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Financial Intelligence
BREAKING
US-Iran War Day 11: Hegseth Declares 'Most Intense Day' of Strikes; Tehran Under BlackoutIran Moves to Mine Strait of Hormuz — Oil Surges 16% as 20% of Global Supply at RiskOperation Epic Fury: US-Israeli Campaign Dismantles Iran's Missile Sites — School Strike Sparks ControversyBrent Crude Drops 9% to $90 a Barrel on Strategic Reserve Hopes and Trump SignalsRupee Hits All-Time Low of ₹92.35 vs USD as RBI Steps In to Defend CurrencyTrump on Camera Discussing Sinking Ships: "It's More Fun to Sink Them"UAE Ambassador Calls for Unconditional Ceasefire by Iran, Urges UN Security Council to ActTrump Urges Credit Card Companies to Slash Interest Rates to 10% for One Year
TOP STORIES
Markets
Chinese Cobalt Plant in Congo Sickened Residents as EV Battery Race Accelerated
Emissions from a Chinese cobalt-processing plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo sickened hundreds of residents and workers as the company raced to increase output of a mineral critical to making electric-car batteries, according to a new environmental group report.
SixFinance Desk11 Mar
Technology
Anthropic's DoD Standoff Costs Uncle Sam — But Fuels AI Talent War
Anthropic's principled refusal to work with the US Defense Department has cost it a major government contract, yet industry insiders say the move has unexpectedly strengthened the company's hand in the ferocious talent competition among top AI labs.
SixFinance Desk11 Mar
Markets
Gold Crosses ₹1,62,000 per 10 Grams on Safe-Haven Buying as Iran Conflict Drives Uncertainty
Gold prices in India surged above ₹1,62,000 per 10 grams on March 10 as geopolitical uncertainty from the US-Israel-Iran war drives global safe-haven demand, with silver also rallying sharply.
SixFinance Desk10 Mar
Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Energy & Commodities
Markets
India Sends Emergency Diesel to Bangladesh Through Friendship Pipeline as Oil Crisis Bites
A critical diesel shipment arrived in Bangladesh through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline from Assam's Numaligarh Refinery, fulfilling part of a 180,000-tonne annual agreement as the country battles fuel shortages worsened by the US-Israel-Iran war.
SixFinance Desk7m
42•11 Mar
FDA Approvals
Health & Policy
FDA Approves Leucovorin for Rare Neurological Disorder Touted in Autism Debate
The Food and Drug Administration approved leucovorin, a drug the Trump administration has touted as a potential therapy for autism, to treat cerebral folate transport deficiency — a rare neurological disorder with some symptoms similar to autism.
SixFinance Desk6m
41•11 Mar
Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Bank Holidays & Schedules
Banking
March 2026 Bank Holiday List India — 15 Holidays This Month; Plan Your Transactions
The Reserve Bank of India's March 2026 holiday calendar lists 15 bank holidays across various states including Holi, Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Ram Navami, and Good Friday — with dates varying by state. Plan your NEFT, RTGS, and branch transactions accordingly.
SixFinance Desk4m
35•10 Mar
Investing & SIPs
Personal Finance
Don't Stop SIPs in March 2026 Volatility — Long-Term Investors Should Stay the Course
Financial advisers and mutual fund industry experts are urging investors not to pause or stop their SIPs amid the current market volatility, arguing that downturns are precisely when disciplined monthly investing generates the best long-term returns.
SixFinance Desk4m
43•10 Mar
Mis-Selling & Regulation
Insurance
Finance Ministry and RBI Put Banks on Notice Over Bancassurance Mis-Selling Practices
The Finance Ministry and the RBI jointly issued an advisory pushing banks to require explicit customer consent before selling insurance products and to stop bundling insurance with savings or loan products as a mandatory condition.
SixFinance Desk4m
37•10 Mar
UPI & Digital Payments
Credit Cards
UPI-Linked Credit Cards See Explosive Growth — HDFC, Axis, ICICI Expand RuPay Lineup
UPI-linked credit card transactions surged 340% year-on-year in Q3 FY2026 as banks expanded RuPay credit card offerings that can be loaded directly onto UPI apps, bringing credit card benefits to smaller merchants.
SixFinance Desk4m
42•10 Mar
Energy & Gas
Markets
Centre Invokes Essential Commodities Act — CNG and Domestic Gas to Get Priority Allocation
India's central government invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise natural gas allocation to the domestic cooking gas (LPG) and CNG sectors amid the energy crisis triggered by the Iran oil shock.
