*Financial News*
Source: Leading Newspapers
Compiled by *RUDRA SHARES*
Vande Mataram
Thursday, 19 March 2026

*Global Economy & Geopolitics*
• US Federal Reserve keeps rates unchanged; revises inflation outlook upward to 2.7%
• West Asia in turmoil, govt looks to clear trade routes to South Asia
• US eases Venezuela oil sanctions as Trump seeks to boost world oil supply during Iran war
• Trump grants 60-day waiver from Jones Act shipping rules to ease oil costs
• US may send thousands of troops as Iran war enters possible new phase
• Brent crude rebounds on reports of attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field

*Indian Economy & Policy*
• India orders oil and gas firms to share data with central agency
• India mulls exempting micro firms under ₹1 crore from statutory audits
• Space for global growth to remain contested; greater intra-state coordination needed to counter external headwinds: CEA
• India’s net direct tax collections rise 7.2% to ₹22.80 trillion
• FY26 advance tax collection up 6.42% at ₹11.13 trn, shows I-T data
• India needs bigger banks, consolidation for $30 trn goal: Former RBI DG
• Gujarat introduces Uniform Civil Code Bill in state assembly

*Energy, Oil & Commodities*
• Hormuz chokehold leaves over 1.7 million tonnes of India’s oil, LNG and LPG cargo stranded
• Amid cooking gas crunch, govt to incentivize states for promoting PNG adoption
• Centre offers extra 10% commercial LPG to states committing to PNG shift
• UCIL plans uranium mining plants in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh; projects await clearances
• India takes rare cargo of Australia's BHP iron ore banned by China
• Italian energy major Enel files international arbitration against Waaree Energies
• Daily urea production poised to jump 22% by Mar-end as LNG supplies up 23%

*Infrastructure & Government Spending*
• Barabanki to Bahraich highway: Cabinet approves Rs 6,969 crore for four-lane access controlled road project in UP
• CCEA approves Rs 1,718.56 crore funding to CCI for cotton procurement operations
• Cabinet approves Rs 11,712 crore MSP support for cotton in 2023-24; 7.25 lakh farmers benefit
• Cabinet clears ₹33.7K crore BHAVYA scheme for 100 industrial parks
• Monetise DD, AIR assets in time-bound manner: Parliamentary Panel

*Aviation & Transport*
• Airlines must make 60% of seats available without selection charges
• Air India, AI Express to operate 48 West Asia flights; Dubai services to resume
• India sends additional warships near Gulf of Oman to escort fuel vessels

*Banking, Finance & NBFC*
• Axis Bank to infuse ₹1,500 crore into Axis Finance after RBI approval
• RBI grants approvals for Bain Capital's joint control in Manappuram Finance
• SBI-led secured lenders move SC for claims from Rs 5,100 crore in Sterling Biotech case
• Centrum Group sells housing finance arm to Weaver Services

*Corporate & Business Updates*
• Tata Steel bets on India strength, $2 bn for recovery in Europe
• Reliance Jio hires 17 bankers, unlikely to raise fresh funds via IPO
• Prudential may exit life insurance joint venture with ICICI Bank
• Nazara to acquire 50% stake in two gaming firms for $100.3 million
• BYD eyes double-digit growth in India
• PhysicsWallah gets ₹263 crore tax notice, to challenge order
• Cube Highways files ₹5,000 cr OFS to convert into India’s 1st public InvIT
• ReNew Energy set to secure $800 million refinancing loan
• Coal India's arm CMPDIL raises ₹470 cr via anchor investors ahead of IPO
• Gulshan Group ties up with IHCL for Taj-branded residences in Noida
• Microsoft considers legal action over $50 billion Amazon-OpenAI deal

*Industry & Manufacturing*
• Solar equipment makers get no funds under Rs 24,000 crore PLI scheme till February end
• FMCG: Britannia’s growth driven by ‘forgotten brands’ amid sector slowdown
• Centre clears IFFCO's nano NPK fertilisers under FCO
• FTAs to boost FDI, manufacturing in India: Audi India

*Markets & Stocks*
• IT stocks rebound 2.8% as brokerages downplay AI disruption fears
• HDFC Bank ADR falls over 7% after chairman exit
• KKR to invest up to $310 million in PMI Electro and Allfleet

*Trade & Logistics*
• Petrol dealers may face cash crunch as OMCs seek advance payments
• India plans trade route stabilisation amid Hormuz crisis

*Agriculture & Rural*
• Cotton procurement support benefits 7.25 lakh farmers
• Fertiliser and urea production rises amid improved LNG supply

*Defence & Strategic*
• India looking to join European consortia developing 6th-gen fighter jets
• Naval deployment increased amid Gulf tensions

*Regulatory & Miscellaneous*
• Pennsylvania regulators seek $2.6 million penalty for 2023 chocolate factory explosion

*Jai Hind*
*Rudra Hai to Mudra Hai*
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