War forces rethink on travel insurance cover and limits

MUMBAI: The conflict in West Asia is prompting both underwriters and policyholders to reassess the efficacy of travel insurance in addressing geopolitical risks, one of the more persistent uncertainties in recent years.Early signals are visible in claims behaviour. “We have received travel inconvenience claims i.e. flight cancellation, trip cancellation/ interruption, accommodation extension etc. We have…

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FOMC policy meeting: Jerome Powell-led US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged; flags ‘uncertainty’ related to impact of Iran war

Jerome Powell (AP file photo) US Federal Reserve policy: Jerome Powell-led Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on Wednesday kept interest rates unchanged within the 3.50%-3.75% band. “In support of its goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3‑1/2 to 3‑3/4 percent. In considering the extent and timing…

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Market rebound or relief rally: Sensex gains nearly 3,000 points in three days; should investors stay cautious?

Indian equity benchmarks continued their upward move for a third straight session on Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex adding nearly 3,000 points over the past three trading days, prompting debate on Dalal Street over whether the recent recovery marks a sustainable bottom or just a short-term bounce, according to an ET report.The NSE Nifty ended…

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Direct tax collections rise 7.1% to Rs 22.8 lakh crore till March 17; corporate tax drives growth

India’s net direct tax collection increased 7.1 per cent to about Rs 22.8 lakh crore till March 17 in the current financial year, aided by higher corporate tax mop-up and slower refund outgo, according to official data released on Wednesday.Data shared by the Income Tax Department showed that net corporate tax collection grew by around…

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US eases Venezuela oil sanctions amid Iran war; Trump administration moves to boost global supply

The United States has eased sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil sector, allowing American companies to resume limited business with Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), as the Donald Trump administration seeks to expand global oil supplies during the ongoing Iran conflict, AP reported.The US Treasury Department on Wednesday issued a broad licence permitting PDVSA to sell…

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Raghav Chadha proposes joint tax filing for married couples — here’s how it could work

Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha recently proposed a set of reforms aimed at easing financial pressures on ordinary citizens, highlighting tax, pension, and banking issues in a speech in Parliament. Chadha focused on three key reforms: optional joint filing of income tax returns for married couples, restoring full income tax exemption on disability pensions…

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Bank holidays in March 2026: How many days are banks closed this week? Check state-wise list for Ugadi, Eid-Ul-Fitr & more

Planning a bank visit? You might want to reschedule! Bank customers planning a visit in March 2026 are being advised to check branch holiday schedules, as a four-day bank holiday is approaching. Since banks observe both national and state-specific holidays, closure dates can vary across different regions, making it important to plan ahead to avoid…

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US wholesale inflation jumps to 3.4% in February; food costs drive biggest rise in a year

US wholesale prices rose more than expected in February, reflecting mounting inflationary pressures even before the recent surge in global energy prices linked to the Iran conflict, according to data released by the Labor Department as reported news agency AP.The department reported on Wednesday that its producer price index (PPI), which measures inflation at the…

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