The Economic Times

Public sector banks offered many bad loans previously for sale. Nearly eighty percent of these loans were repeat sale attempts. Indian Overseas Bank and Indian Bank led these repeated offerings. Private sector banks showed a sharp contrast with few repeat sales. This highlights challenges in selling large legacy corporate accounts.

Indian companies have long played a major role in Dubais economy, with nearly 82,000 active Indian businesses registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce by end-2025. Rising bilateral trade and the India-UAE CEPA are deepening ties, while Dubais infrastructure, capital, talent and connectivity offer Indian firms a platform for global expansion.

Used car financing grew faster than auto loans over five years. The used car finance portfolio reached Rs 1.3 lakh crore by June 2026. Auto loans portfolio grew to Rs 9.9 lakh crore during the same period. Financiers funded used cars despite facing higher stress levels. Overall asset quality in the wheels finance segment is now stabilising.

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.

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.

Banks must measure financial inclusion by effective usage and informed decisions. Technology shifts and consumer behavior necessitate responsive banking systems. Digital inclusion deepens, and AI helps recognize capability across diverse groups. Institutions need skilled people to challenge models and oversee external providers. Prudence requires pooled intelligence and credible alternatives for system resilience.

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.

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.

Texas's popular Rio Red grapefruit originated from radiation-induced mutations in 1984. This variety, developed at Texas A&M University, offered vibrant pink flesh and improved hardiness. Early atomic research explored radiation's potential to alter living organisms and create beneficial mutations.

Quote of the day by Epicurus, He who has peace of mind disturbs neither himself nor another, explains how inner calm can affect daily life. The quote connects peace of mind with managing worry, desire, fear, anger and conflict. It also offers life lessons about self-kindness, contentment, friendship, external harmony and avoiding actions that disturb others around you.

Yale researchers tracked 3,635 adults aged 50 and older over a twelve-year study. Their findings showed that regular book readers had a 23 percent lower mortality hazard. Active book readers reached an 80 percent survival milestone 23 full months later than non-readers. Deep cognitive engagement from daily reading strengthens brain function over time. Reading books regularly remains one of the most effective habits for living a longer life.

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.

A 1,300-year-old shipwreck off Croatia's Mljet island revealed over 600 grams of gold. This significant discovery includes a signet ring possibly linked to Emperor Heraclius. Gem-encrusted belts and coins bearing four emperors' names were also recovered. The vessel sank during a challenging period for the Byzantine Empire. This find offers a rare glimpse into maritime activity and elite life.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the growing use of Gen Z as a threat. He stated this rhetoric could undermine goodwill associated with the younger generation. Abdullah compared the phrase to an old saying about parental influence. Using generational identity as a threat is counterproductive and damaging. This warning comes amid discussions on tourist treatment in Jammu and Kashmir.

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.

Yantra Packs secured Rs 12 crore in seed funding from Caret Capital. This capital will fuel expansion across India and enhance technology capabilities. The company aims to scale its reusable packaging assets for enterprise customers. Yantra Packs offers reusable packaging solutions as a service to businesses. Their platform Trakkia provides crucial asset tracking and supply chain visibility.

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.

Starting April 2027, UK pension pots will be subject to inheritance tax, prompting a reevaluation of legacy planning strategies. For Indians holding UK pensions, transferring them to Indian QROPS before this deadline becomes vital. This process involves specific forms and an exact completion sequence. Indian pension schemes present a variety of investment options tailored to different risk profiles.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly assisting in financial tasks and decision-making. Organisations report improved decision quality and faster processing with AI integration. Routine finance work like bookkeeping is being automated by AI systems. However, complex decisions still require human judgment and professional expertise.

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.

Rahul Gandhi supports tribals protesting the Ken-Betwa river-linking project. He will visit the protest site to pressure the government. Tribals claim the project will displace thousands and harm the Panna Tiger Reserve. They allege administrative harassment and seek parliamentary intervention. Gandhi pledged his and Congress's solidarity with the affected communities.

Italian Proverb of the Day: The eye doesnt see, the heart doesnt hurt explores the connection between awareness and emotional pain. The traditional saying suggests that people may avoid worry or distress when they remain unaware of something unpleasant. Its broader lesson considers whether knowing difficult truths always brings greater peace or whether ignorance can sometimes protect peace of mind.

Swiggy is moving closer to becoming an Indian-owned and controlled company (IOCC), a move that could enable an inventory-led model for Instamart and potentially improve margins. However, Jefferies expects the shift to trigger passive outflows of over $400 million from MSCI and FTSE indices due to foreign ownership limits. The brokerage retained its Buy rating with a target price of Rs 435.

Research indicates that using cacao-shell waste to create biochar has significantly improved agricultural yields on degraded farmland in Sumatra. Over time, this biochar technique demonstrated enhanced effectiveness, particularly in the acidic Ultisol soil. However, its benefits diminished after multiple growing seasons, necessitating repeated applications to sustain its positive influence. Thus, biochar emerges as a beneficial resource for promoting soil health and ensuring food security.

Bangladesh seeks faster business visa issuance for its nationals traveling to India. Dhaka also urged greater ease of doing business for mutual economic benefits. The nation wants businesses and private sectors to communicate more frequently. Bangladesh desires more vibrant trade, investment, and communication between the two countries. It invites greater Indian investment in Bangladesh's economic zones.

Looking for something entertaining to watch this weekend? Zendaya has built an impressive screen career, moving effortlessly between superhero blockbusters, musical dramas, intense romances and dark coming-of-age stories.

