HEALTH INSURERS PERFORMANCE
Beyond Retirement: Why India needs a new architecture for ageing
India’s retirement planning focuses heavily on money and healthcare but often overlooks the need for continued cognitive stimulation, social connection and a sense of purpose in later life. Drawing on the Saptasopan model and personal experience, a structured senior-engagement programmes should be scaled through CSR, housing communities, educational institutions and hybrid platforms as part of India’s ageing infrastructure.
General insurers clock 10.5% premium growth in October
General insurance companies in India saw a 10.5% increase in gross direct premium income in October. Standalone health insurers also reported significant growth, outperforming general insurers in several areas. HDFC ERGO and SBI General led the performance among private insurers with impressive increases in premium income. Public sector insurers like National Insurance also experienced growth, though some faced declines.
Simplify Alpha™ opens AI engineering and innovation center in Hyderabad, joined by Simplify Healthcare® and SimplifyX™
Hyderabad joins Pune and Mumbai as the third India location for the Simplify Group™ companies, adding capacity for customer delivery and growth.
Road ministry doubles performance security for bridge monitoring contracts to 10%
The ministry of road transport and highways has raised the performance security for bridge monitoring projects to 10%. This change aims to ensure higher safety standards and prevent bridge collapses in the future. Additionally, the time for making changes to the bid document has been reduced significantly from two weeks to three days. The refund of security amounts has also been adjusted, benefiting the concessionaires over time.
IRDA's new consultation paper proposes major reforms to improve insurance distribution and reduce complaints
Irda's recent consultation paper aims to restructure insurance distributor commissions to enhance market efficiency and penetration. The report highlights India's low insurance penetration rate compared to global averages and emphasizes improving policy persistency. It suggests restructuring compensation models, linking payouts to ongoing services, and reducing initial commission incentives to curb misselling. This proposed overhaul aims to foster greater trust and improve customer service within the insurance sector.
For investors with medium-term outlook: 5 large-cap stocks with upside potential of up to 23%, according to analysts
The headwinds hitting the market are not just easing now. Some of them are actually turning into tailwinds. That is a real change. The broader market is inching higher, and the Nifty and the Sensex are moving up with it. For months, the bulls were trying and failing to get a foothold. This time the attempt looks more serious, because the macro picture, for once, is working for rather than against them.
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Time to shed fear and think positive? 5 mid-cap stocks from different sectors with upside potential of up to 33%
Mid-cap stocks tend to move more than large-caps. And that works both ways. They rise faster when the market is rising, and fall harder when it is falling. Keep that in mind as the market’s mood changes for the better because oil prices are dropping and the macro worries responsible for the long sell-off are starting to go away.

India’s product landscape is changing: Which products are setting the benchmark across technology, finance, and consumer markets?
The ET Product of the Year Awards 2026 showcase India's rapidly growing product ecosystem by honoring groundbreaking innovations across diverse sectors such as enterprise technology, financial services, and consumer markets. These awards place emphasis on products that have made a significant market impact, gained customer adoption, and demonstrated exceptional innovation, motivating companies to present their tangible successes and contributions to the industry.

Care comes at a cost: India's ageing population exposes a broken caregiving system
India's rapidly ageing population is driving demand for caregivers, but the sector faces a shortage of trained workers, low wages, poor working conditions and uneven recruitment standards. High costs burden families, while inadequate training and job security undermine care quality. Experts call for professional recognition, better pay and structured training.

Pisces Weekly Horoscope, November 9 - November 15, 2026: Career Pressure, Relationship Clarity and a Week of Important Decisions
Pisces Weekly Horoscope, November 9–15, 2026: Mars enters Leo on November 12, activating your Sixth House of work, competition and daily responsibilities. Mercury turns direct in Libra on November 13, while Venus ends its retrograde phase on November 14. These planetary movements may increase your workload, bring pending financial matters into focus and encourage you to review personal relationships. Focus on completing important tasks, managing disagreements and maintaining a disciplined routine. Read your weekly predictions for career, money, love, health and education.

These mid-caps have ‘strong buy’ & ‘buy’ recos and upside potential of up to 28%, according to analysts
Global markets on Wednesday celebrated the outcome of the US mid-term election as well as a sharp drop in oil prices. Oil prices, which at the end of last week were at about $118 to the barrel, are now under $95. The hope clearly is that Democrat control of both chambers of the US Congress will pressure the Trump administration to pursue a diplomatic end to the conflict with Iran in the Gulf.

Democrats took Capitol Hill. Trump still has a Veto. What happens next and who can make their case for 2028?
Democrats are set to take control of the House and Senate after the 2026 midterm elections. President Donald Trump still has the power to veto their bills. This could be a test for Democats on how they handle that power and bring policies which could shape their pitch to voters in 2028.

These 11 private and public banking stocks have an upside of up to 33% in 1 year, according to analysts
It is too early to read a lot into the divergence seen in the stock price movements of private and PSU banks on Tuesday. Neither can it be said with any certainty that it had anything to do with FII buying. Against this background, remember: For any investor interested in the banking sector, the price movements should matter less than what the overall Q2 performance of both private and PSU banks reveals.

The business of running a hospital: Balancing profitability, patient trust and scale
A hospital’s financial health depends on more than occupancy and revenue, requiring a careful balance of cost control, cash flow and patient trust.

