NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday announced its list of 88 candidates for the upcoming Assam assembly elections, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma set to contest from his traditional Jalukbari seat.The name of the candidate from Sissiborgaon constituency has been withheld. Under the new seat sharing arrangement, BJP will contest 89 seats, AGP 26, and BPF 11 in the 126-member assembly. Among prominent candidates, Pradyut Bordoloi, who days before quit as Congress Lok Sabha MP to join the BJP, has been fielded from the Dispur assembly constituency.Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary will contest from the Tamulpur (ST) seat, while another leader of switched sides from Congress to BJP Bhupen Borah has been nominated from Bihpuria. Borah also served as Congress Assam chief. The list includes several key names and signals a mix of continuity and change, with the party dropping 11 sitting MLAs and fielding only five women candidates.The announcement comes after the Election Commission declared the poll schedule last week. Voting for the 126-member Assam assembly will be held in a single phase on April 9, with counting slated for May 4.The BJP is seeking to retain power in the state, with Sarma aiming for another term as chief minister. In the 2021 elections, the National Democratic Alliance, comprising the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad and United People’s Party Liberal, secured 75 seats, with the BJP winning 60.With an eye on consolidating the NDA before polls, the BJP on Tuesday brought back Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) into its fold after five years and firmed up seat-sharing with AGP, even as its current partner in govt, Bodoland-based United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), left the NDA earlier, citing ideological differences. The opposition Congress has already announced candidates for 65 constituencies as part of its alliance strategy, with state chief and Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi leading the campaign.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has dismissed speculation about his chances of becoming Kerala’s next chief minister, saying he is not even in the race as he is not contesting the upcoming assembly elections.In an interview with PTI, the Thiruvananthapuram MP made it clear that the chief minister should ideally be chosen from among elected MLAs. “I am not a chief ministerial probable,” he said, adding that since he is not contesting, he does not have to focus on a single constituency. Instead, his role will involve campaigning “up and down the length and breadth of the state” for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s recent message to party leaders to “dance together”, Tharoor called it a “good message”, saying unity within the alliance was now visible. He also expressed confidence about the UDF’s prospects, suggesting that a tally between 85 and 100 seats in the 140-member Assembly would be a strong outcome.Using a cricketing analogy, Tharoor said the UDF was bowling “googlies” to the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), arguing that the ruling alliance was on a “sticky wicket”. While he acknowledged that modern elections tend to revolve around projecting a chief ministerial face, he backed the Congress’ traditional approach. “The Congress has never done that,” he said, explaining that the leadership prefers to choose a leader after victory, in consultation with MLAs.At the same time, Tharoor admitted that the absence of a clear face could have drawbacks. “You and I may have a different view… for there to be a situation where you don’t have a visible leader in a state inevitably tends to hurt you,” he said. However, he argued that the Congress’ organisational strength across Kerala allows it to campaign around “an agenda, around a mission and around the party logo”.Tharoor also downplayed the role of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala, calling it a marginal player. “It is not a triangular contest, for the BJP is a zero-seat party in the assembly,” he said, adding that even a gain of “one or two or three” seats would be seen as a major success for the party.He insisted the real contest remains between the UDF and the LDF led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. While he noted that polling suggests a tight race, he said the BJP is “not even likely to have a big enough footprint to be a kingmaker”.Kerala will vote in a single phase on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4, in a closely watched battle to unseat the incumbent LDF government.

Gold price prediction: Rs 150,000 level is expected to act as a crucial support zone. (AI image)

Gold and silver price prediction today: Gold prices may see some upside swing, while silver prices may move up to Rs 285,000, says Abhilash Koikkara, Head – Forex & Commodities, Nuvama Professional Clients Group.

