Business
What are the ‘hidden charges’ on forex transactions: RBI issues draft rules on charges; what could change? – The Times of India
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a draft proposal aimed at making cross-border payments more transparent and consumer-friendly. With this, the bank aims to address long-standing complaints about hidden charges and unclear pricing in foreign exchange transactions.A large number of individuals face difficulties while making overseas payments for education, living expenses, travel, investments or remittances, mainly due to complex processes and high service costs.In many cases, customers only discover the true cost of a transaction after it has been completed. This includes charges such as fees, margins and intermediary costs that are either bundled into exchange rates or deducted later without a clear explanation.To address these issues, the RBI has proposed new regulations that would require banks and other authorised dealers to disclose the total cost of foreign exchange transactions upfront, before a customer agrees to the deal. The move is intended to help customers compare charges across service providers and make more informed decisions, according to ET.
What the RBI has proposed
Under the draft circular, authorised dealers such as commercial banks and certain financial institutions will be required to clearly communicate all transaction-related costs in advance. This includes commonly used foreign exchange transactions such as:
- Foreign exchange cash (T+0): Same-day currency exchange
- Tom (T+1): Settlement on the next business day
- Spot (T+2): Settlement within two business days
The disclosure requirement will cover both foreign exchange transactions and related derivative contracts used by retail customers.The RBI observed that a similar step was taken in January 2024, when authorised dealers were mandated to disclose mid-market rates for forex and foreign currency interest rate derivatives. The new proposal builds on a similar framework by extending transparency to the full cost structure of transactions.What counts as “total transaction cost”Before entering into a foreign exchange transaction, authorised dealers will now have to provide a complete breakdown of costs. According to Hemal Shah, Partner and Leader – Treasury and Commodity Advisory, Risk Consulting, EY India, this would include:
- The foreign exchange rate applied
- Currency conversion charges
- Sending or outward remittance fees
- Receiving fees, if applicable
- Charges levied by intermediary or correspondent banks
- Any other fee linked to executing the transaction
Importantly, these details must not only be shared upfront but also included in the final deal confirmation, allowing customers to verify what they were quoted against what they were ultimately charged.Once finalised, the instructions will be applicable within three months from the date of issuance.
Problems faced by retail users
Retail customers have long flagged that international transfers feel far more expensive and opaque than domestic payments. Often, customers are shown only an exchange rate, while additional costs such as remittance fees, FX margins, SWIFT charges and intermediary bank deductions are revealed only later.Experts point out that banks frequently embed margins and multiple fees into a single quoted rate, making it difficult for customers to understand the actual pricing. Charges on the recipient side, such as correspondent bank fees or instances where beneficiaries bear costs instead of remitters, have also added to confusion, particularly for exporters.Another major concern is the lack of transparency around correspondent bank fees, which can vary significantly depending on routing and overseas banking arrangements. While banks often describe these as outside their control, the RBI has flagged this as a key area where disclosure standards need improvement.
How customers will benefit
By mandating upfront disclosure, the RBI aims to give retail users a clearer picture of the true cost of cross-border transactions. This will help customers better understand pricing mechanisms, dealer margins, and the differences between various forex products.“Enhanced visibility on the hidden charges allows retail users to make better decisions on the pricing offered by ADs,” said Shah.Vijay Mani, Partner and Banking and Capital Markets Leader at Deloitte India, added that the move can significantly improve trust and comparability, provided the disclosures are implemented in a clear and customer-friendly manner.The RBI has invited public comments on the draft circular. Feedback can be submitted until January 9, 2026, after which the central bank will review responses before issuing final guidelines.
Who do the rules apply to?
Authorised Dealers under RBI regulations include Authorised Dealer Category-I banks and Standalone Primary Dealers authorised under Category-III to conduct foreign exchange transactions.Customers are classified as retail or non-retail for the purpose of these rules. Non-retail users include large financial institutions, NBFCs, insurance companies, mutual funds, alternative investment funds and Indian entities with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more or a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more. Non-residents, other than individuals, are also treated as non-retail users.Any customer who does not fall into these categories is considered a retail user and will directly benefit from the proposed transparency measures.
Business
Full list of Quiz stores to close in UK as fashion retailer falls into administration
Fashion retailer Quiz is set to close its remaining 37 stores by the end of June, administrators have confirmed.
The high street chain appointed Interpath in February after a “tough start” to 2026.
Insolvency specialists announced on Thursday that a closure plan for its final outlets will be implemented over the coming weeks.
Three other stores, in Castlecourt, Belfast, Leeds, and Romford, recently shut permanently.
