The Economic Times

'I'm not informed': Taiwan-China question trips up Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina debate

'Keystone XL woken from grave': Trump pauses 50% Canada tariffs as Carney races to seal trade deal

US President Donald Trump said North Korea has 57 very powerful nuclear weapons and indicated he plans to meet leader Kim Jong Un. His remarks came after he ordered the Pentagon to cut short joint military exercises with South Korea. Experts have offered varying estimates of Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal.

Telecom operators must deny new SIM connections to subscribers exceeding nine. This directive from the Department of Telecommunications takes effect from August 24, 2026. Operators will use the Digital Intelligence Platform to identify and block excess connections. Subscriber photos will be available on the platform from August 23. Measures must be implemented by telecom providers before November 30.

Delhi: Three people were killed and three others injured after a CNG cylinder fitted in a truck exploded during refilling at a filling station near Tikri Kalan Metro Station on Wednesday. The deceased were station employees. Police are examining the cylinder, truck, refilling equipment, CCTV footage and forensic evidence to determine the cause.

Indian equities extended losses for a seventh session as rising oil prices and US-Iran tensions heightened risk aversion. Nifty fell to 24,078, while Sensex declined 326 points. Analysts flagged 24,000-24,050 as crucial support, with weak breadth favouring bears.

Estee Lauder projects robust annual profits that are set to surpass Wall Street's expectations. The company's growth is heavily fueled by luxury fragrances, including popular lines such as Tom Ford and Le Labo. Estee Lauder anticipates an ongoing demand surge from young, affluent consumers while strategically broadening its brand presence in both China and international markets, aiming to enhance its makeup and hair care categories alongside its fragrances.

The construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple is nearly finished, with just the installation of the trust's logo at the top of the Purn Smriti Stambh pending. This last detail is expected to be completed shortly. Additionally, upcoming meetings will focus on the development and operations of the Ram Katha Sangrahalaya, with prepared scripts for museum galleries set to be transformed into video presentations.

Sebi issued an interim order against Copthall Mauritius and Mansi Share and Stock Broking for manipulative trading during the August 13, 2026, Closing Auction Session. The regulator impounded Rs 3.67 crore in alleged wrongful gains from these two entities.

Shiprocket debuted on the NSE at 131, a 35% premium, closing at 143.10. Goldman Sachs India EQ Portfolio acquired 40.24 lakh shares post-listing. Analysts advise investors to book partial profits while holding remaining shares for long-term growth.

Indian monetary policy makers may tighten rates in the third quarter if inflation risks materialize. Higher food and fuel prices could lead to broad-based inflation, prompting action. Inflation is projected to peak at 5.9% in Q3 2026-27, signaling potential policy shifts. The central bank remains watchful of global economic turbulence and its domestic impact. Monetary response is warranted if inflation expectations become de-anchored or persistent.

BSE has partnered with MSCI to explore futures and options contracts linked to MSCI indexes in India, subject to regulatory approvals. The move could broaden BSEs derivatives offerings, strengthen index-based investing and provide investors additional tools to hedge India exposure.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is leading a large delegation to Singapore. This visit aims to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two nations. The delegation includes representatives from various key sectors like technology and finance. Singapore remains India's largest source of foreign direct investment. Bilateral trade has significantly expanded following a cooperation agreement.

Moderna shares surged after its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine trial showed positive results. The treatment, combined with Keytruda, reduced melanoma recurrence and spread significantly. This marks the first successful late-stage trial for an mRNA cancer vaccine. The findings offer hope for future growth beyond COVID-19 vaccines. Discussions with regulators are expected within the next few months.

Marvell shares surged 8% after securing a Google agreement to develop custom AI chips and related technologies. Google received a warrant for up to 58.97 million shares worth about $12.18 billion, strengthening Marvells position in AI infrastructure.

Parents can find many baby boy names beginning with the letter D. Popular choices include Daniel, David, and Dylan with established meanings. Rare options like Dacre and Dashiell offer unique sounds and origins. Cute and cool names such as Damon and Dexter provide a modern feel. International names like Daiki and Demir expand the selection for families.

