Latest Economy Stock Market News

Both Nifty and Bank Nifty are trading near their monthly resistance zones- 23,600 for Nifty and 50,000 for Bank Nifty. Stock recommendations- 📌Buy IRCTC at ₹720-725; Stop Loss at ₹700; Target Price of ₹755. 📌Buy Castrol India at ₹215-220; Stop Loss at ₹205; Target Price of ₹240. 📌Buy Tata Consumer Products at ₹955-960; Stop Loss at ₹935; Target Price of ₹1000.

Regarding stocks to buy under ₹100, Sumeet Bagadia recommended buying these three shares: 📌Pasupati Acrylon: Momentum buy at ₹55.77, Stop Loss of ₹53.5; Target Price of ₹60. 📌MTNL: Momentum buy at ₹48.88, Stop Loss of ₹46.5; Target Price of ₹52.5. 📌Sepc: Momentum buy at ₹16.42, Stop Loss of ₹15.75; Target Price of ₹18.

The 25th anniversary of the dot-com bubble’s burst highlights eerie parallels with today’s AI-driven market rally. In 2000, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq peaked before collapsing, wiping out trillions. Now, AI has fueled a 72% S&P 500 surge since late 2022, but signs of a correction are emerging, reviving fears of a similar meltdown.

The Nifty rose 4.26% last week, its best performance since February 2021, driven by the rupee's eight-day rally and FOMO sentiment. Midcaps and SmallCaps surged 7.74% and 8.64%, respectively, their strongest gains since 2020. The Nifty breached a key trendline, closing at 23,350, while US markets rebounded slightly. The Fed held rates steady, forecasting lower 2025 GDP growth.

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal reviewed Odisha's power sector, addressing fly ash utilization, capacity addition, and transmission. A joint meeting with Coal, Environment, and Railways Ministries will tackle fly ash issues. Odisha has 20 GW operational and 10 GW planned. The state aims to develop more thermal plants and a green energy corridor.

Blackstone is acquiring a 66% stake in Pune-based Kolte Patil Developers, marking its strategic entry into India's residential real estate sector. This move, supported by India's growing middle class and urbanization, could attract more private equity investments into housing, potentially reshaping the sector's ownership structure and investment mix.

Motilal Oswal Private Wealth remains positive on Indian equities despite market volatility, advising lumpsum investments in Hybrid and large-cap funds, and staggered deployment in Mid and Small Cap strategies over six months. The report highlights stable economic growth due to government measures, attractive large-cap valuations, and emerging mid-small cap opportunities.

Oravel Stays aims to expand its premium SUNDAY Hotels brand to 100 properties globally by the next financial year, focusing on 4 and 5-star segments across 10 countries including India, the UK, and the Middle East. Launched in May 2023 as a joint venture with SoftBank, the brand has already opened 30 hotels, driven by strong consumer demand and strategic partnerships.

India has imposed anti-dumping duties on four Chinese goods—vacuum flasks, aluminium foil, soft ferrite cores, and trichloro isocyanuric acid—to protect domestic industries from cheap imports. Duties range from 35% to $1,732 per tonne, levied for five years, with aluminium foil's duty at $873 per tonne for six months. These measures aim to counter unfair trade practices.

Dividend Stocks: Shares of major companies, including REC, Authum Investment & Infrastructure, TVS Motor, Samvardhana Motherson, and Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, among others, are set to trade ex-dividend on Monday, March 24, 2025. According to the BSE data, some companies have announced other corporate actions, such as bonus issues in the upcoming week.

Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned that U.S. policies under President Donald Trump could have a "seismic" impact on the global economy. In the upcoming budget, he announced A$1.8 billion in electricity subsidies and noted economic improvements, with inflation down, wages up, and low unemployment. Australia faces elections amid tight polling

Vijay Kedia, a veteran investor, shared his investment philosophy at IOC 6.0, emphasizing the power of long-term holding and compounding. He highlighted a 16,400x return on a 16-year investment in a Gujarat-based company, exited in 2023. Kedia stressed the importance of independent thinking, avoiding blind replication of others' strategies, and staying patient during market volatility.

India's senior housing segment, despite challenges like operational intensity, is gaining viability as developers integrate senior living into mixed-use projects with healthcare and amenities. Meanwhile, co-living demand, driven by young professionals, is rising amid affordability concerns, though investor caution persists due to low yields and fragmentation.

