Author: Aruna Kaim
IndusInd Bank has signaled a definitive turning point for its microfinance portfolio, declaring that the acute turbulence that plagued the segment over the past year is firmly in the rearview mirror. Speaking in an interview, Managing Director and CEO Rajiv Anand expressed strong optimism for a rebound starting in the second quarter. The sector-wide and bank-specific stress followed a challenging period for the lender, which included governance and accounting hurdles in 2025 centered around its microfinance subsidiary, Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd (BFIL). That turbulence forced the bank to reverse ₹674 crore of cumulative interest income and disclose a ₹172 crore…
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra and several associated companies and directors over an alleged loan default fraud causing a loss of over ₹1,322 crore to Life Insurance Corporation Housing Finance Ltd (LICHFL). Key Details of the Case The Allegations: The CBI case stems from a complaint filed by LICHFL alleging that Chandra used severely inflated net worth certificates to secure personal guarantees for two major credit facilities totaling ₹980 crore in 2018. The Disputed Loans: A ₹500 crore facility extended to Vasant Sagar Properties Pvt. Ltd.…
Anthropic has pushed back the timeline for its highly anticipated initial public offering, shifting marketing activities to mid-October at the earliest with a final market debut targeted just ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November. The artificial intelligence pioneer had initially been expected to make its IPO prospectus public as early as September, marking a crucial preliminary step to kick off the final phase of the offering. However, that release has now been delayed to late September as the company works to finalize a massive $15 billion revolving credit facility and complete underlying preparations. Market analysts and investors have…
A dual-basket air fryer represents a practical evolution for anyone who has ever stared down at a single cooking compartment while trying to feed a family. Traditional air fryers work wonderfully for a quick batch of fries or chicken wings, but hitting a capacity ceiling mid-meal—forcing you to cook one batch, start a second, and then frantically reheat the first—turns a time-saving appliance into a logistical hurdle. The Inalsa NutriFry DuoSlim tackles this exact friction point, but with a structural twist. Instead of adopting the wide, side-by-side footprint typical of most dual-basket models, Inalsa has stacked two separate 7L cooking…
A sector-wide correction typically serves a singular, necessary purpose: stripping away speculative froth and allowing fundamentally sound businesses to stand on their own merits. However, the prolonged multi-year downturn across railway public sector undertakings (PSUs) suggests that this market cleansing process has been anything but straightforward. Reflecting back to early 2024, the market landscape wore a vastly different face. Amid peak bull-market enthusiasm, railway counters emerged as absolute market darlings. Fueled by aggressive retail participation and institutional tailwinds, attaching the label of “railway stock” to any entity was practically an open sesame to unprecedented, nosebleed valuations. The reigning market narrative…
Wall Street closed lower as a stronger-than-expected August employment report fueled expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will adopt a more aggressive, hawkish stance on interest rates. Key Market Movements & Highlights Major Indices Decline: All three primary U.S. benchmarks finished the session in negative territory ahead of the weekend and the Labor Day holiday: Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 279.20 points (-0.54%) to close at 53,398.15. S&P 500 lost 29.58 points (-0.38%) to finish at 7,718.13. Nasdaq Composite fell 78.62 points (-0.30%) to end at 26,505.44. Strong Jobs Report: The U.S. Labor Department reported that non-farm payrolls grew by…
Ageas Federal Life Insurance has partnered with Policybazaar to launch its flagship Super Protect Plus Plan, targeting salaried and self-employed customers through a digital-first distribution model. Key Features of the Super Protect Plus Plan Pricing Benefits: 12% discount on the first-year premium alongside a Lowest Price Guarantee. Health & Wellness Perks: Complimentary health management services valued at up to Rs 53,000 annually. Core Coverages: Inbuilt Terminal Illness cover backed by a 99.82% Claim Settlement Ratio. Tax Advantages: 0% GST on term insurance, subject to prevailing tax regulations. Strategic Objectives The collaboration leverages Policybazaar’s high-intent customer base to expand Ageas Federal’s…
Facing unexpected expenses requires balancing speed, cost, and your ability to repay without straining your monthly budget. Before opting for a new loan, consider leveraging emergency savings, insurance claims, or support from family. Key Questions to Ask Before Borrowing Merchant Payment vs. Direct Cash: If a service provider accepts cards, paying directly with a credit card is faster than taking a fresh loan. For expenses requiring bank transfers or cash (such as rent or specific vendors), options providing direct funds are necessary. Repayment Capacity: Ensure the loan solves a short-term cash crunch rather than creating long-term debt. Evaluate your monthly…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu has emphasized that robust liquidity management and strong asset quality are foundational pillars for the sustainable growth of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs). Speaking at an industry summit, the RBI Deputy Governor highlighted five core focus areas critical for the sector’s long-term health and stability: Liquidity Management: Pointing out that past liquidity events exposed vulnerabilities linked to heavy reliance on short-term wholesale funding, Murmu stressed that liquidity risk management is non-optional. He urged entities to diversify their funding sources to prevent market shocks. Asset Quality &…
The legacy of the late industrialist Ratan Tata has run into a legal and administrative hurdle regarding a major portion of his estate. At the heart of the controversy is an estimated Rs 10,000 crore worth of Tata Sons shares that Ratan Tata willed to charitable trusts, which face a challenge stemming from an old family agreement. The Core Issue: The 1989 Family Agreement The dispute traces back to 1989, when the Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust (NRTT) transferred a block of Tata Sons shares to Ratan Tata’s father, Naval Tata. To ensure that the prized holdings of the country’s premier…