Page 32 - West Asia

No impact of war on India biz, education big opportunity: Salesforce's prez

Global tech major Salesforce has not seen any impact of the West Asia crisis on its business in India, says the company's president and chief executive of South Asia, Arundhati Bhattacharya. The sales, marketing and customer engagement-focused company feels that the education sector presents handsome opportunities in India, the youngest country in the world. "As of now, they seem to be good," she said when asked about the order flow and the overall business amid the West Asia conflict. "Most customers, while they know that they need to be cautious about their investments, I don't see any of them shying away from making those investments on the technology front," Bhattacharya told PTI. While there is uncertainty on the macroeconomic front due to the geopolitical tensions, technology is not standing still, Bhattacharya said, adding that it is evolving at a rapid pace. She said the back-office teams helping the global business out of Indian offices also continue to be busy with their

How the West Asia conflict could leave Wall Street facing lasting risks

Even after a US-Iran ceasefire, investors warn global markets may not stabilise quickly, with elevated oil prices, rising bond yields and shaken confidence pointing to lasting financial risks

West Asia war: Iran warns Israel on Lebanon attacks; Trump targets Hormuz

The fragile US-Iran ceasefire faces new pressure as Iran warns Israel over Hezbollah strikes in Lebanon, while Donald Trump says Tehran is doing a 'very poor job' of allowing oil through Hormuz

For Israeli PM Netanyahu, the war with Iran is unfinished business

As the focus shifts to negotiations between the United States and Iran, no formal Israeli participation is planned

Iran's battered leaders emerge from war confident and with new cards

For Iran's theocratic rulers, just surviving the US-Israeli onslaught means victory. But the seeds of their next crisis may already be planted

Resolve for avenging martyrs remains alive, says Mojtaba Khamenei

In a statement read on state television, Khamenei added that Iran would move the management of the Strait of Hormuz into a "new phase"

Detroit of Asia sputters as LPG dries up, input costs spike, labour thins

In Chennai's auto nerve centre, Ambattur, prolonged conflict ripples through supply chains, delaying deliveries, raising costs, testing small manufacturers' resilience

West Asia conflict likely to weigh on India Inc's Q4 FY26 results

The combined net profit of Nifty 50 companies likely to grow by 4.2 per cent Y-o-Y in Q4FY26, lowest in the last seven quarters

Reliance on Hormuz for imports above global average: Oil secy Neeraj Mittal

Oil secretary flags higher dependence on Hormuz route for crude, gas and LPG, underscores need for resilient infrastructure amid West Asia tensions

Operators not passing on port relief to exporters, says regulator

Regulator asks operators to pass on benefits directly and seeks proof of higher insurance costs, warning action over unjustified charges

Rising input costs, West Asia war risks weigh on fertiliser sector margins

Rising input costs, supply risks and subsidy pressures amid West Asia tensions could squeeze margins and impact fertiliser output and agricultural demand

Iran shock shows India's external vulnerability, tests growth ambitions

The truly unsettling element in the scenario has been the fall in the exchange rate of the rupee. The fall predates the Iran conflict

Uneasy ceasefire: Mutual mistrust portends trouble for US-Iran talks

Details of the 10-point US-Iran negotiating text remain unclear, but hardline demands from both sides on reopening the Strait of Hormuz suggest common ground may be difficult

Rupee snaps 5-day rally; bond yields rise on crude, US yield surge

Currency weakens and government bond yields rise as crude oil prices and US Treasury yields climb amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia

India caps refinery margins after windfall export tax to curb losses

After imposing a windfall tax on fuel exports, India has moved to cap refinery margins in a bid to offset losses on domestic fuel sales, sources said. The war in West Asia has had two prolonged impacts - spike in international oil prices that has led to record losses on petrol and diesel sales as retail rates have not changed in tandem. Secondly, it has given bumper margins to refineries, who irrespective of retail price freeze, price their products at imported cost. The government last month imposed a Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on exports of diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), as part of efforts to curb windfall gains by refiners and boost domestic fuel availability amid tight global markets. Alongside, refining margins have been capped at USD 15 per barrel, with any earnings above that threshold treated as a discount on fuel sold to state-run marketing companies, effectively transferring excess gains to offset retail losses, sources said. The oil marketing companie

Early signs of stress from West Asia crisis visible across sectors: FICCI

Early signs of stress are visible across sectors, warranting proactive measures to mitigate immediate risks as well as to build long-term resilience, industry lobby FICCI said in a report on the implications of the West Asia conflict released on Thursday. The report emphasises that this crisis, while being challenging, also presents an opportunity for India to accelerate structural reforms aimed at strengthening economic resilience and reducing external vulnerabilities. The government may consider the provision of emergency financing for MSMEs and issuance of advisories to address force majeure-related risks in public procurement contracts, ensuring that businesses are not penalised for delays caused by factors beyond their control, says the report. The report also suggests that the government may initiate consultations within the GST Council to explore a roadmap for the inclusion of petroleum products under GST. This would help reduce cost burdens, improve supply chain efficiency a

Rupee falls 0.1% as West Asia truce pushes oil higher, dents stocks, bonds

Rupee slips to 92.65 per dollar as oil prices jump on Middle East tensions, dragging equities and bonds while foreign outflows and weak sentiment add pressure