SixFinance Desk4m
37•10 Mar
Regulatory & Compliance
Loans
RBI Tightens Oversight of Unsecured Loans — Credit Card and Personal Loan Growth Under Scanner
The Reserve Bank of India intensified scrutiny of unsecured lending, reviewing whether bank risk weights applied to credit cards and personal loans remain adequate given rising delinquency indicators in the current high-interest environment.
SixFinance Desk5m
42•10 Mar
RBI & Monetary Policy
Banking
RBI Steps Up Support for Rupee and Government Bonds as Oil Tops $100/Barrel
The RBI ramped up its dual intervention in foreign exchange and government bond markets on March 10 as sustained oil prices above $100/barrel put the rupee under severe pressure and threatened to spike government borrowing costs.
SixFinance Desk4m
38•10 Mar
NRI & Global Health
Insurance
NRI Health Insurance Purchases from India Surge 126% YoY — Gulf Countries Dominate
Purchase of Indian health insurance policies by NRIs jumped 126% year-on-year as Gulf-based Indians seek coverage for family members back home amid rising medical costs and an uncertain global security environment.
SixFinance Desk4m
36•10 Mar
Aviation & Travel
Markets
Air India Adds Fuel Surcharge on All Tickets as Jet Fuel Costs Soar on Iran Oil Shock
Air India announced emergency fuel surcharges on both domestic and international routes effective March 12, as India's jet fuel prices climb 40% in two weeks on the back of the US-Iran war and rupee depreciation.
SixFinance Desk4m
40•10 Mar
MSME & Business Loans
Loans
RBI Raises Collateral-Free Loan Limit for MSMEs to ₹20 Lakh — Big Boost for Small Business
The Reserve Bank of India doubled the collateral-free loan limit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh, giving a major boost to small businesses struggling with higher input costs from the oil shock.
SixFinance Desk4m
36•10 Mar
Regulation
Insurance
IRDAI Mandates Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) for All Insurers from April 2026
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has confirmed that all insurance companies must switch to Ind AS accounting from April 1, 2026, bringing greater transparency to insurance financials.
SixFinance Desk5m
41•10 Mar
RBI & Monetary Policy
Banking
RBI Injects ₹50,000 Crore via G-Sec Open Market Operations to Manage Liquidity
The Reserve Bank of India conducted a ₹50,000 crore government securities purchase operation on March 10 to ease banking system liquidity, with a second tranche of ₹25,000 crore planned for March 13.
SixFinance Desk4m
36•10 Mar
Personal Loans
Loans
Medical Emergencies Drive 11% of Personal Loan Borrowing — Insurance Gaps Exposed
A new RBI study shows 11% of personal loan borrowers in India are taking loans to cover healthcare costs — rising to 14% in metros — highlighting dangerous gaps in health insurance coverage among middle-income households.
SixFinance Desk4m
33•10 Mar
Health Insurance
Insurance
Health Insurance Premiums Up 23% in 3 Years — Medical Inflation and Covid Tail Costs Drive Surge
Average individual health insurance premiums in India rose 23% over three years as medical inflation, post-Covid claims, and rising hospital charges erode affordability for the middle class.
SixFinance Desk4m
36•10 Mar
RBI Regulations
Banking
RBI Caps Bank Dividend Payout at 75% of Net Profit from FY2027 to Strengthen Capital
The Reserve Bank of India issued new norms limiting bank dividend payouts to a maximum of 75% of profit after tax, effective from FY2027, aiming to strengthen capital buffers amid the current global economic uncertainty.
SixFinance Desk4m
35•10 Mar
Aviation
Markets
Air India Announces Fuel Surcharge on Domestic & International Routes Amid Iran-Driven ATF Spike
Air India is implementing a phased fuel surcharge on all domestic and international flights, including Air India Express services, as aviation turbine fuel prices surge due to supply disruptions in the Gulf region.
Business Desk5m
39•10 Mar
Artificial Intelligence
Technology
Google's Gemini AI Agents to Operate Across Pentagon's 3 Million-Strong Workforce
Google's Gemini AI agents will operate on unclassified networks across the Pentagon's workforce of over 3 million people, marking a major expansion of commercial AI into US defence infrastructure.
Tech Desk4m
42•10 Mar