The asymmetry in deposit and credit growth is the biggest challenge before the Indian banking industry. For every 100 deposit that a bank mobilises, it needs to keep 3 with the banking regulator in the form of cash reserve ratio on which it doesn't earn any interest. Another 18 is used for buying government bonds (statutory liquidity ratio). This means, a bank is left with 79 for giving credit. Add to this, its capital which can be used for giving loans. Most banks are facing a fund crunch. They need to find ways to attract deposits if they want to sustain credit growth, explains Tamal Bandyopadhyay.
Credit card adoption is rapidly expanding beyond India's major metropolitan areas into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, driven by increasing incomes, digital awareness, and the integration of RuPay credit cards with UPI, according to a new report by SBI Card.
A new report suggests that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could significantly impact India's GDP growth and inflation.
API Holdings, the parent company of online pharmacy PharmEasy, has significantly reduced its debt from 1,800 crore to 1,050 crore and refinanced it at lower interest rates under CEO Rahul Guha, shifting its focus from 'growth at any cost' to profitability and aiming for a debt-free balance sheet before a potential stock market listing.
Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the Gulf region are increasingly purchasing term life insurance policies from India, driven by geopolitical uncertainties in West Asia and the significant cost advantages offered by Indian products, with the GCC region now contributing over half of the total NRI demand.
Hospital stocks have emerged as a strong theme in 2026, outperforming benchmark indices due to robust earnings growth, improved occupancy, higher average revenue per occupied bed, and aggressive expansion plans by major chains.
Dabur India's shares rose 3.7 per cent after reporting in-line Q4FY26 results, driven by a healthy 10 per cent growth in its India business, despite some analysts remaining cautious about future execution.
'Of our population of 1.4 billion, 80 per cent are into doomscrolling.'
Hindustan Unilever (HUL) exceeded consensus estimates in Q4FY26, driven by lower overheads and 6 per cent consolidated volume growth. However, the company anticipates further price hikes to counter an expected 8-10 per cent material cost inflation, while maintaining a mid-term margin guidance of 22.5-23.5 per cent.
Bank of Baroda economists project India's GDP to grow 6.5-6.8 per cent in FY27 but warn that the fiscal deficit could overshoot the budgeted 4.3 per cent target, potentially reaching 4.7-4.8 per cent of GDP due to subsidy overruns, excise duty cuts, and oil marketing company losses.
Piramal Pharma anticipates a significant turnaround in financial year 2026-27 (FY27), projecting early-to-mid teens revenue expansion and a sharp improvement in profitability, driven by improved business momentum, new product acquisitions, and structural tailwinds.
Global financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, have invested Rs 963 crore in One 97 Communications (Paytm's parent company) through open market transactions, acquiring a 1.34 per cent stake from SAIF Partners and Elevation Capital.
Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) reported its highest-ever quarterly profit of 649.5 crore in Q4 FY26, a 70.13 per cent year-on-year increase, driven by record revenues and bookings. The company aims for over 39,000 crore in residential bookings for FY27 and plans to raise up to 3,000 crore through debt securities.
Jewellery majors Titan Company and Kalyan Jewellers reported robust Q4 FY26 results, with Titan's consolidated revenue surging 81 per cent year-on-year, largely propelled by a sixfold increase in bullion and digital gold sales. Despite strong top-line growth, Titan's gross and operating profit margins faced pressure due to the higher share of lower-margin gold products and increased marketing expenditure.
Shares of One97 Communications, which operates the Paytm brand, experienced a significant jump after the company reported a consolidated profit for the January-March quarter.
Bharti Airtel reported a 33.5 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 7,325 crore for the March 2026 quarter, primarily attributed to one-time provisions for statutory and tax liabilities.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, reported a net loss of Rs 2,536.9 crore in the March quarter of fiscal year 2025-26, primarily attributed to a significant foreign exchange loss of approximately Rs 8,100 crore, the impact of December flight disruptions, and expenses related to new labour laws.
Shares of Avenue Supermarts, operator of DMart, fell 5.2 per cent after reporting mixed Q4 FY26 results, with brokerages offering divergent 'sell', 'buy', and 'hold' ratings based on factors like valuation, competitive intensity, and store expansion strategies.
Leading stock exchange BSE Ltd announced a 61 per cent increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 795.47 crore for the March quarter, driven by higher income, and reported its highest-ever performance in its 150-year history for the full financial year 2025-26.
The company said Valcambi was the engine driving the group's business, but Valcambi's audited accounts showed revenues that were only a fraction of what the group reported. That raised a major red flag.
