Business
Lesson from China’s export restrictions: India eyes fertilizer plant project in Russia; aim to protect against supply shocks – The Times of India
Indian fertiliser companies are preparing to set up a urea manufacturing facility in Russia, a move that is likely to be announced during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in December. This would be India’s first fertiliser venture in Russia.The plant will use Russia’s abundant ammonia and natural gas reserves, ensuring a stable supply of this key agricultural input and reducing India’s reliance on volatile global prices, according to a report by ET.State-owned Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) and National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL), along with government-backed Indian Potash Ltd (IPL), have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Russian partners to begin planning the project, the report said.The plant is expected to produce over 2 million tonnes of urea annually. Negotiations are ongoing on land allocation, natural gas, ammonia pricing and transportation logistics.India depends largely on imports of raw materials like ammonia and natural gas for its domestic fertilizer production.The Russian facility is expected to shield India from future price shocks and supply disruptions. It will also strengthen economic ties between the two countries, which already collaborate in energy, defence and agribusiness.The project comes after India faced an acute fertiliser shortage during this year’s kharif (monsoon) season, when China temporarily halted exports of urea and other nutrients.The disruption forced India to seek supplies from other markets at higher costs, raising concerns about food production.Demand for fertilizers has gone up due to well-distributed monsoon rains. Consequently, nutrient-rich crops like maize are being grown by farmers.During the winter season, the need for urea increases even further for rabi crops such as wheat.In order to keep fertilisers accessible and affordable for farmers, they are regulated and subsidised in India, contributing to food security. The burden of government subsidies rises as global prices rise.The initial budget of Rs 1.68 lakh crore was increased to Rs 1.92 lakh crore for FY25 for the Department of Fertilisers. India’s domestic urea production hit a record 31.4 million tonnes in FY24.Despite these efforts, India still relies heavily on imports for raw materials and is the second-largest user as well as the third-largest producer of fertilizers globally.
Business
Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for March 25, 2026 – check list – The Times of India
Stock market recommendations: Aurobindo Pharma, Infosys, and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) – these are the stocks that Mehul Kothari, DVP – Technical Research at Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers has recommended as top stocks to buy today (March 25, 2026):Aurobindo Pharma – Breakout with Momentum ConfirmationBuy: ₹1280–₹1260 | Stop Loss: ₹1235 | Target: ₹1390Aurobindo Pharma has delivered a decisive breakout after several weeks of consolidation, indicating a potential resumption of the uptrend. The stock had been trading within a narrow range, forming a strong base before this upward move. From a technical standpoint, the setup appears constructive with multiple indicators aligning in favor of the bulls. The DMI reflects a positive bias, suggesting strengthening directional momentum, while the RSI has moved above the 60 mark, indicating strong buying interest and improving trend strength. Additionally, the MACD has given a bullish crossover above the zero line, confirming a shift in momentum toward the upside. This confluence of breakout and momentum signals points toward a continuation of the upward move, provided the stock sustains above the breakout zone.Infosys – Bullish Divergence Indicating Potential ReversalBuy: ₹1270–₹1240 | Stop Loss: ₹1175 | Target: ₹1375Infosys is showing early signs of a potential reversal as momentum indicators begin to diverge from price action. While the stock has been forming lower lows, the RSI has been making higher lows, indicating a clear bullish divergence and suggesting that selling pressure is gradually weakening. Adding to this, the MACD has given a bullish crossover, reflecting improving momentum and a possible shift in short-term trend direction. This combination of RSI divergence and MACD confirmation points toward emerging accumulation at lower levels. The setup indicates a high probability of a relief rally or short-term recovery as momentum stabilizes.Larsen & Toubro – Oversold Bounce with Positive DivergenceBuy: ₹3400–₹3350 | Stop Loss: ₹3250 | Target: ₹3600Larsen & Toubro appears to be nearing exhaustion in its recent downtrend, with momentum indicators signaling a potential bounce. Despite the extended decline in price, the RSI is not making fresh lower lows, indicating positive divergence and a gradual loss of selling momentum. At the same time, the MACD is positioned in an oversold zone, which typically reflects trend exhaustion and increases the probability of a reversal or technical pullback. The alignment of these indicators suggests that the stock may witness a short-term recovery if buying interest emerges near current levels.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
Business
Oil traders bet millions ahead of Trump’s Iran talks post
Market data shows the amount of oil trade rose before the US President said he would postpone attacks on Iran’s power plants.
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Business
Food supplement adverts claiming treatment for menopause banned
Five adverts for supplements claiming to treat symptoms of the menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and other women’s hormonal issues have been banned.
Ads for the food supplement brands 222 Balance Me, Lunera, Minerva and Nova Menopause Vitality all claimed that their products could prevent, treat or cure the symptoms of the menopause.
An ad and website for PolyBiotics implied their food supplements could prevent, cure or treat PCOS.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it looked especially closely at ads which could take advantage of people’s health worries, emotional concerns, or financial pressures.
The most recent rulings followed an AI-powered sweep of health claims in online ads by the watchdog, which it said had revealed emerging and ongoing issues around misleading claims.
The ASA said “many” of the claims in the ads were “unacceptable” and had not only broken a number of the authority’s rules but risked misleading vulnerable people, or steering those who needed it away from appropriate medical advice.
222 Collective told the ASA it was a new, founder-run small business and still learning about the requirements of advertising regulations.
The firm acknowledged that wording in the ads may have “inadvertently implied that the product could treat or relieve symptoms such as PMS, menopause-related symptoms, anxiety, bloating, heavy bleeding, or mood disorders”.
They had since been working with Trading Standards to ensure they did not make explicit or implied disease or symptom treatment claims.
Lunera said it accepted that its claims would be understood by consumers to attribute a medicinal property to a food supplement and should not have appeared.
PolyBiotics told the ASA it accepted that references to PCOS, ovulation, fertility, cycle regulation, insulin resistance and related symptoms constituted disease treatment or symptom-management claims, which were not permitted for food supplements.
Minerva and Nova did not respond to the ASA’s enquiries.
ASA investigations manager Catherine Drewett said: “When it comes to women’s health, people deserve clear and accurate information.
“Ads making misleading claims about treating symptoms of the menopause, PCOS and other hormonal conditions can cause real harm and today’s rulings hold advertisers to account.
“We’ll continue to monitor this sector closely and we encourage anyone with concerns about an ad they’ve seen to get in touch.”
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