These large-caps have ‘strong buy’ & ‘buy’ recos and an upside potential of over 25%
Oil prices matter to the Indian economy, and the market responded with a smart rally as Brent crude cooled significantly on Monday. The rally was broad-based and involved all segments. But too much should not be read into one day’s showing. The thing to watch remains the results of the US mid-term elections which will be known in India through Wednesday. It will decide which way the market will move in the coming days and weeks.

ET Product of the Year Awards 2026: Categories recognising products driving market impact
The Economic Times Product of the Year Awards 2026 celebrate cutting-edge innovations that make a substantial difference in the market and attract customer loyalty across diverse industries. Categories feature Enterprise SaaS, FinTech, Cybersecurity, as well as consumer goods such as banking solutions and smartphones. Judging criteria prioritize market presence, adoption rates, creativity, and execution excellence, with an emphasis on quantifiable achievements.

Diwali declutter: 4 money moves to cut bad investments, clear debt and strengthen your finances
As the festive season of Diwali nears, it’s wise for individuals to take a fresh look at their investment portfolios. This reflection can shed light on stagnant investments and empower improved financial planning. Financial experts advocate for a disciplined approach to asset distribution and routine portfolio assessments. Some investors may still cling to non-performing mutual funds and insurance that limit their potential growth.

How Indian investors’ portfolios are changing: From property and gold to SIPs and ETFs
Indian households are re-evaluating their asset allocations as gold holdings rise and equity investments remain stable. Recent data reveals a significant increase in household wealth, particularly in gold and real estate. Households are moving from traditional savings to market investments, notably through systematic investment plans. Meanwhile, financial behaviors are changing, with more monthly contributions being made to equities.

Frontline Workers Know How to Solve Your Organization’s Biggest Problems
Frontline employees often know exactly what’s preventing organizations from performing at their best, yet traditional engagement surveys rarely uncover those insights or translate them into action. Companies can close that gap by adopting a disciplined six-step process that combines structured interviews, targeted surveys, collaborative problem solving, and rapid experimentation. When leaders and frontline employees cocreate solutions—and measure their impact—they improve trust, strengthen engagement, and design work that delivers better outcomes for employees, customers, and the business

State-run general insurers to submit turnaround plans
State-run general insurers must submit board-approved plans to the government for reducing unprofitable business segments. The government aims to evaluate the performance of these companies based on a time-bound roadmap for organic solvency. Policies regarding better pricing, oversight, and structured reinsurance for risky insurance areas are also being emphasized.

CDSL Q2 results: Net profit jumps 24% YoY to Rs 173 crore, revenue up 24%
CDSL reported a 24% year-on-year rise in Q2 net profit to Rs 173 crore, while revenue grew 23.7% to Rs 395 crore. EBITDA margin expanded to 58%. The depository opened around 75 lakh new demat accounts during the quarter, taking assets under custody beyond Rs 89 lakh crore.

Hospital balance sheet: How AI could cut costs and improve efficiency
As hospitals grapple with soaring costs in drugs, supplies, and labor, the integration of AI emerges as a vital necessity.

"What's the hurry?": BRS questions IDBI Bank valuation, seeks answers from Centre over proposed sale
K T Rama Rao raised concerns regarding the proposed sale of IDBI Bank to Fairfax Financial Holdings. He highlighted potential undervaluation and transparency issues in the bidding process. Rao questioned the assessment of the bank's prime real estate assets in Hyderabad. Concerns from IDBI Bank employees about the sale have reportedly not been addressed by the Union Government.

PB Fintech, Delhivery improve Q2 profits; Binance's $6.3 billion caper
PB Fintech on Friday reported a strong jump in profit and revenue for the July-September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Rahul Gandhi and Opposition are trying to create disorder: Nitin Nabin
Nitin Nabin addressed the Goa BJP executive committee, highlighting the need for discussions focused on development. He accused opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi of avoiding these discussions and creating disorder instead. Nabin emphasized the BJP's commitment to fulfilling promises made to the electorate in various states. He expressed confidence in securing over 50 percent of votes in the 2027 Goa assembly polls.

Health insurance claim settlement: Which insurers are fastest at paying approved claims?
According to data from ILM Research (previously known as Beshak Research), 15 of 31 non-life insurers paid out over 95% of their approved health claims (including cashless hospitalisation claims, where the insured does not have to pay out of pocket) within a month in financial year 2025-26, while the rest were slower.

NPS subscribers are less swayed by short-term market movements now, says Axis Pension Fund CEO Sumit Shukla
Axis Pension Fund intends to enhance its National Pension System offerings to provide better retirement savings options. The introduction of NPS Swasthya addresses the health insurance needs for older customers effectively. Despite tax benefits, low awareness continues to hinder corporate NPS uptake among employees. Further clarity on Tier-II NPS account taxation and extended tax deductions could encourage broader participation.

Parliamentary Committee on Finance to examine 46 economic issues, including virtual digital assets, AI, in FY'27
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, has selected 46 subjects for examination in 2026-27, including artificial intelligence in finance, virtual digital assets, currency management and financial sector regulation.

Crop, fire insurance premiums fall 31%, 26.6% in H1 FY27 amid pricing pressure
In the first half of FY27, crop insurance premiums fell by 31% due to lower rates and discounts. Fire insurance premiums also decreased by 26.6% amidst price competition and discounts across the sector. Public sector insurers saw a sharper decline in crop insurance compared to general insurers, impacting overall growth. Non-life insurance premiums grew 6.1% year-on-year, and health insurance experienced a 20.2% increase.
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