russia for coking coal, and Germany for technology transfer. A new phase of the PLI scheme will focus on boosting specialty steel production with minimal investments.

Scion of Europes first family of finance talks about the business climate, trust, smart money and how it works. During unpredictable environment, wealth preservation comes front and center while transformative deals take s back seat.

Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover and Indian auto component makers, including Bharat Forge and Samvardhana Motherson, face threats from the 25% auto tariffs imposed by Donald Trump. These tariffs will impact India's $6.79 billion auto part exports to the US. Industry executives argue that higher costs in the US will lead to increased vehicle prices and slower sales.

The Indian government is exploring flexible joint ventures between Indian and Chinese firms for manufacturing air conditioner and refrigerator compressors to meet rising demand. It has relaxed Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification rules for importing compressors and is considering revisions to the PLI scheme. The Centre aims to attract investment proposals and enhance self-sufficiency in critical white goods components.

Natural diamond prices have increased by 10% recently, driven by rising consumer demand in key global markets. Industry experts expect this trend to continue throughout 2025. The renewed interest has led to a surge in demand, particularly from tier-2 and -3 cities in India.

The Indian government plans to convert 25,000 km of high-traffic two-lane national highways to four lanes, investing 10 lakh crore over the next two years. Currently, 636 NH projects are under construction, costing 6.35 lakh crore. Additionally, there are plans to replace high decibel vehicle horns with musical sounds to reduce sound pollution.

Beginning April 1, prices for essential drugs like painkillers, antibiotics, and anti-diabetic medicines will rise by 1.74%. The increase is based on the change in the wholesale price index. The pharmaceutical industry is pushing for higher price hikes to counterbalance increased input costs over recent years.

Insurance companies in Mumbai anticipate a 15-20% hike in third-party motor insurance premiums from April 1 due to increasing claims and stagnant rates. With TP award inflation nearly at 12% annually impacting profitability, industry CEOs indicate a substantial hike is necessary.

Most banks are likely to extend their high-interest special deposit schemes beyond March 31 with lower rates as they assess liquidity conditions and RBI's monetary policy decisions. A rate cut and improved liquidity are expected to result in a decline in deposit rates in the near future.

Hotels with room tariffs over 7,500 per day will have their restaurants taxed at an 18% GST rate with input tax credit, according to new rules by the CBIC. Restaurants outside these hotels will have a 5% GST without ITC. Hotels can opt into this classification, effective April 1, based on the previous fiscal year's rates.

Consumer goods companies like Mother Dairy, Coca-Cola, and Dabur are launching numerous new products on quick-commerce platforms to meet predicted demand during extreme heatwaves this summer. Platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart are being used for their rapid delivery services, helping companies capitalize on increased demand for summer-focused products and new product discoverability.

The Indian government's ambitious 'Institutes of Eminence' scheme aims to elevate select institutes to global top rankings, but it faces stagnation as none of the 12 institutes achieved this. Despite a 10,000 crore budget, only 6,199 crores have been sanctioned. An extension is being considered, but there is limited enthusiasm for further expansion.

The Centre is collaborating with state governments to simplify coal mine approvals, emphasizing the importance of both auctions and quick operationalisation. Launching the 12th commercial coal auction with 25 blocks, the minister highlighted the need for private sector participation and faster project execution while ensuring full government support. He stressed on sustainability targets and coal gasification goals for 2030.

Trai has relaxed its tight deadlines for telcos to implement new anti-spam measures after industry complaints about the lack of transparency and technical analysis. Discussions are ongoing to resolve issues, with a focus on successful implementation rather than penalizing non-compliance. Telcos emphasize that the regulations require cooperation from telemarketers and other entities.

Bharti Airtel has landed the 2Africa Pearls subsea cable in India, enhancing connectivity to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The system will become the world's longest subsea cable, spanning over 45,000 km. Airtel is also investing in other global cable systems to ensure high reliability and superior network quality.

Shriram Finance Ltd reports an AUM of Rs 8,938.61 crore for Q4 2024, up from Rs 5,170.49 crore last year, driven by SME loan demand in various industries. The company is set to expand its branch network and digital lending, aiming for growth and increased market share in the SME segment.

