Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that a “final, agreed upon text” of a deal between the U.S. and Iran “has been reached.”

 

Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator between the two countries throughout their war, “is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps,” Sharif said in an X post.

 

“Peace has never been this close as it is now,” he wrote.

 

Sharif’s announcement aligned with those of other officials, including President Donald Trump, who have said that a deal to end the more-than-three-month-old war is closer to completion than ever.

 

Trump said in the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon that the U.S. had “just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” subject to the “finalization of documents.”

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X prior to Sharif’s post that a preliminary deal with the U.S., known as a memorandum of understanding, “has never been closer.”

 

All three officials have also pushed back on information that has been shared publicly about the contents of the apparently forthcoming deal.

 

Iran’s Mehr News Agency earlier Friday reported 14 purported provisions in the draft deal, including commitments from the U.S. to lift oil sanctions, end its Naval blockade and release Iran’s frozen funds.

 

Trump wrote in an angry Truth Social post later Friday morning that the public reporting about the deal has “NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing.”

 

Source: CNBC 

–Agencies 

A crypto analyst has stated that the Bitcoin price remains firmly in a bear market, projecting more volatility and pain ahead for the world’s largest cryptocurrency. The expert also noted that BTC has entered the final phase of this bearish stage, a period where the market is expected to reach its lowest levels alongside extreme Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD). In his outlook, the analyst projected a timeline for when Bitcoin could complete its final capitulation move and establish a long-awaited bottom. He has also outlined a likely target range for this projected price floor.

Bitcoin To Face More Declines In Final Bear Phase

Pseudonymous crypto analyst No Name has broken down his price projections for Bitcoin in this bear cycle. In an X post on June 9, the expert announced that the leading cryptocurrency has officially entered the second and final stage of its bear market phase. 

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No Name noted that a typical bear market cycle does not end or start at random, suggesting it moves in a well-structured, methodical manner. The analyst explained, using a detailed chart, that a normal bull market goes through six stages, while a bear market experiences only two—marked by a major price crash and complete disinterest. 

During the first bearish phase of this cycle, Bitcoin’s price declined sharply, shattering the optimistic narrative surrounding the cryptocurrency. This downturn followed a record-breaking rally in October 2025, when Bitcoin surged past $126,000, setting a new all-time high. Since then, the cryptocurrency has continued to trend downward, recently dipping below $60,000 at one point this month.

Notably, the second bear phase, in which the market currently resides, is historically characterized by slow, sideways price movement and extremely low investor sentiment. This comes as enthusiasm and interest in Bitcoin plummets, prompting many participants to exit the market. During this phase, trading volumes typically drop, price volatility narrows, and fear dominates investor behavior, often leading to extended periods of stagnation.

In his analysis, NoName noted that both bear market phases typically last about 350 days each. With the first phase already completed in this cycle, the math suggests that Bitcoin’s ongoing bear trend could end in October 2026. Confirming this, the analyst expects BTC’s price to hit its final cycle bottom within a key target range around that timeline. Based on his chart, this price floor currently sits between $47,000 and $51,000, aligning with the MA 350. 

Analyst Forecasts BTC Crash Next Week And ATH Next Year

For a shorter-term outlook, crypto analyst Kabuki projects that Bitcoin could crash to $54,000 as soon as next week. He expects the cryptocurrency to also extend this decline, likely hitting a final price bottom around $47,000 by July 2026. 

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He backed his bearish outlook by noting that Bitcoin is currently at a historical level where every bull trap ends. Once the bear market capitulation concludes by July, Kabuki predicts that a fresh bull trend could emerge, potentially paving the way for BTC to rally to new all-time highs around $151,000 by January 2027. 

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

Christian’s journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling – right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he’s one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian’s all work and no play? Not a chance! When he’s not at his computer, you’ll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian’s got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here’s the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day – and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors – and bosses – he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.

Shares of Gland Pharma rallied 11.06% to an intraday high of Rs 2,075 during Monday’s trading session after the company reported a sharp rise in revenue and profitability for the fourth quarter of FY26, along with the announcement of a final dividend.

The pharmaceutical company’s robust performance in Q4 FY26 was driven by strong growth in its CDMO business, improved operational efficiency, and healthy demand across key markets.

Gland Pharma posted a 97% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 366.7 crore in Q4FY26, compared to Rs 186.5 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

Revenue from operations increased 22% YoY to Rs 1,742.8 crore, against Rs 1,424.9 crore reported in Q4 FY25.