MCX Gold Price Outlook

On the weekly chart, MCX Gold is undergoing a corrective phase after pulling back from its recent high and drifting toward prior lows. The metal currently reflects an intermediate bearish bias, but this decline may present a potential buying opportunity. However, a decisive close below the support level could trigger a deeper correction. Despite this, the broader trend remains bullish as long as prices hold above the recent swing lows.In the upcoming week, the 150,000 level is expected to act as a crucial support zone, coinciding with the previous week’s low and reinforcing its technical importance. Any dip toward this area may invite fresh buying interest, helping to contain near-term downside risks. As long as prices sustain above this level, the broader bullish structure should remain intact. Conversely, a close below this level would invalidate the bullish outlook.Gold looks set to continue its advance toward the 165,000 level in the sessions ahead. This move would indicate a rebound from support and could help maintain near-term bullish momentum. Additionally, the steady price behaviour within the weekly consolidation range reinforces the positive outlook and points to the potential for a continued recovery.In summary, gold currently reflects a sideways-to-bearish bias; however, with the underlying trend remaining positive, there is potential for an upward move. As long as prices hold above the key support level of 150,000, the broader bullish structure is expected to remain intact. Backed by supportive momentum indicators and a favourable sentiment backdrop, the metal is likely to trade within its existing range, maintaining a range-bound trajectory in the sessions ahead.

MCX Gold Trading Strategy

MCX Silver Price Outlook

On the weekly chart, silver has declined toward its support zone while holding above the recent weekly swing low. After this pullback, prices are nearing a key support area, suggesting a possible end to the correction in the coming week. With the broader trend still positive, short-term dips may offer buying opportunities, as long as last week’s low remains intact. Traders are encouraged to stay aligned with the prevailing trend while placing stop-losses near the recent weekly lows to manage risk effectively.The week started on a firm note, with prices rebounding from recent lows and reaffirming the ongoing sideways-to-bullish momentum. This positive outlook is likely to continue as long as prices remain above the established weekly support zones. Immediate support is seen near the previous week’s low at 238,000, and a decisive close below this level could undermine the bullish bias. Until then, any dips may draw fresh buying interest, supporting the broader upward trend.On the upside, silver appears ready to revisit the recent swing high near the 285,000 resistance zone over the near to medium term. A sustained move toward this level would further validate the prevailing bullish trend, supported by steady momentum and favourable technical indicators. Overall, as long as prices hold above the 238,000 support area, the broader uptrend is likely to stay intact, potentially paving the way for further gains amid strengthening positive sentiment.

MCX Silver Trading Strategy

(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

US government has issued an advisory urging companies to implement Microsoft’s newly released best practices for securing Microsoft Intune. The advisory, issued by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) comes after a cyberattack on America’s largest medical device maker by Iran-linked hackers last week. The attack disrupted the company’s service for more than 5 days. “CISA is aware of malicious cyber activity targeting endpoint management systems of U.S. organizations based on the March 11, 2026 cyberattack against U.S.-based medical technology firm Stryker Corporation, which affected their Microsoft environment,” the advisory says. “To defend against similar malicious cyber activity, CISA urges organizations to harden endpoint management system configurations using the recommendations and resources provided in this alert,” it adds. As per the advisory, principles of these recommendations can be applied to Intune and more broadly to other endpoint management software:

Leverage Microsoft Intune’s role-based access control (RBAC) to assign the minimum permissions necessary to each role for completing day-to-day operations—permissions include what actions the role can take, and what users and devices it can apply that action to.

Use Microsoft Entra ID capabilities (including Conditional Access, MFA, risk signals, and privileged access controls) to block unauthorized access to privileged actions in Microsoft Intune.

Set up policies that require a second administrative account’s approval to allow changes to sensitive or high-impact actions (such as device wiping), applications, scripts, RBAC, configurations, etc. The advisory further informs that CISA is conducting enhanced coordination with federal partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to identify additional threats and determine mitigation actions.

