Govt clears Rs 20,000 crore credit guarantee scheme for MFIs; funding access in focus

The government has approved a limited-period Rs 20,000-crore credit guarantee scheme aimed at easing fund flow constraints faced by microfinance institutions (MFIs), according to a PTI report.The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Microfinance Institutions-2.0 (CGSMFI-2.0) will cover loans disbursed by member lending institutions (MLIs), including banks and other lenders, to non-banking finance company-MFIs and MFIs till…

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US stock markets today (March 20, 2026): S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq slip as bond yields rise; crude oil prices steady amid Iran war

US stocks edged lower in early trade on Friday, putting Wall Street on course for a fourth consecutive weekly loss, although a modest easing in oil prices helped stabilise broader global markets, according to an AP report.The S&P 500 declined 0.5% in morning deals and was headed toward its longest losing streak in a year….

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After six years halt, India-China trade via Lipulekh Pass set to restart

Border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district will resume this year after remaining suspended for six years, officials said, according to PTI.District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai said preparations have been initiated following directions from the Union government for the trade session, which typically runs between June and September. The…

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Stock market today (March 20, 2026): Which are the top gainers and losers in Nifty50 and BSE Sensex today? Check list

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty pared most of their sharp intra-day gains but still ended nearly half a per cent higher on Friday, supported by strong buying in IT, PSU bank and metal stocks amid persistent concerns over fuel-driven inflation.In a volatile trading session, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 325.72 points, or 0.44 per…

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Iran: Fuel, food and finance: How distant US-Iran war might spill into your monthly household bills

Years ago it was the Covid pandemic, then Russia–Ukraine conflict, then came Trump’s tariffs and now the world is witnessing a raging crisis in the Middle East. Different timelines, different circumstances but each time, the impact lands closer home. In the first week of the raging conflict with Iran, the US spent $11.3 billion. But…

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Petrol Price Hike: Premium petrol prices hiked by up to Rs 2.35 per litre amid Middle East tensions

State run oil marketing companies on Friday increased the price of their premium-grade power petrol by over Rs 2 per litre, while keeping the prices of regular petrol and diesel unchanged.The revised rates apply to high-performance fuel variants, including BPCL’s Speed, HPCL’s Power and IOCL’s XP95, with prices increasing in the range of Rs 2.09…

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Rupee sinks 82 paise to all-time low of 93.71 vs US dollar as crude oil surge, FII outflows rattle sentiment

The rupee plunged by 82 paise, or nearly 1 per cent, to settle at an all-time low of 93.71 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, weighed down by persistent foreign fund outflows and a sharp rise in global crude oil prices amid mounting geopolitical tensions, PTI reported.Forex traders said the domestic currency remained under…

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Gold price prediction amid US-Iran war: What’s the gold rate outlook for March 20, 2026?

Gold price prediction today (AI image) Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are range-bound and highly volatile in the current scenario, says Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst – Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.Gold futures on MCX are trading near ₹1,46,900 after witnessing a sharp decline followed by a recovery bounce. The price action indicates consolidation…

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