The precise timing for these remaining closures, and the number of staff affected, is yet to be confirmed.
Over 100 head office and warehouse jobs were put at risk when Quiz first entered administration.
It is the second time Quiz had fallen into administration in just over a year, having collapsed in February 2025 before immediately being bought in a so-called pre-pack deal by a subsidiary of the founding Ramzan family.
Quiz concessions in New Look and Matalan stores in the UK are not included in the administration and remain unaffected.
Remaining stock is being delivered to its stores, with heavy discounts of at least 60% as administrators seek to sell off as much as possible to help pay the collapsed firm’s outstanding debts.
Alistair McAlinden, head of Interpath in Scotland and joint administrator, said: “As we head into the May bank holiday weekend, we would encourage shoppers to visit their local store as we commence our final closing down sale.”
Geoff Jacobs, managing director at Interpath and fellow joint administrator, said: “We’d once again like to say a huge thank you to Quiz staff who have shown such dedication and professionalism under difficult circumstances.”
Here are the locations of the stores facing closure:
-Aberdeen, Scotland
-Basingstoke, Hampshire
-Bracknell, Berkshire
-Cardiff, Wales
-Carlisle, Cumbria
-Castleford, West Yorkshire
-Clydebank, Scotland
-Craigavon, Northern Ireland
-Derby, Derbyshire
-Dunfermline, Scotland
-Eastbourne, East Sussex
-Gateshead Metro, Tyne and Wear
-Glasgow Braehead, Scotland
-Glasgow Buchanan Galleries, Scotland
-Glasgow Fort, Scotland
-Glasgow St Enoch, Scotland
-Hanley, Staffordshire
-Hull, East Yorkshire
-Inverness, Scotland
-Irvine, Scotland
-Leicester, Leicestershire
-Livingston, Scotland
-Manchester Arndale, Greater Manchester
-Manchester Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester
-Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
-Merryhill, West Midlands
-Newry, Northern Ireland
-Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland
-Northampton, Northamptonshire
-Norwich, Norfolk
-Portsmouth, Hampshire
-Sheffield Meadowhall, South Yorkshire
-Stirling, Scotland
-Telford, Shropshire
-Thurrock Lakeside, Essex
-Warrington, Cheshire
-Watford, Hertfordshire
Business
Trump administration says new EPA rules will save you money at the supermarket. It’s not clear they will
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an announcement with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin (not pictured) in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a delay to two Biden-era EPA refrigerant rules, arguing the move will cut costs for companies and save consumers money at the grocery store.
The administration estimated that American families and businesses will save more than $2.4 billion under the new rules.
“Our actions allow businesses to choose the refrigeration systems that work best for them, saving them billions of dollars,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in a statement.
He added, “This will be felt directly by American families in lower grocery prices.”
But it was unclear Thursday whether or how companies like grocers would use those savings to make it more affordable for shoppers to fill their carts. The changes would not require grocers to take any steps to cut prices at a time when many households see their budgets stretched by soaring gas prices and years of elevated inflation.
The rules target hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, potent greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems that are widely accepted as contributors to global warming. Under the Biden administration, the EPA in 2023 finalized regulations aimed at cutting leaks and emissions from those systems, affecting industries ranging from grocery stores and food distribution to semiconductor manufacturing.
Now, the EPA is delaying compliance by revising the 2023 rule and another regulation from 2024.
The administration’s messaging appears aimed squarely at inflation-weary consumers, especially as food prices remain politically sensitive ahead of the midterm elections this fall. Grocery retailers rely heavily on refrigeration infrastructure, and compliance with the EPA rules would have required upgrades, leak detection systems and new refrigerants in some cases.
At the time the rules were put in place, the EPA argued they would ultimately save businesses and consumers $4.5 billion over time through energy efficiency and lower-cost refrigerants. Grocery and food industry groups warned the transition could cost the industry billions in upfront equipment and compliance expenses.
Large chains such as Walmart, Kroger, and Costco have already been investing in “natural refrigerant” systems for years, so the biggest operators were generally better positioned to absorb the transition. Smaller regional grocers and independent stores may feel the cost burden more acutely.
“An orderly transition of equipment reduces both capital costs and operating costs, and at the end of the day that’s good for consumers because we’re able to take that and put that into lowering prices,” said Kroger CEO Greg Foran at an event at the White House.
Still, it remains unclear how grocers would pass on cost savings to consumers. When asked at the signing, Foran said the company is “right in the middle” of passing savings on to the consumer and making sure they’re “paying the right price.”
