India Financial News

West Bengal government has imposed a ban on Holi celebrations at Sonajhuri Haat in Santiniketan’s Birbhum district. Officials have cited concerns over potential damage to the lush green cover of the area. The marketplace, a major draw for tourists, is located near Visva Bharati University, which holds UNESCO World Heritage status.

Jaggery and honey are often considered healthier alternatives to white sugar. Jaggery, a natural sweetener rich in iron, minerals, and antioxidants, is known to boost immunity, aid digestion, and detoxify the liver. It also helps prevent anaemia and provides a steady energy release without causing sudden sugar spikes. Regular consumption of jaggery is believed to improve haemoglobin levels and naturally cleanse the liver. However, recent reports suggest that adulterated jaggery sold in markets could pose serious health risks.

Blackstone chairman and CEO Stephen Schwarzman believes the new US tariff regime has the potential to boost growth and strengthen American consumption demand by attracting foreign investment. Speaking during his visit to India to mark Blackstone’s 20th anniversary in the country, Schwarzman discussed global trade, US policy, and India’s economic prospects. Addressing concerns about the impact of reciprocal tariffs on the US economy, he said that while input costs for American businesses may rise, the policy is already stimulating large-scale inbound investments.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India’s insurance industry is growing rapidly, supported by robust economic growth, an expanding middle class, innovation and strong regulatory support. According to data from the Swiss Re Institute, total insurance premium collections are projected to grow by 7.1% over the next five years (2024–2028).

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. CG Power is riding India’s infrastructure boom. The engineering giant just secured a ₹450 crore contract to supply key components for the Vande Bharat trainsets—pushing its stock higher and solidifying its growing dominance in the railway sector.

SBI research ecowrap predicts 75 basis points rate cut this fiscal. Experts believe that CPI inflation will be 3.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of FY25 and will average at 4.7 per cent for the entire year. However, looking ahead to FY26, inflation is expected to remain between 4.0 per cent and 4.2 per cent, with core inflation ranging from 4.2 per cent to 4.4 per cent. Given this trend, analysts anticipate at least a 75-basis-point rate cut during this cycle, with back-to-back reductions expected in April and June 2025. Another round of rate cuts could follow in October 2025. «With benign inflation this month and going forward, we expect a cumulative rate cut over the cycle could be at least 75 basis points, with successive rate cuts in next policy April and June 2025. With an intervening gap in Aug'25, the rate cuts cycle could restart from Oct'25, says the report. India's consumer price index (CPI) inflation dropped to a seven-month low of 3.6 per cent in February 2025, mainly due to a sharp decline in food prices.

Prestige Estates Projects Ltd.(up 1.94 per cent) and Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd.(up 1.82 per cent) were among the top gainers.

Benchmark NSE Nifty index rose 32.0 points to 22502.5 amid buying in frontline bluechip stocks.

mutual fund SIP stoppage ratio surged to 122.76% in February, up from 109.15% in January 2025, indicating that more investors chose to discontinue their SIPs or that their SIP tenure ended, rather than starting new investments. In February, the number of SIPs discontinued or completed stood at 54.70 lakh, while the number of new SIPs registered was 44.56 lakh. For the first 11 months of the current financial year, the SIP stoppage ratio was recorded at 72.32%, with 462.62 lakh SIPs discontinued and 639.66 lakh new SIPs registered. In contrast, the stoppage ratio for FY24 was 52.41%, according to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).

Lilavati Hospital, one of the country’s most reputed healthcare institutions, is at the centre of an explosive controversy. The Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust (LKMMT), which runs the hospital, has accused its former trustees of siphoning off over Rs 1,500 crore through fraudulent transactions, kickbacks, and illegal offshore deals. But it doesn’t end there. The trust has also alleged that black magic rituals were conducted within the hospital premises, with human remains discovered beneath the floor of the current trustees' office. The accusations, bizarre yet serious, have resulted in multiple FIRs and a growing legal battle.

