Amid escalating US-China trade tensions, gold prices have surged to unprecedented levels, exceeding $3,300 per ounce internationally and nearing Rs 1 lakh per 10 grams in India. This surge, driven by safe-haven demand, has dampened consumer appetite, with gold selling at a discount.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced a hold on interest rate changes, awaiting clarity on President Trump's economic policies. Uncertainty surrounds immigration, tax policy, regulation, and trade tariffs. While tariffs are expected to cause short-lived inflation and slower growth, opinions diverge among Fed officials. Some, like Waller, downplay long-term tariff impacts, while others prioritize inflation control.
India's goods exports marginally increased to $437.4 billion in 2024-25, possibly influenced by anticipatory shipments before potential US tariffs. Despite global challenges, total goods and services exports rose by 6% to $820 billion, with non-oil exports reaching a record $374 billion. Engineering and electronics exports saw significant growth, highlighting India's resilience in a tough economic climate.
India's retail inflation hit a 5-year low of 3.3% in March, driven by significantly lower food prices. This development is expected to prompt the RBI to cut interest rates to bolster growth amid global economic uncertainties. Experts anticipate retail inflation to remain stable, although geopolitical tensions and weather events require monitoring.
Nvidia is set to manufacture up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure within the US over the next four years through strategic partnerships. Production of their Blackwell AI chip has commenced at TSMC's Phoenix facility. This initiative marks the first instance of AI supercomputer production in the United States, a move attributed to tariffs by President Trump.
Aarthi Subramanian is poised to become TCS's first woman COO and the first woman C-suite executive at a major Indian IT firm, marking a significant milestone for gender diversity in the industry. Having served as the group chief digital officer at Tata Sons, she brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of TCS to her new role.
Technology stocks surged following a temporary pause in tariffs on phones, computers, and consumer electronics, announced by the Trump administration. Apple shares notably climbed, and Asian tech stocks experienced a boost. Despite the positive market reaction, officials cautioned that tech tariffs are still anticipated in the near future, creating uncertainty about ongoing trade negotiations with China.
Equity markets are bracing for a volatile, holiday-shortened week, influenced by US-China trade war developments and key Q4 earnings from Indian giants like Wipro and Infosys. Investors will closely monitor global cues, foreign investor activity, and inflation data. Market sentiment will also be affected by rupee-dollar movements and Brent crude oil prices amid significant global economic data releases.
During a holiday-shortened week, five of India's top ten companies saw their combined market valuation increase by ₹84,559.01 crore, even as the broader market experienced a slight decline. Hindustan Unilever emerged as the top gainer, while Reliance Industries maintained its position as the most valued Indian company. TCS experienced the steepest drop in market capitalization among the decliners.
Foreign Portfolio Investors have withdrawn a significant Rs 31,575 crore from Indian equity markets in April, influenced by global uncertainties arising from US tariffs. This outflow contributes to a total of Rs 1.48 lakh crore withdrawn in 2025. Experts suggest that India's strong fundamentals and potential for growth may attract FPIs back once global market turbulence subsides.
Bitcoin surged over 7% to $82,350 after former President Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs. The move boosted investor confidence, causing a rally in the broader crypto market, with Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Solana all gaining. Despite this short-term boost, experts caution that market uncertainty remains, with Bitcoin down 12% year-to-date.
Donald Trump said that he's backing down on most nations' tariffs for 90 days amid market meltdown, but he's raising China tariffs. Market participants have been urging Trump to reduce tariffs, as economists warn that these measures could trigger a worldwide economic downturn and push prices higher.
After Monday's significant losses, the Indian stock market rebounded strongly, fueled by positive global cues and short covering. The Sensex surged by 1.5%, and the Nifty by 1.7%, adding substantial wealth to investors. However, analysts advise caution, citing ongoing trade negotiations and FPI selling, with RBI's interest rate decision expected to influence future trading.
The Indian government is closely monitoring import surges, particularly from China and Vietnam, following global trade shifts triggered by reciprocal tariffs. An inter-ministerial group has been formed to track imports of consumer goods, electronics, chemicals, and steel. Simultaneously, efforts are being intensified to support exporters by exploring new markets and negotiating free trade agreements with key countries.
Indian stocks with significant US market exposure are facing heavy selling pressure amid growing recession fears in the US and a potential global slowdown. Concerns over high US import tariffs and retaliatory measures are impacting sectors like auto, metals, software, and pharma.
The government has increased LPG prices for all categories, including Ujjwala beneficiaries, and raised the special additional excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre.
Foreign investors withdrew Rs 10,355 crore from India's equity markets in the last four trading sessions this month due to the US imposing sweeping tariffs, including on India. This outflow followed a significant net investment of Rs 30,927 crore during the six trading sessions from March 21 to March 28.
Economists predict the RBI will lower interest rates by 25 basis points during its three-day monetary policy meeting. Falling inflation, easing growth, and lower crude oil prices are creating room for this move. Additionally, a shift towards an 'accommodative' policy stance is expected.
Jaguar Land Rover is pausing shipments to the US in response to a new 25% tariff on vehicle imports imposed by the Trump administration. The company is reassessing its trading strategies to adapt to the new tariffs. In the past year, nearly a quarter of JLR's 430,000 vehicle sales were in North America.
Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal has announced that a significant part of the Rs 10,000 crore second fund of funds for startups will support seed funding of smaller players to drive deep-tech innovation. Sidbi, a government financial institution, will administer this fund with a Rs 2,000 crore allocation for the year.
To counter Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs, Indian companies, including Apple, significantly boosted goods exports to the US, close to last year's $437 billion target. Sectors like electronics, gems, and apparel saw a marked increase in shipments. India's total goods and services exports reached an estimated $800 billion for the fiscal year, with hopes of reduced uncertainty ahead.
Delhivery is acquiring Ecom Express for ₹1,407 crore in an all-cash deal, marking a significant consolidation in the logistics sector. This move follows challenges faced by Ecom Express, which had to stall its public listing plans and lay off hundreds of employees.
Dalal Street saw a significant decline as the escalating trade war caused investor sentiment to fall. US tariffs led to a 34% retaliatory tariff by China, resulting in a sharp decrease in sensex and Nifty, with intense selling affecting auto, metal, and pharma stocks.
Oil prices hit their lowest since mid-2021, influenced by China's tariff retaliation against the US and OPEC+'s decision to increase production. This decline offers India an opportunity to lower fuel prices, easing inflationary pressures and reducing import costs. Lower fuel costs could benefit the economy and households.
Global stock markets continued their steep decline as China retaliated against US tariffs, escalating fears of a prolonged trade war. The Dow Jones tumbled, with significant losses for tech companies like Apple and Tesla. Concerns about a potential recession grew, despite positive US job growth. Investors remain anxious about long-term economic impacts.
Aditya Birla Group's UltraTech Cement is set to acquire Wonder Cement's white cement business for Rs 235 crore. This acquisition will enhance UltraTech's production capacity, leveraging Wonder Cement's strategically located plant and booming turnover in the competitive putty manufacturing market.
US President Donald Trump announced new reciprocal tariffs to counter high duties charged on US goods by foreign countries. With tariffs on countries like China, India, and the EU, the move aims to rebalance trade.
Ratan Tata, who passed away in October 2024, left nearly Rs 3.5 crore for his house helps and office staff, waived off their loans, and ensured his belongings benefited the underprivileged. He bequeathed substantial amounts to his long-time cook, butler, and driver, canceled loans, and directed funds for his executors and domestic servants.
The Indian government is closely monitoring the US reciprocal tariffs, which are expected to impact exports and demand. Trade experts anticipate higher duties on Indian goods, including agricultural products, to be a strategic move by the US in bilateral talks. India plans to push forward with trade negotiations to counter the tariff impacts.
Mobile phone manufacturers like Foxconn and the Tata group have urged the Indian government to reduce import duties from the US to 0%, fearing business loss to China and Vietnam if reciprocal tariffs are imposed. The companies emphasize an urgent bilateral agreement with the US, highlighting the potential shift in production locations if tariffs increase.
India's public sector banks are expected to see a significant profit boost due to a new RBI directive. This allows banks to book profits on security receipts from bad loans sold to NARCL, potentially adding Rs 20,000 crore to their earnings. The change increases liquidity and acknowledges the value of government-backed SRs.
Venture capital fund Cedar-IBSi Capital forecasts USD 1 billion investment in India's BankTech sector by 2027, highlighting its role in achieving a USD 7 trillion GDP target by 2030. Founder Sahil Anand underscores digital transformation in banking, emphasizing technology's impact on financial inclusion. The fund plans to back 10–15 early-stage startups within this transformative sector.
PC Jeweller Ltd has significantly reduced its bank loans to approximately Rs 1,800 crore in the current fiscal year, aiming to become debt-free by March next year. The company saw a strong sales rebound and is planning to raise over Rs 1,500 crore through a preferential issue of warrants in the next fiscal year.
FIIs were net sellers of Rs 1,27,401 crore in FY2025, but selling eased in March. DIIs bought Rs 6,06,368 crore throughout the year. The change in FII strategy in March contributed to Nifty's gains. SEBI's new threshold for beneficial ownership disclosures and RBI's increased investment cap aim to boost market liquidity.
Banks have expanded their loan book by 9.3% with an additional Rs 15.3 lakh crore in the first 11 months of the financial year. Personal loans accounted for the largest share, with housing loans contributing significantly. Agriculture and vehicle loans also saw notable growth.
Indian companies raised a record Rs 3.8 lakh crore in FY25 through IPOs and QIPs, apart from debt. Including rights offers, total funds raised approached Rs 3.9 lakh crore. Major IPOs included Hyundai Motor, Swiggy, and NTPC Green Energy. Debt instruments raised Rs 11.1 lakh crore. Strong listing gains and institutional support boosted fund-raising.
Investment platform Groww is set to raise about $250 million in a pre-IPO funding led by Singapore's GIC, boosting its valuation to $6.8 billion. The Bengaluru-based company aims to go public by December, targeting a valuation between $6 billion and $8 billion. Groww has rapidly expanded its financial services and increased its revenue significantly.
Amid escalating US-China trade tensions, gold prices have surged to unprecedented levels, exceeding $3,300 per ounce internationally and nea...
