Economy

US recurring jobless claims fall to almost two-year low

Economists say uncertainty tied to the Iran war and higher energy costs may weigh on business sentiment, potentially leading companies to scale back hiring plans in the months ahead.

Gulf uncertainty may weigh on India’s remittances, raise risk of worker return

Kerala among most exposed as West Asia tensions threaten inflows

India resilient to energy shock; growth to rebound above 7% by FY29: World Bank

Trade reforms could boost incomes, expand market access, says World Bank

India has ample buffers to weather headwinds from Middle East conflict: World Bank

The crisis follows the United States and Israel strikes on Iran (February 2026), which triggered retaliation from Iran and disrupted global energy markets

OPINION | GAAR, Grandfathering and the Tiger Global Case: What the new rules mean for investors 

A Supreme Court ruling in January 2026 raised questions about the tax treatment of older foreign investments in India. The government responded within weeks by amending the rules

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Peace in dire straits

In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: West Asia war weakens Indian consumer confidence, ceasefire offers pause but risks remain high, China stays quiet while shaping West Asia strategy, and more

Govt prepares to float Rabi fertiliser tenders, flags weak supply visibility, rising logistics costs

Hoarding of fertilisers concerns emerge as officials flag over-buying by farmers and dealers amid uncertainty. States asked to step in to regulate distribution and prevent supply distortions.

The ceasefire bounce

And the Hormuz bitcoin tollbooth

India's Bloomberg bond index entry 'not a closed chapter', engagement continues

Discussions with Bloomberg 'active' even after January deferment as government favours calibrated opening

OPINION | India’s new pesticide bill must keep pace with emerging export challenges

Indian agriculture faces supply disruptions and rising input costs. Global pesticide rules are getting stricter. This calls for faster reforms and better access to modern crop protection technologies

Russia offers sanctioned LNG to energy-hungry Asia at 40% discount

The sellers said that they could provide paperwork to make it appear that the shipments originated from non-Russian sources

IMF, World Bank, World Food Programme warn of rising food prices due to Iran war

In a joint statement, the heads of the three organisations said the burden of rising food prices will fall most heavily on the world’s most vulnerable populations

How should Indian investors navigate a fragile West Asia ceasefire?

Key determining factor will be how oil, geopolitics, and capital flows are reset

Ceasefire or Conflict: RBI has mapped out what each means for India

The RBI's latest Monetary Policy Report quietly lays out what a prolonged Middle East conflict — or its resolution — would do to India's growth, inflation, and the rupee

Chart of the Day: West Asia war hits confidence of Indian consumers

The Indian consumer could soon be back with resilient optimism, if the ceasefire holds.

RBI leaves the swinger: A smart pause in a swinging macro pitch

The MPC's neutral stance provides the flexibility to respond swiftly should conditions materially deteriorate, while avoiding the policy misstep of raising rates to combat an externally-driven supply shock.

RBI Monetary Policy: Risks abound – wait and watch the best strategy

Important for the RBI would be to keep a close watch on the Household Inflation Expectations Survey that have recently seen an upward trend. As per the latest Survey in March 2026, 3 months and 1-year ahead inflation expectations have moved higher compared to the previous survey.

Dollar erases 2026 gains as Iran ceasefire saps haven demand

News of a two-week ceasefire late Tuesday sent energy prices lower as Tehran pledged to reopen a critical pathway for global oil trade, sapping demand for the dollar as investors flocked to riskier markets.

RBI April policy chooses to wait, watch and respond, rather than react hastily to transient shocks

For investors and businesses alike, this implies a period of relative policy stability but one that remains contingent on an evolving and uncertain global environment.

Air defence, missile spending set to rise after Iran conflict exposes gaps

Gulf nations may shift focus from aircraft to missiles and air defence systems as threat landscape evolves

Cabinet approves Rs 41,534 crore Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers subsidy for kharif 2026 season

"The subsidy has been increased by Rs 4,317 crore over kharif 2025 season," I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.

Ceasefire may bring relief to 14% of India’s exports, but recovery hinges on Gulf stability

Jewellery, agriculture and industrial goods exports set to benefit; higher logistics costs may delay full recovery

RBI policy suggests growth risks may outweigh inflation risks; MPC likely to maintain prolonged pause

If the ceasefire results in a more durable peace accord, fixed income and equity markets should both benefit and revert to more reasonable levels and help improve investor sentiment (domestic and global).

Govt directs CPSEs to clear MSME dues, revives COVID-style liquidity playbook

Administrative measures prioritised to ease cash flow stress amid global uncertainty