BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) Following are the top business stories at 2200 hrs: DEL98 BIZ-LDALL TRADE **** India’s exports plunge 7.44 pc in March; trade with West Asia nosedives New Delhi: Exports posted the steepest fall in five months, declining by 7.44 per cent in March to USD 38.92 billion due to trade uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, with shipments to West Asia contracting by more than 50 per cent in the month, according to official data released on Wednesday. **** DEL37 BIZ-INFLATION-LD WHOLESALE **** WPI inflation rises to 38-month high of 3.88 pc in March on higher fuel prices amid West Asia crisis New Delhi: Wholesale price inflation rose sharply to an over 3-year high of 3.88 per cent in March, driven by a sharp spike in rates of fuel,

power and manufactured items amid the West Asia crisis. **** DEL68 BIZ-INDIA-US-LD TRADE TALKS **** Indian team to visit US next week for trade pact talks; recalibration of agreement on table New Delhi: Chief negotiators of India and the US will begin three-day talks in Washington from April 20 on the proposed trade pact, as the agreement finalised in February requires recalibration in view of changes in the US tariff landscape, a senior government official said on Wednesday. **** DEL51 BIZ-LD-STOCKS **** Stock markets surge over 1 pc amid US-Iran talks optimism Mumbai: Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty surged over 1 per cent on Wednesday as hopes of renewed diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran and crude oil trading below the USD 100-a-barrel level bolstered investor sentiment. **** DCM103 BIZ-STOCKS-WEALTH **** Investors’ wealth surges by Rs 9.41 lakh cr as stock markets rebound New Delhi: Investors’ wealth surged by Rs 9.41 lakh crore on Wednesday as benchmark indices rebounded sharply amid hopes of renewed diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran. **** DEL69 BIZ-BULLION-PRICE **** Silver surges Rs 11,800, gold jumps Rs 3,000 ahead of Akshaya Tritiya New Delhi: Silver prices surged by Rs 11,800 to Rs 2.57 lakh per kg while gold advanced by Rs 3,000 to Rs 1.58 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday, driven by fresh buying from jewellers and stockists ahead of Akshaya Tritiya. **** DEL100 BIZ-LD RUPEE **** Rupee rises 2 paise to settle at 93.33 against US dollar Mumbai: The rupee rose 2 paise to settle at 93.33 against the US dollar on Wednesday, aided by positive sentiments in the domestic equity markets and hopes of resumption of talks between the US and Iran. **** DEL81 BIZ-FASTAG-NHAI **** NHAI asks FASTag issuer banks to validate vehicle registration numbers to enhance accuracy New Delhi: State-owned NHAI on Wednesday said it has issued directions to all FASTag issuer banks to undertake immediate validation of vehicle registration numbers to enhance the accuracy and reliability of data in the electronic toll collection system. **** PTI HG HG BAL BAL