Business

This Diwali, consumers have shown growing enthusiasm for premium electronics, spending on costlier smartphones, large-screen TVs, and high-end home appliances. From Navratri through the festival of lights, sales of smartphones priced above Rs 30,000 reached an all-time high, while 43-inch televisions surpassed the long-favourite 32-inch models for the first time, according to industry analysts and…

File photo: US treasury secretary Scott Bessent (Picture credit: AP) US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that Washington and Beijing have reached a “very substantial framework” that would prevent the US from imposing 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and allow for a deferral of China’s rare earths export controls, as per news agency…

India’s economy is expected to sustain steady growth in the second half of the current financial year, supported by strong domestic consumption even as global uncertainties continue, according to a report by SBI Capital Markets (SBICAPS).The report said that while trade tensions and external risks persist, India’s internal demand remains a key stabilising factor. It…

File photo (Picture credit: ANI) Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) makers in India — from soap to soft drinks — saw a slight hit to sales in the September quarter due to disruptions arising from Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms and heavy rains across parts of the country. However, global majors such as Unilever, Reckitt,…

US President Donald Trump signed a trade agreement with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and took part in the signing of a historic peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, called the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords”.Trump arrived in the country to attend the ongoing ASEAN Summit.“Today, the Prime Minister and I signed a major trade deal…

PPF rules: Interest forfeiture applies exclusively to excess deposits made whilst the account holder was a minor. (AI image) Public Provident Fund or PPF is a popular savings scheme with the sovereign guarantee and decent rate of returns adding to its charm. But there is a cap to the annual investment in the scheme –…

The GST on personal grooming, fitness, and wellness services came down from 18% to 5% on September 22, but rather than seeing lower prices, customers across the country are facing 10%-20% hikes at salons, gyms, yoga studios, and fitness centres.The price hike comes as businesses are now forced to bear the full cost of taxes…

India already faces 50% US tariffs, of which 25% penal tariffs are on account of its crude imports from Russia. (AI image) US President Donald Trump’s move to sanction two of Russia’s largest oil firms – Rosneft and Lukoil – may finally force India and China to drastically reduce or even stop their crude oil…

Dalal Street made notable gains last week, as the combined market capitalisation of seven of the country’s ten most valued companies surged by Rs 1,55,710.74 crore in a holiday-shortened trading week.The BSE Sensex advanced 259.69 points, or 0.30%, last week, with the benchmark hitting a 52-week high of 85,290.06 on Thursday.Reliance Industries and Tata Consultancy…

US officials indicated progress in finalizing details of a trade agreement with China, following recent talks in Malaysia. The discussions aimed to de-escalate a costly tariff dispute, with both nations seeking a resolution. This development comes amid heightened tensions and threats of further tariffs. The longstanding trade tensions between the United States and China might…