The Economic Times

Bihar's new microfinance law could stall the sector's rebound. The state assembly passed a bill regulating money lending, a move that may push up loan defaults, echoing issues seen in other states. Lenders are prioritizing borrower engagement to curb repayment delays, and the industry aims to reassure borrowers while safeguarding asset quality.

IIFL Home Finance has secured a $300 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to expand affordable housing lending for low-income families, with a special emphasis on women. A portion of the funds will back green-certified, energy-efficient homes, helping address India's substantial housing shortage and extending homeownership to underserved communities nationwide.

Indian equities closed February on a weaker note as the Sensex and Nifty slipped, led by a sharp drop in IT shares amid concerns about AI-driven disruptions. Foreign institutional buyers returned, but domestic institutional purchases slowed. Geopolitical tensions and rich valuations kept risk sentiment under pressure, with analysts forecasting a continued uneasy tone in the near term.