New Delhi/Wellington, May 6 (BNP): A new “single desk” investment facilitation initiative between India and New Zealand is projected to unlock nearly $20 billion in investments over the coming years, according to New Zealand Investment Minister Todd McClay. The initiative aims to streamline investment procedures through a unified platform, making cross-border business operations simpler, faster, and more transparent. Officials say this mechanism is expected to…
Indian Markets Rally on Global Cues; Sensex Surges, Nifty Crosses 24,000
Mumbai, May 6 (BNP): Indian stock markets opened on a strong note on Wednesday, supported by positive global sentiment and a decline in crude oil prices. Improved investor confidence followed signals of progress in geopolitical discussions involving Donald Trump and Iran, easing concerns over global tensions. The benchmark BSE Sensex advanced by over 650 points in early trade, reaching 77,675.01. Similarly, the NSE Nifty 50 gained…
Howard Marks Joins Nikhil Kamath on People by WTF: On Cycles, AI, and Staying Relevant at 80
May 6: People by WTF, the podcast hosted by Nikhil Kamath, this month released a conversation with Howard Marks, co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management and one of the most widely read voices in global investing. Marks brings a rare combination of intellectual range and biographical honesty. The son of parents who never attended college, adults shaped by the Depression and its ethos of frugality, he built…
Aadhar Housing Finance delivers 22 percent growth in Profit, 20 percent growth in AUM in FY26
Mumbai, May 06: Aadhar Housing Finance Ltd, announced its audited financial results for the quarter and full year ended March 31, 2026. PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS: Q4 & FY26 Assets under management (AUM) grew by 20% YoY to ₹ 30,571 crore as on March 31, 2026, from ₹ 25,531 crore as of March 31, 2025. Disbursements for the quarter stood at ₹ 3,087 crore, reflecting a growth of 20% YoY, marking the highest ever quarterly disbursements by the Company. Total number of loan accounts as of March 31, 2026, stood at 3,36,000+. Profit after tax grew by 22% YoY to ₹1,108* crore in FY26 from ₹ 912 crore in FY25. Profit after tax grew by 27% YoY to ₹ 311 crore in Q4 FY26 from ₹ 245 crore in Q4 FY25. Net worth stood at ₹ 7,541 crore as of March 31, 2026. Return on assets (ROA) stood at 4.4% and return on equity (ROE) stood at 15.9% for FY26. Gross NPA as of March 31, 2026, stood at 1.08% reflecting stable asset quality. Commenting on the Q4 & FY26 performance, Mr. Rishi Anand, MD & CEO of Aadhar Housing Finance Ltd said: “Aadhar Housing Finance has delivered strong performance in FY2026, marked by consistent growth and stable asset quality, while crossing the ₹30,000 crore AUM milestone and achieving its highest-ever quarterly disbursements in Q4 FY26. AUM stood at Rs 30,571 crore as of March 31, 2026, registering a year-on-year growth of 20%, while Profit after Tax for FY2026 grew by 22% YoY to Rs 1,108 crore. Our strategic ‘Urban and Emerging’ branch model continues to deliver strong outcomes, with the network expanding to over 626 branches, deepening our reach across underserved and high-potential markets. Demand remains largely end-user driven, led by first-time homebuyers in emerging markets, while witnessing encouraging traction in urban markets, reinforcing our balanced and diversified growth strategy. Government initiatives such as PMAY 1.0 and PMAY 2.0 continue to support affordability for these customers, and we expect this to remain an important driver of demand going forward. Overall, the environment remains supportive, with steady demand in the EWS and LIG segments. During the year, we also made focused investments in AI capabilities, which are beginning to reflect in improved turnaround times, stronger underwriting, and enhanced collections efficiency. We have started leveraging AI-led tools in select parts of the loan lifecycle and see this as an important area of development as we continue to scale. Asset quality trends remain stable, supported by strong collection efficiency and disciplined underwriting, reflecting healthy borrower behaviour. Our focus remains on expanding our presence in underserved markets, improving productivity, and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency across the loan lifecycle. Looking ahead, we remain confident in the medium-term outlook for the affordable housing segment. With strong structural drivers, improving operating leverage, and our continued focus on execution, we are well positioned to sustain growth while maintaining portfolio quality and delivering consistent returns.”
The Royal Government of Bhutan and the World Bank Sign Financing Agreements for the Dorjilung Hydroelectric Power Project
Bangalore, May 06: The Royal Government of Bhutan and the World Bank today signed financing agreements totaling $515 million for the 1,125 MW Dorjilung Hydroelectric Power Project, which will account for about one-third of the Kingdom’s total energy generation, drive economic growth through access to affordable electricity and clean energy exports, and create new jobs. “The Dorjilung Hydroelectric Power Project is a cornerstone of Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan and will be the Kingdom’s largest hydropower project developed under a public-private partnership. This transformational investment will supply clean…
OPAQUE Acquires Abu Dhabi-Developed Cryptographic AI Technology from TII, Extending Confidential AI Across the Full Lifecycle with Post-Quantum Protection
Business Wire India OPAQUE, the Confidential AI company headquartered in San Francisco, California, today announced it has acquired advanced cryptographic AI technologies from the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). The acquired technology — already proven in real-world use cases — adds two critical capabilities to OPAQUE’s platform: confidential AI model training powered by…
Laserfiche Recognized as a Leader in 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Document Management
Business Wire India Laserfiche — the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management — has been positioned as a Leader in the 2026 Magic Quadrant for Document Management. Laserfiche believes this recognition underscores the company’s commitment to empowering organizations to transform complex, operational business processes through AI-powered content management. “It’s incredible to see Laserfiche recognized during the same week as our annual Empower…
Holyoke Medical Center and IKS Health Announce Strategic Partnership to Reduce Administrative Burden and Support Sustainable Growth
Business Wire India IKS Health, a global leader in care enablement solutions supporting clinical, administrative, and financial efficiencies across the patient journey, today announced a strategic multi-year clinical and revenue optimization platform partnership with Holyoke Medical Center, an independent, non-profit, 219-bed community hospital in Western Massachusetts serving the region since 1893. The partnership’s primary focus is on reducing clinical and administrative burden and maintaining financial…
Onward Technologies delivers its strongest annual performance in FY26, with record revenue, record EBITDA of INR 71.9 crore, up 60.9% YoY, and record PAT of INR 46.7 crore, up 72.3% YoY
Business Wire India FY26: Highest-ever revenue of INR 550.9 crore, up 10.5% YoY; record EBITDA of INR 71.9 crore with 13.2% margin Cash flow: Strong operating cash flow generation, supported by disciplined execution and working-capital rigor Q4 FY26: Total revenue of INR 139.0 crore, reflecting YOY growth of 6.9% Onward Technologies Limited (BSE: 517536) (NSE: ONWARDTEC), a global digital engineering and ER&D services partner, announced today its financial…
Merck Foundation in Partnership With African First Ladies Announces the Winners of Their “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes and Hypertension” Fashion, Film and Song Awards 2025
Business Wire India Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, in partnership with the Africa’s First Ladies, also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation more Than a Mother” announced the winners of their Fashion, Song, and Film Awards 2025, under two themes: “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes & Hypertension”. The theme of “More Than a Mother” Awards was to raise awareness on social issues such as: Breaking Infertility…