Bihar government’s move to regulate microfinance institutions may hobble the recovery of the sector, which had shown signs of recovery from stress after long years.

The state’s legislative assembly adopted the Bihar Micro Finance Institutions (Regulations of Money Lending and Prevention of Coercive Actions) Bill, 2026, on Thursday, creating a sense of deja vu. The bill has a provision which prohibits borrowing from more than two lenders, while the microfinance industry currently allows a three-lender association for a single borrower.

Bihar, being the biggest microfinance market, may see a dip in repayment, people tracking the market said. The state accounts for 15% of the microfinance industry, while 13% of its borrowers have more than three lender associations, industry data showed.

The lenders are facing a risk of a sharp rise in delinquencies as they had seen in Karnataka, where portfolios at risk with over 30 days past due tripled to 12.5% within two quarters of Karnataka‘s microfinance bill, IIFL Capital Services said in a note. Borrowers with low per capita income and literacy may be more vulnerable, it said.

“Event risk like this makes us structurally cautious on lenders with high microfinance exposure apart from structurally lower growth/profitability vs previous cycle during ‘normal’ times,” IIFL Capital’s research analyst Viral Shah said.

Private banks and non-banking financial companies-microfinance institutions (NBFC-MFIs) have grown their respective cumulative microfinance portfolios in January from December, after a phase of contraction, according to monthly data from credit bureau Equifax.
Now, the leaders of the sector will have to energise the field force all over again in Bihar to raise borrower engagement so that any fresh delay in repayment can be prevented. It was typically seen that borrowers tended to delay repayment when governments tried to regulate any sector. It was seen when states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu enacted laws to regulate microfinance.However, the negative impact was more pronounced in Karnataka than in Tamil Nadu.

“We expect Bihar to be headed the Tamil Nadu way,” a chief executive of a large NBFC-MFI said.

The microfinance self-regulators plan to carry out targeted awareness and outreach initiatives across Bihar to prevent erosion of asset quality.

The Microfinance Industry Network (MFIN) highlighted that the bill is directed at unregulated entities. However, the provisions in the bill relating to borrower protection and fair recovery practices apply to all lending entities.

“MFIN would like to caution microfinance borrowers not to fall prey to rumours, be regular in repayment to maintain a good credit record and contact their lender for information,” it said.

“It is noteworthy that RBI-regulated institutions, as on date, provide collateral-free and doorstep credit services to nearly one crore low-income clients with credit outstanding of ₹48,569 crore in Bihar, thereby playing an integral part in building an inclusive and prosperous Bihar,” MFIN said.

Mumbai Average lending rates on fresh rupee loans rose 39 basis points in January from a month earlier, latest central bank data showed, with the weighted average lending rate (WALR) increasing to 8.67%.

One basis point is a hundredth of a percentage point.

The rise from 8.28% in December was primarily driven by a 44-basis point increase in WALR by state-run banks to 8.05%, while private sector banks recorded an 18-basis point increase to 9.32%.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced its repo rate by 125 basis points to 5.25% over the course of 2025.

In contrast, the WALR on outstanding rupee loans of commercial banks declined marginally to 9.04% in January 2026 from 9.06% in December 2025.

The one-year median Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR) increased to 8.45% in February 2026 from 8.40% in January 2026.
Meanwhile, the weighted average domestic term deposit rate (WADTDR) on fresh rupee term deposits stood at 5.66% in January 2026, slightly lower than 5.67% in December 2025. The WADTDR on outstanding rupee term deposits declined to 6.64% in January 2026 from 6.68% in the previous month.

Prospects for artificial intelligence to disrupt business sectors should keep the U.S. stock market on edge in the coming week, as Wall Street looks for more insight into how the emerging technology will reverberate through the economy. The monthly U.S. jobs report headlines economic data due next week, while major semiconductor player Broadcom is among the remaining reports that will close out the fourth-quarter earnings season.

The disruptive potential of AI has consumed investors in recent weeks, with shares in industries such as software, wealth management and real estate services pummeled by concerns about business upheaval.

“There continues ‌to be this…back and ⁠forth about ⁠who might be the victim and those that will actually emerge winners because they are harnessing AI as opposed to being replaced by it,” said Kristina Hooper, chief market strategist at Man Group.

“There is very little definitive right now about that, and so I think that will continue to be a concern.”

Stock prices in areas such as software remain acutely sensitive to AI-related developments. AI bellwether Nvidia’s highly anticipated quarterly report failed to calm nerves, with the semiconductor giant’s shares falling over 5% on Thursday and weighing on the technology sector. Investors are concerned about whether Nvidia’s “hyperscaler” customers will garner sufficient returns to justify their massive spending on data centers and other infrastructure.

Despite the tech sector’s struggles, gains this year in other areas such as industrials and consumer staples have helped buoy major equity indexes. The benchmark S&P 500 was up 0.9% ⁠in 2026 ‌as of Thursday.
“The U.S. equity market is sort of in its late cycle, trying to find the winners and losers of this new disruptive technology and pretty much treading water,” said John Velis, Americas macro strategist at BNY.