Hotels charging room rent above Rs 7,500 a day will be considered 'specified premises' from April 1, 2025. Restaurant services in such premises will attract 18% GST with input tax credit. The 'declared tariff' concept will be replaced by 'value of supply' based on transaction value.

India will manufacture five indigenous small modular reactors with private sector involvement to boost its nuclear energy program, aiming for 100 GW by 2047. The initiative addresses the growing energy needs, focuses on environmentally friendly solutions, and collaborates with France and the US. Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated for five small breeder reactors.

Axis Bank has become the first Indian bank to launch 24/7 near-real-time programmable USD clearing capabilities using J.P. Morgans Kinexys Digital Payments platform. This collaboration will enable Axis Bank's commercial clients to make cross-border payments anytime, streamlining payments and unlocking liquidity through blockchain technology, boosting the bank's position in the international banking sector.

Bank lending growth in FY'25 until February slowed to 10.9% from last year's 20.6% due to a decline in retail and NBFC loans, according to RBI data. Credit to the services sector grew by 13%, while industry credit growth was 7.3% in the same period.

Adani Energy Solution Ltd has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire Mahan Transmission Ltd, a Rs 2,200-crore intra-state transmission project. The project aims to establish substations and transmission lines to support power evacuation from Adani Powers expansion unit in Madhya Pradesh, enhancing industrial growth and transmission reliability by April 2027.

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has expanded its renewable energy generation capacity to 13,487.8 MW following the commissioning of 396.7 MW power projects in Gujarat. This includes solar projects by Adani Renewable Energy Fifty Six Limited and Adani Green Energy Twenty Four A Limited, and a wind project by Adani Renewable Energy Forty One Limited.

In February, the Reserve Bank of Indias rate cut led to banks lowering new deposit rates but not immediately reducing new loan rates. The weighted average lending rate (WALR) on fresh loans increased, while outstanding loan rates slightly decreased. The transmission of MCLR-linked rates may take longer, reflecting more significantly in March.

Jindal Stainless Ltd is planning to invest Rs 40,000 crore in Maharashtra to establish a stainless steel manufacturing facility. The project, which has received the state's approval, will span over 10 years and is projected to generate over 15,000 jobs. The facility aims to bolster India's self-reliance in stainless steel production and cater to various emerging and critical sectors.

Indian port authorities denied entry to the tanker Andaman Skies carrying Russian crude, citing inadequate documentation and new scrutiny on Russian oil carriers. The vessel, built in 2004, lacked certification from a recognized entity, highlighting India's tightened regulation amid U.S. sanctions on Russia. Indian refiners have thus been constrained in buying Russian oil.

Dixon Technologies India and Signify are forming a 50:50 joint venture in India to manufacture lighting products and accessories. Dixon will transfer its lighting business to the JV in exchange for a 50% stake. The venture aligns with the Make in India vision and aims to boost operational efficiency and production quality.

Care Health Insurance has stopped cashless claim settlements at 12 Max Hospitals in Delhi-NCR due to unsustainable demands from a policyholder's perspective. Patients can still seek reimbursement and even cashless treatment at other Max Hospitals across India. Delisting is generally attributed to disagreements in treatment pricing and is typically a temporary measure while negotiations continue in the background.

Bluestar anticipates a 25-30% growth in room AC sales, driven by early summer, rising incomes, and predictions of a harsh season. The company targets smaller towns and rural regions for major growth, with consumer finance playing a significant role. Production capacity will be increased to meet the growing demand in the competitive market.

State Bank of India earned Rs 331 crore from ATM cash withdrawals in 2023-24, while other state-owned banks collectively lost Rs 925 crore. SBI dominates the ATM market with over 65,000 ATMs. Customers get limited free ATM transactions; fees apply beyond those limits. Despite fewer transactions, cash remains vital. Increased fees boosted the ATM network.

Jubilant Foods plans to expand Domino's to 3,000 stores and Popeyes to 250 outlets in the next three years. The company will target tier III towns for Domino's and metro and tier II cities for Popeyes while maintaining current price points despite food inflation.

Amit Rathi, co-founder of QiCAP.Ai, has bought a luxury apartment in Mumbai's Worli locality for approximately Rs 90 crore. Located on the 62nd floor of Palais Royale, the property spans 7,687 sq ft. Rathi paid Rs 5.39 crore in stamp duty. The project was delayed for a decade but is now nearing completion.