Earlier Thursday before Trump’s policy announcement, Bloomberg News reported that Foran planned price cuts at Kroger to allow the grocer to better compete with Walmart and Costco.
Food inflation is driven by a wide range of factors, including labor, transportation, feed costs and commodity prices, and some of those expenses have risen in recent months due to the war in Iran. Refrigeration compliance costs represent a small slice of overall grocery operating expenses.
Business
Stellantis unveils $70 billion turnaround plan, targets positive cash flow by 2028
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Stellantis said Thursday it plans to invest 60 billion euros ($69.7 billion) under a new five-year strategic plan by CEO Antonio Filosa that also targets annual cost savings of 6 billion euros by 2028.
The plan includes putting 36 billion euros toward the company’s massive portfolio of automotive brands, with 60% of the investment expected for North America. The company expects to introduce more than 60 new vehicles and conduct major refreshes of 50 models, including all-electric vehicles, hybrids and traditional internal combustion engines.
The other 24 billion euros will be put toward global vehicle platforms and new technologies for the automaker and its products, according to the company.
Stellantis also said it plans to achieve positive free cash flow by 2028 after losing 22.3 billion euros last year with a 22 billion euro restructuring pulling back from all-electric vehicles.
The company is targeting revenue growth across its major global operations through 2030. Most notably, it’s aiming for North American revenue growth of 25%, with adjusted operating income, or AOI, of between 8% and 10% in that period. It’s also targeting 15% revenue growth and AOI of between 3% and 5% for enlarged Europe. It expects double-digit revenue increases in South America, the Middle East and Africa, with an AOI of between 4% and 6% in Asia-Pacific.
Under the plan, Stellantis will not eliminate any of its 14 automotive brands, but it will fold operations of its DS and Lancia European units into Citroen and Fiat, respectively, according to the company.
Fiat is one of four designated “global brands” alongside Jeep, Ram Trucks and Peugot. That division also includes the Pro One commercial operations. Its regional brands will include Chrysler, Dodge, Citroen, Opel and Alfa Romeo. It also owns luxury brand Maserati.
Shares of Stellantis listed in the U.S., Italy and France.
To assist in reducing costs, Stellantis plans to launch a new “STLA One” vehicle platform in 2027. The new platform is designed to bring together five different platforms into “one scalable architecture, reducing complexity and expanding coverage.” It targets achieving 20% cost efficiency, the company said.
By 2030, Stellantis targets 50% of its volume will be produced on three global platforms, with up to 70% component reuse.
Filosa — who began leading the automaker less than a year ago — and other executives are set to lay out details of the “FaSTLAne 2030” plan throughout the day Thursday during his first investor day as CEO at the company’s North American headquarters near Detroit.
Stellantis Chairman John Elkann, a scion of Fiat’s Agnelli family and CEO of Europe’s prominent holding company Exor, on Thursday called the plan “ambitious, but realistic” while outlining industry challenges as well as opportunities for the company under Filosa and his new plan.
The plan’s core pillars are “sharper management” of the brand portfolio, new investments, enhanced partnerships, an optimized manufacturing footprint, “excellence in execution” and empowerment of the company’s regions and local teams.
“What we want you to take away from today is that Stellantis, with all its assets, its capabilities, and its new strategic plan, is well positioned to succeed,” Filosa said to open the event. “You will hear from us today how we leverage our regional roots, our global scale, our partnerships and the new technologies in our journey going forward.”
Antonio Filosa, CEO of Stellantis, speaking with CNBC on May 21st, 2026.
CNBC
The company this week announced several new or expanded tie-ups that included Jaguar Land Rover for the U.S. as well as with Chinese automakers Leapmotor and Dongfeng Group, primarily for Europe and China.
As Stellantis partners with Chinese automakers, it’s also competing against them as many of the companies increase sales in Europe.
Amid such competition, Stellantis said it expects to cut European capacity by more than 800,000 units, while repurposing plants and leveraging partnerships. Filosa said the company plans to reduce production without any plant closures.
In both Europe and the U.S., Stellantis said it targets 80% plant utilization in 2030.
Filling those plants will be a variety, or a “freedom of choice,” of products, according to Stellantis. The company’s new or refreshened products are expected to include 29 battery-electric vehicles, 15 plug-in hybrid or extended-range electric vehicles, 24 hybrids and 39 mild hybrids or traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines.
“The interest of consumers around hybrids is growing, also pushed by the oil prices, and range-extended [vehicles] actually is a more customer-centric idea,” Filosa told CNBC’s Phil LeBeau.
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