Indian banks, including HDFC Bank and SBI, are strategically reducing savings account interest rates by 25 basis points to protect profitability amid declining CASA ratios. This move aims to lower the cost of funds and improve net interest margins, even as deposit growth faces challenges. Experts anticipate limited fund migration despite depositors shifting towards higher-yielding term deposits.

The US Treasury is considered among the world s top safe-haven assets, as investors usually pile up these American government bonds in times of crisis as part of their shift to safety. The purchases lead to a fall in yields on the US Treasury and the dollar strengthening.

However, the company did not give any details of the amount to be raised. The company will also present its fourth quarter and full-year results post the board meeting, along with an analyst and media briefing.

In the frenzy that ensued, Sealion helped charter five aircraft while overseeing dozens of trucks and barges to ship $330 million worth of equipment from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia to the US.

These and other planned initiatives follow a directive by finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman to take swift remedial measures amid complaints of delay in transfers, according to people familiar with the matter.

In the grip of the tariff fallout, 90 of the top 100 best-performing exchange-traded funds of last year are down in 2025, with an average loss of 13%, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. At the same time, dormant trades of all sorts have staged a comeback: Nine of the 20 worst-performing equity mutual funds of 2024 are posting positive returns this year.

With most markets closed for Easter, the MSCI emerging markets index rose on Friday, taking its weekly advance to 2.2%. Currencies of commodity-linked countries including South Africa outperformed this week, sending the benchmark near a six-month high.

Kenneth Andrade of Old Bridge Capital Management suggests that the global economy is heading towards stagflation, with the US facing tariff-driven inflation and the rest of the world grappling with deflation due to inventory surplus. He advises investors to build portfolios focused on companies that are self-sustaining and have strong balance sheets, rather than chasing growth.

Amidst a mixed earnings season, the IT sector faces headwinds from discretionary spending uncertainty and pricing challenges, potentially delaying recovery. However, domestically focused sectors like agrochemicals, healthcare, and banking show promise. Valuations are currently fair, with expectations of a stronger second half in FY25 driven by consumption and government spending.

While he cautions that equities may face pressure and deliver subpar returns in the near term, he believes the current environment presents a rare window for bargain hunters to accumulate high-quality stocks at reasonable valuations.