Target shares jumped 5% after second-quarter sales rose 5.3%, comparable sales increased 3.8% and traffic climbed 3.6%. Digital sales grew 8.7%, while EPS doubled to $4.11, boosted by tariff refunds, with underlying earnings still rising 20%.

Sebis interim order alleges Dhenu Buildcon routed Rs 1,000 crore through connected entities as loans, later converting Rs 840 crore into equity. Despite negligible revenue, its market cap surged to Rs 4,925 crore. The regulator ordered restrictions while investigations continue.

US stock futures edged higher after a tech-led selloff, as investors monitored Iran tensions and key retail earnings for clues on consumer health.

Major Wall Street indexes opened higher on Wednesday, recovering from a prior session's slump. Government bond yields retreated from multi-decade highs, aiding the market's recovery. Investors assessed a slew of corporate updates following the previous trading day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 120 points at the open. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also saw gains in early trading.

The Modi government is planning a nationwide One Day, One University outreach programme, under which Union ministers will visit universities daily to engage with Gen Z, hear student concerns and explain youth-focused welfare schemes.

Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain and others were sent to judicial custody. This action follows their arrest in connection with an alleged Delhi Jal Board scam. The Anti Corruption Bureau produced the AAP leader and other accused at Rouse Avenue Court. They face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections. Six individuals were arrested by the ACB in this ongoing investigation.

China's Loess Plateau has seen a revolutionary ecological overhaul, where farmers took the initiative to plant trees and construct terraces. This collective endeavor not only rejuvenated once barren hillsides but also drastically curbed soil erosion into the Yellow River, with sediment discharge considerably decreasing. Moreover, this sustainable project has been pivotal in improving the livelihoods of millions, pulling them out of poverty.

The Centre informed the Delhi High Court about retesting three UGC-NET subjects. Sociology, English, and Commerce papers will be re-conducted on specific dates. This decision followed complaints regarding errors and alleged question paper leaks. A candidate's petition seeking a stay on results was disposed of by the court.

Escorts Kubota has announced a substantial investment of Rs 2,000 crore for a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Uttar Pradesh. This new plant is set to manufacture tractors, farm implements, and construction equipment for international markets. This initiative is aligned with Kubota Corporation's strategy for expansion and establishing manufacturing hubs, significantly enhancing production capacity. Funding will be sourced from share proceeds and internal resources.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said greater clarity on the inflation trajectory is needed before any recalibration of the policy rate, as the central bank remains alert to risks from food, fuel and input costs. The MPC retained the repo rate, with members favouring a wait-and-watch approach amid persistent uncertainties.

Larsen & Toubro made a strategic move by purchasing over two crore units of Nxt-Infra Trust for Rs 199 crore via an open market transaction on the NSE. Additionally, A K Capital Finance disposed of more than two crore units of the same trust. This Sebi-registered InvIT, supported by Actis Highway Infra Ltd, saw a substantial rise in share price following the infrastructure powerhouse's acquisition.

India's real estate sector is expected to remain broadly resilient despite geopolitical uncertainty arising from the West Asia crisis, with healthy demand, strong developer balance sheets and robust office leasing likely to cushion near-term pressures. However, prolonged elevated crude prices could raise construction costs by 2-3 per cent and weigh on affordable housing and highly leveraged developers, according to a report by CareEdge Ratings.

Arkade Developers has unveiled plans to redevelop four prominent housing projects in Mumbai, expecting an impressive revenue of Rs 5,000 crore. Nestled in Malad West, Kandivali West, Kandivali East, and Borivali West, these projects boast a combined saleable carpet area of around fifteen lakh square feet, with the significant cluster redevelopment in Borivali West anticipating sales of Rs 3,000 crore.

Germany's borrowing costs have surged to their highest level in fifteen years, influenced by increased security threats following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Finance Ministry emphasizes the necessity for substantial investments in defense and security. Meanwhile, bond yields in other leading Western nations have also risen sharply this week, complicating fiscal policies and raising borrowing costs for both businesses and consumers.

