India's external debt experienced a 10% surge, reaching $736.3 billion by March 2025, with the debt-to-GDP ratio slightly increasing to 19.1%. The non-financial corporate sector held the largest share of borrowing, while loans constituted the major component of the total external debt. The US dollar remained the dominant currency in India's foreign borrowing.

India's foreign exchange reserves decreased by $1.01 billion, reaching $697.93 billion in the week ending June 20, according to RBI data. This decline reverses the previous week's increase. The drop was primarily due to decreases in foreign currency assets, which fell by $357 million, and gold reserves, which slipped by $573 million.

Coal India will invest over Rupees 1,067 crore in Talcher Fertilizers Limited. This investment supports India's first coal gasification-based ammonia urea plant. The Talcher project aims to produce 12.7 lakh tonnes of urea annually. The project faced delays due to the pandemic. Coal India views this investment as crucial for diversification and fertiliser self-sufficiency.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is set to acquire a controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) for up to $52.96 million, marking its first international acquisition. This strategic move aims to expand India's maritime influence in the Indian Ocean Region amidst China's growing presence.

In May, India's telecom sector saw a slight increase, reaching 120.7 crore subscribers, with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel capturing almost all new additions. Jio led with 27 lakh new mobile users, while Airtel added 2.75 lakh, offsetting losses from Vodafone Idea and BSNL. The broadband user base also grew, dominated by Jio and Airtel.

India has restricted imports of specific jute and woven fabric products from Bangladesh to the Nhava Sheva seaport, escalating trade tensions. This decision, effective immediately, follows concerns over controversial remarks by Bangladesh's interim leader and growing ties with China and Pakistan. The move marks the third trade curtailment in recent months, impacting a bilateral trade relationship valued at $12.

Nike shares rose after announcing a production shift from China. The company anticipates tariff costs of $1 billion. Price increases are expected in the US this fall. Nike aims to reduce Chinese footwear production to single digits by 2026. Trade agreement details between the US and China remain unclear.

The Employees State Insurance Corporation has relaunched the SPREE scheme until December 2025, aiming to broaden its reach to unregistered employers and workers. Complementing this, the Amnesty Scheme 2025 offers a chance to resolve disputes. ESIC has simplified penalty rates for delayed contributions and will allow relaxations on job-loss claims.

A new NCAER paper suggests India can significantly boost employment in labor-intensive sectors by 2030 through targeted investments in formal skilling. Increasing the skilled workforce by 12% could lead to a 13% rise in employment within these sectors. The report emphasizes a multi-pronged approach, including addressing mismatches in government initiatives like the PLI scheme and improving training quality.

The US and India are nearing a mini-deal trade agreement, aiming to meet President Trump's July deadline. Negotiations face hurdles regarding agricultural access and GMO products, with India prioritizing food security. The outcome will significantly impact their economic relationship.

The rupee strengthened to 85.48 against the US dollar, gaining 24 paise, fueled by robust foreign fund inflows and positive domestic equity market performance. The rise occurred despite increasing crude oil prices, with traders remaining cautious about upcoming US tariff deadlines. The Sensex and Nifty also saw gains, reflecting the overall positive market sentiment.

Adani Power shares surged nearly 14% this week, hitting Rs 605 on Friday, driven by robust trading volumes and a bullish technical setup. Despite a 15.6% dip over the past year, the stock has shown strong recovery, gaining 14.5% year-to-date. Analysts remain optimistic, projecting a 1-year target price of Rs 634, indicating further upside potential.

India's thermal coal imports from Russia surged 52% in May 2025, reaching a two-year high due to competitive pricing and higher-grade coal. While Russian coal imports increased, India's overall coal imports dropped by 7.9% in FY25, driven by rising domestic production and a focus on energy self-reliance. High-grade imports remain essential for key sectors.

Life insurance companies are seeking regulatory approval from Irdai to invest a portion of their ULIP assets in gold ETFs, driven by rising gold prices and the need for portfolio diversification amid lower returns from traditional investments.

