The Economic Times

Hyperscalers are accelerating data-centre leasing as power constraints and lengthy development timelines limit supply. North American non-commenced leases reached 25.5 GW in Q2 2026, up sharply year-on-year, with third-party operators expected to deliver an increasing share of future capacity.

Indian equities reversed morning gains to close sharply lower, with Sensex falling 183 points and Nifty declining 0.52%. IT stocks weakened on visa concerns, offsetting gains in banks and metals. Technical signals pointed to continued range-bound trading and caution.

Indian markets ended marginally lower as sectoral divergence offset gains in banks and metals. IT stocks weakened on visa appointment concerns, while easing bond yields supported financials. Analysts recommended Ashok Leyland and NMDC, citing strong breakouts and improving technical momentum.

Anthropic is preparing for a potential major Wall Street debut, fueled by rapid growth in AI coding through Claude Code. However, massive cash requirements, heavy losses, political tensions and fierce competition could test investor confidence in its long-term business model.

Meta shares hit a 4.96% intraday high after the company agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion to settle claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users. The settlement covers claims by 29 US states and requires Meta to introduce usage limits and stronger safeguards for children on its platforms.

Capital Group divested a 1.04 percent stake in Avenue Supermarts for Rs 2,537 crore. This significant open market transaction involved selling over 67 lakh equity shares of D-Mart's parent company. The shares were offloaded at an average price of Rs 3,750.58 per share. Avenue Supermarts' stock experienced a slight decline following the divestment announcement. The company recently reported an 11.33 percent rise in its June quarter net profit.

US inflation data showed a slight increase in July. The personal consumption expenditures price index rose to 3.7 percent. Core inflation remained unchanged, indicating persistent underlying pressures. This data strengthens the argument for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike. Traders now anticipate a higher probability of a September rate increase.

US stocks traded flat as investors awaited Nvidia's earnings and assessed hotter-than-expected inflation data. July inflation rose 3.7%, lifting bets on a September Fed rate hike. The Dow slipped 0.04%, while the S&P 500 edged up 0.03% and Nasdaq fell 0.06%, keeping markets cautious.

US stocks opened lower on Wednesday after hotter-than-expected inflation data strengthened expectations of another Fed rate hike this year. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell at the open as investors awaited Nvidia's earnings, closely watched for fresh clues on AI demand and the broader tech rally.

The BSE and NSE have imposed financial penalties exceeding Rs 59 lakh on three public sector power companies: NTPC, REC, and SJVN. The fines are due to violations related to board composition listing regulations. In their defense, the companies argue that the appointment of directors falls under presidential powers. They are currently seeking waivers for these penalties.

ICICI Prudential AMC promoter Prudential Corporation Holdings plans to sell up to 2% stake through open-market transactions from August 27 to meet minimum public shareholding requirements. Promoter holding will fall to 85.60% after the proposed sale.

Six BSE 100 stocks, including TVS Motor, Paytm and Divis Laboratories, hit fresh 52-week highs despite a weak Sensex session, with gains reaching 34% over the past month.

Ventura Securities has initiated coverage on Meesho and LG Electronics India with Buy ratings, seeing up to 35% upside. The brokerage expects Meesho to benefit from value-commerce growth and improved monetisation, while LG India could gain from appliance premiumisation, localisation, exports and rising demand for cooling solutions.

The Indian stock markets experienced a shift, dropping from earlier gains with both Sensex and Nifty closing lower. Key decliners included Infosys, Bharti Airtel, and L&T. Meanwhile, Kotak Mahindra Bank's shares surged over three percent, contrasting with the mixed performance of broader markets, where small caps thrived while mid caps faced challenges. Interestingly, despite the main indices' downturn, the market breadth showed a favor for advancing stocks.

Indian refiners will divert 350,000 tons of sugar offshore to the domestic market. This move aims to ease a significant supply crunch and tame surging prices. Authorities have cleared the release of these stockpiles to domestic buyers within a week. This intervention will provide near-term relief for consumers during the festival season. Sugar prices have already begun to cool down following government intervention.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said India and China could play key roles in resolving the West Asia conflict because of their energy ties with Iran. She said diplomatic pressure from major buyers, particularly China, could help push Tehran towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

_Engineering exports remain above US$10 billion in the first four months of FY27_.

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume addressed staff regarding ongoing cost-cutting measures. He acknowledged their efforts but stated more work remains to be done. Blume highlighted that labor costs are double comparable European locations. Factory expenses also remain significantly higher than other plants. The company continues to strive for greater efficiency and competitiveness.

Foreign workers are largely staying in Gulf countries despite six months of conflict, choosing higher, tax-free salaries over weaker prospects back home. Some have sent families home for safety while continuing to work, highlighting the economic dependence of millions of expatriates on Gulf jobs.

Bitcoin traded near $79,000 on Wednesday as traders await key US PCE inflation and GDP data. While the broader trend remains bullish, rising profit-taking and resistance around $82,800$83,000 could limit near-term gains. Short-term holder whales have booked a record $1.2 billion in profits over three days, adding to market caution.

Adani Group-backed Cemindia Projects, formerly known as ITD Cementation India, is preparing to launch a qualified institutional placement (QIP) to raise up to Rs 5,000 crore. The company has appointed ICICI Securities and SBI Capital Markets as advisers and has been meeting institutional investors ahead of the potential share sale.

Mexicos peso has emerged as one of the strongest-performing emerging-market currencies in 2026, strengthening past 17 per dollar despite weak growth and US trade tensions. The super peso is helping curb import costs and inflation but is hurting exporters, especially firms reliant on US revenues.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a stronger stance on on-field conduct after India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was sanctioned for his altercation with Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando during the ongoing second Test in Colombo.

