India Financial News

Are you a landlord who earns rental income from commercial properties? If your earnings cross a certain threshold a year, you may have to register for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and start charging tax on rent. 

Donald Trump has once again criticised India’s trade policies, calling it a «very high tariff nation» and warning that reciprocal tariffs will come into effect on April 2. Speaking at an Oval Office event on Thursday, Trump described the upcoming levies as «the big one» among the many duties his administration has planned. India is expected to be hit particularly hard by these measures due to its high tariffs compared to the US. The comments come as Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in Washington for discussions with Trump administration officials on trade policy between the two nations. Trump, known for his strong stance on trade, has repeatedly accused India of imposing unfair trade barriers that hurt American businesses. He has previously called India the «biggest tariff abuser» and the «tariff king.»

high-quality stocks at a discount, believing in their long-term potential. But what exactly makes certain stocks stand out during downturns? The answer lies in trust and fundamentals. Some investors rely on strong financials, visionary leadership, and robust management when selecting stocks. Others gravitate toward legacy brands that have consistently weathered market turbulence.

Aswath Damodaran, a professor of finance at New York University. In his latest analysis of global cash return policies, Damodaran found that Indian firms distributed just 31.1% of their earnings in the form of dividends and stock buybacks—far lower than their global peers. While one can argue that this signals a strong reinvestment cycle fueling long-term expansion, it can also be seen as a symptom of weak shareholder rights and management’s reluctance to part with excess cash.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. This week, the new US president addressed the US Congress in what turned out to be the longest speech in history. Apart from talking about immigration, geopolitical conflicts and making America great again, Donald Trump reiterated his strong stance on tariffs.

S Jaishankar during a discussion at Chatham House in London. The shift, largely driven by US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, is helping reshape global alliances. “If I were to look at the big priorities of this president, many of them work for us,” Jaishankar stated. “He seems to be committed to keeping energy prices reasonably affordable and stable—we welcome that. He is putting a lot of emphasis on tech and on the use of tech as a game changer in global politics. That offers a lot of possibilities for us.” Jaishankar noted that the US administration under Trump is actively moving towards multipolarity, a shift that aligns with India’s vision for the future. “We see a president and an administration moving towards multipolarity, and that is something which suits India.”

Zakir Naik, a polarizing Islamic preacher who is facing legal action in India over allegations of financial misconduct and promoting radical ideologies through inflammatory speeches. Hafeez went a step further by uploading images from their encounter on social media, a move that sparked widespread criticism and disappointment among netizens. As soon as the images surfaced online, social media users expressed strong disapproval. One individual, voicing their frustration, sarcastically remarked, «No surprise that your cricket is in shambles.» Another person provided a more pointed critique, highlighting the broader implications of Hafeez’s association with Naik. «This is exactly why the Indian cricket team and government are reluctant to visit Pakistan,» they commented. «The man in your picture is a fugitive wanted by Indian law enforcement.» Despite the backlash, Hafeez had shared the pictures with enthusiasm, captioning them with, «It was a pleasure meeting Zakir Naik.» In one image, Hafeez is seen standing beside Naik, dressed in a traditional brown kurta pajama. Another photograph captures them seated at a restaurant, with Hafeez appearing in a casual T-shirt. However, rather than receiving positive engagement, the post ignited a wave of online outrage.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Investors on the hunt for high-growth opportunities know that picking the right stocks is more than just chasing short-term gains—it's about identifying businesses with strong fundamentals, industry tailwinds, and the ability to scale over time. As India’s economy surges toward the $5 trillion mark, key sectors like renewable energy, healthcare, digital infrastructure, and technology are presenting massive wealth-creation opportunities.

Karnataka government has proposed three potential locations for Bengaluru’s second international airport. The proposal was sent to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday, outlining the sites around Bengaluru where the new airport could be built, a Deccan Herald report stated.

Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). The study reveals a significant rise in the assets under management (AUM) held by women in mutual funds for over five years, increasing from 8.8% in March 2019 to 21.3% in March 2024. In comparison, male investors' long-term holdings grew from 8.2% to 19.9% during the same period. The number of women investors holding mutual fund investments for less than a year decreased from 40.5% to 25.4% between 2019 and 2024. For male investors, this short-term holding percentage declined from 42.1% to 27%. This data indicates a stronger inclination among women to maintain their investments over longer periods compared to men. Also Read | Midcap stocks down 20% from peak. What should mutual fund investors do?

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A recent news story in a prominent US daily reported that a number of non-profits in Washington DC are distributing robotic pets to residents aged 60 and older in some areas of the city to ease their loneliness and isolation. While in the US, about 28% of people aged 65 and older live by themselves, the number in that age group is projected to increase to 82 million by 2050, which will be 23% of the total population.

Wang Yi stated, «China has always believed that being mutually supportive partners and achieving the 'Dragon and Elephant Dance' is the only correct choice for both sides.» Over the past year, relations between the two countries have seen positive developments. A key moment was the October 2024 meeting in Kazan, Russia, where Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks that provided strategic direction for improving ties. «China-India relations have made positive strides over the past year,» Wang said. Both sides have since actively followed through on their commitments, strengthening diplomatic engagement and practical cooperation at multiple levels.

By Sunil C, Country Manager, Adecco India

Nuvama Institutional Equities has initiated coverage on Afcons Infrastructure Ltd (AIL) with a ‘buy’ rating and a target price of Rs 535, as it believes that the company is ‘in a league of its own’. The target price given by the brokerage firm implies a 23% upside potential from current levels.

An equal-weighted basket of China’s seven tech heavyweights including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. — dubbed the “7 titans” by Societe Generale SA — has gained more than 40% this year. That compares with an about 10% drop in an index of the Magnificent Seven stocks, whose slump has also pushed the Nasdaq 100 Index to the brink of a correction.

BJP MLA from Shalimar Bagh, Rekha Gupta, who recently became Delhi’s fourth woman Chief Minister and the second woman CM from the BJP, spoke about her plans for the city at the India Today Conclave. CM Gupta on Friday, highlighted key projects her government is working on to improve Delhi’s environment, water management, and infrastructure.

Bohra Industries Ltd.(up 4.98%), Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd.(up 3.87%), Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd.(up 3.22%), Aries Agro Ltd.(up 3.10%), The Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd.(up 3.04%), Gujarat State Fertilizer & Chemicals Ltd.(up 2.93%), Khaitan Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.(up 2.78%), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.(up 2.71%), Madras Fertilizers Ltd.(up 2.39%) and National Fertilizers Ltd.(up 2.31%) were among the top gainers.

AFP Sport looks at five key factors that could decide the fate of the title clash.

Fake news clippings and ads featuring singer Shreya Ghoshal are surfacing on social media platform X, with sensational headlines and misleading website links. These posts also display logos of news publications such as The Indian Express. Sandeep Mittal, additional director general of police, cyber crime wing, Tamil Nadu, warned on X, “Verified @X Handles, having 10 to 15 followers, promoting Shreya Ghoshal Ads are scam traps to lure public into cyber scams. Be alert, be safe……”