Zerodha's Nithin Kamath cautions retail investors about the unlisted shares craze, highlighting significant risks like lack of price discovery and liquidity. He points to HDB Financial Services' IPO as an example where valuations crashed below unlisted trade levels, burning early investors. SEBI has also flagged unregulated platforms facilitating these transactions, warning against violations.

India is intensifying domestic rare earth magnet production amid China's export restrictions, impacting sectors like automobiles and electronics. The government, industry, and academia are collaborating to achieve competitive pricing, with technology transfer agreements underway. This push aims to build scalable infrastructure and reduce reliance on Chinese imports, ensuring supply chain resilience during global disruptions.

ICICI Bank plans to increase its stake in ICICI Prudential AMC by up to 2% to maintain majority control amidst potential equity dilution from stock-based compensation. The bank's board has approved the purchase, pending regulatory approvals. Additionally, the board approved granting voting rights to American Depository Shares holders, subject to RBI approval and compliance with banking regulations.

Non-bank financial institutions are poised to accelerate their IPO plans, driven by favorable regulatory changes, reduced interest rates, and improving credit cycles. Several NBFCs, having already secured SEBI approvals, are expected to expedite their listing procedures.

Promoters, PE firms, and strategic investors offloaded over Rs 1 lakh crore in Indian shares. This selling trend, driven by attractive valuations and strategic reasons, was absorbed by strong institutional demand, particularly from domestic mutual funds. Experts emphasize understanding the motivations behind divestments to assess market health.

China's industrial profits saw a sharp decline in May. This reverses a previous recovery. Factory activity slowed down. Deflationary pressures increased. Trade instability with the United States continues. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals a 9.1 percent year-on-year drop. Weak domestic demand and property sector issues persist. Experts suggest more policy support is needed for recovery.

India is considering revising the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with Bangladesh, set to expire in 2026. New Delhi seeks a new treaty reflecting its current irrigation, port maintenance, and power generation needs.

As trade talks with the US intensify ahead of a crucial deadline, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) urges India to prioritize a balanced agreement. GTRI emphasizes protecting agriculture, digital infrastructure, and regulatory sovereignty. India must avoid a politically driven deal that undermines long-term policy autonomy and food security, ensuring reciprocity and transparency.

Oil prices are set for their largest weekly decline since March 2023 as concerns about supply disruptions from the Iran-Israel conflict have diminished. Despite a slight intraday increase, both Brent and WTI crude benchmarks are poised for a roughly 12% weekly drop. Analysts cite an oversupplied market and revised price forecasts, while U.S.

The US and China have finalized a trade deal, with the US agreeing to cancel restrictive measures, according to China. This follows earlier discussions and a negotiation framework established in London. China is expediting rare earth export approvals, a crucial element in high-tech manufacturing, while both economies have faced negative impacts from trade tensions, including declining manufacturing profits and economic slowdown.

India's telecom sector is set for a cybersecurity overhaul with the DoT's proposed rules, introducing a centralized 'Mobile Number Validation' platform. This platform aims to curb online fraud by enabling authorized entities to verify mobile numbers for a fee. The government can also suspend numbers without notice and collect transaction histories, raising data privacy concerns among experts.

The O-1 visa is gaining traction among professionals and companies as an alternative to the H-1B, offering a route to work in the US for those with extraordinary abilities. With rising O-1A approvals and a high success rate, STEM graduates, researchers, and artists are increasingly pursuing this option.

Xiaomi's YU7 electric SUV launch has ignited the Chinese EV market, securing 289,000 pre-orders within the first hour and propelling the company's stock to record highs. The YU7, priced competitively below Tesla's Model Y, boasts superior range and advanced tech features. This launch aligns with China's strategy to become a major consumption powerhouse, further intensifying the EV price war.

JSW Paints will acquire a 74.76% stake in Akzo Nobel India (ANIL) from Akzo Nobel NV for up to Rs 8,986 crores. The deal, pending regulatory approval and a tender offer, brings brands like Dulux into the JSW fold. JSW aims to build the next-generation paint company, leveraging ANIL's strong market position.

