Unregulated deposit schemes and suspected investment fraud trigger action against a private investment firm owner.
Suspected investment fraud and unregulated deposit activity led to action against a private investment firm owner after district and police authorities found prima facie indications that funds had been collected from a large number of investors without valid approval from the RBI or SEBI. A case was registered under the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act and the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, and the owner was taken into custody for further investigation. Officials also searched the firm's premises, examined records and laptops, and reported alleged collection of unsecured hand loans through informal agreements.

Foreign investment approval for Emirates NBD's majority stake in RBL Bank advances a banking acquisition subject to regulatory conditions.
Foreign investment approval was granted for Emirates NBD Bank to acquire up to 74 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital of RBL Bank through a preferential issue, subject to customary conditions, applicable foreign ownership limits and the mandatory open offer process. The transaction contemplates Emirates NBD becoming the promoter and RBL Bank operating as a foreign bank subsidiary under the Reserve Bank of India framework, with the eventual amalgamation of Emirates NBD's India branch operations subject to further regulatory clearances.

Rupee depreciation under pressure from crude prices, inflation worries and dollar strength, with intervention offering support.
The Indian rupee weakened to a record intraday low and an all-time closing low against the US dollar amid elevated crude oil prices, inflation concerns, global uncertainty, a stronger dollar, and weak net FDI inflows. Likely RBI intervention helped limit further losses, while analysts said the rupee was expected to remain under pressure from crude oil, inflation, and dollar strength, with support possible from intervention and higher import duty on gold and silver.

International Financial Services Centre ecosystem showcased as BRICS delegation explores cross-border finance and fintech opportunities at GIFT City.
A BRICS delegation visited GIFT City in Gujarat and was briefed on India's evolving International Financial Services Centre ecosystem, including cross-border finance, fintech, trade and global business services. The delegation was informed that GIFT City functions as India's maiden IFSC and a gateway for international financial services, global capital flows and foreign currency transactions from within India. The visit also covered the city's regulatory ecosystem, infrastructure and sectoral opportunities across banking, capital markets, fund management, insurance, reinsurance, aircraft leasing, fintech and Global Capability Centres.

Foreign exchange reserves rise as gains in foreign currency assets, gold reserves and SDRs improve the overall position.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased during the reporting week, driven by gains in foreign currency assets and a sharp rise in gold reserves. The reserve position also showed marginal increases in Special Drawing Rights and the IMF reserve tranche position, while remaining below the earlier all-time high reached before the West Asia crisis and related rupee pressure.

Rupee depreciation deepens as crude oil, inflation fears and dollar strength pressure the currency despite likely intervention.
The Indian rupee fell to a record intraday low and closed at a fresh all-time low against the US dollar, pressured by elevated crude oil prices, inflation concerns, a stronger dollar, weak net FDI inflows and broader capital flow weakness. Market participants said likely RBI intervention helped cushion the decline, while exports, imports, foreign investor flows and the trade deficit were also noted as relevant market factors.

FD-backed business credit card offers dedicated spending limits, forex savings, rewards and cash-flow support for entrepreneurs.
IDFC FIRST Bank launched an FD-backed Business Multiplier Metal Credit Card for founders, entrepreneurs and business owners, designed for business spending and cash-flow management. The card provides a dedicated business credit limit linked to a fixed deposit, helping separate business and personal expenses while covering office supplies, digital marketing, SaaS subscriptions, travel, equipment purchases, inventory procurement, vendor payments and employee reimbursements. It also offers interest-free credit, 0% forex markup, rewards, UPI payments, lounge access, trip cancellation cover and employee card controls.

Market sentiment improves on rupee-weakness measures, as telecom and banking buying lifts equities higher.
Indian equities extended gains for a second consecutive session, with the Sensex rising sharply in volatile trade and the Nifty also closing higher. The recovery was led by value buying in telecom, banking and pharma shares, while IT stocks remained weak. Market sentiment was supported by expectations of possible government measures to address rupee weakness, including consideration of bond tax relief for foreign investors and a possible tightening of the Liberalized Remittance Scheme to curb capital outflows.

AI-powered customer experience drives recognition for a digital banking partnership in Malaysia's fast-growing financial services market.
Partnership between Ant Digital Technologies and Ryt Bank received recognition in Malaysia for an AI-powered customer experience and engagement initiative in digital banking. The collaboration was noted for deploying enterprise-grade AI to deliver personalised, scalable and real-time financial services across digital channels, with an emphasis on conversational customer interactions, improved service responsiveness and enhanced customer engagement. The report also notes Ryt Bank's status as a licensed Malaysian digital bank and its use of AI-enabled banking functions such as transfers, bill payments, card usage, PayLater services and an AI assistant.

