Currency watch: Rupee slips 13 paise to 86.47 against US dollar, crude prices and Middle East tensions weigh on sentiment

The rupee depreciated 13 paise to close at 86.47 against the US dollar on Wednesday, hurt by persistent risk-off sentiment, elevated crude oil prices, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.The local currency opened at 86.42 at the interbank foreign exchange and saw high intraday volatility, touching a high of 86.25 and a low of…

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Important update for UPS subscribers! Central government employees under Unified Pension Scheme eligible for OPS retirement, death gratuity benefits

The Ministry of Finance issued a notification in January, introducing UPS as an alternative under NPS. (AI image) Cheer for UPS subscribers: Central government employees opting for the Unified Pension Scheme or UPS will now be entitled to retirement and death gratuity benefits that were previously available under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).Union Minister of…

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Air India to cut overseas flights on wide-body aircraft by 15% at least till mid-July

NEW DELHI: Air India will reduce its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15% with immediate effect “at least” till mid-July, reports Saurabh Sinha. AI operates about 70 international flights daily on its wide-body fleet. Multiple factors, including airspace closures, have increased flying times to and from the west and enhanced checks on Boeing 787s…

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Crude surge pressures India’s FY25 CAD target, UBI says every $10 rise in oil may widen deficit by $15 billion; FY26 gap seen at 1.2% of GDP

India’s current account deficit (CAD) faces upward pressure in FY25 amid rising global crude prices, with every $10 per barrel increase in oil potentially worsening the annual CAD by $15 billion, according to a report by Union Bank of India (UBI).The bank has retained its CAD forecast at 0.9% of GDP for FY25, but cautioned…

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Govt bond push: Sebi eases compliance rules for G-Sec FPIs, KYC norms and disclosure timelines relaxed

In a move aimed at boosting long-term foreign investment in Indian debt markets, Sebi on Wednesday approved several compliance relaxations for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) that invest exclusively in Indian government securities (G-Secs).The decision, taken at the regulator’s board meeting, is expected to simplify onboarding, reduce paperwork, and improve ease of doing business for these…

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Sebi reforms REITs and InvITs norms to align disclosures, cut entry size; allow broader role for merchant bankers

The Sebi board on Wednesday approved a set of amendments aimed at improving ease of doing business for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), and merchant bankers. The key changes include greater cash-flow flexibility for REITs and InvITs, a sharper definition of public unitholding, harmonised reporting timelines, and a reduction in the…

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ICAI begins review of IndusInd Bank, Gensol accounts, says audit probe may take six months; disciplinary action to follow if lapses found

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has begun reviewing the financial statements of IndusInd Bank and Gensol Engineering and expects the process to take at least six months before any action is taken against auditors for alleged lapses.ICAI president Charanjot Singh Nanda said the review is being handled by the Financial Reporting Review…

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