📰 India Business Brief: Top Headlines for March 05, 2026

Business Standard

• West Asia Crisis Impacts Energy Supply: Indian firms are facing severe LNG and LPG supply shocks as the conflict in the Middle East enters its fifth day, leading to concerns over rising input costs.
• China Lowers 2026 Growth Target: In response to the global crisis and ongoing trade tensions, China has set a modest GDP growth target of 4.5% to 5% for 2026.
• Apple Surges in India: Rivals of Apple have noted that the tech giant's Indian manufacturing output has surged, with turnover now topping some of the largest domestic manufacturers.
• SBI Massive Recruitment Drive: State Bank of India has completed the recruitment of 5,783 junior associates, bringing its total hires for the 2026 fiscal year to over 18,000.
• RBI Regulatory Impact: New CMI (Credit Monitoring Information) norms from the Reserve Bank of India are expected to hit private banks harder due to their higher exposure levels.

Economic Times

• Rupee at Record Low: The Indian rupee has plummeted to an all-time low against the US dollar as investors flee to safe-haven assets amid the US-Iran war.
• Russia Offers Energy Lifeline: Moscow has expressed readiness to increase oil and energy supplies to India to help mitigate the impact of the Strait of Hormuz shutdown.
• Services Sector Slowdown: India's services growth moderated in February, with new business rising at its slowest pace in over a year due to intensifying competition and rising energy costs.
• IPO Activity Continues: The IPO for Elfin Agro India opens today, while Omnitech Engineering is set to debut on the BSE and NSE with experts predicting a muted listing.
• Aviation Disruptions: Indian airlines, including Akasa Air and SpiceJet, are rerouting flights and operating special repatriation services to bring home citizens stranded in the Gulf region.

Mint

• Market Outlook for March 5: After the Sensex crashed over 1,100 points on Wednesday, Gift Nifty trends suggest a positive start for Indian indices today, tracking a recovery in global equities.
• Gold and Silver Prices Rocket: MCX gold prices have jumped above ₹1.63 lakh per 10 grams, driven by global turmoil and a 19% year-to-date surge.
• EPF Interest Rate Stable: The government has maintained the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) interest rate at 8.25% for the current cycle.
• Oil Market Volatility: Global oil prices continue to rise as "Operation Epic Fury" enters a critical phase, though US President Trump has issued assurances to stabilize the market.
• Omnitech Engineering Listing: Shares of the precision-engineered components maker list today; however, the grey market premium (GMP) indicates a potentially flat debut.

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