Fintech

Fintech Brief — March 20, 2026 Today’s Top Stories 1. Gold Loans Surge to ₹14 Trillion as RBI Greenlights Foreign Investment India’s gold loan sector is experiencing an unprecedented boom, with the total market now estimated at ₹14 trillion ($152 billion), according to Yan Wang, chief emerging market strategist at Alpine Macro. RBI data shows gold loans more than doubled to ₹4 trillion ($43.3 billion) in January 2026 from ₹1.75 trillion a year earlier, making gold-backed lending the largest retail loan segment after home and vehicle loans. 1 ...

Fintech Deep Dive — Thursday | March 19, 2026 Focus: International & Cross-Border (Global fintech, UPI abroad) Coverage Period: March 12-19, 2026 Executive Summary This week’s International & Cross-Border fintech coverage sees major shifts in India’s digital payments landscape. PhonePe, India’s largest UPI platform, has shelved its planned IPO citing geopolitical tensions and market volatility—a move that highlights the challenges facing Indian fintech companies seeking global capital markets amid escalating Middle East conflicts and volatile global stock markets. Meanwhile, cross-border payment infrastructure continues evolving with stablecoin-powered platforms raising significant funding, and international payment networks expanding their global reach. ...

Stock Watch — March 19, 2026 Market Day Summary | Not investment advice 📊 INDICES Index Prev Close Change % Change Nifty 50 23,777.80 +196.65 +0.83% Nifty Bank 54,876.00 +462.60 +0.85% FinNifty 25,724.65 +209.40 +0.82% Nifty IT 29,042.55 +1,182.65 +4.25% Note: Previous close from March 18, 2026. Pre-market data as of 08:20 IST. 🏦 BANKS — Digital Payments Focus Bank Symbol Prev Close Change % Key Levels Expectation HDFC Bank HDFCBANK ₹924.70 -0.11% S: 900, R: 950 ➡️ Consolidation ICICI Bank ICICIBANK ₹1,285.40 +0.98% S: 1,260, R: 1,310 ↗️ Bullish SBI SBIN ₹1,069.80 +0.29% S: 1,050, R: 1,090 ↗️ Slight bullish Axis Bank AXISBANK ₹1,227.50 +1.05% S: 1,200, R: 1,250 ↗️ Slight bullish Kotak Bank KOTAKBANK ₹412.20 +0.85% S: 400, R: 425 ↗️ Slight bullish 💳 FINTECH — Pure Play Tier B1: Digital Payments & Wallets Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Paytm PAYTM ₹986.50 -2.70% ↘️ Under pressure Tier B2: Insurance & Credit Marketplaces Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation PB Fintech PBFINTECH ₹4,120.30 +1.85% ↗️ Slight bullish Tier B3: Payment Infrastructure & Gateways Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Infibeam Avenues INFIBEAM ₹14.05 +0.28% ➡️ Flat Pine Labs PINELABS — — Not listed NPST NPST — — Not listed Tier B4: Payments Banking & Cards Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Fino Payments Bank FINOPB ₹154.50 +9.38% ↗️ Strong bounce SBI Cards SBICARD ₹698.20 +0.38% ➡️ Flat Tier B5: ATM & Cash (Peripheral) Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation AGS Transact ⚠️ AGSTRA ₹2.95 -1.67% ↘️ Under CIRP ⚠️ AGSTRA is under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) ...

Fintech Brief — March 19, 2026 Today’s Top Stories 1. PhonePe Pauses IPO Plans Citing Market Volatility Walmart-backed PhonePe, India’s largest digital payments platform, has put its IPO plans on hold due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and volatile market conditions. The Bengaluru-based company, valued at approximately $12 billion in January 2023, was targeting a market capitalization of around $15 billion in its planned listing, which could have raised up to $1.5 billion. 1 ...

Fintech Deep Dive — Wednesday | March 18, 2026 Focus: Consumer Fintech (Neobanks, BNPL, Insurance) Coverage Period: March 11-18, 2026 Executive Summary This week’s consumer fintech landscape in India reveals significant shifts in the neobanking sector, with Fi’s strategic pivot away from direct banking services marking a pivotal moment. Meanwhile, telecom giant Bharti Airtel is betting big on digital lending with a $2.2 billion investment in Airtel Money following its NBFC license acquisition. Globally, the BNPL market continues its explosive growth trajectory, while insurance tech consolidation accelerates with major M&A activity. ...

