CANBERRA, Australia — Petrol thefts, commonly known as “drive-offs,” are surging across Australia as fuel prices climb toward A$3 per litre, fueled by global oil supply disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict. Police in multiple states are bracing for further increases and urging service stations to adopt preventive measures like prepaid payment systems and enhanced CCTV to curb the opportunistic crime.

In South Australia, where the spike has been most pronounced, authorities recorded 221 fuel theft offences in the week ending March 15, 2026 — a 37% jump from 162 the previous week. Police Commissioner Grant Stevens highlighted that nearly half of the offenders — 97 individuals — were first-time culprits, suggesting economic pressures rather than organized crime were driving the trend.

“The cost-of-living pressures that people are dealing with, the significant increases in fuel costs — we will see more petrol drive-offs in the weeks to come,” Stevens told ABC Adelaide on March 18. He warned that police resources are stretched thin and could no longer prioritize investigations into preventable drive-offs unless retailers take decisive action.

Stevens specifically called for widespread adoption of prepaid pumps, noting that one South Australian service station already using the system reported zero incidents. “This takes police away from other responsibilities that we could be attending to,” he said, adding that while CCTV, number plate recognition and other identification tools help catch offenders after the fact, they do little to prevent the crime.

The Australian Federal Police and state forces in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland reported vigilance but did not provide specific recent statistics. In regional Victoria, police launched investigations into multiple thefts from parked vehicles in Kyneton between mid-March and March 22. Queensland trucking operators warned of overnight siphoning from heavy vehicles at rest stops, with thieves targeting hundreds of litres from diesel tanks while drivers slept.

Tasmanian police noted no clear pattern of increase, reporting 44 cases in the past six weeks, though the highest weekly tally — 11 — occurred before the latest fuel price surge. ACT Policing recorded only six incidents this year, with no siphoning reported, though officials acknowledged such offences are often under-reported.

The theft wave coincides with petrol prices nearing record highs, driven by supply fears from the escalating US-Iran conflict disrupting global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Unleaded fuel has approached A$3 per litre in some areas, prompting panic buying, calls for conservation and even discussions of potential rationing. The Prime Minister urged Australians to be “sensible” with fuel use, suggesting remote work or public transport to ease demand.

Service station operators face mounting pressure. The Australian Association of Convenience Stores acknowledged the issue but noted that implementing prepaid systems nationwide would require significant investment and could inconvenience legitimate customers. Many stations already use CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to deter theft and aid prosecutions, but critics argue these reactive measures fall short.

In South Australia, Stevens emphasized that drive-offs represent a preventable crime that diverts police from higher-priority matters. “While I acknowledge they’ve put in measures such as CCTV, number plate recognition and other measures that help us identify the offenders, it doesn’t actually assist us in mitigating this from a crime point of view,” he said.

Broader impacts include risks to small businesses. Service stations absorb losses from unpaid fuel, which can strain margins amid already tight retail conditions. Truck drivers, particularly in rural and regional areas, report heightened vulnerability to siphoning, prompting advice to lock fuel caps and park in well-lit, secure locations.

Authorities across states urged retailers to consider prepaid options, especially at high-risk sites or during peak price periods. Some stations have already trialed prepaid for certain pumps or after dark, with positive results in reducing incidents.

The surge has sparked public debate over responsibility. Motorists facing financial strain argue that extreme prices push desperate people to desperate acts, while police and retailers stress personal accountability and the need for deterrence.

As fuel volatility persists, experts predict thefts could continue rising if prices remain elevated or shortages materialize. Police in multiple jurisdictions reiterated calls for industry cooperation on preventive tech, warning that without change, drive-offs could overwhelm limited investigative capacity.

For now, the message from law enforcement is clear: proactive steps at the pump — from prepaid systems to better lighting and surveillance — offer the most effective defense against a crime tied directly to economic hardship and global events.