US cyber agency’s advisory to companies

In addition to strengthening Microsoft system, CISA also recommends reviewing the following resources to strengthen defenses against similar malicious cyber activity:Microsoft resources:

CISA resources:

Equity markets across Asia declined on Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street after a sharp rise in oil prices above $112 per barrel and renewed concerns over inflation and interest rates dampened investor sentiment. In early trading Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropped 2.5% to 53,875.94, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 1.3% to 5,845.62. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged down 0.2% to 25,725.77 and China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.9% to 4,027.73. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 and Taiwan’s Taiex also recorded losses, with the latter declining 1.2%.The sell-off followed a weak session in the US, where the S&P 500 fell 1.4%, turning negative for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 768 points, or 1.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 1.5%, according to AP.Investor sentiment has been hit by soaring crude prices as tensions in the Middle East show no signs of abating. Brent crude, the global benchmark, traded at $111.24 per barrel, up 3.6% from the previous day, while US benchmark crude gained 0.8% to $96.80 per barrel. Oil prices have risen sharply amidst disruptions to energy infrastructure and supply chain in the Persian Gulf. After strikes on Iran’s largest gas field South Pars, Tehran warned of stern retaliation against energy infrastructure across the region. Going as far as naming the facilities IRGC said it would be targeting as a response to attacks on facilities critical to Iran, according to Iranian state media. Iran said it would target oil and gas facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates following an attack on infrastructure linked to its South Pars gas field.The spike in energy prices has added to inflation concerns. A report released on Wednesday showed US wholesale inflation unexpectedly accelerated to 3.4% last month, indicating price pressures were already building before the conflict escalated.Markets have been further pressured after the US Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged, signalling caution on future policy easing. Remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell also dampened expectations of rate cuts.“We just don’t know,” Powell said about the trajectory of oil prices and how long President Donald Trump’s tariffs would take to fully impact the economy.Analysts warn that prolonged disruptions in oil and gas supplies could intensify inflationary pressures globally, complicating the outlook for interest rates and economic growth.(With inputs from AP)

HDFC Bank share price today: HDFC Bank, the country’s largest private sector bank, saw its stock plunge in trade on Thursday after its part-time chairman Atanu Chakraborty resigned. HDFC Bank’s share opened in red and was trading at Rs 806 at around 9:19 AM, down Rs 37 or 4.39%.The stock movement is in focus after HDFC Bank part-time chairman and independent director Atanu Chakraborty resigned abruptly. The Reserve Bank of India has cleared the appointment of Keki Mistry, former chief executive of HDFC, as interim part-time chairman.In his resignation letter, Chakraborty said that certain developments and practices within the bank over the past two years were not in line with his personal principles and ethical standards. “This is the basis of my aforementioned decision,” he wrote.He noted that his tenure coincided with significant milestones, including the merger with HDFC, which led to the creation of a large financial conglomerate under the bank. This move positioned HDFC Bank as the second-largest lender in India. “Though, the benefits of merger are yet to fully fructify”, he added.Chakraborty joined the board of HDFC Bank in May 2021. Earlier in his career, he held the position of Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, served as an alternate governor on the World Bank Board, and chaired the National Infrastructure Investment Fund. He belongs to the Gujarat cadre of the Indian Administrative Service.After the announcement, the bank’s American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) listed in the US declined by more than 7 per cent overnight, falling to $26.62.Shares of HDFC Bank have been under consistent pressure in recent weeks, declining about 8 per cent over the past month. The weakness extends over a longer horizon as well, with the stock down 13 per cent in the last six months and registering a 15 per cent drop so far this year.For the December quarter, the bank posted an 11 per cent year-on-year rise in standalone net profit, which came in at Rs 18,654 crore, compared with Rs 16,735 crore in the same period last year. The figure exceeded Street expectations of Rs 18,473 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Global oil prices surged and equity markets weakened on Friday after fresh strikes on energy infrastructure in Iran and in retaliation Islamic Republic escalating threats to key facilities across the Gulf raised concerns over supply disruptions.Natural gas prices increased by more than 5%, while Brent crude rose to $111.19 in early trading and extended its gains by another 4% to around $112 per barrel this morning, edging closer to the initial war peak of $120. US natural gas prices also climbed nearly 5% overnight, according to ET.The benchmark US crude, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), similarly gained over 3%, trading at $99.35 per barrel shortly after the Chicago Mercantile Exchange resumed operations. The rally follows strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field, the world’s largest, and associated facilities at Asaluyeh. Tehran blamed the US and Israel for the attack and warned of retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps subsequently published a list of potential targets, including Ras Laffan refinery, an area which has already been targeted and Mesaieed petrochemical complex in Qatar, Samref refinery and Jubail petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia, and the Al Hosn gas field in the UAE, calling them “direct and legitimate targets.”The escalation has already disrupted energy flows. Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly halted, while production cuts by major oil producers and shutdowns at key LNG facilities in Qatar have tightened supply. Ras Laffan Industrial City, a major LNG hub located about 80 km north of Doha, was hit by missile strikes, causing “extensive damage,” according to QatarEnergy. Emergency teams were deployed to contain fires, and no casualties were reported.Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the attack as a “direct threat” to national security, while its interior ministry confirmed a fire in the Ras Laffan area following an Iranian strike. Evacuations were also reported at LNG installations after Tehran issued warnings of further attacks.Energy experts have said the developments are shifting market focus back to physical supply risks. The South Pars facility alone recorded daily gas production of 730 million cubic metres in 2025, underlining its importance to global supply. The conflict’s impact could extend beyond the region, with countries such as Turkey, which imports over 10% of its gas from Iran, potentially seeking additional LNG cargoes, further tightening global markets.With tensions escalating and key infrastructure under threat, markets are likely to remain volatile amid concerns of prolonged supply disruptions. (with inputs from agencies)