Delhi Aam Aadmi Party president Saurabh Bharadwaj criticized the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana. He claimed most women in the national capital have been excluded from the scheme. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated the scheme reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolve. Nearly 9.5 lakh women registered for the scheme within one month. The first beneficiaries will receive funds for August on September first.

AI risks: A key proposal Bill Gates plans to raise is international monitoring of AI systems capable of designing molecules or assisting biological attacks. He believes such oversight could be structured without restricting legitimate technological development.

In 1999, 15-year-old hacker Jonathan James broke into NASA computers and downloaded proprietary software linked to the International Space Station. NASA shut down affected systems for 21 days, while the incident reportedly cost about $41,000 to investigate and repair. James was later arrested and sentenced as a juvenile.

India sets its sights on becoming a frontrunner in innovation within the life sciences arena. The Bharat Life Sciences Award 2026 aims to honor exceptional scientific achievements while promoting teamwork. With leaders gathering to enhance manufacturing and drug discovery capabilities, discussions will delve into topics like AI-driven discovery and cutting-edge vaccine technologies, ultimately aiming to define the future of India's life sciences landscape.

European Central Bank policymakers are increasingly leaning towards a September rate hike as the Iran conflict drives up energy prices and inflation. While inflation is nearing 3% and economic activity remains resilient, officials appear reluctant to signal further tightening beyond September, keeping future decisions dependent on incoming data.

Mold-Tek Packagings board has approved a 1:1 bonus issue and recommended a final dividend of Rs 3 per share for FY26. Under the proposal, shareholders will receive one bonus share of Rs 5 face value for every share held. The company will announce the record date later, while the dividend will be declared at its annual general meeting.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor has directed officers to treat waterlogging as a disaster. A war-footing response is now required across all government departments. This directive follows heavy rainfall which caused significant traffic disruptions. Many key city roads experienced severe water accumulation and gridlock. Officials are now focused on swift citizen relief and better city management.

European shares edged higher as falling oil prices eased bond yields and supported equities, while investors awaited Nvidias quarterly results and fresh US inflation data. The STOXX 600 gained 0.1%, with basic resources leading gains, even as energy stocks lagged amid hopes of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

New Delhi: Indias month-on-month job postings rose 1.2% in July, ending three consecutive months of decline in March, April and June, while postings were up 8.3% year on year, according to an Indeed report.The report said while postings have been volatile recently, hiring intensity across India remains elevated, with postings still 84% above pre-pandemic levels.Indian job postings staged a modest recovery in July, ending three consecutive months of decline, Callam Pickering, senior economist, In

Jasprit Bumrah's long reign ended after his absence from recent matches with Mitchell Starc claiming the world's top Test bowler ranking for the first time. Starc achieved this milestone with a remarkable 10-wicket haul against Bangladesh. Rishabh Pant made significant gains in the Test batting rankings. Ravindra Jadeja continues to hold the No.1 all-rounder position.

Moonshot AI is negotiating revenue-sharing deals with Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. These talks could allow US cloud providers to host its Kimi K3 model. The Chinese AI firm seeks up to a thirty percent revenue share from these services. Unresolved issues include revenue splits and data access for auditing token usage. Moonshot AI has faced criticism from US officials regarding intellectual property concerns.

Sri Lankan authorities are monitoring eleven Iranian oil tankers near their southern coast. These vessels are US-sanctioned and cannot return to Iran due to a blockade. The ships are located near Galle harbour, where an Iranian frigate previously sank. Sri Lankan navy rescued thirty-two sailors from that sunken frigate earlier this year. No illegal activity has been observed, and the tankers remain in international waters.

PricewaterhouseCoopers International's attempt to exit the multibillion-dollar Evergrande lawsuit has been dismissed by a Hong Kong court. Liquidators of the company filed the suit alleging audit shortcomings and misrepresentation. The case seeks billions in damages from PwC and its affiliates for their work.

In the late 1800s, non-native red foxes wreaked havoc on the population of Ridgway's rails, bringing them perilously close to extinction. Fortunately, wildlife managers acted to eliminate the invasive foxes, resulting in a notable rebound for the rail population. The return of coyotes also played a crucial role in managing the fox population, further supporting the rails.

Four regional Federal Reserve banks backed a 25-basis-point increase in the discount rate ahead of the July policy meeting, minutes showed. The recommendations highlight divisions within the Fed system as policymakers weigh persistent inflation against signs of economic weakness, with markets closely watching for clues on future interest-rate moves.

In a recent disclosure, former CDS Anil Chauhan confirmed that Skardu airbase was identified as a possible target amidst the ongoing Operation Sindoor. Adverse weather conditions thwarted the planned assault, prompting a change in strategy towards a different military base. He stated that the Kirana Hills, home to Pakistan's nuclear installations, were not purposely engaged. Meanwhile, damage in the hills could be attributed to munitions near Sargodha.

While the Nifty Midcap 150 continues to trade near record levels, several individual midcap stocks have seen sharp declines from their 52-week highs. An analysis of ACE Equity data highlights 14 midcap stocks that have fallen between 30% and 55%, revealing the weakness beneath the index-level resilience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage with youth on India's sporting journey. The Khelo India Dialogue will focus on aspirations and youth leadership. It aims to improve the sports ecosystem and nurture talent for 2036 Olympics. The program will connect youth with athletes and medal winners nationwide. This initiative supports building a fit and disciplined nation for development.