Indian refiners IOC and BPCL have resumed buying Russian crude for September and October, despite US tariffs on Indian goods for purchasing Russian oil. The discounts have driven the refiners to continue relying on Russian supplies, despite pressure to reduce dependence. Oil prices remain stable as talks to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine progress.
India's services PMI rose to 59.8 in November, driven by new business growth. However, the composite PMI output index fell to 59.7. Employment in the services sector increased modestly, while backlogs remained stable. Services outpaced manufacturing, which saw a slowdown in growth and inflationary pressures. Input and output cost inflation also eased.
Indian rupee in free fall mode, hits historic low against Dollar. Depreciated by over 5% this year due to slowdown in capital inflows and limited RBI support. Adverse tariff actions by US and record-high metal and bullion prices worsen import bill. Soft FDI and external borrowings also contribute to rupee's weakness. All eyes on RBI MPC meeting for possible intervention.
Planks vs crunches: Which is better for fitness? A holistic approach to losing belly fat is more effective than just doing crunches. Planks are a better option as they activate the Transverse Abdominis, which targets the deep-seated layer of fat. Crunches, on the other hand, can lead to lower back strain and neck pain.
A semi-truck jackknifed across both lanes of a highway in Deschutes County, Oregon, late on November 24. The fatal crash killed two newlyweds. According to NY Post, an Indian national, Rajinder Kumar, 32, has been charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment.
Mahindra Lifespace Developers has secured a Rs 1,010 crore project for a residential redevelopment in Matunga, Mumbai. The project will cover 1.53 acres and prioritize sustainability and modern urban planning. The company aims to revamp the housing cluster into a modern community with better infrastructure and lifestyle facilities.
EAM Jaishankar warns US and Europe against restricting talent mobility in the name of immigration measures. He stresses on the need for a balance between demand and supply of skilled workers, and highlights the mutual benefits of talent migration. He also addresses concerns over backlash against immigration and urges countries to focus on creating opportunities rather than limiting talent pool.
A survey of 1,087 NRIs on the Blind shows that almost half of Indian tech workers on H-1B visas face racial discrimination in the workplace, hindering their career growth. This is most common at major tech companies, and while some deny its severity, others have personally experienced it.
Cyclone Ditwah causes heavy rainfall and chaos in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with the IMD issuing alerts. Many districts will experience strong rains and thunderstorms until December 3, causing waterlogging and school closures. The IMD has listed affected areas and cautioned of potential dangers. Chennai has deployed 22,000 personnel for relief efforts while Puducherry schools remain closed.
The highly-anticipated fifth season of Stranger Things broke Netflix viewership records, with 59.6 million views in just five days. This marks a 171% increase from the previous season, which had 22 million views. The final season is divided into three parts, with the finale being released on December 31st. The 2-hour and 5-minute finale will also have a limited theatrical release in North America.
Nuvama maintains a ‘Buy’ rating on Coromandel International, expecting 35.2% upside. The company plans to double its crop protection business to Rs 10,000 crore in five years, expand fertiliser capacity, and introduce new products. However, early H2FY26 volumes were soft, leading to pressure on profitability. The management also aims to create mega-brands and gain scale in the CDMO vertical.
The Delhi MCD by-election results saw the BJP winning 7 wards and AAP winning one, but the AIFB's Mohammad Imran's victory in Chandni Mahal has caught attention. Imran, a leader of a state party founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, defeated AAP's Mudassar Usman by 4,692 votes. The bypolls had a lower voter turnout compared to the 2022 MCD elections, with the next full elections due in
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India on December 4–5 for the 23rd India-Russia bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will be his first visit to India in four years. The trip is expected to open a new chapter in strategic relations between the two countries, with major agreements, meetings with business leaders, and a state banquet planned.
A pointed remark from Y Combinator President Garry Tan questioning the future of Zoho’s business turned into a heated exchange after Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu stepped in with a strong response.
Indian content creator Albeli Ritu has asked Indians in the US why they choose not to return to India and shared responses in an Instagram Reel. While for some it is greater consumer freedom, for others it is a better work-life balance. A few even mentioned work culture and safety for women. The video has gained popularity on Instagram.
The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Reliance Industries and its officials against a penalty imposed by SEBI for not disclosing information about the Jio-Facebook deal. The court upheld SEBI's findings that RIL and its compliance officers failed to disclose price-sensitive information. SAT also upheld the penalty, stating that the company should have promptly clarified the stock exchange.
