India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
India's import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its largest supplier -- Qatar -- declined to its lowest on record in March 2026 as the West Asia conflict led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz (SoH). Besides, Iran's attack on QatarEnergy's LNG facilities, in retaliation for attacks by the US and Israel, led to declaration of force majeure and production shutdowns early last month, further exacerbating India's natural gas imports, which account for roughly half of its consumption. India's total natural gas consumption is about 189 million standard cubic metres per day (mscmd) with 97.5 mscmd produced domestically. About 47.4 mscmd has been affected due to force majeure conditions. Global real-time data and analytics provider Kpler pointed out that India remains materially exposed to West Asia, with a significant share of its LNG imports tied to long-term contracts with QatarEnergy. International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global LNG supply has reduced by around 20 per cent due to the situation. The disruption of transit via the SoH reduced supplies from Qatar and the UAE by over 300 mscmd since March 1, which is a loss of over 2 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas supply every week. Sehul Bhatt, Director at Crisil Intelligence, said, "In March, Brent crude increased to $110-120 per barrel, while spot prices of Asian LNG nearly doubled to $20-25 per millon British thermal units (mBtu). We expect the prices of these two commodities to remain elevated and volatile in April as well." Record-low imports Sonal Ranjan, Kpler's Insight Analyst for LNG & Natural Gas, told businessline, "In January 2026, Qatar supplied around 1 million tonne (mt) of LNG, accounting for roughly 41 per cent of total imports. However, this fell sharply to just 0.06 mt (about 3 per cent share) by March -- a 94.3 per cent decline -- as Hormuz transit was suspended." To offset the shortfall, imports from the US and Nigeria increased. The US volumes rose to around 0.34 mt in March (up around 144 per cent from January 2026), while Nigeria supplied roughly 0.33 mt (up around 17 per cent). Oman remained a steady supplier and emerged as the largest source in March at around 0.53 mt, she added. "Overall, total monthly LNG imports declined by around 35 per cent from January to March, driven by elevated spot prices and constraints on physical supply," Ranjan pointed out. Impact on Qatar The Ras Laffan facility in Qatar, which is the largest liquefaction facility in the world, has been offline since it was first attacked on March 2. Regional gas production is also affected by the shut-in of oil fields, which has cut the output of gas associated with oil production, IEA said. In 2025, Ras Laffan produced 112 bcm of LNG, as well as 300,000 barrels per day of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 180,000 barrels per day of condensate, making it the largest LNG facility in the world by some distance. Sourcing becomes the next battle ground as markets remained tight during January-February 2026, and depleted storage coming out of the heating season in the Northern Hemisphere is set to increase the call on LNG in the months ahead. Besides, the extended loss of output from QatarEnergy's Ras Laffan facility could significantly exacerbate this market tightness, IEA said. More than 110 bcm of LNG passed through the SoH in 2025. About 93 per cent of Qatar's and 96 per cent of the UAE's LNG exports transited through the Strait, representing almost one-fifth of global LNG trade. There are no alternative routes to bring these volumes to market, it added. Most LNG from Qatar and the UAE goes to Asia. In 2025, almost 90 per cent of the total volumes exported via the SoH was destined for the Asian market. Just over 10 per cent went to Europe. Yet, as with oil, extended disruptions would have global consequences. Countries that have long-term contracts with the UAE or Qatar would need to turn to the spot market for LNG. This, in turn, would drive up natural gas prices around the world. QatarEnergy said it expects the damage to its Ras Laffan Industrial City caused by missile strikes on March 18-19 to cost about $20 billion a year in lost revenue and take up to five years to repair, impacting supply to markets in Europe and Asia. Damage sustained by LNG facilities will take three-five years to repair. The attacks have also pushed offline around 1.281 mt LPG, which is roughly 13 per cent of Qatar's exports. Comments Published on April 2, 2026 READ MORE
* Commoditisation and similarity of products and services with competitors will have the most significant impact on how businesses deliver customer experiences over the next two years, according to the latest IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Affinidi * However, businesses who are looking to hyper-personalise their products as a competitive differentiator are facing several obstacles in addressing the privacy-personalisation dilemma, with 56% of them highlighting data collection and management to be a key challenge. * To truly enhance customer experiences through more personalised insights, they m ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) The rupee snapped its two-day losing streak and closed 8 paise higher at 85.79 against the US dollar on Thursday, supported by positive domestic equities and a rise in Asian currencies. Forex traders said overnight softening of crude oil prices favoured the rupee. However, a strong US dollar index capped sharp gains. Besides, market participants are now keenly awaiting the outcome of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) monetary policy meeting for further cues, they said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit witnessed a volatile trading session -- it opene ...Read More >
