NPCI recently tried promoting interoperability among UPI apps by directing PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm and others to let users choose their preferred payment-receiving app. Apps repeatedly pinged NPCI servers for every transaction, creating latency and payment failures. Chaos ensued when users didn't understand the rule, failed to see transactions on apps, and lodged multiple complaints with TPAPs.

Ten IPOs with a combined worth of over ₹40,000 crore will be launched in the Indian market by the end of November, Moneycontrol reported. These include Billionbrains Garage Ventures (Groww's parent company), ICICI Prudential AMC, Pine Labs, PhysicsWallah, Tenneco Clean Air, Prestige Hospitality, Orkla India (MTR marker), Boat and Park Medi World. Orkla India's IPO will open on October 29.

Consumer Affairs Department warned consumers against 'Drip Pricing' dark pattern on e-commerce platforms amid festive season. Drip Pricing refers to hidden costs that accumulate in the end, spiking in the checkout amount. "The deal looks great at first, but hidden charges at the end hike up the price," the department wrote while urging people to complain against this on 1915.

Global hedge fund capital rose to approximately $5 trillion in third quarter and number of hedge funds stands at nearly decade-long peak, stated report by Hedge Fund Research (HFR). The growth coincided with $34 billion of new investor money allocated to hedge funds, marking highest quarterly net asset inflow since 2007. The industry has witnessed growth for eighth consecutive quarter.

After Trump's sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, global oil prices rose by 5%, strengthening Russian currency Ruble against US dollar, reported Reuters. The aforementioned companies, Rosneft and Lukoil account for nearly 50% of Russia's oil production and 5% global output. US Treasury gave its firms until November 21 to wind down previous transactions with the Russian oil companies.

US President Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. Zhao had pleaded guilty to charges that Binance violated US anti-money laundering requirements and was sentenced to four months in jail before he was released last year. The White House said that the Biden administration's "war on crypto" is now over.

Hyderabad-based Megaliter Varunaa has secured ₹15 crore in seed funding to expand its zero-capex “Megaliter Model” for wastewater recycling. Led by Vishal Murarka, the company has already treated over 3 billion litres of water and plans to scale tenfold. Backed by Brigade REAP, it aims to transform India’s urban water management into a sustainable circular economy.

India's digital payments have surged, accounting for 99.8% of transaction volume and 97.7% of value in the first half of 2025, as per data released by RBI. Out of total transactions worth ₹1,572 lakh crore, ₹1,536 lakh crore were digital, report added. The growth continues from 2019 levels of 96.7% by volume and 95.5% by value.

Reliance Jio has announced it has no immediate plans to increase mobile tariffs. Instead, the company aims to boost revenue by encouraging higher data consumption among users. Jio's average revenue per user (ARPU) rose to ₹211.4 in Q2 FY26, up from ₹208.8 in Q1. The company added 8.3 million subscribers during the quarter, bringing its total to over 506 million.

Netflix's stock fell 6.5% on October 21, closing at $1,160, after missing Q3 earnings expectations. The company reported a $619 million tax expense from a Brazilian dispute, reducing operating income to $3.24 billion. Despite strong revenue and free cash flow, investors expressed concerns over declining viewer engagement and competition from free streaming platforms.