ET Intelligence Group: Amid rising uncertainty of capital gains on equities in a volatile market, dividend-paying stocks are back in the limelight. Select companies, especially those with a mature business model and, therefore, having steady cash flows tend to pay dividends regularly in a bid to return the excess cash generated from the operations to shareholders. However, merely considering the absolute dividend payout per share will not reveal whether a stock looks attractive at its current price. For that, dividend yield comes in handy. It is calculated as the annual dividend per share divided by the stock price. The ratio makes it easier to compare stocks across sectors to arrive at an investment decision.

ETIG has identified 10 stocks offering dividend yields of 4% or more based on FY25 payouts: Vedanta (6.3% yield), Coal India (5.7%), REC (5.4%), Hindustan Zinc (5.3%), GAIL (5.1%), ITC (4.8%), ONGC (4.6%), RITES (4.5%), NMDC (4.2%), and Oracle Financial Services Software (4.1%).

A caveat for investors looking at dividend yields – the current yields are based on the past year’s dividend payouts. While companies do strive to maintain a stable dividend payout relative to net profit on a longer horizon, fluctuations due to government policies, economic and geopolitical uncertainties cannot be ruled out especially when such aberrations tend to affect profitability. For instance, ITC’s stock currently trades near the 52-week low amid a sharp rise in tobacco excise duties since February 1, which has affected investor sentiment. While the company continued to declare an interim dividend of ₹6.5 on January 29, same as in the previous year, future payout will depend upon how well it can protect profitability amid a higher excise duty regime.

In addition, effective yields will vary depending on investors’ marginal tax rates, as dividends are taxed in shareholders’ hands. For instance, a taxpayer facing a marginal tax rate of 30% and 4% educational cess will receive an effective dividend yield which will be over two-third of the calculated yield. For such a taxpayer, Vedanta’s effective dividend yield will be around 4.3%.

Also, the list does not include companies such as TCS, HCL Technologies, and UTI AMC, where yields are high due to special dividends. To be sure, companies operating in the sectors with high cash generation such as the IT sector tend to distribute special dividends more often than others.

Northern Trust Asset Management is a global investment manager that helps investors navigate changing market environments in efforts to realize their long-term objectives.

Entrusted with $1.2 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2024, we understand that investing ultimately serves a greater purpose and believe investors should be compensated for the risks they take — in all market environments and any investment strategy. That’s why we combine robust capital markets research, expert portfolio construction and comprehensive risk management in an effort to craft innovative and efficient solutions that seek to deliver targeted investment outcomes.

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Mumbai: Kotak Mahindra Bank is one step closer to acquiring the India retail business of Deutsche Bank in a deal valued at about Rs 4,500 crore after being selected as the preferred buyer, multiple people familiar with the matter told ET.

A deal is expected to be signed and announced as early as next week, they said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are private.

The proposed acquisition comprises a retail loan and deposit book of about Rs 27,000 crore. This includes personal and home loans, MSME lending, retail deposits and wealth management assets.

The wealth management business is estimated at around Rs 7,000 crore, while the bulk of the portfolio is driven by retail and MSME loans. Emails sent to both Kotak Bank and Deutsche Bank remained unanswered until press time Sunday. The net value of assets over liabilities in the portfolio of Deutsche Bank’s India unit is around Rs 4,300 crore.

A Niche Presence

Kotak is expected to pay a slight premium to this, translating into a consideration of about Rs 4,500 crore, after outbidding Federal Bank, which had also been in contention, people cited above said. Final numbers for the deal may be subject to adjustments at closing, they added. Deutsche Bank’s India unit, with a network of about 17 branches, has built a niche presence among affluent clients.
Its retail segment generated a revenue of Rs 2,455 crore in the year ended March 2025, up 4% from Rs 2,362 crore in FY24. Its retail banking business held total assets of Rs 25,038 crore as of March 2025, according to latest disclosures.For Kotak, the acquisition would deepen its retail franchise, adding scale in loans and deposits while strengthening its presence in the MSME segment and wealth management. The deal would help Kotak accelerate growth in the high-net-worth segment while increasing its share in prime urban retail lending.

