The Economic Times

President Donald Trump has announced one-time $90 payments for more than 20 million Medicare Part B enrollees. The White House says the money will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which has about $2 billion available. Most eligible recipients are expected to receive the payment in October, without filing a separate application.

Panchayati Raj elections in Rajasthan will be held in four phases, beginning with nominations on October 8. Voting for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members will take place on specific dates in October and November. The election process includes the election of Pradhan, Up-Pradhan, Zila Pramukh, and Up-Zila Pramukh later in November. A total of 3.17 lakh personnel will oversee elections at 45,384 polling stations.

A committee in Parliament is in the process of exploring the legal avenues for regulating cryptocurrency transactions and assets within India. They aim to identify technological strategies for tracking these digital assets responsibly. Highlighting the government's earlier stance on cryptocurrencies as unregulated and risky, recent notices under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act have been dispatched.

Russian attacks killed at least six people in Ukraine and damaged Kyiv's Northern Bridge, disrupting traffic for a third day, while Moscow confirmed it targeted the structure. Ukrainian strikes also caused casualties in Russia. Moldova's president warned that the war was increasingly spilling into her country after reported Russian airspace violations.

Chandigarh State Consumer Commission increased the compensation for a senior citizen after inadequate toilet facilities were provided. The complainant, aged 73, booked a retiring room expecting a Western toilet but found an Indian toilet. Following initial acknowledgment of the error, the refund was denied after the room was not used. Initially awarded only Rs 3,000, the compensation was raised to Rs 20,000 for mental anguish and litigation expenses.

Ukraine is evaluating four international proposals to resolve the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting India's comprehensive approach. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted India's newfound willingness to engage in the peace process. Other proposals include initiatives from Turkiye and Egypt for grain truce and a U.S. energy truce. Both Zelenskyy and Putin have acknowledged India's principled stance and Modi's diplomatic efforts.

India triumphed in the Asian Games cricket final, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs to secure their gold medal once more. The match proceeded with remarkable sportsmanship, as both teams placed their emphasis on cricket, avoiding the customary handshakes that are often clouded by rivalry. Pakistan earned silver and Sri Lanka claimed bronze, with the medal ceremony unfolding without any disruptions from the surrounding political climate.

Avenue Supermarts has achieved an impressive 18.4% growth in standalone revenue for the second quarter of 2026, totaling Rs 19,206.18 crore, a substantial rise from Rs 16,218.79 crore compared to the same period last year. This also reflects a 4.7% increase from the preceding quarter's revenue of Rs 18,343.49 crore.

Sebi is actively investigating position limits for non-agricultural contracts to improve market liquidity and depth. Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey has highlighted the importance of phased physical settlement for agricultural commodities. The organization is focused on addressing structural issues and increasing technology integration in commodity markets. Furthermore, Sebi plans to expand its educational outreach through Project Jagrook to better inform market participants.

The technical structure has weakened materially, with the most important development being the Nifty's modest violation of its 200-week moving average, presently placed at 22,606.97. This is the first breach of this long-term average since March 2020 and makes the 22,600 area particularly important over the coming days.

A report from Nuvama Institutional Equities indicates that a potential RBI rate hike may not significantly stress NBFC asset quality. Past trends suggest that rate increases alone typically do not lead to widespread deterioration. Current impacts from the West Asia conflict have been limited to specific segments and are not broadly felt. Additionally, healthy capital buffers and systemic liquidity are expected to mitigate potential risks.

Cube Highways Trust has triumphantly secured Rs. 1,150 crore by issuing senior secured NCDs, boasting a competitive coupon rate of 7.50% per annum, payable quarterly for five years. Major institutional players, Axis Bank Limited and ICICI Bank Limited, were pivotal investors in this transaction. The proceeds will facilitate debt refinancing and support ongoing capital projects, as part of an ambitious financing initiative targeting Rs. 4,500 crore.

Securities and Exchange Board of India will release a framework regarding changes to the Closing Auction Session mechanism. The regulator reviewed comments on its consultation paper about market timings and settlement methodology. Sebi intends to address specific issues related to derivatives settlement prices after consultations. Regulatory measures for corporate bond derivatives are also being developed to promote market growth.

