Usa Financial News

Leader of Opposition in the Upper House Mallikarjun Kharge asked the government the total expenditure incurred by Indian embassies on arrangements for the prime minister's foreign visits in the past three years. He also asked for visit-wise details of expenses under major heads such as hotel arrangements, community receptions, transport arrangements and other miscellaneous expenditures among others. The data on country-wise expenditure on foreign visits by the prime minister, including the expenditure on official, accompanying, security and media delegations, in 2022, 2023 and 2024 was shared in a tabulated form in his response. According to the data, an expenditure of Rs 22,89,68,509 was incurred on the visit of the prime minister to the US in June 2023, while the expenditure incurred was Rs 15,33,76,348 on the September 2024 visit to the same country.

Indian IT sector is experiencing a slowdown, and experts predict a longer period of moderate growth. Challenges from the global economy and technological changes are increasing risks to revenue. This weaker growth is expected to have a limited impact on the overall economy. Analysts note that growth is uneven across different IT companies, influenced by individual company circumstances. “Change in tech cycle is likely to create a transition phase for tech services companies (like 2016/17), causing growth to moderate in short term. We are lowering our dollar revenue growth forecasts by 100-200 bps and expect growth of 4.5% in FY26 and 6% in FY27 for large-cap IT companies,” analysts at Morgan Stanley reported. Jeffries, an investment firm, downgraded the IT sector due to growing concerns about the US economy. They cited a weaker US growth outlook and a declining US dollar, which could reduce a previous advantage for Indian IT firms related to currency exchange. Morgan Stanley added that while IT stocks have already declined, their valuations compared to the broader Indian stock market remain near their five-year average. They see potential risks to current revenue predictions and the possibility of lower valuations in the future.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have been shifting their focus from large-cap stocks to select smaller companies, reshaping investment patterns in the Indian market. In the December 2024 quarter, FIIs increased their stake in only nine Nifty 50 firms while trimming positions in the rest.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. America’s prodigious wealth and power are founded on two pillars: universities and businesses. The first produces the ideas, research and training that have made the country a Mecca for the world’s best minds.

University of Pennsylvania over its inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s college sports. The University of Pennsylvania’s campus, nestled in the heart of Philadelphia, is known for its academic excellence but now it is embroiled in a political showdown with the White House. On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced the suspension of $175 million in federal funding to the university over its policies regarding transgender athletes. ALSO READ: Why Trump did not meet Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore after they returned to Earth

AI for All' mantra is backed by concrete action with the country leading in AI skill penetration and talent concentration, Union Minister Jitin Prasada said on Thursday as he urged industry leaders to prioritise research and development (R&D) to capitalise on India's position as a global skill capital. Prasada, Union Minister of State for Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, was delivering a keynote address at the Nasscom Global Confluence 2025. «Our mantra 'AI for All' is backed by concrete action. India is number one in the world in AI skill penetration — the AI skill index even outstrips the US and Germany. »It's just not about numbers, it's about impact. As nations across the globe embrace digitalisation to modernise traditional sectors and fuel economic growth, India stands ready to be a strategic technology partner," the minister asserted.

Earlier this month, U.S. representatives prevented the World Bank-linked Climate Investment Funds (CIF) from approving a $500 million disbursement to South Africa, the report added. The funding was expected to unlock an additional $2.1 billion from multilateral development banks and other financial sources and a fresh attempt to approve the disbursement may be made at CIF meetings in June, the report said. CIF is one of the world's largest multilateral funds aimed at scaling climate solutions in developing countries. If confirmed, the move would be among several actions by former President Donald Trump's administration to scale back participation in multilateral climate initiatives.

Rafale fighters armed with hypersonic nuclear missiles by the middle of the next decade to counter what it believes is the Russian threat from the east. Just days after proposing a nuclear umbrella to Europe in the event of US President Donald Trump withdrawing from the NATO military alliance, French President Emmanuel Macron on March 18 announced that an air base near the German border will have Rafale F5 combat jets armed with Air-Sol Nucleaire de 4eme Generation (ASN4G) hypersonic nuclear missiles. «By 2035, Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur Air Base will be the first base to host the latest version of the Rafale fighter jet with a hypersonic nuclear missile, symbolising the renewal and modernisation of our nuclear deterrent forces that has begun.

No injuries were reported. The Houthis said they fired a ballistic missile at Israel's international airport, the second such attack since the United States began a new campaign of airstrikes against the rebels earlier this week. Over the decades, Israel has developed a sophisticated system capable of detecting incoming fire and deploying only if the projectile is headed toward a population center or sensitive military or civilian infrastructure. Israeli leaders say the system isn't 100% guaranteed, but credit it with preventing serious damage and countless casualties. Here's a closer look at Israel's multilayered air-defense system: The Arrow: This system developed with the U.S. is designed to intercept long-range missiles. The Arrow, which operates outside the atmosphere, has been used to intercept long-range missiles launched by the Houthis as well as those launched by Iran during two direct exchanges of fire last year.

XRP, the cryptocurrency associated with Ripple Labs, experienced a significant surge, reaching $2.52, following the US Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) decision to withdraw its appeal against the company. This development marks a pivotal victory for Ripple and has notably boosted investor confidence in XRP. The SEC initiated a lawsuit against Ripple in December 2020, alleging that the company had conducted an unregistered securities offering worth $1.3 billion through the sale of XRP tokens. This legal action had cast a long-standing shadow over XRP's market performance. However, the SEC's recent decision to drop its appeal effectively removes a major regulatory obstacle, allowing Ripple to operate with greater clarity and assurance.