Global Overhaul

For Deutsche Bank, the divestment aligns with its strategy to wind down retail operations in India as part of a global overhaul under CEO Christian Sewing focused on boosting profitability and prioritising core businesses. Kotak recently clarified that it did not submit a financial bid for IDBI Bank, despite market speculation. The lender’s approach to acquisitions has been focused on strategic fit, valuation and integration feasibility.

“We evaluate every transaction in the market through three clear lenses,” Ashok Vaswani, managing director and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, had said in an investor call in January. “First is strategic fit — does the opportunity add to our franchise? If it doesn’t, we don’t pursue it further. Second is valuation — whether the deal is value-accretive for the firm? For us, scale is about relevance, not just size. The question is whether it strengthens us strategically and financially. If it meets both criteria, we get interested.”

Integration

The third lens is integration and what it will take to successfully absorb and execute on the acquisition, he had said. India’s banking sector has witnessed a wave of strategic deals and consolidation since Axis Bank’s acquisition of Citibank’s consumer business in 2022 for around Rs 11,600 crore, which included credit cards, retail banking, wealth management and consumer loans, along with the transfer of about 3,200 employees. Kotak Mahindra had earlier acquired Rs 3,330-crore personal loan portfolio from Standard Chartered. Deutsche Bank sold its credit card book to IndusInd in 2011.

More recently, global investors have increased their exposure to India with Japan’s MUFG acquiring a 20% stake in Shriram Finance for $4.4 billion in the largest cross-border financial sector investment, while Emirates NBD agreed to buy a 60% stake in RBL Bank for $3 billion and SMBC picked up a 20% stake in Yes Bank for $1.6 billion and later increased it by another 4.99% stake.

Aparna Shanker, CIO – Equity at The Wealth Company Mutual Fund, recommends a balanced and diversified approach for FY27, with a clear tilt towards equities while maintaining exposure to debt and gold. She outlines an ideal asset allocation strategy for moderate-risk investors, while highlighting opportunities across manufacturing, financials and select small- and mid-cap stocks.

Edited excerpts from a chat:

After 1.5 years of no returns, how attractive is the market looking now?
Over the last 18 months, the market has largely gone through a phase of consolidation rather than wealth destruction. This period has helped correct some of the excess valuations that had built up earlier, particularly in pockets of the broader market. From a long-term perspective, such phases are healthy because they allow earnings to catch up with prices. As we look ahead, corporate earnings in India remain structurally strong, supported by improving balance sheets, a revival in capex, and domestic consumption. Therefore, while near-term volatility may continue, the market today appears far more balanced than it did a year ago, which improves the risk-reward for long-term investors.As per Bloomberg data, Nifty 50 earnings over the last five quarters demonstrate significant volatility rather than a consistent trend. After steady growth through Q4 FY25 and Q1 FY26, earnings experienced sharp swings—a dramatic +27.6% surge in Q3 FY26 followed by an equally severe -24.8% decline in Q4 FY26. This volatility reflects sectoral divergence: commodity sectors (oil & gas, metals) drove growth, while financials remained weak with compressed margins. The underlying earnings quality appears fragile, with consensus expectations being downgraded amid strained topline growth and narrowing margins across India Inc.

