Sensex, Nifty trim early losses but end flat

The deepening conflict in West Asia has placed the Indian economy and the broader Asian region in the "eye of the storm," as supply chain disruptions and surging energy costs threaten to trigger a significant negative growth shock.

Indian stock markets settled in the red on Thursday as escalating tensions in West Asia and again a sharp rise in crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment.

Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], March 12: As a strategic move to refresh and strengthen its core vision, Hong Leong Islamic Bank ("HLB Islamic" or the "Bank") is transitioning to a refreshed consumer-facing brand identity, now known as HLB Islamic, and a strengthened core proposition that approaches financial services not as a series of siloed products and transactions, but as total wealth stewardship through a Shariah-principle-guided life-cycle approach known as Hayat @ HLB Islamic. This evolution is rooted in the Bank's new philosophy, 'Timeless Principles Guiding Tomorrow's Wealth', introduced during its 20th anniversary last December to signal a new chapter in wealth stewardship.

India's non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) are expected to expand faster than traditional banks over the coming decade as lenders adopt artificial intelligence and expand into new loan segments, according to a research report by Nomura.

Dubai [UAE], March 12: Wizz Financial, the global fintech company specializing in cross-border payments and digital wallets, today announced the completion of its first stablecoin-powered cross-border remittance and treasury transaction originating from the United States, with capabilities into 80 countries, in partnership with BitGo Bank & Trust, N.A. ("BitGo"), an OCC-regulated digital asset trust bank and subsidiary of BitGo Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BTGO). Through the partnership, Wizz Financial is utilizing BitGo's institutional-grade wallet infrastructure and e-trade services to facilitate the conversion of fiat currency into stablecoins, enabling near-real-time settlement, enhanced liquidity management, and compliant, scalable cross-border remittance flows across its global network as new corridors are progressively launched.

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 12: Swiggy, India's pioneering on-demand convenience platform, and HDFC Bank, India's largest private sector bank, today announced the expansion of their co-branded credit card portfolio with the launch of two new variants: the Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank Credit Card and the Swiggy Ornge HDFC Bank Credit Card. The Swiggy BLCK and Ornge HDFC Bank Credit Cards are designed to maximize value across food, quick commerce, lifestyle, and travel. Card members will enjoy enhanced, category-leading cashback on Swiggy and premium partner platforms, alongside exclusive instant discounts on Cleartrip and Nykaa. The expanded portfolio offers up to ₹48,000 in annual savings, bringing elevated, everyday benefits to a wider segment of consumers.

Indian stock markets opened in the red on Thursday as escalating tensions in West Asia and again a sharp rise in crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment.

Faridabad (Haryana) [India], March 11: On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad organised a grand cyclothon to promote health awareness. Around 365 participants from Delhi-NCR enthusiastically joined the cycling event. Two events -- 21 km and 10 km cycling races were organised, and participants ranging from children to senior citizens actively took part in them.

Singapore, March 11: Princeton Digital Group (PDG), Asia's leading data center operator, today announced a plan to raise up to USD 5 billion in debt financing this year to fund its contracted capacity across the region.

The domestic stock markets opened with modest gains on Wednesday as easing crude oil prices supported investor sentiment, even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continued to remain in focus.