Business
Petrol, diesel prices fall sharply in line with Centre’s duty cut
The Diwali morning has brought an early sparkle for fuel consumers as retail prices of petrol and diesel fell between Rs 5-10 per litre on Thursday in line with the Centre’s announcement to cut excise duty on the two petroleum products to contain surging rates.
Accordingly, the pump price of petrol in Delhi fell to Rs 103.97 a litre at 6 a.m. on Thursday from the previous day’s level of Rs 110.04 a litre. The diesel prices fell by a bigger margin to Rs 86.67 a litre in the city from the earlier level of Rs 98.42, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
In the financial capital Mumbai, petrol prices fell to Rs 109.98 a litre from Rs 115.85, while diesel fell to Rs 94.14 a litre from Rs 106.62, which was also the highest among all metros.
Across the country as well, fuel prices fell between Rs 5-10 per litre after the Centre on Wednesday announced that the excise duty will be reduced by Rs 5 for petrol and Rs 10 for diesel from November 4.
The cut is larger in some states such as Uttar Pradesh and Goa which have also announced VAT cut on petrol and diesel.
The Centre has said that massive reduction in excise on diesel will come as a boost to the farmers during the upcoming Rabi season. It would lose revenue to the tune Rs 40,000-45,000 crore in balance period of FY22 due to excise reduction.
Before Thursday’s price fall, there was a pause on fuel price increase on Wednesday but petrol and diesel prices had spiked for seven consecutive days prior to this to take up the retail rate of petrol by Rs 2.45 per litre in Delhi.
Similarly, diesel prices also increased in last week by Rs 2.10 a litre.
Diesel prices have increased on 30 out of the last 41 days taking up its retail price by Rs 9.90 per litre in Delhi before Thursday’s cut.
The fuel is available at over Rs 100 a litre in several parts of the country and even after the cut it is above this level in several parts of the country.
Petrol prices had maintained stability since September 5 but oil companies finally raised its pump prices last week and this week given a spurt in the product prices lately.
Petrol prices have also risen on 28 of the previous 37 days taking up its pump price by Rs 8.85 per litre.
Since, January 1, 2021, the fuel rates have risen by more than Rs 26 a litre before the duty cuts.
Crude price has been on a surge rising over three year high level of over $85 a barrel now as global demand remains firm while OPEC+ continues to move s lowly on increasing production. It has fallen to around $82 a barrel after China released some oil from its reserve to address supply concerns and exp ected rise in OPEC production.
Since September 5, when both petrol and diesel prices were revised, the price of the two fuels in the international market is higher by around $9-10 per barrel as compared to average prices during August.
The excise duty cut by the Centre is first such exercise since the onset of Covid pandemic early last year.
In fact, the government had revised excise duty on petrol and diesel sharply in March and again in May last year to mobilise additional resources for Covid relief measures.
The excise duty was raised by Rs 13 and Rs 16 per litre on petrol and diesel between March 2020 and May 2020 and was standing high at Rs 31.8 on diesel and Rs 32.9 per litre on petrol before finally the Centre decided on duty cut.
The Centre has also urged states to reduce VAT on fuel to provide a larger relief to consumers.
Accordingly, states such as Uttar Pradesh, Goa have already cut VAT on fuel to enhance the retail fuel price reduction for consumers.
Other states are also expected to follow suit.
Business
5 of top 10 valued firms lose Rs 1 lakh crore in market value last week

Mumbai, Aug 16: Five of India’s 10 most-valued companies together saw more than Rs 1 trillion (Rs 1 lakh crore) wiped off their market capitalisation last week as weakness in domestic equities weighed on investor sentiment, with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) emerging as the biggest laggard.
The broader market remained under pressure during the week, with the Sensex falling 489.92 points, or 0.62 per cent, while the Nifty declined 204.65 points, or 0.83 per cent.
Among the top-10 valued firms, TCS recorded the sharpest erosion in market value. The IT major’s market capitalisation fell by Rs 34,263.28 crore to Rs 8.53 lakh crore.
Reliance Industries, the country’s most-valued company, also witnessed a substantial decline, with its valuation dropping by Rs 31,869.13 crore to Rs 17.70 lakh crore.
State Bank of India suffered the third-largest loss among the top firms, with its market capitalisation shrinking by Rs 25,891.88 crore to Rs 9.86 lakh crore.
HDFC Bank’s valuation fell by Rs 7,165.37 crore to Rs 11.21 lakh crore, while ICICI Bank lost Rs 2,792.65 crore in market value, ending the week with a valuation of Rs 10.18 lakh crore.
Despite the overall weakness, five companies in the top-10 pack managed to add a combined Rs 55,149.45 crore to their market capitalisation.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) led the gainers, with its market valuation rising by Rs 26,438.49 crore to Rs 5.23 lakh crore.
Bharti Airtel also posted strong gains, adding Rs 20,592.13 crore to take its valuation to Rs 12.43 lakh crore.
Bajaj Finance’s market capitalisation increased by Rs 3,548.79 crore to Rs 6.77 lakh crore, while Larsen & Toubro added Rs 2,490.66 crore, pushing its valuation to Rs 5.59 lakh crore. Hindustan Unilever’s market value rose by Rs 2,079.38 crore to Rs 4.91 lakh crore.
At the end of the week, Reliance Industries retained its position as India’s most-valued company, followed by Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, LIC and Hindustan Unilever.
Business
CM Patel leaves for US, Canada to attract investment ahead of Vibrant Gujarat 2027

