New Delhi [India], February 25 (ANI): As COVID-19 cases continue to be reported below the 20,000 mark, Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Randeep Guleria on Friday said the country is currently witnessing the 'tail' of the third wave, however, it will gradually reach the stage of endemic.

Speaking exclusively to ANI, Guleria said, "India is reporting a decline in COVID-19 cases. We will gradually move into a stage where it may become endemic but right now I think we are still seeing the tail of the third wave."

International oil prices retreated from an over seven-year high but was still above USD 100 a barrel and continue to pose threat to India's inflation rate and current account deficit.

While there are no supply concerns as the oil route remained open, consumers will feel the pinch when PSU oil firms start passing on the increase in international rates through a revision in petrol and diesel prices, which have been on a pause for over three-and-a-half-months in view of elections in Uttar Pradesh and four other states.

Shares of Fine Organic Industries hit a record high of Rs 4,318.05, surging 9.5 per cent on the BSE in Friday’s intra-day trade, outperforming the market with a wide margin. The stock of the specialty chemicals company surpassed its previous high of Rs 4,174.10 hit on February 4, 2022.

In the past one week and one month, the stock has gained 8 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, as compared to a 3 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex.

Shares of Apollo Hospitals Enterprises rallied 7 per cent to Rs 4,681 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in Friday's intra-day trade after the exchange announced inclusion of the company in its benchmark Nifty50 index with effect from March 31, 2022.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprises will replace state-owned oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) in the index. Shares of IOCL were 3 per cent higher at Rs 113.75, after surging 8 per cent to Rs 118.50 on the NSE in the intra-day trade.

Shares of Britannia Industries slipped 3 per cent to Rs 3,352 on the BSE in Friday’s intra-day in an otherwise firm market as input cost pressure concerns weighed on the stock.

The stock of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) company traded closer to its 52-week low of Rs 3,350 touched on February 26, 2021.

The CBI has arrested former Group Operating Officer of National Stock Exchange Anand Subramanian after expanding its three-year probe into the co-location scam in the exchange in view of "fresh facts" that emerged in a damning Sebi report referring to a mysterious Yogi which was guiding actions of former CEO Chitra Ramkrishna and other irregularities, officials said on Friday.

Subramanian was taken into custody late Thursday night in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, they said.

Boeing and Airbus SE are in talks with the new owners of Air India about an order for a raft of new planes, according to people familiar with the matter, part of a plan to rejuvenate the carrier and its fleet.

Tata Sons, which acquired the airline from the government last month, has begun talks with the planemakers and lessors for jets, including Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the people said, asking not to be identified.

Renewable energy company Greenko is planning to raise around $500 million from the international market for refinancing existing debt and capital expenditure.

Merchant banking sources said the company had expressed intent on raising funds. Besides it, Adani group entity Mumbai International Airport is also in the market for money to replace bridge loans and capex.

India sounded airlines on Monday to plan flights to evacuate Indians stuck in Ukraine. Under the Aircraft Act, the government can ask airlines to make their aircraft available during an emergency situation.

While sources said Air India and SpiceJet had planned to operate four flights, all plans had to be cancelled after the closure of Ukrainian airspace.

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 429.4 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.91 million and vaccinations to over 10.42 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Thursday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 429,415,033 and 5,916,373, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered has increased to 10,424,448,190.

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