IIT Guwahati researchers developed AI-powered robots for border surveillance, offering real-time monitoring in challenging terrains. Recognized by DRDO and tested by the Indian Army, these robots feature advanced navigation and multi-sensor threat detection, enhancing national security and aligning with India's self-reliance in defence technology.

Boeing has laid off up to 180 employees at its Bengaluru engineering center as part of a global workforce reduction, impacting limited roles while maintaining customer service and safety standards. The company, which employs around 7,000 staff in India, a key market, announced a 10% global workforce cut last year.

Meta may introduce a subscription model for Facebook users in the UK following a legal dispute with campaigner Tanya O’Carroll over ad targeting using her personal data. The UK’s ICO ruled that users can object to such data use under GDPR. Meta, which already offers ad-free subscriptions in the EU, emphasized that personalized ads keep the platforms free.

IndusInd Bank, India's fifth-largest private lender, has appointed Grant Thornton to conduct a forensic review into a $175 million overvaluation of its derivatives portfolio due to non-compliant trades. The bank's shares dropped 23.4% after disclosing the issue. The review will assess potential fraud and assign accountability. The RBI deemed the bank well-capitalized despite the lapses.

Both Nifty and Bank Nifty are trading near their monthly resistance zones- 23,600 for Nifty and 50,000 for Bank Nifty. Stock recommendations- 📌Buy IRCTC at ₹720-725; Stop Loss at ₹700; Target Price of ₹755. 📌Buy Castrol India at ₹215-220; Stop Loss at ₹205; Target Price of ₹240. 📌Buy Tata Consumer Products at ₹955-960; Stop Loss at ₹935; Target Price of ₹1000.

Regarding stocks to buy under ₹100, Sumeet Bagadia recommended buying these three shares: 📌Pasupati Acrylon: Momentum buy at ₹55.77, Stop Loss of ₹53.5; Target Price of ₹60. 📌MTNL: Momentum buy at ₹48.88, Stop Loss of ₹46.5; Target Price of ₹52.5. 📌Sepc: Momentum buy at ₹16.42, Stop Loss of ₹15.75; Target Price of ₹18.

The 25th anniversary of the dot-com bubble’s burst highlights eerie parallels with today’s AI-driven market rally. In 2000, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq peaked before collapsing, wiping out trillions. Now, AI has fueled a 72% S&P 500 surge since late 2022, but signs of a correction are emerging, reviving fears of a similar meltdown.

The Nifty rose 4.26% last week, its best performance since February 2021, driven by the rupee's eight-day rally and FOMO sentiment. Midcaps and SmallCaps surged 7.74% and 8.64%, respectively, their strongest gains since 2020. The Nifty breached a key trendline, closing at 23,350, while US markets rebounded slightly. The Fed held rates steady, forecasting lower 2025 GDP growth.

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal reviewed Odisha's power sector, addressing fly ash utilization, capacity addition, and transmission. A joint meeting with Coal, Environment, and Railways Ministries will tackle fly ash issues. Odisha has 20 GW operational and 10 GW planned. The state aims to develop more thermal plants and a green energy corridor.

Blackstone is acquiring a 66% stake in Pune-based Kolte Patil Developers, marking its strategic entry into India's residential real estate sector. This move, supported by India's growing middle class and urbanization, could attract more private equity investments into housing, potentially reshaping the sector's ownership structure and investment mix.

Motilal Oswal Private Wealth remains positive on Indian equities despite market volatility, advising lumpsum investments in Hybrid and large-cap funds, and staggered deployment in Mid and Small Cap strategies over six months. The report highlights stable economic growth due to government measures, attractive large-cap valuations, and emerging mid-small cap opportunities.

Oravel Stays aims to expand its premium SUNDAY Hotels brand to 100 properties globally by the next financial year, focusing on 4 and 5-star segments across 10 countries including India, the UK, and the Middle East. Launched in May 2023 as a joint venture with SoftBank, the brand has already opened 30 hotels, driven by strong consumer demand and strategic partnerships.

India has imposed anti-dumping duties on four Chinese goods—vacuum flasks, aluminium foil, soft ferrite cores, and trichloro isocyanuric acid—to protect domestic industries from cheap imports. Duties range from 35% to $1,732 per tonne, levied for five years, with aluminium foil's duty at $873 per tonne for six months. These measures aim to counter unfair trade practices.

Dividend Stocks: Shares of major companies, including REC, Authum Investment & Infrastructure, TVS Motor, Samvardhana Motherson, and Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, among others, are set to trade ex-dividend on Monday, March 24, 2025. According to the BSE data, some companies have announced other corporate actions, such as bonus issues in the upcoming week.

Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned that U.S. policies under President Donald Trump could have a "seismic" impact on the global economy. In the upcoming budget, he announced A$1.8 billion in electricity subsidies and noted economic improvements, with inflation down, wages up, and low unemployment. Australia faces elections amid tight polling

Vijay Kedia, a veteran investor, shared his investment philosophy at IOC 6.0, emphasizing the power of long-term holding and compounding. He highlighted a 16,400x return on a 16-year investment in a Gujarat-based company, exited in 2023. Kedia stressed the importance of independent thinking, avoiding blind replication of others' strategies, and staying patient during market volatility.

India's senior housing segment, despite challenges like operational intensity, is gaining viability as developers integrate senior living into mixed-use projects with healthcare and amenities. Meanwhile, co-living demand, driven by young professionals, is rising amid affordability concerns, though investor caution persists due to low yields and fragmentation.

IIT Guwahati researchers developed AI-powered robots for border surveillance, offering real-time monitoring in challenging terrains. Recognized by DRDO and tested by the Indian Army, these robots feature advanced navigation and multi-sensor threat detection, enhancing national security and aligning with India's self-reliance in defence technology.

Boeing has laid off up to 180 employees at its Bengaluru engineering center as part of a global workforce reduction, impacting limited roles while maintaining customer service and safety standards. The company, which employs around 7,000 staff in India, a key market, announced a 10% global workforce cut last year.

Meta may introduce a subscription model for Facebook users in the UK following a legal dispute with campaigner Tanya O’Carroll over ad targeting using her personal data. The UK’s ICO ruled that users can object to such data use under GDPR. Meta, which already offers ad-free subscriptions in the EU, emphasized that personalized ads keep the platforms free.

IndusInd Bank, India's fifth-largest private lender, has appointed Grant Thornton to conduct a forensic review into a $175 million overvaluation of its derivatives portfolio due to non-compliant trades. The bank's shares dropped 23.4% after disclosing the issue. The review will assess potential fraud and assign accountability. The RBI deemed the bank well-capitalized despite the lapses.

Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, once a penny stock at ₹7.60 in 2003, now trades at ₹1,772, yielding a 23,218% gain over 22 years. It delivered 151.66% returns over five years and 12.67% in one year. The company declared a ₹4 per share dividend and sold land for ₹36.47 crore, despite recent short-term declines.

The Indian equity market saw FPI outflows narrow to Rs 1,794 crore (USD 194 million) last week, marking the 15th consecutive week of outflows. Despite cautious sentiment due to global and domestic factors, positive developments like easing geopolitical tensions and improved domestic fundamentals have supported a slight reversal in FPI selling.

Public sector banks' dividend payout rose 33% to Rs 27,830 crore in FY24, with Rs 18,013 crore paid to the government. Their aggregate net profit increased to Rs 1.41 lakh crore, up from Rs 1.05 lakh crore in FY23. SBI contributed over 40% of the total profit, while banks like Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India saw significant growth.

India's push to become a global manufacturing hub in electronics, semiconductors, and automobiles is attracting Japanese firms, with collaboration opportunities in sectors like warehousing, packaging, and defense. India's large domestic market, driven by a young population, and export-oriented policies make it a strategic base for Japanese SMEs to enhance global presence.

The Indian government opposes Volkswagen's plea to quash a $1.4 billion tax bill, warning it would have "catastrophic consequences" by encouraging companies to withhold information and delay probes. Volkswagen argues the tax authority's inaction caused delays, impacting its India business. The case, affecting foreign investor trust, will be heard soon.

The Indian stock market has declined sharply, with Nifty 50 dropping 14.3% and broader indices falling even more. Investors are shifting to alternative investments like high-yield fixed deposits, corporate bonds, gold, real estate, and unlisted stocks to diversify and mitigate risks amid economic uncertainty. Diversification across asset classes is now seen as essential for stability and growth.

Indian stock market declines have reduced AMC valuations, making them attractive. InCred Equities is optimistic, noting balanced risk-reward ratios despite potential broader market drops. Mutual fund inflows are expected to stabilize, supported by rising disposable income. Target prices for HDFC AMC, Nippon Life, and others have been set, reflecting recovery potential.

