Saturday, March 14
China's dominance in rare earth minerals, particularly samarium, poses a significant challenge to the US and its allies in replenishing military equipment. Export restrictions on these materials, vital for defence applications, are impacting weapon production. Despite ongoing trade negotiations, China is unlikely to ease these restrictions.
Donald Trump has said he has no intention of selling his red Tesla Model S, dismissing speculation during a White House press briefing on Monday. “No, I may move the Tesla around a little bit,” Trump said when asked if he had plans to part ways with the electric car.
Amidst ongoing China-US trade talks in London, Wall Street experienced a mostly flat early trading session. Hopes for a tariff reduction deal persist, though confusion surrounding potential ramifications has led some companies, like Designer Brands, to lower financial guidance. European markets showed mixed performance, while Asian markets reacted nervously to geopolitical tensions, particularly in Chinese stocks.
Equity mutual fund inflows in India saw a significant dip in May 2025, falling over 21% to Rs 19,013 crore, a yearly low, despite market gains. This decline, attributed to investor caution amid high valuations and global tensions, impacted large-cap funds the most. While SIP contributions remained stable, debt funds experienced net outflows.
Stock market today: Over the previous four sessions, the Nifty had gained over 560 points or 2.27 per cent, while the Sensex advanced by 1,707.7 points or 2.11 per cent.
Niti Aayog is preparing to propose a significant overhaul of AIIMS Delhi, aiming to extend its clinical services across the NCR to alleviate strain on its infrastructure. The plan envisions AIIMS Delhi focusing on critical and trauma cases, while OPD services may expand to other government and private hospitals.
Asian stocks surged on Monday, fueled by optimism surrounding US-China trade talks in London and robust US jobs data. Despite a contraction in Japan's economy and slowing export growth in China, markets in Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong experienced gains. Wall Street also saw a rally, with the S&P 500 approaching its all-time high.
In a significant move towards inclusive railway services, Digital India Bhashini Division and the Centre for Railway Information Systems have partnered to integrate multilingual AI into railway platforms. This collaboration aims to provide access to critical railway information in 22 Indian languages, utilizing tools like speech recognition and text translation.
Ayodhya witnesses a significant surge in property prices, with circle rates rising up to 200% after eight years. The hike, especially pronounced near the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, is driven by religious tourism and infrastructure development. While increasing stamp duty, the revision is expected to benefit landowners and promote transparency in property deals.
Following the RBI's policy announcement, NBFC and small finance bank stocks surged due to reduced risk weights on retail loans for well-capitalized NBFCs and dovish liquidity signals. The RBI also eased norms for microfinance lenders and small finance banks, boosting the sector's outlook. These measures are expected to aid credit growth, financial inclusion, and a stronger credit cycle in FY26.
