Business

New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI) Shares of HDFC Bank on Monday surged nearly 6 per cent after the lender posted a 15.4 per cent rise in consolidated net profit for the March quarter on healthy interest income.

The scrip jumped 5.54 per cent to Rs 960.85 on the BSE. It was the top gainer on the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex.

Hong Kong, Apr 20 (AFP/PTI) Oil prices collapsed to more than two-decade lows Monday as traders grow concerned that storage facilities are reaching their limits, while equities were mixed, with some support coming from signs that the coronavirus may have peaked in Europe and the United States.

US crude benchmark West Texas Intermediate briefly plunged almost 20 percent to below 15 -- its lowest since 1999 -- as stockpiles continue to build owing to a crash in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mumbai, Apr 20 (PTI) AirAsia India has cut the April salary of its staff by up to 20 per cent to tackle the airline's finances amid the suspension of all commercial services till May 3 due to the lockdown, a source has said.

Those drawing Rs 50,000 per month or less have been spared from the wage cut.

Mumbai, Apr 20 (PTI) The Indian rupee declined by 14 paise to settle at 76.53 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday, amid strengthening of the American currency overseas and a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the country.

Forex traders said a firm US dollar weighed on the local unit. Besides, investor sentiment remain fragile amid concerns over the impact of coronavirus outbreak on the domestic as well as global economy.

TEHRAN, Apr 20 (NNN-IRNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, is visiting Syria today (Monday), for talks with Syrian officials on topics of mutual interest, it was officially reported on Sunday (yesterday).

“During the one-day trip, Zarif will meet with Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Muallem, to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments, as well as, the latest political developments in Syria’s fight against terrorism,” said the report.

19 April 2020; MEMO: Saudi Arabia is set to sell about 600,000 barrels of crude per day to the United States in April, which will be the highest volume in a year, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing a Saudi industry official familiar with allocations to US refiners.

New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) All postal employees, including Gramin Dak Sevaks, will get Rs 10 lakh compensation in case they succumb to COVID-19, the government said on Saturday.

The postal services come under essential services and apart from regular services, the post offices are also delivering food packets, rations and essential medicines, among others, across the country by liasioning with local administration and police.

New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi thanked the government on Saturday for amending the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy after his warning on takeover of Indian companies by foreign players during the COVID-19 crisis.

"I thank the Government for taking note of my warning and amending the FDI norms to make it mandatory for Government approval in some specific cases," he wrote on Twitter.

Patna, Apr 18 (PTI) All Bihar government departments will start functioning from April 20, a General Administration Department (GAD) order said.

All government officers of Group A and B will be present in the office on all working days while 33 per cent of Group C employees and those on contract will be present in the office of their total strength, the GAD order said.

All officers and government employees will have to follow the national guideline issued to contain COVID-19.

Chandigarh, Apr 18 (PTI) Rains that lashed several places in Punjab in the last 24 hours have triggered fear among farmers that the standing wheat crop would get damaged.

According to farmers, the rains have also "exposed the tall claims" of the state authorities for making a foolproof arrangement for saving crops at mandis from showers.

Hailstorm hit fields in Muktsar district on Friday, an official said, adding that the assessment of crop loss in affected areas was done.