Leading Indian brokerages gear up to offer seamless access to global stocks via GIFT City

Indian investors can now easily buy foreign stocks like Apple and Nvidia through GIFT City, thanks to major discount brokers like Groww and Zerodha launching overseas investing services. This move, facilitated by the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, allows investments starting from just $1 with fractional shares. While charges include brokerage and forex conversion, GIFT City offers…

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…

India tops Taiwan to reclaim fifth spot in global market capitalisation

India has surged back to the fifth spot globally in market capitalization, surpassing Taiwan. This marks India’s second ascent in recent weeks, having previously overtaken South Korea. The shift comes as Taiwan’s AI-driven rally cooled, trimming its market value. Investors are now reassessing stretched valuations and the sustainability of AI spending, impacting semiconductor-heavy markets.

RBI buyback gets few bids despite cash crunch

The central bank’s bond buyback saw a lukewarm market reception, attracting significantly less than the offered amount despite a liquidity deficit in the banking system. Banks held back, anticipating future inflows and preferring short-term papers. Meanwhile, the benchmark 10-year government bond yield dipped to its lowest since March, buoyed by falling oil prices and record…

Former finance services secy Rajiv Kumar named HDFC Bank part-time chairman

Kumar (66), a seasoned public policy leader and financial sector reformer, is widely credited with playing a key role in revitalising India’s banking and financial system during a period of significant stress between 2017 and 2020. During his tenure, he strengthened governance, risk management and regulatory oversight across banks by institutionalising specialised monitoring of large…

Zerodha eyes foray into investment banking

India’s leading retail broker, Zerodha, is making a significant move into investment banking. The company has applied to Sebi for a merchant banking license through its arm, Zerodha Corporate Advisors. This strategic expansion comes as the equity capital markets show strong potential, with experts noting ample room for new players possessing robust distribution and investor…