Shiprockets strong stock market debut reflects surging investor confidence in Indias tech-driven e-commerce infrastructure. As rapid D2C expansion, SMB digitization, and quick commerce transform Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, Shiprockets neutral API aggregation model unifies a fragmented logistics ecosystem. Beyond core shipping aggregation, the platform's long-term growth is powered by expanding merchant fulfillment, payments, and checkout workflows.

Behari Lal Engineering shares surged 14% after making a strong market debut, listing at a 63% premium to the IPO price. Brokerages remain positive, citing strong investor appetite and reasonable valuations, though they advise investors to book partial profits after the sharp listing gains. Heres what SBI Securities and Swastika Investmart recommend on the stock.

IDFC FIRST Bank raised $500 million through its maiden international bond issuance, marking its entry into global debt markets. The three-year senior notes, due in 2029, carry a 5.625% coupon and attracted major investors including BlackRock, Capital Group and AllianceBernstein. The fundraising diversifies the banks funding base and supports its long-term growth ambitions.

Indian Bank raised $400 million through a four-year overseas funding programme via its GIFT City branch, joining Indian lenders tapping global debt markets. Banks are accelerating dollar bond issuances following regulatory changes to the concessional swap window for FCNR deposits. Axis, ICICI, Federal, IDFC First, Kotak Mahindra and Yes Bank are also active.

Mihir Rale and Dibyajyoti Das will lead IAMAI's Legal Tech Committee. This committee fosters collaboration among legal professionals and tech providers. It aims to simplify regulations for India's evolving digital economy. The group will address overlapping laws and compliance challenges. Their work supports innovation while protecting consumers and managing risks.

India's rupee banknotes in circulation significantly outnumber US dollar and Euro notes. The Reserve Bank of India reports 176 billion rupee notes are currently in use. This volume is driven by a preference for lower-denomination notes and a Clean Note Policy. Physical currency circulation expands at double-digit rates annually, despite digital payment growth. This expansion presents forecasting challenges for the central bank's production planning.

Upstox is currently in talks with investment banks regarding a possible initial public offering. Backed by Tiger Global, the company plans to hire advisers shortly for the imminent listing. This IPO could potentially generate approximately $400 million from both new and existing investors. Following Groww's impactful IPO last year, Upstox reached unicorn status in 2021 subsequent to a significant funding round.

BSE shares face fresh pressure after Nuvama and Jefferies downgraded the stock, citing headwinds from the Closing Auction Session, RBIs bank guarantee norms and limited scope for further market share gains. Nuvama cut its target price to Rs 3,240, while Jefferies lowered its target to Rs 2,940.

India has replaced Indonesia as Asias least-preferred stock market among fund managers surveyed by Bank of America, with 32% of respondents net underweight on Indian equities. Lack of clear AI exposure, weak growth, high valuations and limited reforms emerged as key concerns, even as improving earnings and renewed foreign inflows provide some support.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is actively analyzing new frameworks for small company IPOs and delisting procedures. In a move to bolster global fund management operations from Indian turf, proposed enhancements to portfolio manager regulations aim to strengthen onshore trading strategies. Furthermore, the SEBI head announced that the innovative closing auction session will effectively pinpoint manipulative practices, assuring the public that severe repercussions await any det

Preston Harp, Natalie Harp's estranged brother, was taken aback after hearing that she climbed into an SUV trunk due to denied access to a motorcade. He expressed concern over what he views as her unhealthy fixation on President Trump, attributing her loyalty to their shared conservative beliefs and a strong sense of American exceptionalism, which he believes shapes her understanding of Trump's values.

The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister Vijay has extended maternity leave for women state government employees having a third child from 12 weeks to 365 days. Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar announced the decision in the Assembly on Tuesday. The move aligns third-child maternity benefits with those for the first two children amid Tamil Nadu's declining fertility rate and ageing population.

Extreme weather is pushing farmers toward climate-resilient practices for better yields. Regenerative farming methods improve soil health and water retention significantly. Major companies and financial institutions are funding this agricultural transition. These collaborations aim to mitigate risks from climate change and ensure supply chains. Farmers adopting these techniques are outperforming conventional holdings during droughts.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced new measures for MLAs. These measures include official vehicles and a monthly allowance for their work. MLAs will now travel constituencies to monitor projects and address public grievances. This initiative aims to enhance their capacity and provide support. The announcement was made under rule 110 in the state assembly.

Isha Koppikar identified as a proud 'andhbhakt' for India's progress. She clarified her devotion is towards the nation, not any political party. Kangana Ranaut voiced support for Koppikar's sentiment on social media. Ranaut explained her own identification with loving one's country and people. This exchange follows Ranaut's earlier criticism of Gen Z protests.

Bengaluru-based investor and IIT Delhi alumnus Ishan Preet Singh has claimed that entering an IIT is mathematically 20 times harder than getting into Harvard. In an Instagram vox pop interview, he discussed Indias rapid growth, founders returning from the US, career advice, passion, ambition, financial success and the importance of enjoying the work.

Apple's rumored camera-equipped AirPods may launch soon, showing Visual Intelligence capabilities. These earbuds could understand wearer's surroundings and save visual information for later use. The new AirPods, codenamed B790, might debut alongside the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models.

Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive at a South Carolina apartment. Both Brian and Zach Hickerson were present when emergency responders arrived. Zach became emotional while Brian showed no visible emotion until after her death. Medication was found at the property, and Narcan was reportedly present. Panettiere's mother expressed distress over Brian's presence at her daughter's death.

Pia Dandiya has clinched the Democratic primary for Floridas newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District, setting up a contest against Republican Casey Askar in the general election in November. With a campaign centred on her experience as an educator and her vision for progress, Dandiya has secured backing from the Democratic National Committee, marking a significant moment in South Floridas evolving political landscape.