Banks and Income Tax Offices will remain operational on March 31, 2025, despite it being a public holiday for Ramzan-Id (Eid-Ul-Fitr). This decision ensures the timely completion of fiscal year-end financial transactions. RBI has issued special instructions for banking and insurance companies to facilitate critical transactions.

Maharashtra's dairy industry has called for a ban on analogue paneer, citing that over 50% of institutional buyers have switched to this cheaper alternative. Made from vegetable oil and other ingredients, analogue paneer significantly impacts traditional dairy sales. The industry is concerned about consumer health and plans to launch awareness campaigns while pushing for stricter regulations on milk adulteration.

Thematic and sectoral investing focus on emerging trends. Key strategies include top-down (macro-driven themes), bottom-up, and sector rotation (shifting capital based on growth potential).

ETMutualFunds shortlisted top ELSS funds based on mean rolling returns, consistency, downside risk, and asset size. Canara Robeco, Mirae Asset, Invesco India, DSP, and Quant ELSS funds showed strong historical performance.

Seven equity mutual fund schemes had the highest up capture ratio in five years, with Motilal Oswal Multi Cap Fund leading at 267.21, significantly outperforming its benchmark.

Bank of Baroda has initiated the Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi (PM-Vidyalaxmi) Scheme to offer financial support to meritorious students pursuing higher education. Students can apply digitally for collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans through the PM-Vidyalaxmi portal. The scheme also includes partial/full interest subvention for students from low-income families. Bank of Baroda has implemented this scheme digitally across its wide network.

RBI's expected rate cuts going ahead could influence fixed deposit pricing, according to Ashok Vaswani of Kotak Mahindra Bank. He notes challenges in deposit acquisition and growth strategy relying on innovation and digital platforms. The bank aims for long-term customer satisfaction, reduced complaints, and improved services despite global economic uncertainties and regulatory changes.

Tesla's entry into the Indian EV market faces significant challenges with established local players and global competitors like BYD considering manufacturing in India. BYD's potential move to set up a factory in Telangana could further shrink Tesla's prospects in a price-sensitive market.

Bureau of Indian Standards raided warehouses of Amazon and Flipkart in Delhi, seizing non-compliant items worth around $81,561 and $7,000 respectively. The action follows similar Tamil Nadu raids, highlighting increased scrutiny on the e-commerce giants for not meeting quality control standards, despite their claims of legal compliance.

Starlink is targeting India as a key market to expand its satellite broadband services, with the potential to gain 5.7 million new subscribers by 2030. As access to Russia and China is restricted, Indias large area and growing market offer a major opportunity for the company. Starlink plans to provide high-speed connectivity with significant capacity, but pricing may be higher than current broadband plans.

Commuters can now redeem loyalty points for free trips on the Namo Bharat trains on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor. Points are earned via QR tickets or National Common Mobility Cards, and can be accumulated and redeemed for trips, promoting a seamless and sustainable travel experience.

Several banks, including DCB Bank, Punjab & Sindh Bank, and AU Small Finance Bank, have revised their fixed deposit (FD) interest rates for amounts below Rs 3 crore in March. The highest interest rates offered reach up to 8.00% for general citizens and 8.50% for senior citizens across varying tenures.

POP has partnered with the contemporary fashion brand Saaki, co-founded by Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Sushruthi Krishna, to sell products using POPcoins. This exclusive collaboration aims to expand their customer base, reaching more women with empowering and stylish offerings. POPs currency can be redeemed across various brands, embracing a modern approach to loyalty programs.

India is developing an aircraft leasing ecosystem at the Gift City in Gujarat, with 200 planes already leased to various companies. The government aims to increase airline fleets, reduce leasing costs, and enhance competition to lower airfares.

Six mutual fund NFOs are currently open for subscription, including fund of funds, an arbitrage fund, an index fund, an overnight fund, and an ETF. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched two of these new offerings.

Royal Enfield has launched the Classic 650 Twin in India, adding to its 650cc lineup with a starting price of Rs 3.37 lakh. The motorcycle features a 648cc engine, modern and retro design elements, all-LED lighting, and dual-channel ABS, with multiple striking color options.