Daily Current Affairs – April 25, 2026

India and New Zealand are set to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on April 27, 2026, marking a major step in strengthening bilateral economic relations. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the agreement will open a “new chapter” in ties between the two countries and described it as a defining moment in the partnership.

India's foreign exchange reserves saw a significant jump of $2.3 billion, reaching $703 billion. This increase was driven by foreign currency assets and dollar asset revaluation. Meanwhile, the Indian rupee experienced a slight dip of 14 paise against the dollar. Traders suggest the Reserve Bank of India intervened to stabilize the local currency.

The strike had affected operations at District Collectorates, Treasury Offices, the GST Department, RTOs, Irrigation and Agriculture offices, and aided colleges and schools

Bessent’s statements come as the world is on edge over the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, and global energy markets have been ensnarled by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Iran made it clear that there would be no direct negotiations with American government representatives

X-Energy's Nasdaq debut saw shares surge 30.9%, valuing the Amazon-backed nuclear reactor developer at $11.9 billion. The company raised over $1 billion in its IPO, aiming to deploy its small modular reactors to power AI infrastructure and meet carbon-free energy goals. This marks a significant capital milestone for X-Energy's ambitious plans.

Avis Budget shares experienced a dramatic 70% plunge, following a massive surge, highlighting meme stock exuberance. This volatility significantly impacted the Dow Jones Transportation Average, a long-standing economic barometer, revealing limitations of its price-weighted structure compared to market-value-weighted indexes.

On April 25, 2026, all banks in India are closed for the fourth Saturday of the month, following the RBI holiday schedule. Online banking services and ATMs remain operational, allowing customers to conduct transactions despite the bank holiday.

Dubai's real estate market, after a significant surge, is experiencing a natural price correction. Analysts believe this decline offers a unique investment opportunity, as prices are expected to stabilize and rise again soon, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting investor sentiment.

The Jamshedpur FC head coach has a global view of football, thanks to his experiences around the world. In this interview, Coyle talks about returning to India, making it to the Premier League, meeting Alex Ferguson after beating Manchester United, and helping keep the streets of Burnley free of violence