Indian government bonds showed little movement on Wednesday, trading in a tight range. The increase in oil prices countered support drawn from softer U.S. Treasury yields, which affected trader sentiment. Market participants are now looking ahead to the impending policy minutes from the U.S. and Indian central banks for insights on future directions. The Indian rupee experienced a decline against the dollar, prolonging the Nifty 50 index's losing streak.

Four BSE 200 stocksGlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Lenskart Solutions, Bosch and Samvardhana Motherson Internationalhit fresh 52-week highs despite Sensex weakness. The stocks gained 18%-24% over the past month, signalling strong investor interest and positive momentum.

Indian equities extended losses for a seventh session, with Nifty falling 0.32% and Sensex 0.42% ahead of US FOMC minutes. IT stocks gained, but broader markets weakened. Analysts flagged 24,000 as crucial Nifty support amid persistent sell-on-rallies sentiment.

Technology remains investors top choice, but Asia fund managers are turning defensive, with 59% hedging AI downside through value, cyclical and defensive sectors. Asia ex-Japan optimism rose, while Japan exposure remains concentrated in banks and semiconductors amid policy expectations and weaker semiconductor sentiment.

Food regulator FSSAI has taken action against several companies for misleading claims. Amway India and Emami are among firms that withdrew '100 per cent' product claims. Bonn Biscuits and Apis India also removed similar misleading statements from their products. Juza Foods and Masterchow Foods have also complied with the regulator's directives.

Indian crop insurers are asking the government for regulatory data protection. This provision would encourage the introduction of newer, safer pesticide molecules. Companies seek a five-year exclusive access window for newly registered products. This change aims to boost farm output and agrochemical exports competitiveness. International comparisons show other nations offer similar data protection periods.

Hyundai Motor India will implement a price increase of up to one percent. This adjustment will affect all vehicles across its extensive portfolio. The automaker cited rising input and commodity costs as the primary reason. Continuing geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties also contributed to this decision. The price revision is scheduled to take effect in September 2026.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Modi government's impact on youth employment. He alleged widespread paper leaks and recruitment scams affecting educated young people. Kharge also demanded accountability for alleged financial wrongdoing regarding Ram temple donations. He stated that the Prime Minister should apologize and provide answers to the public.

IndiGo's core reservation platform is experiencing intermittent issues today. This disruption affects customers' ability to book tickets and check-in online. The airline is working with a partner to resolve the problem urgently. Many customers reported issues with the website and the mobile application. IndiGo advised travelers needing immediate assistance to contact their call center.

Students protesting alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations in Jharkhand suspended their agitation on Wednesday and gave the state government a two-month ultimatum to address their concerns. The decision was announced by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which said students would await action on their demands during this period.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor visited Jammu and Kashmir for the first time. He met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and described the interaction as very good. The ambassador expressed his pleasure and excitement about visiting the beautiful region. He mentioned follow-up actions to be taken back to Washington and Delhi. The meeting aimed to build and move the relationship forward.

New Delhi: Farm and construction equipment maker Escorts Kubota on Wednesday announced a Rs 2,000 crore investment to set up a new manufacturing plant in YEIDA industrial area, Uttar Pradesh.The plant to be developed across 154 acres at Sector 10, Gautam Buddha Nagar, in the industrial area of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), will be one of the largest manufacturing facilities for its promoter Kubota Group across the globe, the company said in a regulatory filing.T

India crude imports: On an annual basis, crude oil imports were up 13%, from 18.89 million tons in July last year, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell showed.

The termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians has led to job losses for caregivers. This decision impacts developmentally disabled men like Richie Rosen who relied on their aides. Around 21,000 Haitian TPS holders worked as caregivers, serving many patients nationwide. Their departure creates significant staffing shortages within the healthcare industry. This situation exacerbates existing challenges in meeting the needs of an aging population.

Brent crude may stay near eighty dollars a barrel for twelve months. Analysts favor Oil India and ONGC due to expected earnings growth. Oil India's refinery capacity expansion will drive future output increases. Oil marketing companies face pressure from lower integrated gross margins. Valuation and earnings concerns persist for HPCL, BPCL, and IOCL.