The Economic Times

During August 2026, non-banking financial companies enjoyed a boost in credit expansion, with gold loans seeing remarkable growth alongside consumer durable loans. Housing loans remained a critical component of the retail lending portfolio. Conversely, lending to the services sector declined, highlighting slower growth in certain segments. This overall increase in several sectors points to an encouraging trend in the credit market.

Indian equities extended their rebound for a second session, with Sensex rising 685 points and Nifty gaining over 220 points. Falling crude prices, strong Q2 business updates and positive global cues lifted investor sentiment, adding nearly Rs 5 lakh crore to BSE market capitalisation.

MoSPI began compiling the ISP on a monthly basis for the formal services sector on a trial basis in July 2026. The exercise uses 2024-25 as the base year and was designed to provide a higher-frequency measure of services-sector performance.

Amid rising tariffs and geopolitical tensions, trade negotiations between India and the United States have reached an impasse. The US has voiced concerns over India's ongoing acquisition of Russian oil, which could trigger higher tariffs. India aims to safeguard its vital agricultural sectors during talks while advocating for enhanced export conditions. Future discussions, particularly with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's upcoming visit, may provide an opportunity for resolution.

The Election Commission of India refused to meet a delegation of 240 MPs led by Rahul Gandhi. This decision followed a day of protests in the national capital against the Chief Election Commissioner. Congress leaders, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, were detained during the protests. The Commission stated that no formal meeting request had been submitted by the deadline.

The Trump administration sought to introduce new US Postal Service requirements ahead of the midterm elections. The proposal called for special envelopes and barcodes linked to individual voters. States would also have been required to submit voter information through a federal portal.

Middle Eastern oil exports have significantly recovered as shipping companies navigate a complex transport network. While conventional methods remain risky, alternate routes are being utilized to ensure continuous oil movement. Oil producers are adjusting strategies, relying on pipelines and offshore transfers to circumvent dangerous waters. The shipping process has become more expensive due to increased insurance and higher freight rates.

The Competition Commission of India approved four deals on Tuesday in highways, hospitality, steel, and pharmaceuticals. JSW Group's restructuring gained approval, merging BMM Ispat into JSW Steel for full ownership. Canada's CPP Investment Board can acquire a stake in Prestige Hospitality Ventures, but specifics were not disclosed.

Titan Companys consumer businesses grew 25% year-on-year in Q2 FY27, led by watches, EyeCare and jewellery. Domestic businesses rose 22%, while international operations surged 97%. Titan added 78 net stores, taking its overall consumer store network to 3,758 in September 2026.

The Finance Ministry on Tuesday asked private sector banks to step up participation in financial inclusion schemes, including PMMY and Stand Up India. Financial Services Secretary Sanjay Lohiya urged banks to support the upcoming saturation campaign, expand digital outreach, improve loan processing, strengthen insurance claim awareness and address grievances.

Utkarsh Small Finance Banks Q2 FY27 disbursements surged 54.9% year-on-year to Rs 3,525 crore, driven by strong non-JLG growth. Total loans rose 7.5% to Rs 20,063 crore, while deposits increased 6.6% to Rs 23,869 crore, according to provisional business data.

As global capital shifts amid rising bond yields, changing valuations and new investment themes, investors are asking where the next opportunities could emerge. At ET Alpha Wealth Summit 2.0, two back-to-back sessions will explore where long-term capital is moving and how family offices and institutions are putting money to work across private credit, venture debt, co-investments and alternative strategies.

HFCL, Aether Industries, Aditya Infotech and BHEL hit fresh 52-week highs, with the four stocks gaining up to 14% over the past month.

Franklin India Small Cap Fund crossed Rs 14,000 crore in AUM, while a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP grew to nearly Rs 1.94 crore over 20 years. The fund has outperformed its benchmark over 15 years, highlighting long-term compounding and disciplined investing.

OpenAI is rolling out invisible text watermarking for eligible ChatGPT and Codex output in the European Union, allowing its detector to look for a statistical signal hidden in the model's word choices. The technology can identify many longer passages, but OpenAI says editing, translation, short text and technical subjects can weaken detection. The system also cannot establish who wrote a passage, how much a human contributed or whether the content is accurate.

IND vs WI Live Streaming: The highly anticipated five-match T20I series between India and West Indies kicks off on October 6 at 7:00 PM IST. Fans can expect an exhilarating start at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Following a successful 2-1 ODI series win, Shreyas Iyer steps up to lead India, aiming to maintain their victorious momentum in the T20 format.

