Current Affairs - Business

SEBI has introduced SWAGAT-FI, a specialised framework designed to attract low-risk foreign investors, including sovereign wealth funds and pension funds. This framework aims to provide a more stable and investor-friendly environment by extending the registration period from 3 years to 10 years, thereby ensuring long-term participation in Indian markets. To further ease operations, a dedicated digital portal has been established, significantly reducing onboarding time to just one week. Additionally, it streamlines access to GIFT-IFSC, India’s international financial hub, making the investment process more efficient and transparent. This initiative strengthens India’s financial ecosystem globally.

The State Bank of India (SBI) sold a 13.18% stake in Yes Bank to Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) for ₹8,889 crore, marking one of the largest cross border deals in India’s banking sector. This transaction highlights growing global investor confidence in India’s financial reforms and the strengthening of strategic banking ties between India and Japan. The sale, which involved 413.44 crore equity shares, was completed after approvals from the RBI, CCI, and SBI’s board. Importantly, SBI retains a minority stake in Yes Bank, while SMBC now has clearance to raise its stake further, up to 24.99%.

Apollo Tyres secured the role of Team India’s lead sponsor after winning a highly competitive bidding process organized by the BCCI. The ₹579 crore agreement covers 121 bilateral matches and 21 ICC fixtures from 2025 to 2028, replacing Dream11 as the previous sponsor. Apollo Tyres outbid Canva and JK Cements, setting one of the highest sponsorship values in Indian cricket history. This partnership provides Apollo with prime visibility on the Indian team’s jerseys across some of the most globally watched cricket tournaments, enhancing its international recognition and expanding its market presence in over 100 countries.

SAJEX 2025 was launched in Jeddah as part of India’s efforts to boost jewellery trade with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Organised by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council with support from the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the event was hosted at the Jeddah Superdome from September 11–13. Featuring over 200 exhibitors and thousands of buyers, it showcased diamonds, coloured gemstones, gold jewellery, and lab-grown diamonds. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and underscores India’s leadership in the global jewellery industry.

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison surpassed Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person in September 2025, with his net worth soaring to $395.7 billion. This dramatic rise was fueled by a 41% surge in Oracle’s stock, its biggest jump since 1992, largely driven by booming demand for AI and cloud computing services. Oracle’s strong revenue forecasts and rapid cloud growth positioned the company as a major contender against tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Ellison’s wealth increase of $101 billion in a single day highlights the transformative impact of AI-driven enterprise solutions on global markets and billionaire rankings.