Ahmedabad, Aug 16: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel departed from Ahmedabad in the early hours of Sunday for a visit to the United States and Canada aimed at attracting global investment and inviting investors and industry leaders to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.
CM Patel is leading a high-level state delegation that will engage with investors, industry associations, emerging technology leaders and members of the Gujarati community during the overseas outreach.
The visit comes ahead of the summit scheduled for January 2027, with the state stepping up international engagement to showcase its industrial and economic opportunities.
The delegation will hold roundtable conferences and one-to-one meetings in Washington DC, New York and San Francisco in the US, followed by engagements in Toronto, Canada.
The meetings are intended to present Gujarat’s development and investment opportunities and extend invitations to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
Chief Secretary M.K. Das; Additional Chief Secretary of Finance, T. Natarajan; Additional Chief Secretary of Industries and Mines, Mamta Verma; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sanjeev Kumar; and Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr Vikrant Pandey; are accompanying CM Patel, along with representatives from the state’s trade and industry sector.
Officials said the delegation would particularly engage with investors and leaders in emerging technology sectors while also reaching out to the Gujarati diaspora.
The overseas meetings form part of Gujarat’s broader preparations for the 2027 summit, with international outreach programmes planned to build participation and investment interest.
The visit also marks the first official trip to the US by a sitting Gujarat Chief Minister since 1995, according to reports.
CM Patel’s tour is scheduled to cover the US and Canada from August 17 to 24.
The Chief Minister’s departure from Ahmedabad Airport was attended by officials including Collector Bhavya Verma, who extended their wishes for the visit.
The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, conceived in 2003, has developed into an international platform for business networking, investment and strategic partnerships. The next edition is scheduled for January 2027.
Business
Gold, silver decline up to 1 pc as US-Iran tensions weigh sentiment

New Delhi, Aug 14: Gold and silver prices traded sharply lower on Friday amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned of never-before-seen economic measures against Iran.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures (October) declined as much as 0.8 per cent or Rs 1,233 to Rs 1,52,233, hitting an intraday low by 10:22 am.
At the last count, the yellow metal was trading at 1,52,415, down Rs 1,051 or 0.68 per cent. It touched an intraday high of Rs 1,53,200 so far in the session, a decrease of 0.17 per cent or Rs 266 from the previous close.
Similarly, silver futures (September) recorded an intraday low of Rs 2,32,454, decreasing 1.27 per cent or Rs 2,993.
The white metal was trading at Rs 2,32,880, down Rs 2,567 or about 1 per cent. It touched an intraday high of Rs 2,33,982, down 0.62 per cent or Rs 1,465.
Earlier in the day, gold and silver opened at Rs 1,53,200 and Rs 2,33,780, respectively on the MCX.
The selling pressure in precious metals came after reports suggest that Bessent said the US would use a combination of economic isolation and a continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to market experts, MCX Gold extends downside momentum, trading near Rs 152,500 after facing rejection from highs near Rs 155,500.
They further noted that immediate resistance is placed at Rs 153,000–Rs 153,500 near open and a decisive move above could push toward Rs 154,000–Rs 154,500.
Immediate support is seen at Rs 152,000–Rs 151,500, followed by stronger support at Rs 151,000, the experts said adding that price continues to hold comfortably above all major EMAs, but MACD indicates slowing bullish momentum and RSI reverses from overbought territory, reflecting possible near-term pressure.
For MCX Silver, the experts stated that immediate support is seen at the Rs 232,000 zone, followed by stronger support at Rs 231,500–Rs 231,000.
Price breaks below the 20-day EMA, with MACD indicating slowing bullish momentum, while RSI eases, supporting the trend-reversal narrative and reflecting near-term pressure. Bias remains cautious, with a break below Rs 232,000 likely to invite further downside.
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