The best performers of the session on the Moroccan All Shares were Disty Technologies SA (CSE:DYT), which rose 4.94% or 12.00 points to trade at 255.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Ste de Travaux de Realisation d'Ouvrages et de Constuction Industielle SA (CSE:STR) added 4.62% or 2.14 points to end at 48.49 and Jet Contractors (CSE:JET) was up 4.50% or 68.00 points to 1,580.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Disway SA (CSE:DWY), which fell 4.26% or 28.00 points to trade at 630.00 at the close. AFMA SA (CSE:AFM) declined 4.22% or 48.00 points to end at 1,090.00 and Stokvis N ...Read More >
The Indian government has awarded fiscal incentives totaling Rs 4,150 crore to four companies, including the BCGCL joint venture, for developing coal gasification projects aimed at producing ammonium nitrate, synthetic natural gas, and ethanol. This initiative is part of India's Rs 8,500 crore Coal Gasification Incentive Scheme. In a strategic move, the Indian government on Thursday granted fiscal incentives amounting to Rs 4,150 crore to four companies to bolster coal gasification projects. Amo ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 31 (VOICE) The output of India's eight core sector industries rose 4 per cent year-on-year in December, driven by an increase in the production of coal, steel, and electricity during the month, according to government data released on Friday.The eight core industries include coal, natural gas, crude oil, refinery products, fertilisers, cement, steel and electricity which comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The growth rate of the core industries, therefore, is an indicator of the overall industrial growth rate. Apa ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in the presence of leaders of Central Asian countries, touched upon various business opportunities and complementarities between these respective economies on Thursday. Jaishankar suggested a few areas where India and Central Asian countries should collaborate to improve their economies. Jaishankar noted that India's trade and economic ties with Central Asia have actually shown a very strong positive trend over the last decade. However, he has also said that the trade figures do not reflect the full potential. Given th ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has urged the India-Central Asia Business Council to recommend a roadmap for further deepening of India-Central Asia ties in trade, economic and investment. Addressing the Business Council meeting in the national capital, EAM Jaishankar highlighted three broad objectives for strengthening the economic partnership -- deepen existing cooperation, diversify the trade basket and introduce sustainability and predictability in economic interactions. "One, is to deepen the existing cooperation both in terms of volume a ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
ess than 24 hours after he asserted in Nigeria's Abuja that stepping out of the comfort zone, innovating and creating new paths has now become the very essence of today's India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told the gathering of world's most influential leaders converged in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Summit that the main reason for India's success lies in his government's 'back to basics' and 'march to the future' approach. Addressing the G20 session on 'Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty' at the bayside museum of modern art during the two-day 19th G20 Summit, ...Read More >
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 84.49 against the greenback, registering a fall of 2 paise over its previous close The rupee fell 2 paise to trade at 84.49 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Friday (November 29, 2024) dragged down by significant foreign fund outflows and month-end dollar demand from importers. Forex traders said the rupee remains in a weakening mode due to dollar demand from importers and foreign banks. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 84.49 against the greenback, registering a fall of 2 paise over its previous close. On ...Read More >
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Import tariffs expected to be implemented by the administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump could lower economic growth and inflation in the 20 nations sharing the euro, European Central Bank board member Piero Cipollone said on Tuesday. Most economists agree that the possible tariffs would impact growth, though views diverge on the effect on consumer prices. Some argue the U.S. trade barriers will push up the value of the dollar, making imports of key commodities more expensive, while likely retaliation from Europe will also raise costs. Cipollone, speaking i ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