Indian equity indices opened slightly higher on Wednesday, with the NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex showing a positive bias. The Bank Nifty also opened with a slight gain, while small and mid-cap stocks followed suit. The rupee's decline against the US Dollar remains a concern, but experts are optimistic that it will improve once the India-US trade situation improves.
Sabrina Carpenter criticised the White House for using her song 'Juno' in a video promoting ICE's actions. She condemned their inhumane agenda and urged them not to associate her music with it. This backlash is linked to Taylor Swift, who has also had her music used for Trump's posts. Other artists, like Olivia Rodrigo, have also spoken out against this.
Adani Group to invest $15 billion for airport expansion, targeting 200 million passengers by 2030 at Navi Mumbai Airport. Majority of funding through debt, with acquisition of India's top flight training and simulation provider. Aligns with India's plan for 400 airports.
President Trump criticized Somali immigrants for being dependent on US social safety nets and not contributing enough to the country. This follows a freeze on asylum decisions after a shooting in Washington. Trump has a history of targeting the Somali community, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, and has threatened to deport them.
BJP Telangana has accused CM Revanth Reddy of insulting Hindu Gods at a public event, claiming it reflects Congress's "Hinduphobic DNA". They call for a statewide protest against Reddy's "anti-Hindu stance" and urge Hindus to see the "reality of Congress". BJP has called for a statewide protest today against Telangana CM's remarks.
The government informed Parliament on Monday that flights operating near Delhi airport have faced incidents of GPS data manipulation, also known as GPS spoofing.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is recommending that the Trump administration increase the travel ban list from 19 countries to 30 or 32 nations, according to a CNN report. Nationals from these countries currently face restrictions on travel to the United States.
The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee meeting starts today and the decision on interest rates will be revealed by the RBI Governor on December 5 at 10:00 AM. Economists are split on whether the RBI will keep its neutral stance or decrease rates, due to the opposing factors of high GDP growth and low inflation.
OpenAI's chatbot, ChatGPT, experienced a global outage at around 1 am today, affecting users both in India and in the US. The company has since fixed the issue and is monitoring the recovery. During the downtime, users were unable to access their previous chats and received error messages.
Virat Kohli, who recently retired from Tests and T20Is, will be playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi. This will be his first appearance since 2010. He has confirmed his availability to the DDCA and will play all matches in Karnataka. With an impressive record of 56 centuries and 83 fifties in List-A matches.
Major companies have announced updates in fundraising, regulatory actions, project orders, and partnerships, drawing market attention. The Sensex and Nifty closed weak, with State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank identified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks. Canara Bank raised Rs 3,500 crore through Additional Tier-I bonds.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies saw a surge in value, with smaller coins rising over 10%, after a recent sharp drop that wiped out nearly $1 billion in new bets. Positive developments, such as an "innovation exemption" and Vanguard's announcement to allow crypto trading, fueled the rally. However, traders remain cautious as the overall market sentiment remains fragile.
The Trump administration has put a full pause on immigration applications from people in 19 countries that were already under travel restrictions earlier this year, The New York Times reported
The man accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, DC, last week has now been charged with first-degree murder and several other serious gun and assault charges, Axios reported. The details were shared in court documents filed on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump has said that he is cancelling every document that former President Joe Biden signed using an autopen. This includes pardons, commutations, executive orders and any other official papers. He made the announcement on Tuesday in a post on Truth Social.
PRI aims to cater to the evolving preferences of consumers by introducing Xclamation, a premium multi-category range for Gen Z. The sale of Imperial Blue is in line with their strategy of premiumisation, and they anticipate significant growth in the future. The company is also investing in a new malt distillery and advocates for fair taxation policies.
Maruti Suzuki, India's largest carmaker, aims to establish 1 lakh EV charging points by 2030 in partnership with 13 operators. They have already installed 2,000 exclusive charging points in 1,100 cities, with a focus on highways and expressways.
The government has no plans to increase the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in public sector banks (PSBs) from 20% to 49%, according to Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. The current FDI caps stand at 20% for PSBs and 74% for private banks, with up to 49% allowed automatically in the latter.
Bata India is defying its legal battle with Crocs Inc. by expanding its Floatz brand, which has contributed 15% of its revenue. The company plans to open more exclusive outlets and expand globally. Despite the ongoing dispute, Bata has invested in new product ranges, including Disney and Marvel-themed editions, and assures that it has not affected its business planning or supply.