WILL FEBRUARY JOBS BACK JANUARY’S STRENGTH?

The U.S. jobs report for ⁠February, due on March 6, is expected to show an increase of 60,000 jobs, according to a Reuters poll. It comes after January’s surprisingly robust report, with an increase of 130,000 jobs and the unemployment rate falling to 4.3%.

The January report allayed worries about a weakening labor market, but “the concern is that January is a one-off,” said Paul Nolte, senior wealth adviser and market strategist at Murphy & Sylvest Wealth Management.

“We saw a good January jobs report, but we also have seen a really weak 2025 for the job market,” Hooper said. “And so the question becomes, where do we go from here?”

Investors will also seek clues from the report about when the Federal Reserve may next cut interest rates. Fed funds futures suggest the next reduction will come in June or July, after Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s term ends in May and his nominated replacement Kevin Warsh could be in ‌charge.

The Fed cut rates last year in the face of a weakening employment backdrop but paused the easing cycle in January, and solid jobs data could prompt investors to push back their expectations for further cuts. Investors generally associate lower interest rates with higher prices for stocks and other assets.

BNY’s Velis said the market’s reaction to the jobs ⁠data will be telling for which factors are prominent for equity investors. For example, strong data followed by weak stock performance is “going to be a sign that the rate argument is important,” Velis said.

RETAIL SALES, BROADCOM EARNINGS ALSO UP NEXT

Other economic releases due in the coming week include reports on manufacturing and services sector activity. The retail sales report for January is expected on March 6.

Aside from Broadcom’s quarterly report on Wednesday, results are expected from retailers Best Buy and Target.

Wall Street is eager for any evidence of AI’s impact on the economy, both positive and negative. In an interview with Reuters this week, outgoing Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said the U.S. may be entering a period of structurally higher unemployment as firms deploy AI tools to save labor. “Major technological shifts provoke both excitement and anxiety,” Keith Lerner, chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services, said in a research note on Thursday. “More recently… optimism has begun to give way to heightened anxiety and increasingly bleak narratives about AI’s impact on work, productivity, and economic outcomes.”

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation activated a statewide Blue Alert shortly before midnight Thursday for 40-year-old Danell Maxwell, wanted in connection with the shooting of a Memphis police officer in the Parkway Village neighborhood.

Authorities say the officer was shot around 8:15 p.m. Thursday near South Perkins Road and Cottonwood Road. The officer, whose identity and gender have not been released, was transported to Regional One Medical Center in serious but stable condition and is fighting for their life, according to sources familiar with the incident.

The Blue Alert, issued around midnight, identifies Maxwell as the suspect in the attempted first-degree murder of the officer. He is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 180 pounds, last seen wearing dark-colored clothing and an orange and green reflective vest. He is believed to be armed with a silver handgun and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information on Maxwell’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Memphis Police Department at 901-528-2274 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Tips can also be submitted anonymously.

A Blue Alert is a public safety notification system designed to aid in the rapid apprehension of violent offenders who have killed or seriously injured a law enforcement officer in the line of duty. Modeled after the AMBER Alert for missing children, Blue Alerts disseminate critical information through television, radio, wireless emergency alerts on cellphones, highway message signs and other channels.

The system, supported by the National Blue Alert Network under the U.S. Department of Justice, activates when criteria are met: an officer has been killed or seriously wounded, the suspect poses an imminent threat to public safety or other officers, and sufficient descriptive information is available to assist in locating the individual. Alerts can also issue for missing officers or those facing credible threats.

Tennessee participates in the national framework, allowing statewide coordination between agencies like the TBI and local departments such as Memphis Police. The alert helps mobilize community assistance while warning the public of potential danger.

The shooting occurred in Parkway Village, a residential area in southeast Memphis. A heavy law enforcement presence remained at Regional One Hospital into the early morning hours Friday as officers stood vigil while the wounded officer received treatment.

Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. confirmed the incident late Thursday, expressing concern for the officer’s condition and calling for community support in locating the suspect.

No additional details on the circumstances leading to the shooting have been released, including whether it stemmed from a traffic stop, domestic call or other encounter. The TBI is leading the investigation at the request of local authorities, standard protocol in Tennessee for officer-involved incidents or crimes against officers.

The incident marks another challenge for Memphis law enforcement, which has faced high violent crime rates and officer safety concerns in recent years. Community leaders and police unions have repeatedly highlighted the risks officers face daily.

As of Friday afternoon, the Blue Alert remained active with no reports of Maxwell’s apprehension. Law enforcement urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid approaching the suspect if sighted and report any sightings immediately.

Public response to the alert included widespread sharing on social media, with many expressing prayers for the officer’s recovery and frustration over violence against first responders. Some residents in nearby areas like Cordova and midtown speculated on possible locations, though officials stressed relying on verified information.