Amid global macro uncertainty, how is The Wealth Company Mutual Fund positioning its equity portfolios to navigate this environment while maintaining long-term return potential?
At The Wealth Company Mutual Fund, our investment philosophy is anchored in a combination of top-down and bottom-up stock selection, with a strong emphasis on earnings visibility, balance sheet quality, and good governance. Given global uncertainties ranging from geopolitical developments to interest rate cycles we are focusing on businesses that demonstrate resilient cash flows, scalable growth models, and prudent capital allocation. Our portfolios maintain a diversified approach across sectors and market capitalisations that are likely to benefit from India’s structural growth story, along with some tactical investment opportunities during these volatile times. The idea is to remain invested in companies that can compound earnings over multiple years rather than attempting to time short-term macro cycles.
What is your take on small cap stocks? Are they attractive now? Is valuation still a concern?
Small caps have witnessed significant interest over the past few years, and as seen many times before, valuations in certain pockets had moved ahead of fundamentals. However, the recent correction and consolidation have helped bring valuations closer to long-term averages in several segments. It is important to remember that the small-cap universe is extremely diverse. The decline has not been uniform across stocks, as they have varied strengths and growth potential, many of which are now available at better valuations. For long-term investors, small caps continue to offer an opportunity to participate early in the growth journey of emerging companies, provided investments are made with a disciplined, research-driven approach and a sufficiently long-term horizon.Which sectors of the market do you think are in a sweet spot of reasonable valuations and high growth as we step into FY27?
As we move into FY27, we see interesting opportunities across sectors aligned with India’s structural economic drivers. Areas such as manufacturing and industrials particularly those benefiting from the capex cycle and supply chain diversification remain attractive. We also see opportunities in select financial services, capital markets, tech-enabled businesses, niche consumption themes, and export-oriented businesses gaining global market share. Within the broader market, several emerging companies in these segments fall within the small- and mid-cap space, reinforcing our belief that bottom-up stock picking can generate meaningful long-term alpha.

If you had to prepare a portfolio afresh at this stage for an investor with moderate risk appetite and risk horizon of 4–5 years, how would you split it between gold and silver, equity and debt?
For an investor with a moderate risk appetite and a 4–5-year horizon, diversification remains essential. A balanced allocation could look something like 65–70% in equities, 15–20% in debt, and 10–15% in precious metals dominated by gold as a hedge against macro uncertainty. Within the equity allocation, investors should ideally have exposure across large caps for stability and small and midcaps for growth potential. This combination helps balance volatility while still allowing participation in India’s long-term growth opportunity.

What would be your advice to investors who entered small cap funds recently but are either sitting with no returns or at a loss?
We understand the concerns investors are experiencing. Small caps are inherently more volatile in the short term but have historically been rewarding over longer horizons. Periods of muted returns or temporary drawdowns are not unusual. If the investment horizon remains long term, it is generally advisable to stay invested rather than react to short-term market movements. In fact, systematic investing during corrections often improves long-term outcomes. The key is patience and allowing underlying business earnings to play out over time.

What is your take on IT stocks? Are the valuations too attractive now or the AI doomsday scenario is for real?
The IT sector has been undergoing a period of recalibration due to global economic uncertainties and prolonged decision-making cycles for discretionary spending. As a result, valuations in several companies have corrected from earlier highs. While the near-term outlook depends on global demand conditions, the long-term structural drivers remain intact. Technologies such as AI, cloud, and digital transformation are likely to expand the opportunity set rather than diminish it. Selective opportunities exist, and many companies are adapting their business models to capture emerging trends.

Broadly, what is your outlook of the market for FY27?
India continues to stand out as one of the most compelling long-term growth stories globally, supported by favourable demographics, policy continuity, and an ongoing investment cycle. While markets may see intermittent volatility due to global developments, the underlying earnings trajectory of Indian corporates remains encouraging. From a medium- to long-term perspective, we remain constructive on equities especially within the broader market, where emerging companies are well-positioned to benefit from India’s economic expansion. For disciplined, patient investors, FY27 could present meaningful opportunities to build long-term wealth.

