Sale of fast-growing group credit life cover could be hit

Recent regulations from the Reserve Bank of India could dampen the momentum of credit life insurance, a product often paired with retail loans. The new guidelines prohibit banks from linking insurance policies directly to loan approvals, a move designed to enhance transparency and safeguard consumers from potential misinformation.

Agrochem stocks surge on strong Q3, trade deal

Agrochemical and animal-feed stocks rallied on Thursday following robust third-quarter earnings and reduced US tariffs. Avanti Feeds surged 20%, with Godrej Agrovet and Mukka Protein also seeing significant gains. Sharda Cropchem and other agrochemical companies also experienced upward movement, driven by improved sentiment and a clearer outlook.

RBI draft norms mandate disclosure, curb harsh loan recovery practices

The Reserve Bank of India has proposed draft guidelines directing banks and housing finance companies to follow stricter rules while using recovery agents. Banks must give borrowers written details of assigned agents, avoid setting targets that may lead to harsh practices, and not engage agents if a grievance is already filed.

IT stocks go into a tailspin as US data adds to AI disruption

Indian software services stocks experienced a significant sell-off, with the Nifty IT index dropping over 5% for the second time in under 10 days. Unexpectedly strong US jobs data and growing concerns about AI’s disruptive potential are weighing heavily on investor sentiment and valuations.