‘Friendly nations’ only: Iran allows India, Pakistan, 3 other countries to use Strait of Hormuz amid war

Strait of Hormuz (AP photo) Iran on Thursday said that, despite ongoing military escalation in the Middle East, it has allowed transit through the Strait of Hormuz for “friendly nations,” including India.The consulate general of Iran in Mumbai shared a statement from Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, saying: “We have permitted passage through the Strait…

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Banks tap costly funds as credit outpaces deposits

MUMBAI: With credit growth at 14.5% outpacing deposit growth at 11.9% as of Feb 28, banks have stepped up reliance on certificates of deposit, with their share rising to 2.6% of total deposits, the highest in a decade, reflecting a widening structural gap between asset creation and liability mobilisation.The Indian banking system is navigating a…

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Infosys to buy two US companies for $560mn

BENGALURU: Infosys has strengthened its healthcare and insurance capabilities with a twin acquisition push, committing up to $560 million to expand its footprint in the US market.The company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Optimum Healthcare IT for up to $465 million-one of its largest acquisitions in recent years-as it deepens its presence in…

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Finance Bill passed with 32 amendments

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Finance Bill, with 32 amendments moved by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, including specifying that in case of buyback of shares, additional income tax on capital gains made by promoters will face a 12% surcharge.The Finance Bill had proposed to replace dividend tax applicable to buybacks and…

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IHC arm gets RBI nod to buy Sammaan Capital

MUMBAI: Sammaan Capital (formerly Indiabulls) shares rose 6% after the RBI approved the acquisition of a controlling stake by UAE-based International Holding Company (IHC) through an initial investment of about Rs 8,850 crore. In a regulatory filing on March 24, Sammaan Capital said RBI had cleared applications related to the proposed transaction involving Avenir Investment,…

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OpenAI hires JioStar’s ex-CEO to lead Apac ops

BENGALURU: OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has hired former JioStar CEO Kiran Mani as managing director for Asia-Pacific, as the AI firm steps up its regional expansion amid strong user growth in markets including India. Mani is set to join in June. He will report to Jason Kwon and lead regional strategy and operations across…

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