Karnataka plans to construct nine new integrated industrial townships, 312 km of new Metro lines, a 210-km ring road and a 270-km RRTS network across Bengaluru Metropolitan Region over the next decade. The government has already acquired 7,900 acresfor the proposed townships.

Reliance Industries is preparing for the IPO of Jio Platforms scheduled to launch on October 21. The valuation of Jio Platforms is reported at Rs 11 lakh crore, making it highly anticipated. The public issue is expected to attract significant attention as it opens for subscription. Jefferies has raised its weight on Reliance Industries due to attractive valuations amid improving conditions.

India has condemned the attack on the commercial vessel MV ROYAD MAMMADOV that resulted in two fatalities. All three Indian nationals aboard the ship have been reported safe, with one receiving medical attention. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized the need for dialogue to resolve ongoing conflicts affecting commercial shipping. Indian authorities are in close contact with Romanian officials to support the injured crew members.

Sebi has called Jane Streets demand for additional documents a dilatory tactic as the Wall Street trading firm challenges the regulators market manipulation allegations. The dispute centres on Jane Streets trading in Nifty Bank derivatives. The outcome could influence how global trading firms assess regulatory risks in Indias derivatives market, with the hearing set to continue Wednesday.

Insurance brokers in India are opposing commission cap proposals from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. They warn that these changes could reduce their revenue significantly and threaten many jobs. The Insurance Brokers Association of India seeks more time to provide feedback and opposes hard caps without proper assessments. Proposed changes aim to lower distribution costs and improve policyholder value, according to the regulator.

Nifty surged more than 300 points in less than a minute during Tuesdays closing auction session, briefly crossing 23,000 before paring gains. The sharp swings have renewed concerns over CAS volatility on expiry days, even as Sebi considers changes to derivatives settlement rules. Jefferies sees signs of recovery in options volumes.

Swara Baby Products has received approval from Sebi to proceed with its Rs 1,000 crore IPO. The IPO includes a fresh issue of equity shares and an offer for sale by promoters. Proceeds will be used for expanding a manufacturing facility and repaying borrowings among other corporate purposes. Founded in 2018, Swara Baby manufactures a range of disposable hygiene products for different consumer needs.

Indias $315-billion IT industry faces a structural shift as AI boosts productivity but puts pressure on pricing, revenue and entry-level hiring. Clients are demanding more output for less, while spending shifts towards AI, cloud and in-house capabilities.

Indian insurance brokers are opposing regulatory proposals that include caps on commissions paid to various distributors. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India introduced these proposals to reduce costs for policyholders. Concerns have been raised about potential job losses and unethical practices following the reforms. The brokers association has requested an audience with government leaders regarding the changes.

Trent shares rose sharply after a strong Q2 business update, adding over Rs 17,540 crore to its market capitalisation. The surge lifted the value of LICs stake in the Zudio parent by more than Rs 531 crore in a single session. Trent also crossed 1,000 Zudio stores during the quarter.

Dabur shares rose sharply on Tuesday after the FMCG major projected double-digit consolidated revenue and PAT growth in Q2FY27. Its India FMCG business is expected to accelerate, while Home & Personal Care could post double-digit growth. Food and Beverages may deliver mid-teens growth, while international business is expected to maintain strong momentum.

Motilal Oswal initiated coverage on Molbio Diagnostics with a Buy rating and 1,800 target, implying 21% upside. The brokerage sees strong growth potential from decentralised molecular diagnostics, led by Molbios Truenat platform, which has 12,500+ devices across 90+ countries and 43 assays for 30 diseases.

Indian banks are heading into the Q2 earnings season with strong loan growth, helped by FCNR(B) deposit inflows, but margins are likely to remain under pressure. Analysts expect healthy earnings growth on lower credit costs and stable asset quality, while favouring large private banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Mutual funds increased holdings in 64 Nifty Microcap 250 companies for two consecutive quarters. Ten microcap stocks gained 25%-68% in three months, led by Electronics Mart India, Sky Gold, Bluestone Jewellery, Sudarshan Chemical and Timex Group, highlighting strong institutional buying and investor interest.