The escalating conflict could upset a hard-fought consensus that G20 negotiators reached around 5 a.m. on Sunday, after an overnight push to ready the joint statement for final review by leaders arriving in Rio. That preliminary consensus after six days of negotiations included streamlined language about global conflicts including the war in Ukraine, focusing on the need to negotiate peace rather than criticism of any participants. However, sources said even that "simpler" consensus may now be up for reconsideration following the Russian air strike and the prospect of further escalation. Un ...Read More >
New Delhi: ONGC's production trend is beginning to turn after eight straight years of fall as a key new field in KG Basin ramps up and the old Mumbai High asset arrests decline. ONGC's crude production rose 3% year-on-year in November to 53,804 tonnes per day (tpd) and the output growth so far in December has accelerated to 4.2% to 54,535 tpd, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The output was marginally higher in three of the first seven months this fiscal year but there is a cle ...Read More >
Mumbai: The rupee declined 14 paise and touched the crucial 86.00-mark (provisional) for the first time against the US dollar Friday as it failed to resist pressure from a stronger American currency and huge outflow of foreign funds. Surging crude oil prices overseas and negative sentiment in domestic equity markets also weighed down the Indian currency, forex traders said. Also, dollar strengthened on increased demand amid the anticipation of restrictive trade measures by the new US administration after Donald Trump takes over as president January 20. At the interbank foreign exchange, the ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Arizona State University (ASU), a global leader in innovation and higher education, is collaborating with Rajalakshmi Engineering College (REC), Chennai, to redefine global education pathways for Indian students. The initiative aims to introduce undergraduate and Master's degrees across key disciplines, including Computer Science, Engineering, and Business & Management. Speaking on this occasion, ASU President Michael M. Crow said, "With India as our largest source of international students, this partnership with REC strengthens our mission to expand access to exceptional education ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied for the third straight session on Tuesday (December 3, 2024) amid buying in blue-chip stocks like HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries and firm trends in global markets. The BSE benchmark Sensex jumped 597.67 points or 0.74% to settle at 80,845.75. During the day, it surged 701.02 points or 0.87% to 80,949.10. The NSE Nifty went up by 181.10 points or 0.75% to 24,457.15. From the 30-share Sensex pack, Adani Ports surged nearly 6%. NTPC, Axis Bank, State Bank of India, Larsen & Toubro, UltraTech Cement, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries were ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 to expand the definition of mineral oils and include petroleum and natural gas passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The bill was introduced by Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri for consideration and passing. The Bill will regulate the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum. The amended bill expands the definition of mineral oils to include petroleum and natural gas in it. Also Read | Pune: Doctors Perform Rare Laser Surgery on Woman Pregnant With Monoam ...Read More >
Alipurduar (West Bengal) [India], May 29 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid foundation stone of City Gas Distribution project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts in West Bengal on Thursday. The project, worth over Rs 1010 crore, aims to provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to more than 2.5 Lakh households, over 100 commercial establishments, and industries, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to vehicular traffic by establishing around 19 CNG stations in line with the Minimum Work Program (MWP) targets stipulated by the Government. Also Read | Kerala Lottery Result Today 3 PM L ...Read More >
Still, the ongoing U.N. climate talks have thrown a spotlight on their efforts to tackle global warming. While the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, is tasked with agreeing a goal to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars for climate, leaders of the Group of 20 major economies half a world away in Rio are holding the purse strings. G20 countries account for 85% of the world's economy and are the largest contributors to multilateral development banks helping to steer climate finance. "The spotlight is naturally on the G20. They account for 80 percent of global emissions," U.N. Secretary Ge ...Read More >