Morgan Stanley maintained its overweight rating on Reliance Industries with the target price at Rs 1,803. Analysts said RIL’s 15-year green ammonia deal signed with Samsung C&T is worth $3 billion that marks monetisation of new energy investments. It’s aligned with the hydrogen and decarbonisation strategy of the company. RIL’s new energy business is valued at about $20 billion. Analysts also expect RIL’s energy earnings to rise further. They also feel the stock is trading at about 62% discount to peers.HDFC Securities initiated its coverage of Ask Automotive with an add rating and a target price of Rs 480. Analysts said the company is valued at about 22x its expected March 2028 earnings per share (EPS). They said premiumization and electrification are increasing content per vehicle. EVs have 30% to 40% higher content than ICE. Analysts also expect exports mix to support margin expansion while wheel assembly exit to support margins beyond FY27. They also see some near-term headwinds from higher raw material costs and said that geopolitical tensions may impact export demand.Nomura has a buy rating on M&M with the target price at Rs 4,662. Analysts attended the company US Investor Day. They said that the management expects continued strength across segments, with PVs growing 19% FY26 year-to-date driven by new launches and sustained SUV demand, with LCVs at 17% YTD led by a strong replacement cycle. Tractor demand remains robust at 23% FY26 YTD, with management indicating no clear historical correlation with El Niño, while the Indian monsoon remains the key variable to monitor. The management also expects to manage commodity pressure in the near term through hedging, pricing and favourable mix. The company indicated that its EV business continued to be earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA)-positive, and margins will be further supported from PLI benefit on XEV 9E and 9S from FY27. They also expect a doubling of current annual volumes will drive EBIT breakeven.Jefferies has a buy rating on Max Healthcare with the target price at Rs 1,320. Analysts attended the company’s management meet. The key takeaways were one-off issues that impacted Oct-Dec quarter were resolved and its expansion plans were largely on track. The management said they were not worried about capacity addition in Delhi-NCR region, as the market is highly underserved. The company is also open to acquisitions to strengthen presence in existing markets and enter new regions, though it’s not a core strategy.Goldman Sachs has a buy rating on L&T with the target price at Rs 4,420, down from Rs 4,950 earlier. Analysts said the stock is down 18% since March 2 (vs sensex down 7%) driven by concerns around execution of the current projects in West Asia, the possibility of reduced capex in the region impacting L&T’s prospect base in FY27 driving lower revenue growth in outer years. Analysts said while the near-term concerns on execution may be valid, they see the medium term prospect base is unlikely to change even though deferral for a few quarters is likely, given the ongoing conflict. They also expect lower revenue for Jan-March quarter (Q4FY26) assuming slower execution over the last two weeks of March 2025. Analysts also feel the company would carry forward weak execution into April-June quarter (Q1FY27). They also expect lower core order inflow for FY27E from 7.7% earlier to 1.1% now assuming almost no ordering in international business for one month.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India.)