World Happiness Report 2025 is out. And, surprise, surprise—Mexico and Canada, the two countries frequently targeted by US President Donald Trump, have been ranked much higher than the United States in terms of happiness. According to the UN-backed report, the United States is ranked 24th, while Canada stands at 18th. Surprisingly, Mexico has an even better ranking at 10th place. Notably, this marks the worst ranking for the US since the report's inception in 2012, when it achieved its peak ranking of 11th place. One of the biggest reasons for the decline in American happiness, according to the report, is eating meals alone. «The number of people dining alone in the United States has increased by 53 percent over the past two decades,» the authors stated, highlighting that shared meals are strongly linked to well-being. Data from 2023 showed that approximately 25% of Americans consumed all their daily meals alone.

Bitcoin Reserves are currently the talk of the town. These new-gen reserves around crypto assets shows the on-going paradigm shift in financial technology, and its adoption worldwide utilized in stabilizing national funds. Governments can now validate the proof of digital assets for the public and at the same time diversify portfolios, mitigating risks associated with traditional market risks. This approach has gained traction globally, with recent developments in the United States potentially influencing other nations and maybe can do the same in India.

The Trump administration appears to be breaking from that order, with foreign and economic policies that have challenged U.S. allies, undercut some multilateral institutions and used tactics such as tariffs. While it is unclear what will eventually emerge, interviews this month with more than a dozen senior bankers, investors and officials based in Asia showed that they are not waiting to find out. They are looking for an 'America plus 1' strategy, which reduces their reliance on the United States going forward.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways emphasized the nation's commitment to reducing logistics costs from the current 14-16 per cent to single digits, positioning India to compete effectively with global economic powerhouses like China and the US, at 32nd Convergence India & 10th Smart Cities India Expo. This year's expo features advancements in 5G & 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, IoT, Cybersecurity, Augmented & Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Embedded Tech, Fintech, Urban Mobility, and Smart City Solutions. Attendees will also have access to the latest developments in Digital Gaming, Mobile Devices & Accessories, OTT Platforms, Security & Surveillance, E-commerce, Mobile Apps, Drone Technology, and more.

According to UN-backed report, released Thursday, Finland maintained its position as the world's happiest nation for the eighth consecutive year, with its extensive lakes and robust social welfare system cited as key factors by residents and specialists. Afghanistan, facing severe humanitarian challenges since the Taliban's 2020 return to power, remained at the bottom of the global happiness rankings. The US descended to position 24, its poorest showing since the report's inception in 2012, when it had achieved its peak ranking of 11th place. One of the biggest reason for the fall in happiness of Americans, according to the report, is eating meals alone. «The number of people dining alone in the United States has increased 53 percent over the past two decades,» the authors stated, highlighting that shared meals «is strongly linked with well-being». Data from 2023 showed approximately 25% of Americans consumed all their daily meals alone.

Liqvd Asia, a digital-first advertising agency, has acquired AdLift, a performance marketing and SEO agency for Rs 50 crore. This move aims to reshape digital marketing and position Liqvd Asia as a force in integrated marketing, combining branding, content, SEO, and AI-driven performance marketing to deliver business impact. Founded in 2013, Liqvd Asia has built a reputation for digital branding and content-driven campaigns. By acquiring AdLift, known for data-driven performance marketing, the agency strengthens its position as a full-funnel marketing leader, offering clients ROI-driven strategies to maximise brand impact and growth.

«I am kind of glad that the correction happened. It was a little violent compared to what the market would have expected, but sanity seems to be coming back to some extent,» says Gautam Trivedi, Nepean Capital. Are the markers looking up? It has been a good rebound I would say for the last three days but do not know how long it is going to last. Gautam Trivedi: I still believe that we have seen a huge correction in the market and it was long overdue, people had been forecasting that for 6 to 12 months, and finally when it did happen, it did set up some degree of panic in the market. So, we are in a cyclical slowdown, not a structural one and people are relooking at earnings estimates that mean some downgrades have to come in and there are clearly a few sectors which QSR for example, building materials for example, a lot of these sectors are still struggling with overall sales growth.

Immigration Native Americans represent only 2% of the U.S. population, with the rest of the population having an immigration story. Trump himself has German ancestry on his father’s side, Melania is from Slovenia, Vice President JD Vance has Scots-Irish roots, and his wife is of Indian origin. America has always been a «melting pot,» attracting talent from around the world. The American dream has allowed for success stories like that of Arnold Schwarzenegger, an Austrian bodybuilder who became a leading actor and later California governor. What’s Changed?

Ajay Bagga, Market Expert, says it will not be very politically prudential or possible to bring the value chains back into the US. But when it is organised chaos and insanity as a stated policy, it is very difficult then for markets and it turns volatile. So, April 2nd is a very big event risk. That might just end with a whimper and get postponed for another three months, and that means volatility will again get enhanced. Yesterday, the Bank Global Manager survey showed 55% are putting the risk of a global recession because of Trump trade wars as the biggest risk. Bagga says by June, a bottom should be in place. Price wise, 21,800 was probably a bottom price level. Now from here, markets could go down in the very short term on some event risk, but fundamentally, we are better off than we were in September. Let us first address the big market setup. The markets are finally rebounding. Is relief finally on the anvil or there is more concern on the horizon? Have we bottomed out? Ajay Bagga: It is difficult to say that we have bottomed out but if we look at the macro, we are much better off than we were in September.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. It’s natural for Canada to respond to the barrage of U.S. tariffs by threatening retaliation.