The case underscores the purpose of Blue Alerts: to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the public in high-stakes manhunts. Since its inception, the system has helped apprehend numerous suspects nationwide by leveraging widespread notifications.

For now, authorities continue an intensive search across Tennessee and potentially bordering states, given Memphis’s location near Arkansas and Mississippi. The TBI and Memphis PD are coordinating efforts, with possible assistance from federal partners if the suspect crosses jurisdictions.

The wounded officer’s condition was described as stable but critical, with updates expected as medical teams provide care. The Memphis Police Department has not named the officer pending family notification and in line with department policy.

This developing story highlights ongoing concerns about officer safety amid rising tensions in urban areas. As the investigation proceeds, more details may emerge about the encounter and Maxwell’s background.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official channels and assist by providing any credible tips without endangering themselves.

This article was written by

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IonQ, Inc. (NYSE: IONQ), a leading quantum computing company, saw its shares rocket more than 21% Thursday after reporting fourth-quarter results that far exceeded expectations and issuing optimistic revenue guidance for 2026 that topped Wall Street forecasts.

The stock closed regular trading at $40.88, up $7.29 or 21.70% from the previous close of $33.59, on massive volume exceeding 69 million shares — well above its average. Intraday trading ranged from a low of $38.75 to a high of $41.90, reflecting strong investor enthusiasm following the earnings release.

IonQ reported fourth-quarter revenue of $61.9 million, a staggering 429% increase from $11.7 million in the prior-year period. The figure beat the company’s own guidance midpoint by 55% and surpassed analyst expectations. For full-year 2025, revenue reached $130 million, up 202% year-over-year and 20% above the guidance midpoint, marking the first time a publicly traded quantum computing firm surpassed $100 million in annual GAAP revenue.

Adjusted loss per share narrowed to $0.20, better than the consensus estimate of a $0.23 loss. The results highlighted accelerating commercial demand, with more than 60% of 2025 revenue from commercial customers and over 30% from international sales. Organic growth approached 80% year-over-year.

CEO Niccolo de Masi described the performance as evidence of IonQ’s evolution into the “world’s only full-stack quantum platform company.” He emphasized strong backlog, pipeline visibility and momentum positioning the firm for continued expansion.

For 2026, IonQ guided full-year revenue between $225 million and $245 million, with a midpoint of $235 million — about 22% above the average analyst estimate of roughly $193 million. First-quarter revenue is projected at $48 million to $51 million. The outlook implies roughly 81% year-over-year growth at the midpoint, driven by sustained demand for trapped-ion quantum systems, software and services.

The company anticipates an adjusted EBITDA loss of $310 million to $330 million for 2026, reflecting heavy investments in scaling operations, R&D and recent acquisitions. IonQ maintains a robust cash position of approximately $3.3 billion, providing runway for these initiatives.

A key catalyst in the report was IonQ’s announcement of deploying one of Europe’s largest operational quantum key distribution networks in Romania as part of the RoNaQCI project. The deployment underscores growing adoption in quantum networking and security applications across government and enterprise sectors.

IonQ also highlighted progress toward major milestones, including shipments of its Tempo system in 2026 and a planned 256-qubit demonstration. The company is pursuing a $1.8 billion acquisition of SkyWater Technology, a quantum chip foundry, to bolster manufacturing capabilities and reduce costs for future high-qubit systems.

Analysts reacted positively overall, though some adjusted targets modestly. Jefferies maintained a Buy rating but trimmed its price target, while JP Morgan lowered its target from $47 to $42 while keeping a Neutral stance. The average one-year price target from 12 analysts stands around $71, implying significant upside from current levels, with highs reaching $100.

Technical indicators show IonQ breaking key resistance near $40, with the surge pushing it well above recent trading ranges but still below its 52-week high of $84.64 from October 2025. The 52-week low sits at $17.88. The stock’s beta of around 2.6 indicates high volatility, typical for emerging tech in quantum computing.

Market observers note IonQ’s results as a potential inflection point for the quantum sector, demonstrating commercial traction amid competition from rivals like Rigetti, Quantinuum and IBM. The company’s trapped-ion approach has achieved notable performance benchmarks, including a world-record 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity in 2025.

Despite the rally, IonQ remains unprofitable on an adjusted basis, with full-year 2025 net losses at $510.4 million and adjusted EBITDA loss of $186.8 million. Investors are betting on the long-term transformative potential of quantum computing in fields like drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity and defense.

The stock’s performance contrasts with broader market trends Thursday, where some tech names faced pressure. IonQ’s surge stood out as a bright spot in speculative growth sectors.

As quantum adoption accelerates, IonQ’s focus on full-stack solutions, international expansion and strategic partnerships positions it as a frontrunner. Traders will monitor execution on 2026 milestones, backlog conversion and any updates on the SkyWater deal for further catalysts.

For now, the earnings beat and raised outlook have reignited enthusiasm, sending shares to their strongest close in recent months and signaling renewed confidence in quantum computing’s commercial path.