This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

In an exchange filing, Axis Bank said the investment will be made in cash in one or more tranches before March 31, 2027, by subscribing to Axis Finance’s rights issue. This comes amid a broader strategic rethink after India’s third-largest lender paused plans to sell a stake in the non-bank finance company (NBFC).

Axis Bank had initiated the stake sale process last year and appointed merchant bankers, including Morgan Stanley, after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed draft rules in 2024 restricting overlapping business activities between banks and their subsidiaries. However, the RBI diluted the proposal in December last year following industry pushback, leading Axis Bank to pause the stake sale plans, according to a report in January.

Also Read | Planning your MF investment for FY27? Experts advice flexicap, multi-cap with gold & silver ETF exposure

Axis Finance, incorporated in April 1995 and registered as an NBFC, has seen steady growth in recent years, with turnover rising to Rs 4,296 crore in FY25 from Rs 3,321 crore in FY24 and Rs 2,297 crore in FY23. The company’s turnover for the half year ended FY26 stood at Rs 2,504 crore.

Live Events

Axis Bank, which has invested Rs 2,375 crore in Axis Finance over the past decade, will review the NBFC’s growth roadmap next month. The subsidiary is set to present a revised plan to the bank’s board in April, after which Axis Finance will reassess its capital-raising needs.
Axis Bank share price rose more than 2.5% to Rs 1,259.30 apiece on Wednesday, extending gains for the third consecutive session. It is currently among the top gainers on benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty, as well as the Nifty Bank index.
(With inputs from Reuters)

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

The rupee fell to 92.62 ⁠per dollar, eclipsing its previous low of 92.4750 hit last week.

Brent crude oil prices have climbed about 40% since the ‌Iran War began. The conflict has since sent ⁠shockwaves throughout global markets as energy importing economies grapple with the most severe supply disruption in decades.

Selena Gomez, the multifaceted actress, singer and entrepreneur, continues to captivate fans with glimpses of her personal life and professional ventures, even as she opts out of Hollywood’s biggest nights this spring.

In recent days, the 33-year-old star has shared affectionate photos with her husband, music producer **Benny Blanco**, brushing aside minor public controversies while promoting her booming beauty brand, Rare Beauty. The couple, who married in an intimate ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, in September 2025, appear stronger than ever, posting cozy beach embraces and loving tributes that highlight their newlywed bliss.

On Saturday, Gomez uploaded a carousel of images to her Instagram, showing Blanco embracing her tightly against a scenic backdrop. The post came shortly after a lighthearted “filthy feet” drama involving Blanco went viral, with fans playfully critiquing his casual appearance in earlier photos. Gomez responded in jest by sharing videos of herself playfully kissing his feet, turning the moment into a display of unwavering support and humor. “My love,” she captioned one tribute around Blanco’s 38th birthday earlier this month, including snapshots from their wedding day and recent outings.

The pair celebrated Blanco’s birthday with a star-studded cowboy-themed bash, underscoring their close-knit circle in the entertainment industry. Gomez has been vocal about her affection, appearing on Blanco’s podcast “Friends Keep Secrets” to discuss their relationship openly.

Professionally, Gomez remains focused on her empire beyond the spotlight. Rare Beauty, her inclusive cosmetics line launched in 2020, announced a major new product: the True to Myself Natural Matte Longwear Foundation, available in 48 shades. Gomez revealed she has been wearing the self-priming, self-setting formula for months — from her wedding to red carpets and quiet home days — and teased its release on Instagram. “I’ve waited a long time to share it with you, and I’m SO excited,” she wrote. The foundation drops April 2 at Sephora and rarebeauty.com, with early access via the Sephora app on April 1.

Adding to the brand’s momentum, Rare Beauty recently expanded to all Ulta Beauty stores, with in-store donations this month supporting mental health initiatives through the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation and the Rare Impact Fund. Gomez expressed delight at the partnership, marking a first for Ulta with a brand collaboration of this kind.

Gomez’s decision to skip the 2026 Academy Awards — held March 15 — drew attention, as she and Blanco attended the previous year’s ceremony. Sources indicate Gomez had no eligible film projects this awards cycle and was not invited as a presenter. Instead, she spent the weekend promoting Rare Beauty in New York City, sharing selfies and event glimpses on her Instagram Stories. The couple also missed the 2026 Grammys in February, despite a nomination for their collaborative track “Bluest Flame” in the Best Dance Pop category. Gomez prioritized a Rare Beauty x Ulta event that day.

