Business

As 2026 gets underway, it’s advisable to check the bank holiday calendar before planning a visit to the branch. Missing a holiday can quickly turn a bank visit into a wasted trip, particularly in the early days of the year when people are getting back to work and managing their finances. Banks in India observe…

India foreign trade (Image for representation) NEW DELHI: Govt is pushing Russia to lower barriers for export of Indian electronics, engineering goods, food products and fisheries as part of its efforts to get Moscow to use the $50-55 billion equivalent of roubles lying in bank accounts due to the oil-induced trade balance. For electronics, software…

This is a representative image. NEW DELHI: Manufacturing activity in the country eased in Dec, marking the slowest improvement in the health of the sector in two years as export orders slowed and employment in the sector moderated while business sentiment faded to its lowest in nearly three and half years, a survey showed on…

Zohran Mamdani is set to begin a new mayoral term after a historic election that gave him the highest vote count for a New York City mayor in 60 years. After winning with a campaign focused on working-class issues, he now faces the challenge of delivering on his promises as living costs remain at record…

What began as a platform for last-minute grocery runs is rapidly turning into a serious marketplace for beauty. On quick commerce apps, a bottle of anti-ageing serum now reaches consumers faster than many products can promise visible results, marking a clear shift in how beauty and personal care (BPC) products are being bought in India.The…

MUMBAI: Thinking of buying an air-conditioner in the new year or getting some fancy bathware or copper-based kitchen utensils to add to the aesthetics of your home? You may have to pay more, as the red metal used in several household products has surged in recent months. Copper prices surpassed a record $12,000 per tonne…

US President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the unraveling of a $2.9 million computer chips deal that he concluded threatened US security interests if the current owner, HieFo Corp, remained in control of the technology. The executive order cast a spotlight on a business deal that drew scant attention when it was announced in May…

An under-construction Mumbai Ahmedabad bullet train station NEW DELHI: A delay of over four years has pushed up the cost of country’s first bullet train project by around 83% to Rs 1.98 lakh crore. The first leg of the project, between Surat and Bilimora, is scheduled to be inaugurated in Aug 2027, while the entire…

Ultra wealthy Indians are increasingly placing their bets on pink, blue and yellow diamonds, embracing the rare stones as both eye-catching statement jewellery and long-term investment assets. Coloured diamonds,far rarer than conventional white diamonds, have seen demand spiked by 20%-25% over the past year, even as prices continue to climb.According to jewellers and traders, since…

Insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Friday announced the launch of a two-month-long campaign for the revival of individual lapsed policies. This special drive, to be carried out from January 1 to March 2, 2026, is extended to all non-linked policies with a very attractive concession in late fee. Concession is being…