Sensex plunges 798 points; IT, banking stocks slump

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.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 12: As military conflict in West Asia disrupts energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and global liquidity tightens, leading investors, policymakers and capital markets leaders gathered at IGF Mumbai 2026: Catalysing Capital to assess India's position in an increasingly fragmented global economy.

National Stock Exchange of India Limited on Thursday concluded the process for the selection of merchant bankers, law firms and other intermediaries for its proposed Initial Public Offering (IPO).

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.

New Delhi [India], March 12: In today's digital economy, enterprises depend heavily on uninterrupted technology infrastructure. As global SaaS platforms and OEM technology providers expand across markets, maintaining reliable customer and technical support has become a growing challenge. Companies are no longer looking for basic call center services but for specialized partners who can manage complex IT environments while maintaining speed, quality and brand consistency.

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.

Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) [India], March 12: Jindal Steel has been declared the preferred bidder by the Government of Odisha for the Rengalaberha North-East Extension and Nuagan West Iron Ore Block in Keonjhar district. The iron ore block spans approximately 84 hectares. Following the successful conclusion of the online auction, Jindal Steel has committed to a final price offer of 111.15 per cent premium to the Government of Odisha.

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.

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], March 12: The Sri Vighnavimochaka Hanuman Temple near Vijayawada has installed India's tallest steel doors, standing at an impressive 40 feet in height. The monumental doors were engineered and manufactured by AACESS Tough Doors, a Hyderabad-based company specializing in large engineered steel door systems. Constructed using approximately 1.4 tonnes of high-strength structural steel, the massive installation features a double-shutter, two-side sliding system with remote-controlled automation, enabling smooth and safe operation despite its extraordinary scale.