The company’s adjusted EBITDA for the quarter rose 51% year-on-year, while the adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 30%. For the full financial year FY26, adjusted EBITDA grew 33%, with margins standing at 26%.

The Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) business continued to be a major growth driver for the company. The segment contributed 46% of total revenues during Q4 FY26 and recorded a strong 36% YoY growth.

For the full FY26 period, CDMO revenues also contributed 46% of total sales and grew 28% year-on-year.Gland Pharma continued to strengthen its product pipeline through sustained research investments. Quarterly R&D spending stood at Rs 506 million, while full-year FY26 R&D investments reached Rs 2,230 million.

The Board of Directors recommended a final dividend of Rs 20 per equity share (2000%) on the face value of Rs 1 each for FY26. The dividend, subject to shareholder approval at the company’s 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM), is expected to be paid within 30 days from the date of approval.

Commenting on the results, Mr Srinivas Sadu, Executive Chairman of Gland Pharma, stated, “Our strong FY26 performance, reflected in consolidated revenue growth of 14.5% and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 26%, underscores the progress we are making across the businesses, including Cenexi. The 38% adjusted EBITDA margin of the base business has been supported by robust growth in the CDMO segment, alongside new product launches and improved profitability across our existing portfolio, driven by ongoing cost-efficiency initiatives. We remain confident in sustaining this momentum, supported by a pipeline of complex product launches and the continued ramp-up of CDMO partnerships.”

Stock Performance and Technical Indicators

Over the last year, Gland Pharma shares have gained nearly 27%. The company currently commands a market capitalisation of about Rs 30,781 crore. Its 52-week high stands at Rs 2,131.

On the valuation front, the stock trades at a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 36.33 and a price-to-book (PB) ratio of 3.36.

Also read: Delhivery shares tumble 5% after Q4 results. Why Nuvama, Elara & other brokerages remain bullish

From a technical perspective, the stock’s 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 57.3, indicating neutral-to-positive momentum. An RSI below 30 is generally considered oversold, while an RSI above 70 is considered overbought. The stock is also trading above all 8 out of 8 key simple moving averages (SMAs), signaling continued bullish momentum.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Trump emphasized that a deal to rescue the financially strapped airline remained under review. The president did not provide details but said an announcement could come later Friday or Saturday.

“We’re looking at it. If we could do it, we’ll do it. But only if it’s a good deal,” he said, speaking to reporters before departing the White House for Florida.

The possibility of a bailout first emerged publicly last week, when Trump floated the idea of the U.S. government offering Spirit a financial lifeline to help keep the airline from going bust and out of business. Separately, a lawyer for the airline told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court that Spirit was in advanced talks with the government over financing that could allow it to exit Chapter 11 protection.

The president suggested the government would be able to resell the airline known for its bright yellow planes and “no frills” service for a profit once oil prices driven up by the Iran war come down.

Lawmakers from both parties and some members of the Trump administration have criticized the idea of using taxpayer funds to keep the ultra-low cost airline afloat. Speculation around Spirit’s future and the likelihood of a deal emerging has mounted with every day that passes without a resolution as the airline’s operating expenses and debts mount.

A spokesperson for Spirit, which has its headquarters in Dania Beach, Florida, declined to comment on ongoing discussions Friday and said “Spirit is operating as usual.”

The Trump administration has delivered what the president described as a “final proposal” to the airline. He framed the possible federal intervention as an effort to preserve jobs but stressed that any financial arrangement worked out would have to benefit the government.

“If we can help them, we will,” Trump said. “But we have to come first.”

Supporters of a rescue — including labor unions representing Spirit’s pilots and flight attendants — say that a collapse would cost jobs, reduce competition and push fares higher.

The airline has struggled financially since the COVID-19 pandemic, weighed down by rising operating costs and growing debt. By the time it filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024, Spirit had lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020.

The budget carrier sought bankruptcy protection again in August 2025, when it reported having $8.1 billion in debts and $8.6 billion in assets, according to court filings.

Shortly before, its parent company revealed in a quarterly report that it had “substantial doubt” about Spirit’s ability to stay in business over the next year, citing “adverse market conditions” — including weak leisure domestic travel demand and ongoing “uncertainties in its business operations.”

