Category: Business

Mumbai, Apr 13 (BNP): India’s benchmark stock indices, the Sensex and Nifty, opened sharply lower on Monday, reflecting growing global anxiety after crucial talks between the United States and Iran ended without an agreement.

The failure of the high-stakes negotiations has raised fears that tensions between the two nations could escalate further, potentially leading to a prolonged period of instability. Investors reacted swiftly, pulling back from equities amid uncertainty.

One of the biggest concerns stemming from the stalled talks is the surge in crude oil prices. As geopolitical risks rise in the Middle East, oil markets tend to react strongly, and this time was no different. Higher oil prices are particularly worrying for countries like India, which rely heavily on imports, as they can fuel inflation and strain the economy.

The discussions, which reportedly stretched over 21 hours in Pakistan, were seen as a critical opportunity to ease hostilities. However, both sides have blamed each other for the breakdown, leaving the fragile two-week ceasefire hanging in the balance.

With no clear resolution in sight, market participants are expected to remain cautious in the coming days, closely watching global developments for any signs of progress or further escalation.

Doha, Qatar – Apr 13: Both the Ordinary General Assembly and the Extraordinary General Assembly of Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C. convened on April 12, 2026, and approved the Company’s financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025. Additionally, the Ordinary General Assembly approved the Board of Directors’ proposal to distribute dividends for the same period, amounting to two shares for every ten shares, equivalent to 20% of the Company’s capital. Both assemblies also approved the agenda items, with the following highlights:

Ordinary General Assembly:

1. The General Assembly approved the Board of Directors’ report on the Company’s activities and financial position for the year ending 31/12/2025, as well as the Company’s future plan for 2026.

2. The General Assembly approved the auditors’ report on the financial statements of the Company for the year ending 31/12/2025.

3. The General Assembly approved the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and profit and loss statement for the financial year ending 31/12/2025.

4. The General Assembly approved the distribution of dividends for the period ending December 31, 2025, at a rate of 20% of the Company’s capital by distributing free shares at a rate of two shares for every ten shares, equivalent to 0.2 share per share, and the allocation of fractional shares resulting from the distribution process to Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C., if any.

5. The General Assembly approved the auditors’ report on the Company’s compliance with corporate governance requirements applicable to listed companies.

6. The General Assembly approved the Company’s Governance Report for the financial year ending on 31/12/2025.

7. The General Assembly approved discharging the members of the Board of Directors from liability for the financial year ending 31/12/2025 and approved the distribution of Board remuneration totaling QAR 3,959,374.

8. The General Assembly approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as the auditors for the financial year ending 31/12/2026 and approved their fees as per the Board’s recommendations.

Extraordinary General Assembly:

1. The General Assembly approved a 20% capital increase to distribute free shares at a ratio of two shares for every ten shares, to be issued after obtaining the necessary approvals, making the Company’s capital QAR 4,493,329,500, distributed over 4,493,329,500 shares, and allocating fractional shares resulting from the distribution process to Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C., if any.

2. The General Assembly approved amendments to Article 5 (Company Capital) and related provisions of the Company’s Articles of Association.

3. The General Assembly authorized the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, individually, to take the necessary actions and complete all procedures with the relevant authorities — including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, Qatar Stock Exchange, and Qatar Central Securities Depository — to amend the Company’s Articles of Association and finalize the issuance of shares.

Authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors individually, and any person selected by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C. to apply for the required approvals and to review with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, the Qatar Stock Exchange, Qatar Central Securities Depository, and any other relevant authority in the State of Qatar, in order to amend the company’s Articles of Association, sign it, submit any necessary documents for making those amendments, and represent the company to any public or private entity concerning the issuance of shares. This includes signing and submitting on behalf of the company all documents, notifications, permits, or agreements that the authorized person considers appropriate concerning the issuance of shares.

Karuvanchal, April 11, 2026: The relocated branch of South Indian Bank at Karuvanchal was inaugurated on Friday at 3:00 PM in the presence of dignitaries, customers, and local residents.

The branch was inaugurated by His Grace Mar Joseph Pamplany, Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thalassery. The ATM was inaugurated by Fr. Sabu Puthussery, Director, St. Joseph Hospital, while the locker facility and Gold Loan Cabin were inaugurated by Mrs. Moly Saji, President, Naduvil Grama Panchayat, and Mr. Prince John, Managing Partner, Johnsoft Systems, respectively.

The ceremony included the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp led by His Grace, along with Mr. Anto George T, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Moly Saji, customers and their families, and Mr. Vishnu Sabari, Branch Head.

Among those present were Mr. George Joseph, Regional Head, and Mr. Rofi M F, Cluster Head, along with other officials and well-wishers.

Felicitations were offered by Mrs. Tessy M S, President, Udayagiri Grama Panchayat; Mrs. Princy Boby George, President, Alakode Grama Panchayat; Mr. K. Moideen, Vice President, Naduvil Grama Panchayat; and Mr. Sony Kaviyil, Ward Member, Karuvanchal.

Addressing the gathering, His Grace highlighted the bank’s digital initiatives and the growth potential of the region. Mr. Anto George T underscored the bank’s focus on service excellence and expansion. Mr. George Joseph outlined key objectives, including ongoing brand development initiatives and a strengthened commitment to delivering enhanced customer service.

Dubai, Apr 11: BNW Developments, one of UAE’s fastest-growing luxury real estate developers , today announced a landmark first quarter sales performance for 2026. The results underscore the company’s accelerating momentum and the enduring confidence of its investor base. In Q1 2026, BNW recorded total sales of AED 802.3 million — a 281% increase over Q1 2025.

