Economy

The exit comes at a time when crude oil prices have topped the $110 per barrel-mark, with analysts fearing that the $120 price tag could be within reach.

The jitters from the US-Iran war, which disrupted energy supplies, weighed on the manufacturing sector. The output declined to 4.3% from 5.9% in February.

While some markets like South Korea and Taiwan are tied to the AI boom, Yardeni sees India as a standout — albeit one currently constrained by high oil prices.

Under the Iranian proposal, talks on Tehran's nuclear activities would be deferred until the war formally ends and disputes over shipping in the Persian Gulf are resolved, the officials said.

The surge in Korean stocks underscores the global pivot toward companies linked to artificial intelligence, which has driven gains in the Asian nation's two biggest listed companies: Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc..

The main reason is the fear of inflation as rising oil prices from the US-Israel war on Iran threatened to push inflation higher in the import-dependent nation.

At present, there is no Index of Service Production (ISP) to capture short-term movements in the services sector, the government said.

The agreement also guarantees a minimum of 20 hours per week work during study, and provides extended post-study work opportunities.

India and New Zealand signed a landmark FTA, providing 100% duty-free access for Indian exports. The pact aims to unlock $20 billion in investment and boost labor-intensive sectors.

Post-crisis domestic urea production has reached 35.4 lakh tonne.

New Zealand has also made a $20 billion investment commitment to India.

The FTA also includes a commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion in investment into India.

The 8th Pay Commission begins a crucial round of consultations with employee unions in Delhi, focusing on salary revisions, allowances, and pension reforms for over 1.1 crore beneficiaries.

The decision is likely to send a chill through China's burgeoning AI sector, and emerged mere weeks before a high-profile summit between US President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping.

This will be under a broader Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) framework worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore which is being worked out for multiple affected sectors.

Brent crude rose 2.2% to $107.66 a barrel, after touching an intraday high of $107.97, while WTI gained 2.2% to $96.47, holding near multi-month highs.

The denial came two days after the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control reportedly sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., describing it as one of Iran's largest customers for crude oil and other petroleum product.

The agreement is also expected to attract nearly $20 billion in investments over the next 15 years, and positions India more firmly within the Indo-Pacific economic architecture.

US FOMC meeting next week is likely to be the last for Jerome Powell as head of the US central bank.

Surging crude prices amid West Asia tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are stoking inflation fears, weakening the rupee, and straining India’s external balances, warns Union Bank of India.