Business

London: Brent oil futures prices jumped on Thursday, hitting a near six-month high on rising concerns about a possible US military attack on Iran, Opec‘s fourth-largest producer with output of 3.2 million barrels per day.“The immediate concern … is the collateral damage done if Iran takes a swing at its neighbours or possibly even more…

Against the backdrop of global challenges and heightened uncertainty, the Survey has backed reforms, including regulatory entities, and called for “creating a cadre of professionals”, who are adept in regulatory design and implementation, to improve the ease of doing business.“Policy reforms do matter. Process reforms arguably more so. Processes define the interaction between govt and…

Make Up 50% Of Rural Monthly Consumption New Delhi: Unconditional cash transfers (UCT) by state govts now account for nearly half of the monthly per capita consumption expenditure among the rural population, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability and medium-term growth, especially when there is no complementary investment skilling and human capital, Economic Survey said.It said…

The Economic Survey has cautioned that India’s entry into the artificial intelligence era comes with “looming uncertainties” and structural asymmetries that could reshape labour markets and pose fundamental questions for the future of the Indian IT sector, even as the country seeks to harness AI-driven productivity gains.The Survey flagged the growing concentration of market power…

Microsoft led a pullback on Wall Street on Thursday, with US stocks retreating from record levels after the tech heavyweight logged its steepest single-day fall in years, weighing on broader market sentiment. While gold prices also reversed sharply after a blistering run, reflecting a broader cooling of risk appetite across global markets.Microsoft sank 12.3% despite…

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga (Photo-AP) India should “think less” about tariffs and focus more on opportunities to expand trade, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said on Thursday, as geopolitical tensions continue to cloud the global trade outlook.Interacting with media during a visit to the Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC) in…

The rupee settled at its all-time closing low of 91.99 against the US dollar on Wednesday, weighed down by persistent foreign fund selling and risk-off sentiment in global markets, even as softer crude prices and a weaker dollar offered limited relief, PTI reported. At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 91.95 and…

The intent around the proposed Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 marks a significant move as it aims to align India’s regulatory framework with contemporary realities. (AI image) By Susheel KumarIndian agriculture stands at an important inflection point. On the one hand, the country speaks with confidence of becoming a global food powerhouse, a trusted supplier to…

Photo credit- AP The US government is set to roll out “Trump Accounts”, a new tax-advantaged investment programme aimed at boosting long-term savings for children, with more than 500,000 families already signed up ahead of its launch this summer, according to a Reuters report.Under the scheme, the US Treasury will deposit $1,000 as seed money…

The government has notified coking coal as a critical and strategic mineral, a step aimed at reducing India’s heavy dependence on imports and strengthening the domestic steel supply chain, according to an official statement.The move is expected to facilitate faster approvals, improve ease of doing business and accelerate exploration and mining activities, including the development…