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Asian stocks today: Markets rallied as hopes grew that Iran war could end soon; Kospi jumps 5.5%, Nikkei rises 3.9%

Asian shares rallied in early trade on Wednesday after hopes grew that the Iran war could end soon.MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose by 2.7%, while South Korea’s Kospi surged as much as 5.5% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 3.9%.The gains came after US President Donald Trump said that the United States…

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Tax reform rollout: New Income Tax Act 2025 comes into force, CBDT calls it a shift towards simpler compliance

The Income Tax Act, 2025 came into force from April 1, marking a major overhaul of India’s tax framework, with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) describing it as a step towards simplified compliance and a “new chapter” in tax administration, according to PTI.The new law replaces the six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961, and…

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Currency guardrails: RBI tightens forex derivatives rules for banks amid rupee volatility

The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday announced fresh restrictions on authorised dealers (ADs) in the foreign exchange market following a “review of evolving market conditions”, as the rupee remains under pressure, according to PTI.In a late-evening notification, the central bank said ADs — banks authorised to deal in foreign exchange — will not be…

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Govt imposes import curbs on gold, silver jewellery to check misuse of FTAs

The government on Wednesday announced curbs on imports of gold, platinum and silver jewellery with immediate effect, a move aimed at checking misuse of free trade agreements (FTAs). These restrictions will operate irrespective of any prior contract, irrevocable letter of credit, advance payment, shipment status, or any other commitment, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade…

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Parliament passes insolvency law amendments to speed up resolutions; Sitharaman says aim is revival, not liquidation

Parliament on Wednesday passed amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) aimed at expediting resolution of stressed companies and reducing case backlogs, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underlining that the objective is to revive firms rather than liquidate them, according to PTI.The Rajya Sabha cleared the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by…

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UPI transactions hit record Rs 29.53 lakh crore in March; volumes cross 22.6 billion

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions touched a record high in March, with both value and volume hitting new peaks, driven by festive spending and financial year-end activity, according to PTI.Data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) showed that UPI transactions totalled Rs 29.53 lakh crore in value during March, up 19 per…

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US retail sales rise 0.6% in February; Iran war fuel spike threatens consumer spending outlook

US retail sales rose 0.6 per cent in February after a slight decline in January, signalling cautious consumer activity even before a sharp surge in fuel prices triggered by the Iran war, according to AP.Data released by the Commerce Department showed retail sales rebounded from a 0.1 per cent drop in January, beating expectations. However,…

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