The scale of this growth, which saw sales nearly quadruple, was delivered during a period of regional geopolitical uncertainty, serving as a powerful testament to the enduring resilience of the UAE. These record figures are a direct reflection of the deep trust that investors and residents place in the nation’s stability and vision.

This collective confidence, mirrored in BNW’s strongest quarter, underscores the market’s belief in BNW’s investment-grade products and their premium branded residences strategy.

Dr. (CA) Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman and Founder of BNW Developments, said, “AED 802 million in a single quarter is not a number we take lightly. It is the result of years of disciplined planning, the right partnerships, and an unshakeable commitment to building things that last. The market is speaking, and it is speaking clearly.” He added that construction across all BNW projects is progressing as per timelines, with no changes to scheduled handovers

With the recent launch of Orvessa Residences by Michel Adam marking BNW’s entry into Dubai, and a deep pipeline of branded developments across the UAE, the company is positioned to make 2026 its most significant year to date. With a robust pipeline of 12 projects set to redefine luxury living across Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai, BNW Developments is poised to build on this momentum.

Apr 11 (BNP): India’s flagship port-led development initiative, the Sagarmala programme, continues to strengthen the country’s maritime economy with significant progress in infrastructure expansion, cargo movement, and employment generation.

According to official updates, the programme has already completed 315 projects, while 210 projects are currently under implementation and another 320 are in the planning stage. These initiatives are aimed at modernising ports, improving connectivity, and boosting industrial activity along India’s coastline.

 Pic Credit: Pexel

A major focus has been port modernisation, with 120 projects completed, adding more than 400 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of new handling capacity. In addition, 106 completed road and rail connectivity projects have significantly improved cargo evacuation efficiency, reducing delays and improving trade competitiveness.

The shift toward coastal shipping and inland waterways has also seen strong growth. Coastal cargo movement has increased to 195 MTPA from 87 MTPA, marking a rise of 118%, while inland waterway cargo has surged dramatically to 145.50 MTPA from 18.10 MTPA, reflecting a growth of nearly 700%. This transition has helped reduce logistics costs by moving freight from road to more efficient water-based transport systems.

Officials note that the programme is playing a crucial role in strengthening India’s economic growth by lowering transportation costs, improving supply chain efficiency, and enhancing export competitiveness.

The Sagarmala initiative is also expected to generate large-scale employment opportunities, with an estimated potential of around one crore jobs, including 40 lakh direct and 60 lakh indirect positions through port-led industrialisation and related infrastructure development.

Overall, the programme is emerging as a key driver in transforming India’s maritime sector into a modern, efficient, and globally competitive logistics hub, supporting the country’s long-term economic growth ambitions.

New Delhi, Apr 11 ( BNP): United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Friday said he held a “productive interaction” with US Secretary of State Wright and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi, with discussions centered on strengthening future energy cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting comes shortly after India’s passage of the Sustainable and Holistic Advancement of Nuclear Technology and Infrastructure (SHANTI) Bill, a landmark legislation aimed at expanding the country’s civil nuclear energy framework and boosting long-term clean energy development.

According to officials, the discussions focused on opportunities for deeper collaboration in the energy sector, particularly in areas such as nuclear technology, clean energy transition, and strategic energy security partnerships.

The engagement reflects growing momentum in India–US relations, with both sides exploring ways to enhance cooperation in critical and emerging energy technologies amid global efforts to transition toward sustainable energy sources.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 11 (BNP): The 13th Bhubaneswar International Trade Fair 2026 was officially inaugurated Yesterday at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. The event is being organized by Gupta Event Management Pvt. Ltd. and marks another major edition of the city’s prominent trade exhibition.

 Pi Credit: Pexel

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of several distinguished guests, including Odisha Olympic Association President Samir Mohanty, BJP Bhubaneswar State Coordinator Rashmi Ranjan Kanungo, former MLA Priyadarshi Mishra, social worker Rosalin Patashani, Managing Director of Gupta Event Management Sujit Kumar Gupta, former Red Cross Secretary Kalpana Das, and social activist Ravi Samal.

Organizers expect more than five lakh visitors to attend the 11-day event, which features a large B2B and B2C exhibition platform. The fair brings together participants from 22 Indian states and 10 countries, showcasing over one lakh national and international products in an air-conditioned exhibition setup.

Visitors can explore a wide range of products, including Kashmiri handicrafts and furniture, Afghan dry fruits, Bangladeshi Jamdani sarees, Iranian dates and herbal oils, Dubai perfumes and apparel, Thai jewellery and footwear, Korean cosmetics, and a variety of Indian traditional crafts. The exhibition also features antiques, metal crafts, marble sculptures, leather goods from various Indian states, and consumer electronics.

The food zone at the fair offers a diverse selection of cuisines, adding to the cultural and commercial experience of the event.

New Delhi, Apr 11 (BNP): The National Stock Exchange of India is set to roll out a major technology upgrade that will allow nanosecond-level order delivery acknowledgements across its equity, derivatives, currency, and commodity segments.

This advancement is aimed at significantly improving the speed and efficiency of trade processing on one of India’s leading stock exchanges. With the new system, traders will receive near-instant confirmation when their orders are received and processed, reducing latency to extremely fine time intervals.

The upgrade is expected to benefit high-frequency trading participants and institutional investors who rely heavily on ultra-fast execution and system reliability. It also reflects NSE’s continued focus on strengthening its technological infrastructure and keeping pace with global standards in modern electronic trading systems.

By extending this capability across all market segments, NSE is moving toward a more unified and high-performance trading environment, enhancing overall market responsiveness and operational efficiency.