Rathi Steel and Power's promoter, PCR Holdings, increased its stake by 0.21% through an open-market purchase of 45,000 shares. The stock rose 3.59% on Friday, closing at ₹30.55 on BSE. Despite a 44.55% decline in one year, it delivered over 700% returns in five years. Q3 net profit surged to ₹6.94 crore, though total income and expenses dropped.

Tesla's stock faces a nine-week losing streak amid declining European sales, competition from BYD, and concerns over Musk's focus. Trump targets 20 Big Law firms for their diversity programs, excluding GOP-favorite Jones Day. Private-equity owned Steward Health Care's bankruptcy reveals a cycle of plundering hospitals. Tech companies adopt stricter efficiency measures, ending previous perks.

Nvidia shareholders hope CEO Jensen Huang's speech at the GTC conference will boost stock confidence amid a 14.9% year-to-date decline. Concerns about peak earnings and future sales growth persist, but solid execution could rebound shares, with analysts forecasting a 57% revenue increase in fiscal 2026.

South Korean gaming giant KRAFTON, developer of Battlegrounds Mobile India, plans to expand investments and acquisitions in India, a top-five market globally. CEO Sean Sohn highlights the country’s mobile-first culture, young population, and steady growth prospects. KRAFTON has already invested $200 million and sees significant potential for the gaming industry to grow over the next few years.

The UK government plans to reduce civil servant roles by 10,000, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. This aims to cut numbers increased during COVID, prioritizing spending and using technology like AI for efficiency. Departments are expected to make £2 billion in cuts, with Reeves outlining the plan in her spring statement on Wednesday, focusing on reallocating funds without tax increases.

ONGC plans to import 800,000 tonnes of ethane annually starting mid-2028 due to Qatar's shift to supplying "lean" LNG, stripped of ethane and propane. ONGC seeks joint venture partners to build very large ethane carriers (VLECs) for transportation, with the tender submission deadline set for March 27. This move aims to secure feedstock for its OPaL petrochemical plant.

Sinopec reported a 16.8% decline in 2024 net profit to 50.3 billion yuan, citing lower crude oil prices and the rise of new energy vehicles. Gasoline sales fell 0.7%, diesel 4.8%, while aviation fuel rose 7.3%. Refinery throughput dropped 2.14% to 252 million metric tons. The company plans 164.3 billion yuan in capital spending for 2025.

Turkish central bank officials will meet with commercial lenders Sunday amid market volatility following the arrest of opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu. The meeting aims to discuss coordination and assess recent market declines. The central bank has raised its overnight lending rate and suspended lower benchmark rates, while planning a liquidity bill auction.

The biggest question facing markets is whether the US economic slowdown will stabilize or lead to a recession. CEOs and strategists highlight concerns over tariffs, spending cuts, and economic uncertainty, with recession probabilities ranging from 40% to 75%. Weak retail sales, consumer confidence, and negative GDP growth signals suggest the market is pricing in more than a slowdown.

Both Nifty and Bank Nifty are trading near their monthly resistance zones- 23,600 for Nifty and 50,000 for Bank Nifty. Stock recommendations- 📌Buy IRCTC at ₹720-725; Stop Loss at ₹700; Target Price of ₹755. 📌Buy Castrol India at ₹215-220; Stop Loss at ₹205; Target Price of ₹240. 📌Buy Tata Consumer Products at ₹955-960; Stop Loss at ₹935; Target Price of ₹1000.

Regarding stocks to buy under ₹100, Sumeet Bagadia recommended buying these three shares: 📌Pasupati Acrylon: Momentum buy at ₹55.77, Stop Loss of ₹53.5; Target Price of ₹60. 📌MTNL: Momentum buy at ₹48.88, Stop Loss of ₹46.5; Target Price of ₹52.5. 📌Sepc: Momentum buy at ₹16.42, Stop Loss of ₹15.75; Target Price of ₹18.

The 25th anniversary of the dot-com bubble’s burst highlights eerie parallels with today’s AI-driven market rally. In 2000, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq peaked before collapsing, wiping out trillions. Now, AI has fueled a 72% S&P 500 surge since late 2022, but signs of a correction are emerging, reviving fears of a similar meltdown.

The Nifty rose 4.26% last week, its best performance since February 2021, driven by the rupee's eight-day rally and FOMO sentiment. Midcaps and SmallCaps surged 7.74% and 8.64%, respectively, their strongest gains since 2020. The Nifty breached a key trendline, closing at 23,350, while US markets rebounded slightly. The Fed held rates steady, forecasting lower 2025 GDP growth.

