HDFC Bank shares in focus as lender appoints ex-finance secretary Rajiv Kumar as part-time chairman

HDFC Bank has appointed former IAS officer and ex-Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as its Part-time Chairman, following Atanu Chakraborty’s abrupt resignation over ethical concerns. Kumar, known for his role in cleaning up public sector bank balance sheets, will serve a three-year term subject to RBI approval. The bank also announced Puneet Sharma as its…

Gold set for fourth monthly fall on bets of Fed rate hikes

Gold prices tumbled over 1% on Tuesday, heading for a fourth consecutive monthly drop. Shifting from Middle East concerns, the market now anticipates U.S. interest rate hikes to combat inflation. This outlook, coupled with a strengthening dollar, is weighing heavily on the precious metal. Investors are keenly awaiting upcoming U.S. employment data for further clues…

PRISM files IPO papers for Rs 6650 crore fresh issue, reports Rs 748 crore profit in 9MFY26

Oyo’s parent company, PRISM, has filed its IPO papers with SEBI, planning a Rs 6,650 crore fresh issue to repay borrowings. The hospitality giant reported significant revenue and profit growth for the nine months ending December 2025, driven by international expansion, particularly in the US following the G6 Hospitality acquisition. PRISM operates across 43 brands…

India’s external debt rises to $762.8 billion in FY26, debt-to-GDP ratio climbs

India’s external debt reached $762.8 billion by March 2026, a rise of $26.3 billion year-on-year, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio to 20.8%. The US dollar’s strength significantly impacted this figure. While long-term debt saw a modest increase, short-term debt’s share grew, raising concerns about its proportion to foreign exchange reserves. Despite these shifts, debt servicing as…