Page 50 - West Asia

Oil prices drop, dollar weakens: Top 5 developments after Trump's big move

Since Trump's claim of "productive" talks, global markets and geopolitical signals have shifted sharply

Oman working to secure Hormuz, warns war may deepen economic fallout

Oman mediated nuclear talks between the United States and Iran before Washington and Israel launched strikes on Tehran on February 28

Govt working on strategy to handle West Asia crisis effects: PM Modi in Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the West Asia crisis, stating that the government was working on a comprehensive strategy to handle its impact.

'Strait of Hormuz blockade unacceptable': PM Modi on West Asia crisis

The Prime Minister said that India is responding to volatility caused by Tehran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz - the narrow waterway

'Our focus is to maintain supply of LPG...': PM Modi on West Asia crisis

"Our government has tried (to ensure) that petrol, diesel, and gas supply shouldn't get disrupted (and that) households shouldn't suffer," he said, "India buys 60 per cent of its LPG

Forex reserves adequate to cushion against external shocks, says RBI

Foreign exchange reserves fell to a two-month low of $709.76 billion as of March 13, the latest data shows

West Asia war, fresh US trade probes fuel market volatility: RBI bulletin

The conflict in West Asia and fresh trade investigations by the US have resulted in increased volatility in the global markets, the RBI bulletin said on Monday. India's foreign exchange reserves remain adequate to provide a cushion against external shocks, said an article on the state of the economy published in the bulletin. The second advance estimates of GDP for 2025-26 indicate sustained resilience of the Indian economy, it noted. "High-frequency indicators signal towards economic activity gaining momentum in February," the article said. It further said CPI headline inflation picked up in February on account of food and beverages. System liquidity has remained comfortable, and the total flow of financial resources to the commercial sector rose, with a rise in financing from both the bank and non-bank sources, it added. The central bank, however, said views expressed in the article are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Reserve Bank of India.

HDFC Bank, L&T: How to trade these 2 heavyweights at CMP? Analyst says this

Kunal Kamble, technical analyst at Bonanza cautions against venturing into HDFC Bank stock for now due to a weak chart setup; while he sees support for Larsen & Toubro around ₹3,100 levels.

Gold, silver ETFs decline up to 8% as West Asia crisis spooks investors

Broader market sentiment was also fragile on Monday as the war in West Asia entered its fourth week with no clear resolution in sight

Israel thought it could spur rebellion inside Iran. That hasn't happened

President Trump's hopes that an Israeli plan to ignite an internal uprising against Iran's theocratic government could bring the war to a swift end have so far been dashed

West Asia crisis: PM Modi takes stock of fuel, power, fertiliser supply

Prime Minister chairs CCS meeting to assess oil, gas and fertiliser supply risks, directs coordinated response as Hormuz closure disrupts flows

Ready to supply more than 20% ethanol blends amid rising oil prices: AIDA

With West Asia in turmoil and crude oil prices rising, the All India Distillers' Association (AIDA) has offered to supply ethanol blends exceeding 20 per cent with petrol, saying the move could proportionally reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil. In a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, AIDA Deputy Director General Bharati Balaji said the ethanol industry was prepared to go beyond the E20 target already achieved by the country. "Now with the Middle East entangled in a war and oil prices having started increasing, we as an ethanol industry are ready to offer ethanol more than 20 per cent which will reduce proportionally the import of crude," she said in the letter. She said such a step will mitigate supply disruptions and adverse economic impact on the country. India achieved its E20 ethanol blending target -- mixing 20 per cent ethanol with petrol -- ahead of schedule in 2025, a goal set under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administrat

Domestic urea plants at half capacity as West Asia war choke gas supplies

India's urea plants are running at half capacity after force majeure declarations disrupted LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating West Asia tensions, industry sources said on Sunday. Petronet LNG Ltd, which operates India's largest liquefied natural gas receiving terminal, declared force majeure after upstream suppliers cited their inability to deliver contracted volumes amid disruptions to cargoes transiting the Strait, sources said. The move triggered supply curtailments by state-owned gas distributors GAIL (India) Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), which supply gas under RasGas contracts to fertiliser units across the country. "Gas supplies have been curtailed to approximately 60-65 per cent of normal levels," a senior industry official told PTI, adding that when scheduled plant turnarounds over the past six months were factored in, effective supply at some units had fallen below 50 per cent. Urea output at affecte

Fuel crisis shuts aluminium extrusion plants amid West Asia conflict

LPG supply dries up, PNG cuts and rising input costs disrupt operations, forcing plant shutdowns and slashing output as firms struggle to service loans

West Asia business 'near normal' amid war, says L&T's Subramanian Sarma

95% of sites are operating in its 'second home'; supply chain and logistics seen as key challenges, new opportunities likely post war

30-day US waiver: Indian refiners upbeat on buying Iranian crude oil

Indian refiners weigh buying Iranian crude and LPG after US issues a 30-day waiver, as energy markets tighten amid the West Asia conflict

Check unnecessary expenses, Air India CEO tells staff amid West Asia war

The Air India Group has been significantly impacted by the Middle East conflict and the financial impact is "yet to be fully felt", according to Air India chief Campbell Wilson, who has also stressed the need for having a tighter-than-ever control of unnecessary expenditure. Loss-making Air India and Air India Express have been grappling with operational disruptions like other airlines since the start of the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran on February 28. "In the three weeks since the conflict started, we have had to cancel around 2,500 flights to the region. As of today, we can operate only around 30 per cent of our normal Middle East schedule because airports and/or airspace are closed, or are assessed to be beyond our safety threshold," Wilson said in a message to the staff on Friday. The airline's flights to the UK, Europe, and North America, are also taking longer flight paths due to airspace restrictions in the region, resulting in more fuel consumption. Wilson sa

Mkts brace for more turbulence as Iran war shows no signs of de-escalation

Escalating conflict, rising oil prices and rupee pressure likely to keep markets volatile as investors turn cautious amid global uncertainty

Things getting out of hand: US miscalculations keep West Asia on the boil

The escalating US-Israel war with Iran deepens global uncertainty, disrupts energy supply chains, and exposes geopolitical fractures from NATO to Asia

Oil prices set to rise further Monday as West Asia crisis escalates

Iran warned it would attack US-linked infrastructure, including energy and desalination facilities in the Gulf, if Trump carried out his threat