Leather, footwear sector seeks duty relief as Middle East crisis drives up input costs

India’s leather and footwear industry is struggling with high input costs due to the ongoing Middle East crisis and is seeking import duty exemptions on essential raw materials, machinery and components. Industry representatives have taken up the issue with the commerce and industry ministry, warning that the disruption has sharply raised the cost of several…

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Market watch this week: State poll verdicts, oil prices and Q4 earnings to steer stock market mood, analysts say

Stock markets are heading into a crucial week, with investors likely to keep a close watch on state election results, crude oil prices and the ongoing Middle East conflict. Vote counting for assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will begin on Monday, May 4, and analysts believe the results could…

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Market recap: Top 10 firms add Rs 2.20 lakh crore in value; Reliance emerges biggest gainer

Dalal Street closed the holiday-shortened week in the green, lifting the combined market valuation of India’s top 10 most valued firms by Rs 2.20 lakh crore. Reliance Industries led the rally as investor sentiment remained resilient despite a volatile trading environment.The gains came even as the stock market moved within a narrow range. The BSE…

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Pakistan faces economic strain; oil surge drives inflation toward 11%

Pakistan’s struggling economy is likely to remain under sustained pressure, with double-digit inflation expected to persist if global oil prices continue to surge amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, according to a report by Dawn.Topline Securities Ltd, in its latest “Pakistan Strategy” report released Saturday, provided a grim assessment of the impact of rising energy…

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