but not all companies and the reserve bank of india is concerned because small loans have also gone up, people are taking these loans and the reserve bank of india wants to get this risk out of the window. now to bitcoin. the world's largest cryptocurrency has been soaring, doubling over the past four months — up 50% in the past month alone. on wednesday it touched almost $64,000 — edging towards all time records set during the pandemic. investor appetite for crypto had been on a dive — reeling from headline events like the collapse of exchange ftx, entering what was dubbed the crypto winter. so what's brought bitcoin out of the cold? 0ur north america business correspondent erin delmore joins us from new york. erin, what is behind this rally? as you said, the crypto winter has melted into a crypto spring. these red—hot numbers are making us wonder if we are getting a bit closer to summer over here! the all—time high for bitcoin is above $68,000, and as you say, we have seen this number in chap yesterday. —— bitcoin around the $64,000 mark, closing above 60,000, the first time we have

the reserve bank of india has given enough time. thers in the industry but confidence is shaken and it will lead to probably more seriousness among the players that you should take reserve bank of india seriously wanted says something -- when it says something. haslinda: our economy and government reporter in boom by on the latest on paytm. we are counting down to the open for india. asia has been under pressure given pushback from jerome powell in his interview with 60 minutes, pushing back on that may rate cut. for india, it has been going gangbusters. one of the favorite markets for investors. that run continuing today. the sensex index opening in positive territory, currently up 0.2%. the nifty index also in positive territory. bear in mind that foreign investors have been pulling money out of india to secure their profit. there you have it. indian benchmarks turning in the first three minutes of trading, in negative territory, in line with the rest of the region perhaps impacted by jerome powell's comments that perhaps march is

also on thursday the first reserve bank of india meeting of the year will take place on that day stop you may have heard about row henry partner who at the age of 43 has reached a milestone. becoming a double champion. —— the oldest in the world. we have been speaking about the perseverance that have led him to success. he had this advice. i would say to really focus on short—term goals, even though you have a long—term goal, break it into short—term goals. that is when you start not losing focus but to get that there are small journeys losing focus but to get that there are smalljourneys and goals. it should be a personal goal. it should not be someone else's goal you are trying to fulfil. that is a key factor there. in australian open this year, my first and foremost goal was to pass the third round. i had never passed the third round in the however many years i had played. i said that is my first goal. yes of course i would like to win at but my first goal was to do that. you are somebody _ first goal was to do that. you are somebody who _ first goal was to do that. you are somebod

also on thursday, the first reserve bank of india meeting of the year will take place on that day.en rising due to food costs. lunar new year is almost upon us, and the appetite for boozy gatherings appears to be on the rise. beverage brand diageo is a major distributor of gin, whiskey, and other spirits. their asia—pacific chiefjohn 0'keefe spoke about how this is contributing to growth for the conglomerate. i contributing to growth for the conglomerate.— contributing to growth for the conglomerate. i would say the big drivers _ conglomerate. i would say the big drivers of _ conglomerate. i would say the big drivers of growth - big drivers of growth underneath that, i would have to start with india, first of all. india is a phenomenal market. it is the biggest whiskey market in the world. in fact, it is probably one of the few markets whether whiskey category is bigger than the beer category. within that, we are seeing a lot of people moving up the price ladder, which is driven by the emerging middle class. i would also point to southeast asia, markets like indonesia, malaysia, vi

also on thursday, the first reserve bank of india meeting of the year will take place on thursday.sts. and here's how markets closed on friday. on wall street, the s&p 500 roared to a new all—time high and the nasdaq jumped to a fresh two—year peak. as strong earnings and a blow out january employment report boosted confidence in the economy. the rally capped a tumultuous week filled with high profile earnings, a fed rate decision, and renewed jitters over regional banking weakness. we'll be talking about this is the week unfolds here on asia business report, and will be looking forward to your company as we do that. bye—bye for now. bbc news — bringing you different stories| from across the uk. it's a feat of engineering, 1400 tonnes of steel, seven years in the planning. great yarmouth's long awaited third river crossing. today, hundreds gathered for the grand opening. we pray you bless this bridge and all who pass over it and those who sail through it. back in 1933, thousands turned out for the opening of the town's haven bridge by the prince of wales. in the crowds, then, jenna

february 2023 as inflation steady at 6.5% since february 2023 as inflation remained within the reserve bank of india'sw is our business correspondent. should we expect any surprises today?— any surprises today? economists do not think _ any surprises today? economists do not think so. _ any surprises today? economists do not think so. nearly - any surprises today? economists do not think so. nearly all- any surprises today? economists do not think so. nearly all of- do not think so. nearly all of them believe that this will be a status quo rate decision for the sixth time in a no change expected. they do expect the rbi to keep a keen focus on price rise because food prices, particularly, have been volatile for pulses spices and vegetables. the winter crop output has also anticipated to be much lower this time so that will be a focus point. retail inflation has come down over the last few months. it was 5.7% in december and is still closer to the upper end of the threshold that rbi wants and thatis threshold that rbi wants and that is why they are wary. they wanted closer to 4% and a few weeks ago the

last week the reserve bank of india on deal—maker ordered the company to stop having fresh deposits fromarch and there are reports and investigation into paytm is widening. i willjoined us from mumbai. tell us more about this widening probe. the mumbai. tell us more about this widening probe.— widening probe. the issues can turn delicate _ widening probe. the issues can turn delicate concerned - widening probe. the issues can turn delicate concerned the - turn delicate concerned the payment division of the company which can keep deposits of up to $2400 but cannot lend to its customers and there at the central bank has cited persistent noncompliance and supervisory concerns. paytm has beenin supervisory concerns. paytm has been in regulatory cross hairs. there have been multiple warnings sent by the regulator to look into the dealings between the banking division as well as the popular payments app well as the popular payments app paytm. latest reports say theissues app paytm. latest reports say the issues include multiple transaction beyond regulatory limits, improper customer verificati

there reserve bank of india asked them to stop accepting money in their digital wallets promote.orrespondentjoins us from mumbai. tell us more about the widening probe. last mumbai. tell us more about the widening probe.— widening probe. last week the central bank _ widening probe. last week the central bank ordered _ widening probe. last week the central bank ordered the - central bank ordered the company, the payments division of the company, to stop accepting deposits, citing persistent non—compliance and supervisory concerns. there are reports that say the lapses are as deep at the payments bank as including multiple transactions beyond regulatory limits. there are improper customer verification. there are also concerns raised on money laundering by the company in violation of forex laws. experts point out the harsh action could be a precursor to the payments bank losing his license in the coming days as well. the company has said in a statement that it isn't being investigated for violation under forex rules or as far as the larger widening probe is concerned but investors h

last week the reserve bank of india on deal—maker ordered the company to stop having fresh deposits from

. >> the reserve bank of india ordered paytm payments bank to stop doing business.ayments bank part which processes payments for the main company that runs an app. the reserve bank said -- cited persistent noncompliance and supervisory concerns. it found the material supervisory concerns in the bank , despite warning it to stop on boarding new customers in march 2022. after that, there was a comprehensive system audit. but rbi found that the paytm probably didn't fix those issues rbi had raised. so they had to take supervisory actions. rishaad: this could be financially quite bad for paytm. it could be even worse if it is the end of the road for them. >> that remains to be seen because the action is about paytm payments bank, which one may argue is the main part of paytm. but paytm is separate than the payments bank business. let however the financial impact will be quite significant. paytm today said that rbi action worst-case impact will be three to 5 billion rupees on annual ebitda. jeffrey's analysts have cut their price target for paytm shares to 500 rupees aft