Asian stocks today: Markets fall as oil tops $112, inflation concerns weigh; Wall Street extends losses

Equity markets across Asia declined on Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street after a sharp rise in oil prices above $112 per barrel and renewed concerns over inflation and interest rates dampened investor sentiment. In early trading Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropped 2.5% to 53,875.94, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 1.3% to 5,845.62. Hong Kong’s Hang…

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After 2 attempts, govt fails to divest IDBI Bank

NEW DELHI: Ten years later and after two attempts, govt has failed to privatise IDBI Bank, the perpetual problem child, leaving potential bidders fatigued and raising questions over the process as well as future disinvestment plans.It wasn’t the first time that the Centre tried to exit IDBI Bank, with the plan first announced by former…

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Qatar expels Iranian military, security attachés and staff after strikes on key energy facilities

QatarEnergy says Iranian missiles hit Ras Laffan Industrial City, causing “extensive damage” Qatar on Wednesday expelled key Iranian military and security officials along with their staff from its territory, escalating tensions after missile strikes hit key energy infrastructure in the Gulf. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it had declared the military and security…

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Why retail credit is galloping in India

MUMBAI: The surge in retail credit in India rests on a quiet infrastructural shift-the growing ability of lenders to judge creditworthiness of borrowers quickly and cheaply. What has made this possible is a dramatic fall in the cost of obtaining credit reports, aided by digital scale and the proliferation of fintech platforms that allow consumers…

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US eases Venezuela oil sanctions amid Iran war; Trump administration moves to boost global supply

The United States has eased sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil sector, allowing American companies to resume limited business with Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), as the Donald Trump administration seeks to expand global oil supplies during the ongoing Iran conflict, AP reported.The US Treasury Department on Wednesday issued a broad licence permitting PDVSA to sell…

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Market rebound or relief rally: Sensex gains nearly 3,000 points in three days; should investors stay cautious?

Indian equity benchmarks continued their upward move for a third straight session on Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex adding nearly 3,000 points over the past three trading days, prompting debate on Dalal Street over whether the recent recovery marks a sustainable bottom or just a short-term bounce, according to an ET report.The NSE Nifty ended…

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