MUMBAI, India, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dun & Bradstreet, a global leader in business decisioning data and analytics, has released its Economy Observer report for February 2025. Economy Observer is a monthly report sharing in-depth analysis of key macroeconomic developments in India and provides forecasts for key economic indicators, and insight into the expected direction of the Indian economy.

Key economic forecast:

Real Economy: India’s economic growth picked up pace in Q3 FY25, rising to 6.2% from 5.6% in the previous quarter, fueled by strong rural demand and an 8.3% rise in government spending. Industrial activity also gained momentum, with IIP growth reaching 5.0% in January 2025, led by manufacturing and mining. Dun & Bradstreet forecasts IIP to rise to 6.3% in February 2025, supported by the Kumbh Mela and Holi driven consumer spending which significantly boosted the travel and hospitality industry, generating substantial revenue, creating numerous jobs and capital goods investment. The RBI’s 25 bps rate cut to 6.25% in February 2025 is expected to aid growth, with a further cut expected in its April meeting. However, risks remain—U.S. reciprocal tariffs – set to take effect from April 2, could weigh on key exports like metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles. Balancing domestic demand strength with external pressures will be key to sustaining growth momentum.

Price Scenario: In February 2025, India’s price scenario showed encouraging signs for consumers as inflationary pressures eased. Retail inflation (CPI) dropped to a seven-month low of 3.6%, primarily due to a notable price decrease in key items like vegetables, eggs, meat, and fish. Dun and Bradstreet expects CPI inflation for March 2025 to be 3.5%, reflecting continued easing of food prices and stable fuel costs. Rural areas and urban regions experienced a similar trend, with headline inflation easing and food inflation dropping. On the wholesale front, WPI inflation saw a slight uptick to 2.4% in February 2025 from 2.3% in January 2025. Core inflation crossed 4% for the first time in 14 months, reaching 4.1%. Rural inflation remains higher than urban inflation, influenced by food price trends. Dun & Bradstreet forecasts that WPI inflation for March 2025 will remain at 2.4%, driven by a marginal increase in input costs and global commodity price fluctuations. Additionally, higher metal prices and concerns over tariffs are expected to contribute to inflation and growth in future.

Money & Finance: India’s financial markets in March 2025 reflect a dynamic interplay between monetary policy actions, market demand, and liquidity conditions. Dun and Bradstreet forecasts the 10-year G-Sec yield moderating to 6.6%, 91-day Treasury Bill yield moderating to 6.4% from 6.5%, and bank credit growth slowing to 10.5% from 11%, reflecting a combination of easing inflation, stable borrowing, and cautious lending dynamics. The RBI’s liquidity measures—OMO purchases, VVR auctions, and forex swaps—have improved liquidity, pushing short-term yields like the 91-day T-Bill lower. Easing inflation has strengthened expectations of future monetary easing. On the credit front, cautious lending by banks and businesses’ wait-and-watch approach have slowed credit growth despite ongoing investments.

External Sector: In February 2025, the INR/USD exchange rate stood at 87.1. Dun & Bradstreet expects it to remain stable at 87.1 in March 2025 and slightly strengthen to 86.9 by April 2025, due to anticipated stabilization in global economic conditions and a potential easing of capital outflows. Additionally, the Reserve Bank of India’s interventions in the currency market are expected to help maintain exchange rate stability, with the weakening of the dollar being a key factor for the rupee’s strengthening. In mid-March, the trade deficit narrowed to USD13.8 billion, driven by a continued contraction in imports, particularly non-essential goods. In a positive development, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) ended a month-long sell off in Indian stocks with a net inflow of USD 6.94 billion.

Arun Singh, Global Chief Economist, Dun & Bradstreet said, “India’s growth remains robust, driven by strong rural demand, government spending, and a rebound in industrial activity. As April approaches, the focus will shift to sustaining this momentum amid global risks. Inflation has eased, with CPI dropping to a seven-month low, offering the RBI room for potential rate cuts, which could boost domestic demand. However, external risks loom, including potential U.S. tariffs on key exports like pharmaceuticals, railway equipment, and electrical machinery. Currency pressures and capital outflows also pose risks. Balancing global challenges with domestic resilience will be key to sustaining growth.”

About Dun & Bradstreet:

Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, enables companies around the world to improve their business performance. Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Cloud fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to accelerate revenue, lower cost, mitigate risk and transform their businesses. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity. For more information on Dun & Bradstreet, please visit www.dnb.com.

Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India Private Limited is headquartered in Mumbai and provides clients with data-driven products and technology-driven platforms to help them take faster and more accurate decisions across finance, risk, compliance, information technology and marketing. Working towards Government of India’s vision of creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) by supporting the Make in India initiative, Dun & Bradstreet India has a special focus on helping entrepreneurs enhance their visibility, increase their credibility, expand access to global markets, and identify potential customers & suppliers, while managing risk and opportunity.

India is also the home to Dun & Bradstreet Technology & Corporate Services LLP, which is the Global Capabilities Center (GCC) of Dun & Bradstreet supporting global technology delivery using cutting-edge technology. Located at Hyderabad, the GCC has a highly skilled workforce of over 500 employees, and focuses on enhanced productivity, economies of scale, consistent delivery processes and lower operating expenses.

Visit www.dnb.co.in for more information.

Click here for all Dun & Bradstreet India press releases.

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OSLO, Norway, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Annual General Meeting of Aker ASA will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 11:00 CEST as a virtual meeting. The proposed agenda includes re-election of the board of directors.

The general meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting only, accessible online via Lumi AGM. All shareholders will be able to participate in the meeting, vote and ask questions from smartphones, tablets or desktop devices. For further information regarding electronic participation, please refer to the guide available at www.akerasa.com.

No pre-registration is needed for attending online, but attendees must be logged in before the meeting starts. Deadline for registration of advance votes and proxies is Monday, April 28, 2025, at 16:00 CEST.

Please find attached the following documents:

– Notice and Proxy forms for the Annual General Meeting
– Proposed Resolutions for the Annual General Meeting
– Proposal from the Nomination Committee
– Executive Remuneration Policy
– Executive Remuneration Report 2024
– Corporate Governance Statement 2024

All documents to be processed in the meeting are also available on www.akerasa.com.

Investors contact:
Svein Oskar Stoknes, Chief Financial Officer Aker ASA
Tel: +47 94 80 46 43
E-mail: svein.stoknes@akerasa.com

Media contact:
Atle Kigen, Head of Media Relations and Public Affairs Aker ASA
Tel: +47 907 84 878
Email: atle.kigen@akerasa.com

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-asa/r/aker-asa–notice-of-annual-general-meeting,c4130634

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OSLO, Norway, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aker ASA today publishes its Annual report 2024 which also includes the Sustainability statement for 2024. The Annual report and ESEF format are attached to this release and are also available on the company’s website www.akerasa.com.

Investor contact:
Svein Oskar Stoknes, Chief Financial Officer Aker ASA
Tel: +47 94 80 46 43
E-mail: svein.stoknes@akerasa.com

Media contact:
Atle Kigen, Head of Media Relations and Public Affairs Aker ASA
Tel: +47 907 84 878
Email: atle.kigen@akerasa.com

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.

https://news.cision.com/aker-asa/r/aker-asa-releases-2024-annual-report,c4130639

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