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…

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…