Gold price prediction today: Gold futures are experiencing selling pressure, trading near 97,087, influenced by a bearish technical outlook. Analysts suggest a 'Sell on Rise' strategy for June 27, specifically in the 97,30097,400 range, targeting 96,700 and potentially 96,200.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Friday on the back of favourable global cues. While Nifty50 was near 25,600, BSE Sensex was up over 100 points.

Asian stocks soared to multi-year highs, mirroring Wall Street's optimism, fueled by easing geopolitical tensions and anticipated interest rate cuts. Japan's Nikkei 225 surpassed 40,000 for the first time in five months. A weaker US dollar boosted Asian currencies and asset demand.

Trade talks between India and the US are gaining momentum, potentially leading to a significant agreement. President Trump hinted at a very big deal to open up India, focusing on sectors like energy, agriculture, and defense.

Stock market recommendations: Bajaj Broking Research suggests a bullish outlook for the Indian stock market, highlighting Tata Steel and Lloyds Engineering Works as top picks. Nifty is expected to reach 25,700-25,900, while Bank Nifty aims for 58,500, driven by positive market breadth and technical breakouts.

US President Donald Trump hinted at a significant trade deal with India, following a recent agreement with China. Negotiations are underway in Washington, led by Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agarwal, aiming to bridge gaps in the proposed bilateral agreement.

Delhivery witnessed significant investor activity as global and Indian entities, including Morgan Stanley and HDFC Mutual Fund, acquired a 1.6% stake for Rs 461 crore through open market deals. This transaction involved Nexus Venture Partners selling shares at Rs 387 apiece. The development follows Delhivery's recent announcement of acquiring a controlling stake in Ecom Express for Rs 1,400 crore.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has strengthened rules for mutual funds. Rebalancing timelines will apply to all passive breaches in actively managed funds. This excludes Index Funds and Exchange Traded Funds. The new directive broadens compliance requirements. It addresses unintended deviations in asset allocation. Portfolios must be rebalanced within 30 business days of a breach.

Get ready for a three-day banking break in Odisha and Manipur starting June 27, 2025. Rath Yatra kicks off the closures, followed by the usual weekend shutdowns. Mizoram banks will also be closed on June 30 for Remna Ni. Plan your transactions ahead to avoid disruptions. Digital banking will be your friend during this period.

A Bank of Baroda report indicates Indian companies are increasingly funding growth internally. Corporate debt growth slowed to a 2.9% CAGR between FY21-FY25, a significant drop from the previous five years. While investment in fixed assets remained strong, firms are relying more on retained profits.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is poised to introduce electricity futures contracts within weeks, having secured regulatory approval. This initiative aims to provide power sector participants with a hedging mechanism against price volatility. The contracts, each representing 50 MWh, will be priced using a weighted average of spot prices from multiple platforms, fostering a more efficient electricity derivatives market.

Zohran Mamdani's unexpected rise in the New York mayoral race is causing unease on Wall Street, with concerns about increased taxes and potential exodus of wealthy residents. His populist policies and social media savvy have garnered significant support, contrasting with establishment backing for his opponent. The election's outcome could significantly impact the city's financial landscape and future.

US stocks opened positively on Thursday, nearing record highs, with the S&P 500 leading the charge. McCormick's shares jumped following strong earnings and a positive outlook. Nvidia's gains continued, making it the most valuable US company. Despite a contraction in the US economy, optimism remains due to anticipated growth.

The US economy contracted by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to a surge in imports spurred by President Trump's trade war. This import surge, up 37.9%, significantly dragged down GDP, marking the first quarterly decline in three years. Despite the downturn, economists anticipate a rebound in the second quarter, projecting a 3% growth.

Indian officials are in the US, led by chief negotiator Rajesh Agarwal, for trade deal talks aimed at bridging differences. Agriculture is a key sticking point, with India hesitant to lower tariffs on sensitive items like maize and soybean due to the prevalence of genetically modified crops in the US.

Homegrown FMCG firm Dharampal Satyapal Group's Pulse candy is poised to become a Rs 1,000-crore brand within two years, projecting its current sales. Having already crossed Rs 750 crore in FY25, the company plans strategic expansion into adjacent product categories and innovative formats.