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal reviewed Odisha's power sector, addressing fly ash utilization, capacity addition, and transmission. A joint meeting with Coal, Environment, and Railways Ministries will tackle fly ash issues. Odisha has 20 GW operational and 10 GW planned. The state aims to develop more thermal plants and a green energy corridor.

Blackstone is acquiring a 66% stake in Pune-based Kolte Patil Developers, marking its strategic entry into India's residential real estate sector. This move, supported by India's growing middle class and urbanization, could attract more private equity investments into housing, potentially reshaping the sector's ownership structure and investment mix.

Motilal Oswal Private Wealth remains positive on Indian equities despite market volatility, advising lumpsum investments in Hybrid and large-cap funds, and staggered deployment in Mid and Small Cap strategies over six months. The report highlights stable economic growth due to government measures, attractive large-cap valuations, and emerging mid-small cap opportunities.

Oravel Stays aims to expand its premium SUNDAY Hotels brand to 100 properties globally by the next financial year, focusing on 4 and 5-star segments across 10 countries including India, the UK, and the Middle East. Launched in May 2023 as a joint venture with SoftBank, the brand has already opened 30 hotels, driven by strong consumer demand and strategic partnerships.

India has imposed anti-dumping duties on four Chinese goods—vacuum flasks, aluminium foil, soft ferrite cores, and trichloro isocyanuric acid—to protect domestic industries from cheap imports. Duties range from 35% to $1,732 per tonne, levied for five years, with aluminium foil's duty at $873 per tonne for six months. These measures aim to counter unfair trade practices.

Dividend Stocks: Shares of major companies, including REC, Authum Investment & Infrastructure, TVS Motor, Samvardhana Motherson, and Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, among others, are set to trade ex-dividend on Monday, March 24, 2025. According to the BSE data, some companies have announced other corporate actions, such as bonus issues in the upcoming week.

Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned that U.S. policies under President Donald Trump could have a "seismic" impact on the global economy. In the upcoming budget, he announced A$1.8 billion in electricity subsidies and noted economic improvements, with inflation down, wages up, and low unemployment. Australia faces elections amid tight polling

Vijay Kedia, a veteran investor, shared his investment philosophy at IOC 6.0, emphasizing the power of long-term holding and compounding. He highlighted a 16,400x return on a 16-year investment in a Gujarat-based company, exited in 2023. Kedia stressed the importance of independent thinking, avoiding blind replication of others' strategies, and staying patient during market volatility.

India's senior housing segment, despite challenges like operational intensity, is gaining viability as developers integrate senior living into mixed-use projects with healthcare and amenities. Meanwhile, co-living demand, driven by young professionals, is rising amid affordability concerns, though investor caution persists due to low yields and fragmentation.

IIT Guwahati researchers developed AI-powered robots for border surveillance, offering real-time monitoring in challenging terrains. Recognized by DRDO and tested by the Indian Army, these robots feature advanced navigation and multi-sensor threat detection, enhancing national security and aligning with India's self-reliance in defence technology.

Boeing has laid off up to 180 employees at its Bengaluru engineering center as part of a global workforce reduction, impacting limited roles while maintaining customer service and safety standards. The company, which employs around 7,000 staff in India, a key market, announced a 10% global workforce cut last year.

Meta may introduce a subscription model for Facebook users in the UK following a legal dispute with campaigner Tanya O’Carroll over ad targeting using her personal data. The UK’s ICO ruled that users can object to such data use under GDPR. Meta, which already offers ad-free subscriptions in the EU, emphasized that personalized ads keep the platforms free.

IndusInd Bank, India's fifth-largest private lender, has appointed Grant Thornton to conduct a forensic review into a $175 million overvaluation of its derivatives portfolio due to non-compliant trades. The bank's shares dropped 23.4% after disclosing the issue. The review will assess potential fraud and assign accountability. The RBI deemed the bank well-capitalized despite the lapses.

Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, once a penny stock at ₹7.60 in 2003, now trades at ₹1,772, yielding a 23,218% gain over 22 years. It delivered 151.66% returns over five years and 12.67% in one year. The company declared a ₹4 per share dividend and sold land for ₹36.47 crore, despite recent short-term declines.

The Indian equity market saw FPI outflows narrow to Rs 1,794 crore (USD 194 million) last week, marking the 15th consecutive week of outflows. Despite cautious sentiment due to global and domestic factors, positive developments like easing geopolitical tensions and improved domestic fundamentals have supported a slight reversal in FPI selling.

