BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

DEL53 BIZ-BULLION-PRICE Gold slides to Rs 1.52 lakh10g silver edges higher ahead of Fed rate decision New Delhi Gold prices declined by Rs 1,500 to Rs 1.52 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday due to profit booking as rising crude oil rates raise concerns over inflation ahead of the US Federal Reserves decision.

Following are the top business stories at 2215 hrs: DEL35 BIZ-PETROL-LOSS ****Oil firms selling petrol at Rs 14 a litre loss, diesel at Rs 18 New Delhi: Oil marketing companies are selling petrol and diesel at a loss of Rs 14 per litre and Rs 18 per litre, respectively, as elevated crude prices outpace capped retail fuel rates, squeezing marketing margins.**** DEL66 AVI-GOVT-INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ****Govt issues SOP for international flights on hub & spoke model; Air India to start trial in June New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry has issued the standard operating procedure for operationalising the hub and spoke aviation model to ensure smooth domestic to international connectivity for passengers, and Air India is expected to start trials based on the model in June, according to sources.**** DEL27 BIZ-WGC-INDIA ****India's Q1 gold demand rises 10 pc to 151 tons, investment demand tops jewellery consumption: WGC Mumbai: India's gold demand witnessed a 10 per cent on-year rise to 151 tonnes during the January-March quarter of this year, driven by a sharp surge in investment demand amid a significant jump in prices of the yellow metal, the World Gold Council said in a report on Wednesday. **** DEL60 AVI-IATA-JET FUEL **** Asia, Europe could see jet fuel shortages in coming months: IATA chief Willie Walsh New Delhi: Global airlines' grouping IATA's chief, Willie Walsh, on Wednesday said there could be shortages of jet fuel in Asia and Europe in the coming months, and that the extraordinarily high fuel costs are increasingly being reflected in ticket prices.**** DCM128 BIZ-GOYAL-2ND LD EXPORTS **** Exports see healthy rise in April so far despite challenges in West Asia: Goyal New Delhi: The country's exports have shown a healthy increase during the first three weeks of April so far despite challenges due to the ongoing West Asia crisis, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.**** DCM124 BIZ-WASIA-COLA-CANS ****West Asia conflict triggers aluminium can shortage for cola makers New Delhi: The ongoing West Asia conflict has disrupted the supply chain for aluminium cans in India, forcing popular canned cola drinks to be missing from the shelves of neighbouring retail stores and on quick-commerce platforms in leading cities. **** DCM115 BIZ-RBI-NATURAL CALAMITY ****RBI allows banks to extend relief measures to borrowers without their requests in disaster-hit areas Mumbai: Banks are allowed to extend relief measures to all borrowers without waiting for their requests, according to the Reserve Bank's revised guidelines for calamity-affected areas, which take effect from July 1.**** DCM108 BIZ-ETHANOL-CHANGES ****Govt proposes Motor Rules Amendments to expand ethanol, alternative fuel scope New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed amendments to vehicle emission rules to widen the scope for higher ethanol blends and alternative fuels, paving the way for flex-fuel and pure biofuel vehicles across all vehicle categories. **** DEL61 BIZ-LD RUPEE **** Rupee falls 20 paise to close at fresh all-time low of 94.88 against US dollar Mumbai: The rupee depreciated 20 paise to close at its all-time low of 94.88 against the US dollar on Wednesday, pressured by rising Brent crude oil prices, hovering around USD 115 per barrel, and continued foreign capital outflows. **** DEL55 BIZ-FINMIN-REPORT **** West Asia conflict raises inflation risks; India's domestic strength offers cushion: Finmin report New Delhi: The ongoing conflict in West Asia poses a significant supply-side shock with rising risks to inflation, trade and financial flows, though India's strong domestic demand, policy buffers, resilient financial system and continued public investment are expected to provide a measure of insulation to the economy, the finance ministry said in a report said. **** DEL53 BIZ-BULLION-PRICE ****Gold slides to Rs 1.52 lakh/10g; silver edges higher ahead of Fed rate decision New Delhi: Gold prices declined by Rs 1,500 to Rs 1.52 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday due to profit booking as rising crude oil rates raise concerns over inflation ahead of the US Federal Reserve's decision. **** DEL47 BIZ-LD-STOCKS **** Sensex jumps nearly 610 pts on value buying in FMCG, auto shares Mumbai: Benchmark Sensex rebounded nearly 610 points and broader Nifty settled above 24,100 on Wednesday following value buying in FMCG, auto and telecom shares amid earnings optimism and a rally in Asian markets. ****