Her acting career continues to thrive, particularly with her role in the hit Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building,” where she stars alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short. Gomez recently posted a poignant message affirming her support for her co-stars amid personal challenges, writing she’ll “always be there” for them. She has also reflected on her health journey, sharing in interviews that she was misdiagnosed before receiving her bipolar diagnosis, calling the process “so f—ing complicated.”

Gomez’s personal evolution remains inspiring. From her Disney roots in “Wizards of Waverly Place” to global music success with albums like “Rare” and advocacy through Wondermind — her mental health platform — she balances vulnerability with empowerment. Recent posts include faith-inspired captions like “by Grace through Faith” and nods to new music, with tracks such as “In The Dark” and “I Said I Love You First…And You Said It Back” generating buzz.

Fans speculate about future projects, including potential returns to music or expansions in production. A March milestone post highlighted her transformation into a business powerhouse, with Rare Beauty reportedly eyeing significant valuation growth and positioning her as a major player in beauty and wellness.

Through it all, Gomez maintains a grounded presence online, sharing “randoms” and “lately” moments that blend glamour with authenticity. As she and Blanco navigate life as a married couple, their public displays of affection — from beach cuddles to playful responses to tabloid fodder — serve as a reminder of her enduring appeal: a star who prioritizes love, mental health and meaningful work over constant red-carpet appearances.

With Rare Beauty’s latest innovations rolling out and her personal life radiating positivity, Selena Gomez shows no signs of slowing down. Her fans, numbering over 415 million on Instagram alone, eagerly await what’s next from one of entertainment’s most resilient and influential figures.

Close Brothers has announced plans to cut around 600 job, equivalent to roughly a fifth of its workforce, as the lender accelerates a sweeping cost-cutting programme in response to mounting pressure from the motor finance mis-selling scandal.

The restructuring, confirmed by chief executive Mike Morgan, will reduce headcount to approximately 2,000 over the next 21 months and is intended to restore investor confidence following renewed scrutiny of the group’s potential compensation liabilities. The move comes amid heightened market volatility after short-seller Viceroy Research claimed the lender’s total compensation bill could reach as high as £1.23 billion, far exceeding the company’s current £300 million provision.

Shares in Close Brothers have come under sustained pressure, falling sharply at the start of the week and continuing to slide as investors digested the scale of potential exposure. The lender is widely regarded as one of the most exposed UK financial institutions to the car finance scandal relative to its size, with motor loans accounting for around £2 billion of its £9.5 billion loan book.

The scandal, which first emerged two years ago, centres on the failure of lenders to adequately disclose commission arrangements paid to car dealers for arranging finance. The Financial Conduct Authority is expected to set out its final redress scheme imminently, with earlier estimates suggesting the total industry bill could reach £11 billion.

Morgan defended the bank’s approach to estimating its liabilities, insisting that its £300 million provision reflects a probability-weighted assessment in line with accounting standards and supported by legal and audit advice. However, the refusal to disclose detailed assumptions behind that figure has fuelled scepticism among investors and opened the door for more aggressive external estimates.

The chief executive dismissed Viceroy’s analysis but acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the final outcome. He said the eventual cost could be “materially higher” or “materially lower” depending on how the regulator structures compensation and how many borrowers come forward with claims.

Against this backdrop, Close Brothers is moving aggressively to reshape its cost base. The group has already divested its Winterflood broking arm and its asset management business, scaled back growth plans and suspended its dividend in an effort to conserve capital. The latest measures will focus on streamlining operations across its core divisions, including retail lending and commercial finance, where the bulk of job losses are expected to fall.

The restructuring will incur an upfront cost of around £25 million but is expected to deliver annual savings of £60 million by the end of 2027. The company said it would centralise shared services, reduce reliance on third-party providers and cut property and operational expenses as part of a broader efficiency drive.

Artificial intelligence is also set to play a growing role in the transformation, with the bank aiming to deploy AI tools “at pace” to reduce costs and improve customer experience. The move reflects a wider trend across the financial services sector, where firms are increasingly turning to automation and digitalisation to offset rising regulatory and operational pressures.

