Prudential plc has announced the acquisition of a 75 per cent stake in Bharti Life Insurance for ₹3,500 crore, marking a major expansion of the UK-based insurer's presence in India's growing insurance market.The stake will be acquired from Bharti Life Ventures Pvt Ltd and 360 ONE Asset Management.

Sensex plunged over 900 points, while Nifty fell around 300 points in intraday trade on Monday as surging crude oil prices and escalating West Asia tensions triggered broad-based selling. A drone attack on a UAE nuclear plant pushed Brent crude near $112 a barrel. Sentiment also worsened after US President Donald Trump warned "the clock is ticking" for Iran.

Sensex fell over 1,000 points in early trade on Monday, while Nifty slipped below the 23,400 mark. Tata Steel was the biggest loser on the Sensex, dropping 4.55%, followed by Power Grid, which fell 3.55%. Auto and consumer stocks also witnessed sharp declines. Notably, Indian rupee hit a fresh record low of 96.20 against the US dollar on Monday.

Oil prices climbed on Monday after the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE's Al Dhafra Region came under a drone attack. Brent crude stood at $111.5, rising $2.23 or 2.04%, while WTI crude traded at $108.0, up $2.54 or 2.41%, around 7 am IST. "For Iran, the clock is ticking," US President Donald Trump said on Sunday.

Indian rupee has hit a fresh record low of 96.20 against the US dollar on Monday. Indian rupee, which had breached the 96-mark against the US dollar on Friday for the first time, has fallen around 5.5% since US-Iran war began. Meanwhile, Brent crude traded above $110/barrel after an attack on a UAE nuclear plant.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invited Swedish and European companies to increase investments in India, highlighting the country's rapid reforms, manufacturing potential and expanding digital economy during a high-level industry roundtable in Sweden. Addressing business leaders at the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) in Gothenburg.

'Shark Tank' judge Kevin O'Leary said the worst advice he often hears from young founders is that they want to work 18 hours a day. "How stupid is that?" the 71-year-old asked. O'Leary added, "You have got to get some sleep, you have to eat well, and you have to stay focused. That is how you are successful."

Petrol, diesel and CNG prices remained high on May 18, 2026 after recent fuel hikes across India. Delhi petrol stood at ₹97.77 per litre, while Mumbai crossed ₹106. CNG prices also increased in several cities amid rising global crude oil prices and Middle East tensions. Consumers are closely tracking daily fuel revisions affecting transport and household expenses.

Microsoft AI chief executive Mustafa Suleyman has predicted that artificial intelligence will reach human-level performance across most professional tasks soon. Suleyman said that most tasks that involve "sitting down at a computer" will be fully automated by AI within the next 12 to 18 months. He further named accounting, legal, marketing, and even project management as vulnerable.

India and Sweden have agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership during PM Narendra Modi's visit to Gothenburg. The partnership will be guided by four pillars: Strategic Dialogue for Stability and Security, Next-Generation Economic Partnership, Emerging Technologies and Trusted Connectivity, and Shaping Tomorrow Together – People, Planet, Health and Resilience.