Sensex plunges 350 points as selling pressure builds

The meetings were inclined towards bolstering India's manufacturing capabilities and deepening its integration into global supply chains. The discussions focused on expanding investment partnerships and enhancing India's role as a critical hub in the Indo-Pacific region.

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.

Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday that the government has implemented several measures to prevent damage to drinking water pipelines and other underground utilities during the laying of telecommunications infrastructure.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh stated on Wednesday that India must move towards higher scale, higher value, and 12-month garment manufacturing to achieve a USD 350 billion textile economy. Speaking at a high-level industry interaction in New Delhi, the Minister emphasised that these shifts are essential to expanding exports to USD 100 billion by 2030-31.

The Digital India programme is successfully advancing digital inclusion and strengthening the nation's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) through a strategic focus on accessibility and affordability. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Lok Sabha today, noting that the initiative has bridged the digital divide by increasing internet access and providing robust digital solutions.