Calamos Investments is a diversified global investment firm offering innovative investment strategies including U.S. growth equity, global equity, convertible, multi-asset and alternatives. The firm offers strategies through separately managed portfolios, mutual funds, closed-end funds, private funds, an exchange traded fund and UCITS funds. Clients include major corporations, pension funds, endowments, foundations and individuals, as well as the financial advisors and consultants who serve them. Headquartered in the Chicago metropolitan area, the firm also has offices in London, New York and San Francisco.  For more information, please visit www.calamos.com.

Microsoft released an emergency out-of-band update for Windows 11 on March 21, 2026, to resolve widespread sign-in problems affecting Microsoft accounts in apps and services following the March 10 Patch Tuesday security release.

The update, KB5085516 (OS Builds 26200.8039 for version 25H2 and 26100.8039 for version 24H2), is cumulative and includes all fixes from the original March security update along with the specific resolution for the authentication bug. It applies to all editions of Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 that receive standard Windows updates.

Microsoft announced the issue March 20 via its Windows Release Health dashboard, stating that after installing the March 2026 security update (KB5079473), some users could not sign in to Microsoft apps and services using their Microsoft accounts. Affected applications include Teams, OneDrive, Microsoft Edge, Excel, Word, Microsoft 365 Copilot and others requiring account authentication.

Impacted devices displayed error messages indicating no internet connection, even when connected, disrupting features dependent on Microsoft account sign-in. The problem stemmed from the March cumulative update, which addressed 84 vulnerabilities across Windows and related products but introduced this unintended side effect.

The out-of-band fix, released just 11 days after Patch Tuesday, ensures rapid deployment without waiting for the next monthly cycle. Microsoft emphasized that no action is required for devices not experiencing the issue or those already updated via automatic processes. The company recommends immediate installation for affected users to restore full functionality.

This marks the latest in a series of emergency patches for Windows 11 in 2026. Earlier in the year, out-of-band updates addressed shutdown failures, Remote Desktop sign-in problems and Outlook hangs triggered by prior patches. The March incident highlights ongoing challenges in balancing comprehensive security fixes with stability in cumulative updates.

The March Patch Tuesday (March 10) fixed 84 vulnerabilities, including critical flaws in Windows components, Office, SQL Server, Azure and .NET. Two were publicly disclosed zero-days, underscoring the urgency of the release. Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 received KB5079473, advancing builds to 26200.8037 and 26100.8037, while version 23H2 got KB5078883 (Build 22631.6783).

An earlier out-of-band hotpatch (KB5084597, March 13) targeted enterprise devices in the hotpatch program using Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS). It fixed three critical remote code execution vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-25172, CVE-2026-25173, CVE-2026-26111) that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely. The hotpatch, requiring no restart, applied only to hotpatch-enabled Windows 11 24H2, 25H2 and Enterprise LTSC 2024 devices managed via Windows Autopatch.

Microsoft clarified the RRAS hotpatch addressed a scenario where standard Patch Tuesday fixes did not fully cover hotpatched enterprise environments. Standard users were protected by the March cumulative update.

The latest sign-in fix arrives amid broader Windows 11 enhancements in 2026, including new emojis, taskbar improvements, camera controls and productivity features in March updates. Version 26H1, scoped for new devices with advanced silicon, received its March security update (KB5079466, Build 28000.1719) focusing on performance and battery life.

Users can check for the emergency update via Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Microsoft advises restarting after installation if prompted. Enterprise admins should monitor Windows Autopatch or WSUS for rollout.

The incident drew attention on forums like Reddit’s r/sysadmin, where IT professionals discussed impacts on Microsoft 365 ecosystems. Some reported temporary workarounds like using local accounts, but Microsoft urged against them due to lost features.

As Windows 11 evolves toward version 26H1 and beyond, Microsoft continues refining update processes to minimize disruptions. The company maintains no known exploitation of the sign-in bug in the wild, but prompt patching remains critical to prevent potential chained attacks.

For the latest status, users should visit the Windows Message Center or support.microsoft.com. Microsoft has not announced further out-of-band updates as of March 23, 2026, but monitoring continues for any emerging issues.