The company, Spirit Aviation Holdings Inc., gave a more optimistic assessment earlier this year, saying in February that it had reached a preliminary deal with creditors and expected to exit Chapter 11 in late spring or early summer. The reorganization would result in “a new Spirit” — a smaller, leaner carrier still focused on low fares but offering premium economy options and a version of first-class seating with more legroom for customers willing to pay more.

Instead, the war that started days later when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran intensified the airline’s cash flow problems. With rising jet fuel costs tied to the war generating unexpected costs across the industry, Spirit’s creditors last month expressed doubts about whether it could continue operating, raising the possibility of the airline being forced to sell off assets and shut down.

If Spirit were to cease operations, budget-conscious and leisure travelers would likely feel it the most — especially where the airline has a big footprint, such as Las Vegas and the Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

The carrier flew about 1.7 million domestic passengers in February, roughly half a million fewer than it did during the same month a year earlier, Cirium said. Spirit has also sharply reduced its capacity. According to Cirium data, there are about half the number of seats available this month on Spirit flights than in May 2024: 1,646,878 compared to 3,399,378.

President Donald Trump said the White House had given Spirit Airlines “a final proposal” for a federal bailout to save the carrier, amid reports the troubled budget carrier is laying the groundwork to wind down its operations.

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The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Bloomberg News all reported Spirit is preparing for liquidation, after surging jet fuel costs made its planned exit from bankruptcy all but impossible.

A company spokesperson declined to comment on ongoing discussions and told NBC News that Spirit is operating as usual.

In a statement, American Airlines said it was immediately  implementing fare caps on tickets in its “main cabin” tier for Spirit routes to cities where it also offers nonstop service.

A representative for United Airlines told NBC News, “We’re preparing to support Spirit customers and employees in the event of a shut down and we’ll likely have more to share later.”

A Frontier spokesperson said the carrier was ready to “support customers who may be impacted if Spirit Airlines ceases operations, with a focus on helping people continue their travel plans with low-fare options.”

Spirit had in recent weeks approached the White House seeking financial assistance — and Trump initially appeared receptive to the idea, proposing a $500 million package with the U.S. taking a stake in the company.

Yet the plan almost immediately ran into opposition from Wall Street, Capitol Hill and even a member of Trump’s own cabinet. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested a rescue would amount to tossing “good money after bad.”

“There’s been a lot of money thrown at Spirit, and they haven’t found their way into profitability,” Duffy said in an interview with Reuters. “And so would we just ​forestall the inevitable and then own that?”

In remarks to the press Friday afternoon, Trump expressed fresh doubts about the rescue.

“We’re looking at it. But if we can’t make a good deal… no institution has been able to do it,” he said.

Trump said his administration was “trying to help them.”

“It’s 14,000 jobs,” he added, “I would say we’re driving a tough deal.”

But, he said, “We have to come first. We’re first,” referring to protecting taxpayer funds.

In a statement on X, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, expressed concern about the fate of Spirit’s employees should a rescue fail to materialize.

“If @realDonaldTrump wants to help @SpiritAirlines he can do it,” she wrote. “It’s in his hands. Everyday Americans will hurt — beyond the nearly 20k employees who will lose their livelihoods — it will cost consumers $1B annually. If you’re in charge @POTUS then make it happen now.”

Spirit — one of five ultra-low-cost airlines in the U.S. — has struggled for years to sustain profitability. In the first two months of 2026, it lost $60 million — and that was even before the cost of jet fuel touched new records.

The airline attempted to sell itself to JetBlue several years ago, only to see a federal judge side with Biden-era Justice Department officials that such a combination tripped antitrust rules.

Yet some analysts say the loss of a full-fledged airline, especially a budget one like Spirit, would also end up hurting consumers — not to mention its approximately 17,000 employees.

“Even if you’ve never flown on Spirit, you want them in the market to help put pressure on those other larger carriers,” Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going.com, told NBC News in a recent interview. “It actually helps keep prices cheap. So even if you’re not a big Spirit fan, you want to see them succeed.”

At the same time, a government bailout might also set a worrisome precedent, analysts with J.P. Morgan said in a note last month, warning that Frontier and JetBlue, who’ve faced their own financial struggles, could follow suit.

Earlier this week, a group representing budget airlines requested $2.5 billion from the Trump Administration to compensate for higher fuel costs and stave off raising airfares.

