The life insurance industry recorded strong momentum in FY26, with total new business premium (NBP) rising 15.7% year-on-year to Rs 4,59,713 crore, compared to Rs 3,97,337 crore in FY25.

For the month of March 2026, the industry collected Rs 75,872 crore in new business premium, reflecting a sharp increase over Rs 61,439 crore in March 2025, underscoring sustained demand across both individual and group segments.

BTC climbed near $82.7K as easing tensions between the US and Iran improved overall investor sentiment. Falling oil prices, with WTI crude dropping below $90 per barrel, alongside stock market futures, supported crypto and other risk assets. However, fresh US comments of attack toward Iran brought uncertainty back into the market, pulling BTC closer to the $81K level. At the same time, BTC options open interest has recovered from around $32B to $37B, suggesting traders are slowly rebuilding positions after April's correction. Investors should prioritize risk management, avoid FOMO-driven entries, and keep sufficient liquidity for volatility spikes.

The Reserve Bank of Indiaon Wednesday night reinforced the importance of core banking principles in the money-changing sector through its latest regulations, introducing specific turnover thresholds for authorised dealers to continue operating their foreign exchange businesses.

Rajesh Palviya, Head of Research, Axis Direct

The Nifty surged 298 points yesterday to settle at 24,331, reclaiming the 24,300 level in a broad-based rally driven by softening crude and improving global risk appetite. From a technical perspective, yesterday's candle marked a decisive break from recent consolidation, with banks carrying most of the weight. Wall Street closed at new highs overnight on hopes of a US-Iran framework agreement. Asian cues this morning are strong following Kospi's record close, while Brent has fallen below $101, gold has rebounded above $4,700, and copper remains supported. GIFT Nifty trades lower by about 75 points, indicating a flat to negative open. Nifty and Midcap Nifty surged in the previous session. Bulls now need a daily close above 24,500 to continue the bounce toward 24,700; failure to hold 24,250 could quickly bring 24,000 into focus. Considering the recovery in the broader market, we expect bullish momentum to likely appear in sectors like Pharma, Banking, Ems, and Capital Markets related theme.

Aptus Value Housing Finance recorded a strong March FY26 quarter driven by technology enhancements and ongoing process improvements, alongside continued focus on credit quality. The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 261 crore in Q4FY26 as against Rs 207 crore in Q4FY25, up by 26%. The total income for the quarter to March 31st, 2026 stood at Rs 594 crore as against Rs 499 core recorded in Q4FY26, up 19%.

As per the government, RERA has improved transparency, reduced project delays, and made sure that buyers check state portals before writing cheques. Read the full report here

Operation Sindoor 1st Anniversary: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently described Operation Sindoor as proof of India's tech-driven military might. Read full report here

At the close on Wednesday (May 6), the total market cap of all BSE Sensex companies stood at Rs 4,72,80,560.