After three consecutive weeks of losses, the Indian stock market made a strong comeback, closing the week with gains of nearly 2 per cent.

The recovery was driven by favourable global and domestic cues, instilling confidence among investors. The Nifty settled at 22,552.50, while the Sensex closed at 74,332.58, marking a significant rebound.

According to market watchers, among the key drivers, the global sentiment improved following reports of a delay in US tariffs and the possibility of further negotiations, which helped stabilise financial markets.

Additionally, a weaker dollar and a decline in crude oil prices further boosted investor confidence, said Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd.

India’s inflation fell to 4.31 per cent in January from 5.22 per cent, approaching the RBI’s 4 per cent target after four months above 5 per cent and this trend reinforces the case for potential rate cuts, with the repo rate at 6.25 per cent, a new report showed on Saturday.

The observed market trajectory suggests a cautious sentiment among investors, potentially influenced by macroeconomic conditions, sector-specific developments, and global financial market trends, according to the Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund report.

The Nifty 500 Index declined by 7.88 per cent in February, reflecting contractions across multiple sectors. Factor-based strategies reflected broader market movement, while fixed-income instruments, including Nifty 5 year Benchmark G-Sec (+0.53 per cent), exhibited relative stability.

The Indian Navy on Saturday lauded two women officers from the Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition for their remarkable courage in sailing through the challenging waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, marking a significant milestone in women's empowerment within the armed forces.

Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa have braved fierce tides, sailed through storms, and demonstrated that the oceans -- like the world -- have no limits for their courage, the Navy stated while extending its appreciation.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II is a testament to changing times, showcasing how the Indian Navy is at the forefront of empowering women.

The two officers embarked on this global circumnavigation mission aboard INSV Tarini in October 2024, undertaking a formidable challenge that underscores their exceptional endurance and skill.

Taking to X, the Indian Navy posted, "On the occasion of International Women's Day, Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Navy Staff, and all personnel of the Indian Navy salute Lt Cdr Dilna & Lt Cdr Roopa."

Tech giant Google on Saturday dedicated a special doodle to honour visionary females in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) on the occasion of International Women's Day 2025.

International Women’s Day is marked annually on March 8 to raise awareness of the issues impacting women all over the world.

The theme this year is “For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”. March 8 was first recognised by the United Nations in 1975 to highlight how important women’s contributions have been all around the world.

The doodle celebrates the contributions of countless women in space exploration, ancient discoveries, and lab research, as well as how they shaped the world throughout history.

At least 225 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions and 43 crore e-KYC transactions were carried out in February, marking 14 per cent yearly growth, the government said on Friday.

The e-KYC service has been instrumental in providing a seamless and secure experience for customers in both banking and non-banking financial services. It has also contributed to improving the ease of doing business across various industries.

According to the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), by the end of February 2025, the total number of Aadhaar authentication transactions had surpassed 14,555 crore, while the total e-KYC transactions exceeded 2,311 crore.

Face authentication using Aadhaar is also gaining popularity. In February alone, 12.54 crore Aadhaar face authentication transactions were carried out, marking an all-time monthly high since the introduction of this feature in October 2021.

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has been ranked third among the world's strongest insurance brands, achieving a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 88 out of 100, according to the Brand Finance Insurance 100 2025 report.

Poland-based PZU secured the top spot with a BSI score of 94.4, followed by China Life Insurance, which ranked second with a BSI score of 93.5.

In terms of overall brand value, the LIC holds the 12th position among the most valuable insurance brands globally, while SBI Life ranks 76th, making them the only two Indian insurers in the top 100.

According to the Brand Finance report, the top 100 insurance brands have grown 9 per cent in brand value in 2025, driven by improved underwriting results, higher investment income, rising interest rates, and increased profitability. Market capitalisation for top insurance brands rose as demand for insurance products increased across sectors. Economic recovery and positive market sentiment have strengthened investor confidence, while strategic mergers, acquisitions, and technological advancements have accelerated industry growth.

India's long-term outlook remains strong and the investment cycle is projected to be on a medium-term uptrend supported by government investment in infrastructure and manufacturing, pickup in private investments, and a recovery in the real estate cycle, a new HSBC report said on Friday.

The HSBC Mutual Fund’s ‘Market Outlook Report 2025’ expects higher private investments in renewable energy and related supply chains, localisation of higher-end technology components, and India becoming a more meaningful part of global supply chains to support faster growth.

"Post the recent correction, Nifty valuations are now in-line with its 5/10-year average. We remain constructive on Indian equities supported by the more robust medium-term growth outlook," the report mentioned.

IndiGo Airlines has emerged as the world's second fastest-growing airline in terms of seat capacity, which increased by 10.1 per cent year-on-year to over 134.9 million seats in 2024.

India's largest airline has been ranked next only to Qatar Airways, which clocked a 10.4 per cent growth in seat capacity over the previous year, according to the latest data from the Official Airline Guide (OAG).

IndiGo has also been ranked as the fastest-growing airline in the world in terms of flight frequency growth at 9.7 per cent year-on-year in 2024. The airline recorded a flight frequency of 749,156 for the year, the figures show.

OAG has also recorded that IndiGo holds one of the world's largest aircraft orders, with over 900 aircraft on order and has the largest recipient of 58 new Airbus aircraft during 2024. However, it also states that the airline does have a large proportion (approximately 80 aircraft) inactive with MRO-related supply chain issues.

The Indian benchmark indices opened marginally low on Friday amid weak global cues, as selling was seen in the IT, PSU Bank and pharma sectors in the early trade.

At around 9.30 am, Sensex was trading 106.98 points or 0.14 per cent down at 74,233.11 while the Nifty declined 16.25 points or 0.07 per cent at 22,528.45.

Nifty Bank was down 127.10 points or 0.26 per cent at 48,500.60. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 49,398.40 after gaining 50.30 points or 0.10 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 15,499.30 after rising 98.95 points or 0.64 per cent.

According to market watchers, after a negative opening, Nifty can find support at 22,500, followed by 22,400 and 22,300. On the higher side, 22,600 can be an immediate resistance, followed by 22,700 and 22,800.

With more women from Tier-II and Tier-III Indian cities joining the workforce, their median salary has increased by 34 per cent over the past three years, a new report said on Thursday.

According to job and professional networking platform Apna.co, the number of women job seekers from smaller cities has increased four times between 2021 and 2024.

Job applications from these regions have also tripled, reaching 12.8 million in 2024. This trend highlights a growing shift in employment patterns beyond major metro cities.

Several factors have contributed to this rise, including more job opportunities, better digital accessibility, and changing hiring strategies by employers.

These developments have encouraged more women from non-metro areas to explore different career paths and participate in the workforce.