In a statement, the Association of Value Airlines, a trade group that represents Allegiant, Avelo, Frontier, Spirit, and Sun Country Airlines said, “temporary government support to preserve vital industry competition is not without precedent.”

Reliance Industries (RIL) will announce its Q4FY26 earnings on Friday, April 24 and its board will consider and likely approve final dividend for the financial year ended March 31, 2026.

The company’s board will meet on April 24 to consider its earnings and will hold an analyst meet following the board meeting.

The announcement of its results date was made after markets hours on Friday and RIL shares ended 1.6% higher on the NSE at Rs 1,364.90.

Reliance Industries has declared 25 dividends since May 23, 2003, according to Trendlyne data. In the past 12 months, Reliance Industries has declared an equity dividend amounting to Rs 5.50 per share. At the current share price, RIL’s dividend yield is 0.40%.

RIL’s Q4 earnings will be declared in the middle of the Iran-Israel/US war when crude oil prices shot-up sharply jumping as high as $120 a barrel.

The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries posted a marginal 0.56% year-on-year (YoY) growth in its consolidated net profit at Rs 18,645 crore in the third quarter. The profit is attributable to shareholders of the company. Revenue from operations in the same period rose 11% YoY to Rs 2.69 lakh crore.

On a sequential basis, the profit increased 3% from Rs 18,165 crore reported in the September quarter. Revenues jumped 4% quarter-on-quarter.The oil-to-telecom conglomerate reported an EBITDA of Rs 50,932 crore, which is up 6% YoY, led by strong operating performance in Jio and O2C businesses.

RIL shares prices have rallied 10% over the past year when benchmarks Nifty and the BSE Sensex gained 4%.

On Friday, Jio Financial Services reported a 14% year-on-year decline in its consolidated net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 at Rs 272 crore compared to Rs 316 crore in the year ago period.

The total revenue from operations in Q4FY26 stood at Rs 1,019 crore, surging 106% over Rs 493 crore in the corresponding quarter of the last financial year.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the Tuesday deadline he has set for Iran to make a deal is final, adding that Iran’s ⁠proposal was significant but not good enough.

“They made a proposal, and it’s a significant proposal. It’s a significant step. It’s not good enough,” Trump said of Iran.

“It could end very quickly, ⁠the war, if they do what they have to do. They have to do certain things. ⁠They know that, they’ve been negotiating I think in good faith,” ⁠he said while at an annual White House Easter ⁠event.

President Donald Trump also claimed that he used foul language in his Truth Social post threatening Iran on Easter Sunday “only to make my point.”

Trump posted that morning, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the ******’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

A reporter asked at today’s White House Easter Egg Roll why he had used the vulgar language, and Trump responded: “Only to make my point, I think you’ve heard it before.”

Donald Trump also doubled down on his threats against Iran today, saying he had even “worse” options than his previous threats to bomb the nation’s power plants and bridges if Tehran does not make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“They’ll have no bridges, they’ll have no power plants, they’ll have no anything. I won’t go further because there are other things that are worse than those two,” Trump told reporters on the South Lawn during the White House Easter Egg Roll.

The president has set a deadline of Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST for Iran to agree to a deal.

A last-ditch plan calling for a temporary 45-day ceasefire was sent to the US and Iran late Sunday as an effort to stave off massive strikes on Iranian plants and other infrastructure.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the Iranian people “will fight back” against the country’s regime if they can get weapons.

“The Iranian people will fight back as soon as they know they’re not going to be shot and as soon as they can get weapons,” Trump said.

The US president, who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the White House Easter Egg Roll, added that in his view, if the Iranian people had weapons, “Iran would give up in two seconds because they wouldn’t be able to take it.”

Trump said that the Iranian people “want to hear bombs because they want to be free.”

“We’re fighting for them. We’re fighting for their future, and I will tell you, it was given to me loud and clear — the time the Iranian people are the most unhappy … is when those bombs stop,” he said.

President Donald Trump added that the Vice President “could be” involved in an in-person meeting to negotiate an end to the Iran war when reporters asked about the possibility.

The president confirmed that Vice President JD Vance, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are speaking with intermediary countries about the Iran war.

“They’re all unified and they’re all talking together,” Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

CNN reported earlier on Monday that Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have all been acting as mediators between the US and Iran but that indirect talks stalled last week and work toward an in-person meeting had appeared to end.

Source: CNN

— Agencies