Stock Watch — March 18, 2026 Market Day Summary | Not investment advice 📊 INDICES Index Prev Close Change % Change Nifty 50 23,408.80 +172.35 +0.74% Nifty Bank 54,413.40 +462.60 +0.85% FinNifty 25,515.25 +209.40 +0.82% Nifty IT 29,042.55 -281.65 -0.97% Note: Previous close from March 17, 2026. Pre-market data as of 08:25 IST. 🏦 BANKS — Digital Payments Focus Bank Symbol Prev Close Change % Key Levels Expectation HDFC Bank HDFCBANK ₹840.60 +0.57% S: 820, R: 860 ↗️ Slight bullish ICICI Bank ICICIBANK ₹1,272.90 +1.24% S: 1,250, R: 1,300 ↗️ Bullish SBI SBIN ₹1,066.70 -0.19% S: 1,040, R: 1,080 ➡️ Flat Axis Bank AXISBANK ₹1,214.70 +1.10% S: 1,190, R: 1,240 ↗️ Slight bullish Kotak Bank KOTAKBANK ₹369.85 +1.18% S: 360, R: 380 ↗️ Slight bullish 💳 FINTECH — Pure Play Tier B1: Digital Payments & Wallets Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Paytm PAYTM ₹1,013.80 +0.81% ↗️ Slight bounce Tier B2: Insurance & Credit Marketplaces Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation PB Fintech PBFINTECH — — Data unavailable Tier B3: Payment Infrastructure & Gateways Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Infibeam Avenues INFIBEAM ₹14.01 +0.43% ➡️ Flat Pine Labs PINELABS — — Not listed NPST NPST — — Not listed Tier B4: Payments Banking & Cards Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Fino Payments Bank FINOPB ₹140.43 +0.58% ➡️ Recovery SBI Cards SBICARD ₹695.55 -0.24% ➡️ Flat Tier B5: ATM & Cash (Peripheral) Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation AGS Transact ⚠️ AGSTRA ₹3.00 -1.00% ↘️ Under CIRP ⚠️ AGSTRA is under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) ...

Fintech Brief — March 18, 2026 Today’s Top Stories 1. PhonePe Shelves IPO Amid Global Market Volatility Walmart-backed PhonePe, India’s largest digital payments platform, has paused its IPO plans, citing geopolitical tensions and volatile market conditions. The company, which was targeting a $15 billion valuation, has seen investment bankers suggest lowering expectations to around $9 billion. 1 The Bengaluru-based fintech filed its updated IPO prospectus earlier this year, expecting to raise up to $1.5 billion in what would have been one of India’s largest tech listings. However, escalating Middle East conflicts have rattled global financial markets, with India’s Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex each falling about 9% over the past month. 1 ...

Fintech Deep Dive — Tuesday | March 17, 2026 Focus: Startup Funding, Acquisitions & IPOs Coverage Period: March 10-17, 2026 Executive Summary This week’s “Buzz & Funding” deep dive covers a significant shift in India’s fintech IPO landscape, with PhonePe putting its public listing on hold amid global market volatility. Meanwhile, India’s neobanking sector faces consolidation as Fi winds down its banking services, while international fintech deals continue apace with OakNorth’s acquisition of Monite and Uzbekistan’s Uzum reaching a $2.3 billion valuation. ...

Stock Watch — March 17, 2026 Market Day Summary | Not investment advice 📊 INDICES Index Prev Close Change % Change Nifty 50 23,408.80 — — Nifty Bank 54,413.40 — — FinNifty 25,515.25 — — Nifty IT 29,042.55 — — Note: Pre-market data as of 08:15 IST. Markets open at 09:15 IST. 🏦 BANKS — Digital Payments Focus Bank Symbol Prev Close Change % Key Levels Expectation HDFC Bank HDFCBANK ₹840.60 +2.89% S: 820, R: 860 ↗️ Bullish ICICI Bank ICICIBANK ₹1,272.90 +1.44% S: 1,250, R: 1,290 ↗️ Slight bullish SBI SBIN ₹1,066.70 +1.88% S: 1,040, R: 1,080 ↗️ Slight bullish Axis Bank AXISBANK ₹1,214.70 +1.45% S: 1,190, R: 1,230 ↗️ Slight bullish Kotak Bank KOTAKBANK ₹369.85 +0.82% S: 360, R: 375 ➡️ Flat 💳 FINTECH — Pure Play Tier B1: Digital Payments & Wallets Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Paytm PAYTM ₹1,013.80 +3.85% ↗️ Strong bounce Tier B2: Insurance & Credit Marketplaces Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation PB Fintech PBFINTECH — — Data unavailable Tier B3: Payment Infrastructure & Gateways Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Infibeam Avenues INFIBEAM ₹16.90 +15.44% ↗️ Strong rally Pine Labs PINELABS — — Not listed NPST NPST — — Not listed Tier B4: Payments Banking & Cards Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation Fino Payments Bank FINOPB ₹140.43 -16.77% ↘️ Sharp decline SBI Cards SBICARD ₹695.55 -1.33% ↘️ Slight weakness Tier B5: ATM & Cash (Peripheral) Company Symbol Prev Close Change % Expectation AGS Transact ⚠️ AGSTRA ₹3.00 -4.76% ↘️ Under CIRP ⚠️ AGSTRA is under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) ...

Fintech Brief — March 17, 2026 Today’s Top Stories PhonePe Shelves IPO Plans Amid Global Market Volatility Walmart-backed PhonePe, India’s largest digital payments platform, has put its IPO plans on hold citing geopolitical tensions and volatile market conditions, according to sources familiar with the matter. 1 The company, which leads the UPI ecosystem in transaction volumes, was reportedly considering a valuation of around $9 billion according to investment bankers, significantly lower than earlier expectations. In February 2026, PhonePe processed approximately 9.3 billion transactions worth roughly ₹13.1 trillion (about $141.9 billion), compared with Google Pay’s 6.8 billion transactions worth around ₹9 trillion (around $97.8 billion), according to NPCI data. 1 ...