Public sector banks' dividend payout rose 33% to Rs 27,830 crore in FY24, with Rs 18,013 crore paid to the government. Their aggregate net profit increased to Rs 1.41 lakh crore, up from Rs 1.05 lakh crore in FY23. SBI contributed over 40% of the total profit, while banks like Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India saw significant growth.

India's push to become a global manufacturing hub in electronics, semiconductors, and automobiles is attracting Japanese firms, with collaboration opportunities in sectors like warehousing, packaging, and defense. India's large domestic market, driven by a young population, and export-oriented policies make it a strategic base for Japanese SMEs to enhance global presence.

The Indian government opposes Volkswagen's plea to quash a $1.4 billion tax bill, warning it would have "catastrophic consequences" by encouraging companies to withhold information and delay probes. Volkswagen argues the tax authority's inaction caused delays, impacting its India business. The case, affecting foreign investor trust, will be heard soon.

The Indian stock market has declined sharply, with Nifty 50 dropping 14.3% and broader indices falling even more. Investors are shifting to alternative investments like high-yield fixed deposits, corporate bonds, gold, real estate, and unlisted stocks to diversify and mitigate risks amid economic uncertainty. Diversification across asset classes is now seen as essential for stability and growth.

Indian stock market declines have reduced AMC valuations, making them attractive. InCred Equities is optimistic, noting balanced risk-reward ratios despite potential broader market drops. Mutual fund inflows are expected to stabilize, supported by rising disposable income. Target prices for HDFC AMC, Nippon Life, and others have been set, reflecting recovery potential.

Rathi Steel and Power's promoter, PCR Holdings, increased its stake by 0.21% through an open-market purchase of 45,000 shares. The stock rose 3.59% on Friday, closing at ₹30.55 on BSE. Despite a 44.55% decline in one year, it delivered over 700% returns in five years. Q3 net profit surged to ₹6.94 crore, though total income and expenses dropped.

Tesla's stock faces a nine-week losing streak amid declining European sales, competition from BYD, and concerns over Musk's focus. Trump targets 20 Big Law firms for their diversity programs, excluding GOP-favorite Jones Day. Private-equity owned Steward Health Care's bankruptcy reveals a cycle of plundering hospitals. Tech companies adopt stricter efficiency measures, ending previous perks.

Nvidia shareholders hope CEO Jensen Huang's speech at the GTC conference will boost stock confidence amid a 14.9% year-to-date decline. Concerns about peak earnings and future sales growth persist, but solid execution could rebound shares, with analysts forecasting a 57% revenue increase in fiscal 2026.

South Korean gaming giant KRAFTON, developer of Battlegrounds Mobile India, plans to expand investments and acquisitions in India, a top-five market globally. CEO Sean Sohn highlights the country’s mobile-first culture, young population, and steady growth prospects. KRAFTON has already invested $200 million and sees significant potential for the gaming industry to grow over the next few years.

The UK government plans to reduce civil servant roles by 10,000, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. This aims to cut numbers increased during COVID, prioritizing spending and using technology like AI for efficiency. Departments are expected to make £2 billion in cuts, with Reeves outlining the plan in her spring statement on Wednesday, focusing on reallocating funds without tax increases.

ONGC plans to import 800,000 tonnes of ethane annually starting mid-2028 due to Qatar's shift to supplying "lean" LNG, stripped of ethane and propane. ONGC seeks joint venture partners to build very large ethane carriers (VLECs) for transportation, with the tender submission deadline set for March 27. This move aims to secure feedstock for its OPaL petrochemical plant.

Sinopec reported a 16.8% decline in 2024 net profit to 50.3 billion yuan, citing lower crude oil prices and the rise of new energy vehicles. Gasoline sales fell 0.7%, diesel 4.8%, while aviation fuel rose 7.3%. Refinery throughput dropped 2.14% to 252 million metric tons. The company plans 164.3 billion yuan in capital spending for 2025.

Turkish central bank officials will meet with commercial lenders Sunday amid market volatility following the arrest of opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu. The meeting aims to discuss coordination and assess recent market declines. The central bank has raised its overnight lending rate and suspended lower benchmark rates, while planning a liquidity bill auction.

The biggest question facing markets is whether the US economic slowdown will stabilize or lead to a recession. CEOs and strategists highlight concerns over tariffs, spending cuts, and economic uncertainty, with recession probabilities ranging from 40% to 75%. Weak retail sales, consumer confidence, and negative GDP growth signals suggest the market is pricing in more than a slowdown.