Sanjay Malhotra highlighted the need for vigilance regarding financial vulnerabilities at the Kautilya Economic Conclave. He emphasized that banking and financial stress can develop suddenly yet take years to resolve. Malhotra pointed out the interplay of geopolitical and economic factors complicating current financial stability predictions. He stressed the Reserve Bank of India's role in maintaining financial resilience through appropriate regulations and supervision.

Among these, we highlight 9 large-cap stocks that have surged over 50% in the first half of FY27 so far, significantly outperforming the benchmark. (Data Source: ACE Equity)

Captain Smit Machchhar was the pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 when a violent incident occurred. He sustained injuries after the co-pilot attacked him in the cockpit. Despite his condition, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door for crew intervention. The flight was safely diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia following the altercation. Both Indian and Israeli leaders have praised Machchhar for his actions during the emergency.

Axis has picked 7 largecap stocks that have robust value after the sharp correction.

The IPO is expected to remain open until October 23, with the anchor book likely to open on October 19. The shares are targeted to list on the stock exchanges on October 28, although the timeline remains subject to market conditions and could change depending on developments in financial markets, the report added.

Over the last five trading sessions ended October 1, the benchmark Sensex declined 2.27%, or 1,671 points, to close at 71,909. The index recorded losses in four of the five sessions.

The global backdrop remains the biggest problem. US yields above 5%, a firm dollar, higher crude prices and rupee weakness make India more vulnerable.

The momentum had picked up sharply from August, after a muted first four months of FY27, as stronger listing gains and steady liquidity pulled investors back into new issues.

The list remains tentative as more companies may announce record dates for bonus issues and stock splits during the week.

The FBI has issued a classified report examining its past failures to ensure future accountability and trust. Director Kash Patel emphasizes confronting the agency's shortcomings rather than rewriting history, despite criticism. The report aims to reflect on past mistakes without protecting them, promoting organizational accountability. Previous investigations and actions taken against agents involved with Trump have sparked controversy regarding the agency's integrity.

Investor sentiment towards large-cap stocks is currently apathetic, despite improved valuations in the market. Retail investors are increasingly enthusiastic about mid- and small-cap stocks, enjoying recent positive developments in those sectors. The ongoing West Asia conflict and declining stock prices contribute to investor despair among large caps. Meanwhile, small and mid-cap sectors attract retail investors due to their potential for quick returns.

Bajaj Finance intends to raise 17,500 crore through share sales and warrants to fuel its growth. The company's board approved plans for 11,700 crore via a qualified institutional placement and 5,800 crore through warrants for its promoter. A shareholder meeting will be convened to approve the proposed QIP. This marks the first major fundraising effort since the previous capital raise in November 2023.

More than half of India's mid-to-large tier companies with market capitalisation above 1,000 crore have faced losses in 2026. Eight companies have experienced significant market cap erosion, affecting investor sentiment. Factors such as regulatory issues, funding costs, and margin pressures contributed to these declines. Foreign portfolio investors have sold a substantial amount of Indian equities this year amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Anthropic PBC is expected to start marketing its initial public offering around November 9. The company's trading debut could occur before Thanksgiving, which is on November 26. Although facing competition from OpenAI, investors remain optimistic about Anthropic's valuation. Despite significant losses, the firm aims to exceed SpaceX's record IPO size. The market for new listings has experienced delays, but Anthropic is pushing forward.

A group of lenders, spearheaded by the State Bank of India, has revealed that Vijay Mallya still owes an astonishing Rs 8,752 crore. This figure remains despite having recovered over Rs 10,270 crore, including recent payments. Mallya's claims of settling his debts with banks are in question. Court proceedings continue regarding the recovery of dues and criminal charges, with the Enforcement Directorate asserting that even recovered funds don't dismiss ongoing criminal cases.

Indian consumer firms are asserting their commitment to technology and innovation, yet their investment in research and development (R&D) remains unremarkably low. Analysis reveals that R&D spending barely rose to an average of 0.9% of sales, with prominent companies like ITC, Britannia, and Hindustan Unilever experiencing stagnant or even decreasing funding.

Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata has sought the video recording and minutes of the September 17 Tata Sons board meeting that reappointed N Chandrasekaran for another five years, executives said. He also questioned the process of obtaining legal opinions after the meeting and said he was not given adequate time to present his views.

The UNDP analysis - which looked at data from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the International Energy Agency - found the number of countries deploying different relief measures nearly doubled between April and September as the war's impact continued.

Kotak Mahindra Bank's insolvency petition against Unity Realty and Developers has been admitted by the NCLT. The petition was filed due to a claimed default of 68.49 crore, which dates back to September 2023. Unity Realty is a corporate guarantor for financial facilities availed by Unity Infraprojects, which faced financial difficulties leading to the current situation.

The Cockroach Janta Partys Abhijeet Dipke has announced a protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar does not resign.

Adani Group has announced plans to invest over 6 lakh crore in Maharashtra across multiple sectors. The investments are aimed at aiding Maharashtra's goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030. The group has committed to significant infrastructure projects, including the management of Mumbai's airports and renewable power sourcing. Additionally, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project will transform the area with modern housing and economic opportunities.

Tax authorities have taken a softer approach towards gaming companies in the first four final GST orders issued after the Supreme Court ruling on real-money gaming.

Pragat Singh has been appointed as the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. He succeeds Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who resigned amidst internal party dissent. Singh is recognized as a former captain of the Indian hockey team and has political connections. His leadership style and ability to unite the party are under scrutiny by Congress members. Warring acknowledged the support of Rahul Gandhi during his time in leadership roles.

Linking the flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the pilot and attempting to crash the Tel Aviv-bound flight to Omans establishment or Royal Family is completely uncalled for and called for a thorough probe into his background, diplomatic sources told ET.

NASA has selected 24 organizations to partake in a new Science Activation portfolio aimed at public engagement. This initiative will provide hands-on opportunities in scientific research across various fields, such as astronomy and Earth sciences. Communities nationwide, particularly underserved groups, will gain access to authentic NASA experiences. Participants can analyze data, conduct experiments, and observe astronomical events through robotic telescopes.

Before the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, voters are encouraged to check their registration status for accuracy. They should visit Vote.gov and follow the provided links to their state election website. Verification is essential, particularly after moving or changing their name, as rules may differ by state.

After relocating to Panna, Guddi Devi and Rajkumar Shrivas decided to lease a mining pit. They discovered four diamonds during their six-month digging effort, including two high-quality stones. The diamonds, weighing a total of 5.16 carats, are valued at approximately 12 lakh. These diamonds will be sold through a government auction, with royalties and taxes deducted from the proceeds.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met with Nike executives in Milwaukee during the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting. He encouraged them to enhance investments in India's growth story and local sourcing initiatives. Goyal emphasized the importance of deepening Nike's presence in the Indian market and expanding manufacturing opportunities. The discussions also focused on improving the broader sports ecosystem in India.

A report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies reveals a dramatic surge in violence-related deaths in Pakistan. Compared to previous quarters, fatalities soared by 83 percent in the third quarter of 2026, primarily affecting Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The bulk of these deaths were attributed to criminal elements, underlining a deepening crisis in internal security across the nation.

China recently opened its first overseas air force base in Laos to enhance military training and influence. The base will train Laotian air force pilots and potentially house Chinese military assets. This move reflects China's ambition to expand its military presence beyond its borders. The facility could serve as a training ground for Chinese personnel and equipment. Regional partners, especially the US, are monitoring the developments closely for potential implications.

Pargat Singh has been appointed as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. He replaces Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who resigned earlier that day. Warring acknowledged his tenure and shared his views with Rahul Gandhi regarding the state organisation. The leadership change comes as Congress prepares for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Working presidents and committee chairpersons in Punjab will maintain their roles during this transition.

Nikhil Kamath advice for startups: The Zerodha co-founder expressed agreement with a warning that startups should raise capital soon due to uncertain conditions. A social media post highlighted the importance of securing enough money for the next one or two years. Indias funding environment is experiencing a decline in deal volume but an increase in total funding amounts. The focus is shifting towards larger funding rounds amidst challenging market conditions.