The RBI seems to be acknowledging that all deposits are not equal -- a deposit with a lower run-off assumption is inherently more valuable than one that could disappear overnight, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.
Tata Motors' MD and CEO, Girish Wagh, has identified rising diesel prices as the most significant threat to India's commercial vehicle (CV) industry recovery, despite the sector recently surpassing its pre-FY19 wholesale peak. Diesel costs account for 25-50% of a truck operator's total cost of ownership, making any increase a critical concern for fleet economics.
Reliance Industries has delivered the first batch of solar modules from its green energy complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, marking the operational rollout of its New Energy business. The company is developing an integrated clean energy manufacturing ecosystem, including solar modules, batteries, green hydrogen, and bio-energy infrastructure.
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is largely bullish among analysts following its Q4FY26 results, driven by strong SUV demand, a robust product pipeline, and improving growth visibility across segments, despite near-term margin pressures from rising commodity costs and potential weakness in the tractor cycle.
Fuel prices have risen by about Rs 7.5 per litre since May 15, as global crude oil prices surged due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia and supply concerns around the Strait of Hormuz.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd reported a 22.22 per cent decline in consolidated profit after tax to Rs 1,255.63 crore in the March quarter, primarily due to higher expenses, despite an increase in total revenue from operations.
Indian carmakers experienced a robust start to the new fiscal year, with an estimated 4.5 lakh passenger vehicles sold in April, marking a 27 per cent increase year-on-year, attributed to factors like GST 2.0, repo rate cuts, and income tax benefits.
Cash remains dominant for many transactions despite continued expansion in digital payments across the country.
Coforge believes that the rapid adoption of AI is disrupting the traditional labour model but also creating new high-margin opportunities in the IT services industry.
Fintech giant Paytm reports a consolidated profit of Rs 183 crore in Q4 FY26, marking a significant turnaround driven by its core payments business, growth in loans, and consumer-side profitability. The company is also prioritising investments in AI and has ruled out applying for an NBFC licence.
However, from April 1, 2026, transactional forms such as tax deducted at source statements, remittances, Form 60, and Form 15G/15H would operate under the new simplified framework.
State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has reported a net profit of over Rs 23,400 crore for the January-March quarter, making it the highest profit-making firm in the Indian financial sector during this period, surpassing major banks like SBI and HDFC Bank.
Pakistan has increased its defence budget by 17.6 per cent to PKRs 3,000 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, as announced by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The federal budget, estimated at PKRs 18,771 billion, targets 4 per cent GDP growth, with significant allocations for debt service and pensions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted economic stability and ongoing discussions with the IMF, while the opposition protested Imran Khan's incarceration during the budget session.
Bajaj Auto is set to launch new Pulsar motorcycles in the 125cc and 150-250cc segments in Q2 FY27, aiming to capitalise on the upcoming festival season surge. This move follows strong growth in the 150cc-plus segment, where refreshed Pulsar models already account for over 50 per cent of Bajaj's sales.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced that the company anticipates having as many artificial intelligence (AI) agents as its human workforce, currently half a million, while assuring that no staff downsizing is planned.
Indian paint majors, including Asian Paints, Berger Paints, and Kansai Nerolac, reported better-than-expected performance in Q4FY26, driven by steady demand, improved product mix, and strategic price hikes. The sector is also benefiting from reduced competitive intensity as new players also increase prices, narrowing the gap with incumbents.
India's consumption stocks, which have outperformed the broader market, are now facing significant pressure due to a gradual rise in fuel prices and the potential for higher inflation. Analysts warn that companies may be forced to pass on increased input costs to consumers, potentially hurting demand across both staples and discretionary categories, with a looming threat of deficient monsoon rainfall further exacerbating inflationary concerns.
NPCI BHIM Services Ltd is expanding the BHIM app to feature phones to increase financial inclusion and diversify revenue through financial product distribution. The app aims to double its market share and is focusing on partnerships with banks and new features like UPI Circle.
The Indian stock market mythos of 36 years is wrapped in a diaphanous negligee, lashed together by a delicate, etheric sash of 1.6 bull markets. To make money from here on will require a ground invasion, trench by trench, rather than carpet bombing. Way more difficult, points out Shankar Sharma.
"Policy sales will be one of the focus areas for the company because looking at the large insurance gap, large number of people being uncovered. The only right way to go is to increase the number of policies," said Amit Jhingran, MD & CEO, SBI Life Insurance.
