Asian markets traded mixed on Wednesday, following overnight gains on Wall Street ahead of a potential US government shutdown.

US stock market ended higher on Tuesday, marking quarterly and monthly gains, even as investors braced for a US government shutdown.

Here's a table showing how US stocks performed on Tuesday:

Source: Equitymaster

At present, the BSE Sensex is trading 80 points higher, and the NSE Nifty is trading 27 points higher.

Sun Pharma, Trent, and M&M are among the top gainers today.

Eternal, HDFC Bank, and Bharti Airtel, on the other hand, are among the top losers today.

The BSE Midcap index is trading 0.3% higher, and the BSE Smallcap index is trading 0.2% higher.

Sectoral indices are trading mixed today, with stocks in the metal sector and the media sector witnessing selling pressure. Meanwhile, stocks in realty sector and the healthcare sector witnessed buying.

The rupee is trading at Rs 88.6 against the US dollar.
 

RBL Bank and LIC Tie-Up Bancassurance

Shares of RBL Bank and LIC are in focus as they announce a partnership for the bancassurance business.

One of India's top private sector banks, RBL Bank, today announced that it has entered a bancassurance partnership with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the nation's largest life insurer stated the bank's exchange filing.

Customers of RBL Bank will be able to access LIC's wide array of life insurance products via the Bank's vast branch network and online platforms thanks to this strategic partnership.

Additionally, it stated, Senior representatives from RBL Bank Ltd. and LIC of India were present when the formal partnership was announced.

RBL Bank customers can now access LIC's various insurance products, including term plans, endowment policies, pension plans, and unit-linked insurance plans.

By combining LIC's 3,600+ branches and satellite offices with RBL Bank's 2,000+ touchpoints, including 570 branches and 1,474 business correspondent branches, the partnership aims to increase life insurance penetration nationwide, supporting the Insurance for All by 2047 vision.

With this collaboration, both institutions reaffirm their commitment to promoting financial inclusion and delivering the best insurance solutions across India.
 

Nestle India Inks Food Processing Deal

Nestle India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to speed up investments in greenfield and brownfield projects in Odisha and its existing manufacturing locations, reinforcing its commitment to India.

At the 2025 World Food India Summit in New Delhi, the MoU was signed.

The Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle India said the MoU with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries highlights Nestle India's commitment to investing in food processing projects in Odisha and existing locations over the next 2-3 years.

He further added that this move is expected to create direct and indirect job opportunities, supporting India's growth and our vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
 

Oil India and GAIL Boost Gas Collaboration

An MOU was signed by Oil India Limited (OIL) and GAIL India Limited (GAIL) to improve cooperation throughout the natural gas value chain and create synergies for increased access to cleaner energy in India.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary praised the partnership as a timely move to boost domestic gas availability and ensure seamless access to demand centres nationwide.

He emphasized that such collaborations are crucial for achieving the government's vision of a gas-based economy and accelerating India's energy transition.

According to the Chairman and Managing Director of GAIL, the partnership will increase access to natural gas, boost national energy security, and further the government's goal of cleaner, sustainable energy for all.

According to the Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India, the MoU is a calculated move to combine GAIL's marketing and gas distribution know-how with OIL's upstream capabilities to support India's shift to a gas-based economy and generate value for all stakeholders involved.

Oil India last week confirmed the presence of natural gas in Vijayapuram-2, its second exploratory well drilled in the Andaman Shallow Offshore Block under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy, further bolstering its gas portfolio.

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