The two-wheeler industry saw a 21% rise in sales in November, with all major manufacturers except Bajaj Auto reporting strong double-digit growth. Hero MotoCorp remained the top seller with a 30% increase in sales. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Suzuki Motorcycle India also saw a 23% rise in sales.
In the largest SGS auction of Q3FY26, 13 states raised Rs 29,725 crore, 41.5% higher than initially indicated, reflecting renewed funding needs. Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA, noted that SGS cut-offs have hardened despite a slight decline in tenor, with the 10-year G-Sec softening to 6.51%. Venkatakrishnan Srinivasan, founder of Rockfort Fincap
Wakefit Innovations, India's biggest D2C home furnishings company, is set to take on Ikea in the local market through its IPO and expansion strategies. With plans to open large stores featuring home furnishings in Bangalore and backed by Peak XV, the firm offers a wide range of home solutions. The IPO bidding period is from December 8 to 10, with analysts having mixed opinions on its success.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance suggests making the National Statistical Commission (NSC) an autonomous body with legal provisions to enhance the trustworthiness and accuracy of India's statistics. The committee's 27th report emphasizes that the NSC lacks statutory support and enforcement capability, hindering its full potential.
The government is considering allowing farmers and those in cottage industries to form limited liability partnerships (LLPs) to take advantage of light-touch regulations. A proposed amendment to the LLP Act would allow primary producers to bypass the traditional process of creating producer companies and reduce compliance burden.
Industry body PHDCCI has requested the re-introduction of a 15% concessional tax rate for new manufacturing units in the upcoming Budget. This would provide a major incentive for foreign companies to invest in India. The body also suggested reducing tax rates for individuals and firms, which would increase compliance and tax buoyancy.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed the importance of collaboration in tax matters as new financial products and digital economies emerge. She highlighted the significance of beneficial ownership, confidentiality, and cybersecurity.
Bulgarian Gen Z protesters demand government resignation and fight against corruption, sparked by controversial budget plan and decision to adopt Euro. Organized through social media, youth fear taxes, limited opportunities, and corruption may push them to emigrate. Similar protests seen in other countries.
Car manufacturers are offering less discounts this December due to high demand and low inventory levels caused by GST 2.0 price reset. Dealers are operating with tighter supply and discounts are only available on slower-moving models and pre-facelift variants.
Meesho, a SoftBank-backed e-commerce firm, has received a massive response from anchor investors, with over Rs 2,439 crore raised from 60 investors including SBI Mutual Fund, Fidelity Funds, and BlackRock. The company aims to raise Rs 5,421 crore through its IPO, with a price band of Rs 105-111 per share.
President Trump's health has been a topic of debate after reports of fatigue and age-related health concerns. However, the White House released logs showing the President worked up to 12 hours a day last month, with a packed schedule including trade and immigration reforms, international calls, and overseeing renovations.
A video of an Indian woman kissing an underage Polish boy has sparked debates on cultural norms, boundaries, and legal consequences. The woman, believed to be Malayali, faces charges of sexual harassment by Polish authorities. Netizens have conflicting views, with some defending the woman's actions as motherly affection while others criticize it as "dumbness" and "white skin fetish".
Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to India will address the trade deficit, maintain oil trade, and deepen cooperation in nuclear power and defence. Business partnerships and agreements will be signed to increase India's exports to Russia. Discussions will also focus on expanding the Kudankulam nuclear project and potential deals for S-400 missiles and SU-57 stealth fighters.
Apple and Samsung have raised objections to the compulsory installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on new smartphones and suggested promoting it for voluntary downloads instead. The government has clarified that the app is optional, but opposition parties and the industry still have concerns about it being a "snooping app" and creating operational challenges.
RBI likely to conduct OMOs worth Rs 1.5-2 lakh crore by March 2026, say economists. Market participants seek clarity on liquidity management in upcoming policy. Core liquidity surplus expected to dip below 1% of NDTL in Q4FY26, RBI may need to infuse Rs 2 lakh crore to prevent this. Experts predict OMOs worth Rs 2 lakh crore in Q4, RBI may intervene to defend rupee. HSBC expects
FICCI's new president, Anant Goenka, is focused on increasing manufacturing's GDP share to 25%, promoting R&D and innovation, maximizing new-age FTAs, driving sustainability, skilling, and global competitiveness. The economy is expected to grow by 7% in FY26, supported by measures such as tax relief and GST cuts.