Oil prices surged sharply after Iran moved again to block most maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that handles roughly one-fifth of global crude flows, escalating geopolitical tensions and rattling financial markets.Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped around 7 per cent to $96.88 a barrel, rebounding from Friday’s close, which had…

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday said the central bank is closely monitoring inflation risks arising from the spike in energy prices due to the Iran war, but cautioned that there is limited scope for policy intervention in such supply-driven shocks.Speaking at Harvard University before nearly 400 students, Powell said energy shocks typically tend…

India’s combined merchandise and services exports reached $76.13 billion in February 2026, marking an 11.04%increase from $68.56 billion in February 2025, the commerce ministry said on Monday. At the same time, imports surged even more sharply, rising 21.61% to $80.09 billion from $65.84 billion a year earlier. This led to a widened overall trade deficit…

Hyderabad: State-run miner NMDC Limited on Friday said it has become the first mining company in India to produce 50 million tonnes of iron ore in a single financial year, reaching the milestone just before the close of FY 2025-26.The Hyderabad-based Navratna CPSE under the ministry of steel said the achievement marks a major step…

MUMBAI: The rupee breached the 94 level for the first time to close at 94.81 per dollar after hitting a record low of 94.84, declining about 4% since late Feb and 11% in the current fiscal year, marking its worst financial year performance in over a decade.Many analysts are forecasting that oil prices will remain…