Stock markets decline as renewed geopolitical concerns weigh on investor sentiment
Mumbai: Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty buckled under selling pressure Tuesday as fresh tensions flared in the Strait of Hormuz region and the ceasefire between the US and Iran came under strain. The rupee hitting a record low against the US dollar amid elevated crude prices also made investors cautious. In a volatile session, the 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 251.61 points, or 0.33 per cent, to settle at 77,017.79. During the day, it tanked 754.37 points, or 0.97 per cent, to 76,515.03. The 50-share NSE Nifty edged lower by 86.50 points, or 0.36 per cent, to end at 24,032.80. “Domestic equities witnessed a volatile session, closing lower as post-election optimism faded and sentiment re-aligned with global weakness amid rising geopolitical tensions. “Elevated crude prices continued to pressure the rupee, which slipped to record lows. Despite these headwinds, the ongoing earnings season, with results slightly ahead of expectations, provided some support and triggered selective bottom-fishing,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.
cityfalcon.com
Banks create buffers to cover war-related credit risks
Indian banks are strengthening their finances. They are creating special funds to handle risks from the West Asia crisis. This proactive step aims to protect against potential credit issues. Banks like Axis Bank, Union Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, and Indian Bank are setting aside significant amounts. This move ensures resilience and prudent risk management amid global uncertainties.
cityfalcon.com
Flipkart, Axis Bank, PayU roll out biometric card payments
Flipkart, in partnership with Axis Bank and PayU, has introduced biometric authentication for card payments, allowing users to approve transactions using fingerprint or facial recognition instead of one-time passwords (OTPs). The feature, currently available for Axis Bank cardholders, enables issuer-level biometric verification on supported Android and iOS devices. With this rollout, Flipkart joins a growing set of platforms adopting advanced authentication methods to improve payment security and user experience. The system replaces SMS-based OTP verification with device-based authentication, supported by enhanced security checks and device fingerprinting. Industry officials said the move is aimed at reducing fraud risks, particularly SIM-swap and OTP interception cases, while improving transaction success rates. PayU is managing the merchant-side infrastructure, including authentication flows and device security, while Axis Bank is leveraging Wibmo, a PayU subsidiary, for issuer-side verification.
cityfalcon.com
India’s credit card market expands to 119 million, PSU banks gain in spends
India's credit card market has surpassed 119 million cards. HDFC Bank, SBI Cards, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank dominate this sector. HDFC Bank is expanding its lead in both card numbers and spending value. Public sector banks are showing strong growth, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 markets. This expansion is driven by wider networks and partnerships.
cityfalcon.com
Brief India: Vedanta's F&O Reset: What Happens to Your Contracts When One Company Becomes Five and more
In this briefing: Vedanta's F&O Reset: What Happens to Your Contracts When One Company Becomes Five India Flexible Workspace Sector: Enterprise Demand Is Repricing the Sector Primer: Nath Bio Genes India (NBGL IN) - Apr 2026 India Steel Industry: Should We Expect a Turnaround from Q4FY26? HSIE Results Daily: Axis Bank, RBL Bank 1. Vedanta's F&O Reset: What Happens to Your Contracts When One Company Becomes Five All active Vedanta F&O contracts expire compulsorily on April 29, 2026. Fresh contracts on the restructured Vedanta Ltd resume April 30 at 10:00 AM IST. The four demerged entities have no derivatives access for at least six months post-listing. Open interest holders face forced settlement and mark-to-market crystallisation at a structurally adjusted price. 2. India Flexible Workspace Sector: Enterprise Demand Is Repricing the Sector India's flex workspace leasing surged 77% YoY in Q1 2026, with enterprises now driving 72% of absorption, a structural shift from the sector's startup origins All four listed operators (Awfis, Smartworks, WeWork India, IndiQube) report ~84% occupancy with weighted average client tenures of 32-42 months, signalling durable revenue visibility.
cityfalcon.com