Rama Phosphates Ltd.(up 3.36%), Bohra Industries Ltd.(up 2.00%), Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation Ltd.(up 1.74%), Madras Fertilizers Ltd.(up 1.54%), Paradeep Phosphates Ltd.(up 1.53%), Coromandel International Ltd.(up 1.49%), Gujarat State Fertilizer & Chemicals Ltd.(up 1.40%), Agro Phos India Ltd.(up 1.20%), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.(up 1.19%) and Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd.(up 0.99%) were among the top gainers.

Stocks that rallied over 10% included, MTNL(13.89%), Everlon Synth(12.77%), Hitech Corporation (12.17%), Shriram EPC(11.89%), Disha Resources (11.83%), Ras Resorts(11.06%), Fairchem Organics(10.82%) and Soni Medicare(10.00%).

TVS Motor Company Ltd.(up 0.74 per cent), Ashok Leyland Ltd.(up 0.64 per cent), Exide Industries Ltd.(up 0.21 per cent), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.(up 0.17 per cent) and Balkrishna Industries Ltd.(up 0.15 per cent) were among the top gainers.

On the BSE, Integra Capital(down 17.17 per cent), Aadi Industries Ltd.(down 12.60 per cent), Looks Health Services(down 11.82 per cent), Olympic Cards(down 11.56 per cent) and Spenta Intnl(down 10.25 per cent) were among the stocks that plunged over 5 per cent during the session.

Anand Mahindra reflected on his past interaction with Mark Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister-designate, recalling a meeting at the Mahindra headquarters in Mumbai in 2017. At the time, Carney was serving as the Governor of the Bank of England and was part of a delegation led by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mahindra described Carney as an intellectual with a sharp wit, someone who balances intelligence with a straightforward and pragmatic approach. As Carney prepares to take on the leadership of Canada, Mahindra acknowledged the immense challenges ahead, particularly in today’s complex global landscape. However, he expressed confidence in Carney’s ability to navigate the responsibilities of the role effectively.

Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities Ltd.(up 5.13%), Umang Dairies Ltd.(up 3.47%), Varun Beverages Ltd.(up 2.70%), Vadilal Industries Ltd.(up 1.65%), Nakoda Group Of Industries Ltd.(up 1.62%), Nakoda Group Of Industries Ltd.(up 1.62%), JHS Svendgaard Laboratories Ltd.(up 1.52%), Parag Milk Foods Ltd.(up 1.24%), Dodla Dairy Ltd.(up 1.20%) and Tata Consumer Products Ltd.(up 0.96%) were among the top gainers.

The Nifty future closed in the negative with a loss of 0.17% at 22527 levels on Wednesday. India VIX fell 2.7% to close at 13.69 in the previous session.

generic drugs to a higher risk of serious side effects in the US has drawn backlash from the industry’s most influential lobby group, as India moves to defend its dominant market share amid trade tensions under President Donald Trump. The study, which analyzed more than 2,400 drugs sold in the US between 2009 and 2018, found that Indian generics were associated with a 54% greater risk of serious adverse events — including hospitalization, disability, and death — compared with equivalent domestically made medicines. The research links operations and supply chain issues in the manufacturing process as “most likely” explaining the findings. Published last month in the journal Production and Operations Management, the findings prompted a three-page statement from the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which represents two dozen of the country’s largest drugmakers.

Milan Parikh, Managing Director, Jainam Broking Ltd. In an interview with ETMarkets, Parikh said: “AI will not replace traders but will enhance their ability to make faster, more informed, and data-backed decisions. Those who integrate AI into their trading process will have a clear edge in today’s evolving markets,” Edited excerpts:

JSW Energy will remain in focus on Thursday, March 13, after the company’s subsidiary JSW Neo Energy has entered into a share purchase agreement (SPA) for a 100% stake acquisition of Virya Infrapower Private Limited. Post this acquisition, Virya Infrapower will become a step-down subsidiary of the company.

Global trade is forecast to grow, albeit less robustly, as the world reacts to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies, Germany's DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer told Reuters on Wednesday. «That outlook is mainly based on the 75% of global trade that does not touch the U.S.,» said Meyer, who noted that segment is seeing positive momentum. The global goods trade is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 3.1% from 2024 to 2029, a modestly faster pace than during the preceding decade, according to the DHL Trade Atlas 2025 prepared by delivery firm and New York University's Stern School of Business.