With tensions escalating in West Asia, the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday said it is closely tracking the situation but cautioned that it is “too early to assess the economic impact on the region and the global economy,” as disruptions to trade and energy markets intensify.In a statement, the IMF said it has “observed disruptions […]
Basmati exports hit by Middle East war as 4 lakh metric tonnes pile up at ports
A sharp escalation in the Middle East conflict has choked India’s basmati rice shipments, leaving nearly 400,000 metric tons stranded at ports and in transit, while new export deals have come to a halt as freight rates have more than doubled since the US and Israel attacked Iran over the weekend, trade officials told Reuters.India, […]
Brent crude oil crosses $85, highest since July 2024 amid Strait of Hormuz supply route disruption
Oil prices spiked sharply on Tuesday as the Iran war disrupted supplies, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and key energy infrastructure hit, AFP reported.The Brent North Sea crude contract, the international benchmark, jumped more than eight per cent to $85.12 a barrel, its highest level since July 2024.The main US oil contract, West […]
Government monitors West Asia tensions via ‘inter-ministerial group’ to assess trade impact
Image used for representative purposes NEW DELHI: Amid the escalating tensions in the West Asia region, the Indian govt has set up an inter-ministerial group that’s monitoring the situation particulary to assess any hurdles in India’s trade and shipping.“We have set up an inter-ministerial group that meets on a daily basis and is closely monitoring […]
AI, IT gains lift India’s white-collar hiring 12% in February: Report
India’s white-collar job market grew 12 per cent year-on-year in February, driven by rising adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and a recovery in the IT sector, according to the latest Naukri JobSpeak Index report.The index rose to 3,233 points in February 2026 from 2,890 points in February 2025, marking the strongest February performance in recent […]
Government assures ‘robust energy supplies’ amid Middle East crisis, 24×7 control rooms set up
Hardeep Singh Puri chairs meeting with media fraternity and petroleum ministry officials NEW DELHI: Amid concerns over oil supply concerns due to Middle East tensions , govt assured that India has enough reserves for “robust” energy supplies to deal with the situation.“Held a very positive informal interaction with members of the media fraternity to brief […]
Japan in talks with India to explore rare earth deposits amid China supply concerns
Japan is in discussions with India to jointly explore rare earth deposits in Rajasthan as Tokyo looks to reduce its dependence on China for critical minerals used in magnet manufacturing, Reuters reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.Last month, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy said three hard rock rare earth deposits containing 1.29 million […]
Middle east crisis: GCCs may see short-term hit; here’s why India might ultimately win
As Middle East tensions continue to intensify, India’s global capability center (GCC) landscape could face some temporary headwinds. Experts, however, said that the country may ultimately gain as companies prioritise stability in their global operations. Multinational corporations including Microsoft, Visa, Intel, Qualcomm, Siemens Healthineers, DHL, Nokia, HP, PepsiCo, Emerson, Lenovo, Johnson Controls and Eaton currently […]
Middle East crisis: Should you invest in gold ETFs or silver ETFs? Here’s what experts suggest
Increasing geopolitical tensions after the US-Israel strikes on Iran have once again pushed investors towards long-time safe haven assets. Many traders are struggling to choose whether they should go for gold ETFs or towards silver ETFs, or allocate their portfolio to a combination of both.According to market participants, current environment favours gold, although silver could […]
Government assures exporters of support
NEW DELHI: Govt on Monday assured exporters that it was willing to offer flexibilities and support them through trade facilitation measures, amid the uncertainty caused by the conflict in West Asia.In a meeting in the commerce department convened by special secretary Suchindra Misra and DGFT Lav Agarwal, exporters flagged possible pressure points: Perishables in transit, […]