Borrowers are increasingly turning to loans against fixed deposits, shares, and gold jewellery due to banks caution with unsecured lending. After the RBI hiked risk weights on unsecured loans, the growth in credit card dues and personal loans has slowed, while loans backed by collateral have seen a significant increase.

Credit Saison India, supported by Japan s major institutional investors, has secured $300 million from its first dollar loan to diversify funding sources. The firm aims to expand its branch network and lending segments, focusing on consumer and MSME sectors, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 towns.

The pressure is unlikely to ease soon. Analysts said the recent US tariff hikes, sluggish global demand, and sector-specific challenges could trigger further downgrades in the coming quarters.

Economists unanimously forecast the Reserve Bank of India to cut the policy interest rate by 25 basis points due to easing domestic inflation. However, opinions are divided on the shift to a monetary stance amid global trade uncertainty and volatile market conditions.

Tata group is preparing to raise $1.3 billion for its digital assets BigBasket and 1mg to compete more effectively in quick commerce. The fundraising will support BigBasket’s shift towards quick delivery and 1mg s expanded healthcare services, backed by Tata Digital’s aggressive growth plans.

The US has implemented a tariff of 26% on most exports from India. After President Trump imposed these tariffs on April 2, the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty fell 1.6% and 1.8%, respectively, in two days.

Since April 2, when he unleashed the slew of tariffs on imports from various countries, global equities have revolted with US stocks alone losing about $6.6 trillion in market value on Thursday and Friday. After being relatively indifferent to the US announcements on Thursday, Indian markets joined in on Friday, shedding ₹10 lakh crore in a single day.

While the large reduction comes on the back of some of the kingdom s biggest price increases in years, the move was still bigger than expected in a survey of traders and refiners. It follows an OPEC+ output increase that delegates privately said was intended to instill better discipline among members like Kazakhstan and Iraq.

Despite broader weakness, stock-specific bullish setups are visible in Marico, Bajaj Finance, Max Healthcare, HDFC Bank, Tata Consumer, MFSL, Indus Towers, Nestle, Pidilite Industries, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Unilever, and Apollo Hospitals.

If the 10%+ declines in US risk assets-the Nasdaq and the S&P 500-are overlooked as natural and expected reactions to momentous economic changes, the White House does have reason to believe its measures are working.