Fuel price pass-through concerns grow as West Asia crisis disrupts oil supplies and pressures India's import-dependent economy.
Energy price pressures from the West Asia conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption are affecting India's import-dependent economy. The Reserve Bank Governor noted that sustained disruption may require the government to pass on higher fuel costs to retail prices, even though petrol and diesel prices have so far not been raised.

Rupee weakness against the dollar deepens as crude prices, geopolitical tensions and strong demand pressure the currency
Rupee weakness against the US dollar reflected pressure from elevated crude oil prices, West Asia geopolitical tensions and a strong dollar, with the currency touching a record low before closing near its all-time closing low. Traders noted that possible RBI intervention and reduced gold import demand following higher import tariffs could moderate further depreciation, but the near-term direction remained linked primarily to crude prices and geopolitical developments. Gold and silver import duties were raised to curb overseas purchases and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

Easy EMI financing and RBI-registered NBFC lending support budget smartphone purchases through partner stores.
Easy EMI financing is offered for purchase of the Redmi Note 15 SE through Bajaj Finserv partner stores, with repayment tenures from 3 to 60 months, zero down payment on select models, instant approval at checkout, and same-day delivery after OTP-based eligibility verification. Bajaj Finance Limited is described as a deposit-taking NBFC-D registered with the Reserve Bank of India and classified as an NBFC-Investment and Credit Company, engaged in lending and acceptance of deposits.

Rupee weakness and gold import curbs reflect pressure from crude prices, geopolitical tensions, and foreign exchange demand management.
The rupee weakened to a record low against the US dollar amid pressure from elevated crude oil prices, West Asia geopolitical tensions, and a strong dollar, while traders said possible RBI intervention and reduced gold imports helped limit further depreciation. The government raised import tariffs on gold and silver to curb overseas purchases and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves, alongside a call to avoid gold purchases to conserve foreign exchange.

Wealth management leadership appointment strengthens product innovation, strategic partnerships and technology-enabled platform building at Centrum Wealth.
Centrum Wealth Limited announced the appointment of Saurabh Rungta as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, with responsibility for the investment team across products, advisory and in-house PMS platforms, as well as the Family Office business. The role is intended to support the firm's growth agenda, strengthen product architecture, deepen strategic partnerships and build a differentiated, technology-enabled wealth platform. The text also notes that Centrum Wealth is an AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor.

Import duty on precious metals raised to curb non-essential imports and ease pressure on the rupee.
Import duty on gold and silver was raised to 15 per cent, with basic customs duty and cess revised, and platinum and related precious-metal items also adjusted. The measure was introduced to curb non-essential imports, reduce foreign exchange outflows, and ease pressure on the rupee and the external account amid elevated balance-of-payments stress. Government sources described it as a calibrated, preventive intervention using price-based disincentives rather than quantitative restrictions.

Precious metal import duty hike curbs non-essential imports and eases external account pressure amid market stress.
Import duty on gold and silver was increased to 15 per cent, and on platinum to 15.4 per cent, with consequential changes for related precious-metal items. The measure raises the effective duty on precious-metal imports and is described as a calibrated, price-based restraint intended to moderate avoidable import demand and ease pressure on the external account during extraordinary external conditions.

Import duty on precious metals raised to curb discretionary imports and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
Import duty on gold, silver and platinum was increased to 15 per cent, with related items also revised, as a calibrated price-based measure to moderate discretionary imports and reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves. The stated rationale was to preserve market flexibility while easing external-sector stress, prioritising forex for essential imports and supporting balance-of-payments stability amid the West Asia crisis.

Import duty on gold and silver raised to curb non-essential imports and conserve foreign exchange amid balance of payments stress.
Import duty on gold and silver was increased to 15 per cent by raising the social welfare surcharge and agriculture infrastructure and development cess, effective 13 May 2026. The measure was intended to curb non-essential imports of precious metals and conserve foreign exchange amid a rising import bill and balance of payments stress. It reversed the earlier reduction in customs duty on gold to 6 per cent and was aimed at moderating inbound shipments driven largely by the jewellery industry.

Rupee weakness amid global risk aversion, crude price surge and expectations of possible RBI support
The rupee fell to a fresh record low against the US dollar amid global risk aversion, stronger dollar trends and a sharp rise in Brent crude prices. Traders linked the weakness to concerns over India's trade deficit and balance-of-payments pressures if oil prices remain elevated, while noting that any RBI intervention could support the currency at lower levels. The report also notes foreign institutional selling and weakness in domestic equity markets.

AI-first banking trust positioning emphasizes compliant by design transformation, core-system integration, and measurable operational outcomes.
Maveric Systems announced a new brand positioning, "Engineering Trust in AI-First Banking," for financial institutions shifting from digital-first to AI-first operating models. The positioning emphasizes embedding AI into core banking systems, applying fairness, explainability, reliability, privacy and regulatory compliance by design, and delivering measurable outcomes through a proprietary AI @ Scale framework, supported by platforms for quality intelligence, data integrity, customer intelligence and intelligent operations.