In the Indo-Pacific region, if one development would prove to be a landmark event in the region's modern history, it would be the signing of the Treaty of Comprehensive Partnership between North Korea and Russia in June 2024. The partnership has paved the way for strengthening bilateral ties between Moscow and Pyongyang and marked the onset of the global order transition, which was already underway. The institutionalization of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan's trilateral security cooperation has also given Russia and North Korea another strategic reason to collaborate. Therefore, with the geo ...Read More >
Asian and European stocks surged thanks to tech companies driving Wall Street to record highs. Japan's Nikkei and several European indices rose, while the US dollar stabilized after a previous surge. Political tensions in France and tariff threats from the US also affected market movements and currency valuations. Stock markets across Asia and Europe experienced a resurgence on Tuesday, driven in part by a strong performance in tech stocks in the US. Japan's Nikkei index surged by 1.91%, and the MSCI Asia index saw a 1.16% rise, bolstered by Wall Street's record highs overnight. European ind ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 18 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty stayed on the back foot for the third straight session on Wednesday as investors offloaded utility, capital goods and metal stocks amid foreign fund outflows. Besides, investor sentiment remained subdued ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, traders said. The 30-share BSE benchmark tumbled 502.25 points or 0.62 per cent to settle at 80,182.20, taking its downtrend to the third day. During the day, it tanked 634.38 points or 0.78 per cent to 80,050.07. As many as 2,563 stocks de ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's services sector activity kept up its high pace of growth in May, driven by a strong demand for exports, which also saw hiring of staff by firms surge to an all-time high during the month, according to the latest HDBC survey. Registering 58.8 in May, the seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PM Business Activity Index - based on a single question asking how the level of business activity compares with the situation the month before - was broadly in line with April's reading of 58.7 (PMI) and therefore signalled another sharp rate of expansion. Growth was reportedly underpi ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Friday ahead of the RBI monetary policy outcome. Moreover, a sluggish trend in global equity markets and fresh foreign fund outflow also drove investors to stay on the sidelines. Also Read | Lucknow Toddler Rape Case: Man Accused of Abduction, Sex Assault of 3-Year-Old Girl Killed in UP During Police Encounter. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 159.93 points to 81,282.11 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 27.65 points to 24,723.25. From the Sensex firms, Tata Motors, Bajaj Finance, ICICI Ban ...Read More >
India is set to host the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup at New Delhi’s IGI Stadium from January 13-19, 2025, marking a historic milestone for the indigenous sport. Organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) in collaboration with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the tournament has garnered strong backing from IOA President PT Usha, who pledged comprehensive support to enhance its global appeal. Featuring 24 teams from six continents, including powerhouses like India, England, Brazil, and Australia, the event celebrates Kho Kho’s rich cultural heritage. This groundbreaking tournament ...Read More >
Mumbai: The rupee slumped to its all-time low of 84.76 (provisional) against the US dollar after dropping 8 paise on Wednesday amid a strengthening greenback and increase in crude prices. Forex traders said a positive trend in domestic equity markets and foreign fund inflows supported the local unit at lower level. At the interbank currency exchange, the rupee opened at 84.66 and traded in the range of 84.65-84.76. Eventually it settled at 84.76 (provisional), 8 paise lower than Tuesday's close of 84.68. Anuj Choudhary, Research Analyst at Mirae Asset Sharekhan, said, the rupee lost initial ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 13 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty slumped on Friday morning dragged down by metal stocks, foreign fund outflows and weak global cues. The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex tumbled 1,207.14 points to 80,082.82 in the late morning trade. The NSE Nifty tanked 367.9 points to 24,180.80. Among the 30-share Sensex blue-chip pack, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Axis Bank, Larsen & Toubro, ITC and Mahindra & Mahindra were the biggest laggards. Bharti Airtel and Hindustan Unilever were the gainers. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities wor ...Read More >
DP World has announced an extension of its Carbon Inset Programme after successfully registering more than 150,000 import containers since its inception in January. The programme, which commenced on 1 January 2025, is claimed to be the first initiative of its kind globally, providing cargo owners with 50kg CO2e of carbon credits for each loaded import container processed through DP World's UK terminals. This initiative aims to assist companies in addressing Scope 3 emissions within their supply ...Read More >