Despite the cost-cutting programme, Close Brothers reported a mixed set of interim results. The group posted a statutory loss of £65.5 million for the six months to January, an improvement on the £102.2 million loss recorded a year earlier. Adjusted operating profit fell to £65.2 million, down from £80.5 million, reflecting ongoing headwinds.

Its core capital ratio improved to 14.3 per cent, comfortably above regulatory requirements, providing some reassurance on balance sheet strength. However, analysts warn that a significantly higher compensation bill could erode that buffer and materially impact shareholder value.

The situation has drawn comparisons with the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal, which ultimately cost UK banks more than £50 billion, far exceeding initial provisions and leaving investors wary of underestimating liabilities in mis-selling cases.

Morgan insisted that lessons from the PPI episode had informed the bank’s current approach, arguing that regulatory scrutiny and accounting standards are now far more rigorous. Nonetheless, the combination of regulatory uncertainty, investor scepticism and operational restructuring highlights the scale of the challenge facing the lender.

With the FCA’s final ruling imminent and market confidence fragile, Close Brothers is entering a critical period that will determine both the ultimate financial impact of the scandal and the success of its efforts to rebuild credibility with shareholders.

Amy Ingham

Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.

A significant ownership shift has taken place at The Economist Group after Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith agreed to acquire a 26.9 per cent stake from Lynn Forester, Lady de Rothschild, marking the first major change in the publisher’s shareholder structure in more than a decade.

Smith, 74, is purchasing the stake through his family investment vehicle, Smith Financial, in a deal that underscores continued global investor confidence in one of the world’s most influential media brands. While financial terms have not been disclosed, the transaction represents a notable reshaping of the group’s ownership, with the Rothschild family exiting a long-held position.

The move follows the last major ownership change in 2015, when Pearson sold the majority of its 50 per cent holding to the Agnelli family’s investment company, Exor, which today remains the largest shareholder with a 43.4 per cent stake. Smith’s investment now positions him as one of the most significant minority shareholders alongside Exor, reinforcing a shareholder base that blends long-term strategic investors with a commitment to editorial independence.

Founded in 1843, The Economist Group has built its reputation on championing free trade, liberal economics and independent journalism. That editorial positioning has historically shaped its ownership model, with shareholders often selected not only for financial backing but for alignment with the publication’s values and governance principles.

A spokesperson for Smith confirmed that the investment reflects his “full support for The Economist’s longstanding tradition of rigorous editorial independence”, a key consideration in any change of ownership at the publication. Maintaining that independence is central to the group’s structure, with safeguards embedded in its governance to ensure editorial decisions remain insulated from shareholder influence.

Lady de Rothschild’s decision to sell is understood to be part of a broader reorganisation of her family’s investment portfolio. A prominent figure in international finance and philanthropy, she co-founded telecoms business FirstMark Communications and has held senior roles including a position on the board of Estée Lauder. Alongside her late husband, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, she also built EL Rothschild, a family office with interests spanning private equity, public markets and real estate.

Smith, meanwhile, brings deep experience in financial services and investment. He co-founded First National Financial Corporation in 1988, building it into one of Canada’s largest non-bank mortgage lenders, and stepped down from its board in 2025. His wider portfolio includes chairmanship roles at Peloton Capital Management, proxy advisory firm Glass, Lewis & Co, and Fairstone Bank of Canada, a major consumer lending institution.

Beyond business, Smith is also known for his philanthropic activity, particularly in education, heritage and the arts, areas that align with The Economist Group’s broader intellectual and cultural influence.

The Economist Group confirmed the agreement, noting that completion remains subject to standard closing conditions. The company did not comment on valuation but emphasised continuity in its strategic direction and governance framework.

The transaction comes at a time when premium media brands continue to attract high-net-worth investors seeking exposure to trusted global content platforms with diversified revenue streams, including subscriptions, events and specialist research services.

For The Economist, the arrival of a new cornerstone investor signals stability rather than disruption. With its ownership model designed to prioritise long-term stewardship over short-term returns, the addition of Smith Financial is expected to reinforce the group’s financial resilience while preserving the editorial principles that have defined it for more than 180 years.

Amy Ingham

Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.