Meesho shares rose after strong growth in its Content Commerce business, with NMV increasing 152% year-on-year. Brokerages remain divided, with UBS and Jefferies positive on the stock, while Nomura has a Reduce call.

Lupin Ltd has launched Formoflo-G MDI, a new inhaler for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management in India. This fixed-dose inhaler combines three therapies into a single device for better treatment outcomes. It aims to benefit over 55 million people living with COPD across the country. The Drug Controller General of India has approved this innovative product for use. Lupin is currently ranked second in the respiratory therapy segment in India.

SRIT India shares rose 19% from the IPO price after making a strong debut on the NSE. The stock, however, fell short of grey market expectations. With the companys digital technology services business gaining traction, analysts highlight revenue growth, profitability, execution and cash flows as key factors for investors.

Jio Platforms is reportedly seeking a valuation of around Rs 11 lakh crore for its planned IPO, below earlier estimates of up to $170 billion. The telecom and digital services arm of Reliance Industries could launch the issue in the week of October 19 and list before October 30, Bloomberg reported.

Orient Cables' shares faced a notable drop of 10% soon after a promising IPO launch, leading to a dip in investor sentiment. However, the stock continues to hold firm above the initial issue price of Rs 272. Analysts are now focused on the firms capability to maintain revenue growth and its profitability, urging investors to carefully evaluate its financial soundness and operational strategies in the near future.

Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, reported peaceful polling in the Nandigram by-election. Around 50 percent of voters had participated by midday as he cast his vote. He anticipated a turnout exceeding 85 percent based on historical trends in the constituency. Adhikari mentioned he would continue to serve as the MLA for Bhabanipur while promising to remain a voter in Nandigram.

To effectively remove candle wax from fabric, begin by freezing the wax to solidify it. Once hardened, gently scrape the fabric to lift off as much wax as possible. Follow this by applying heat with an iron to eliminate any remaining traces. For faint stains that linger, a specialized stain remover may be necessary. Always handle heated materials cautiously and refer to care instructions to achieve optimal results.

The RBIs expected first rate hike in three years could have a mixed impact on banks and NBFCs. While higher funding costs may pressure NBFC margins, lenders with floating-rate assets and strong liquidity could benefit. Brokerages favour HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Finance and Tata Capital.

A Delhi court granted regular bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj, a Hindutva influencer, after observing his conduct. The previous interim bail allowed for three weeks, with specific conditions imposed by the court. He was instructed not to communicate with any witnesses or discuss the case publicly during this period. The case involved the alleged assault of a student activist's father during protests at Jantar Mantar.

Rosatom organised an International Fishing Tournament near Russias Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant in the Tver region, bringing together 22 amateur anglers and 28 journalists and experts from 11 countries, including India. The Indian team comprised Tamil Nadu fishing enthusiasts Ziegen Joseph and Chandrasekar Ravi.

Harmanpreet Kaur home: Harmanpreet Kaur, who recently stepped down as captain of the Indian women's cricket team, owns a family home in her hometown Moga in Punjab. Media reports estimate the house to be worth up to Rs 1.5 crore. The home has spacious rooms, open outdoor areas and modern interiors.

Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, remains under house arrest while his family gains political power. His son Flavio Bolsonaro won a surprising victory in the presidential election's first round. The right-wing Liberal Party saw significant success, indicating growing public support despite Jair's legal challenges. The new Congress will prioritize potential amnesty for Jair Bolsonaro in the upcoming session.

UP man Akshay Kumar, 25, who travelled to Russia on a study visa in December 2024, has been missing since August 24 after his family alleged he was persuaded to join the Russian army on promises of citizenship and non-combat duties. His relatives have appealed to the Indian government to locate him and facilitate his return.

A conference on business opportunities in BIMSTEC countries took place in Delhi. Indian businesses learned about potential partnerships for trade, investment, and technology. Senior diplomats from BIMSTEC member states shared insights regarding economic cooperation. Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon emphasized the need for enhanced connectivity and collaboration among BIMSTEC members. Around 80 representatives from Indian industry attended to discuss areas of cooperation and engagement.

India currently imposes a 10% import duty on red lentils and chickpeas, while yellow peas attract a 30% duty.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has initiated a five-day official visit to three African nations. This visit aims to enhance bilateral partnerships between India and Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Ethiopia. Meetings will focus on various sectors including trade, development cooperation, and capacity building. During his time in Ethiopia, he is scheduled to chair the Regional Heads of Mission Conference.