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As NSDL nears its SEBI-mandated IPO deadline, investor focus sharpens on how the institutional depository stacks up against retail-friendly CDSL, which has surged 44% over the past year amid India's retail investing boom.

Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) reached an all-time high of ₹27,269 crore in June 2025, reinforcing retail investor confidence and providing liquidity support amid foreign outflows. Rising SIP adoption aids market resilience, boosts domestic ownership, and reduces reliance on FII capital.

SEBI is considering changes to mutual fund categorisation to prevent portfolio overlaps, potentially capping overlap at 50% for certain funds. The regulator proposes standardised scheme naming for clarity, like 'large cap scheme' and renaming some debt schemes. Solution-oriented funds may face lock-in periods for new investments.

Axis Bank's stricter lending norms impacted its June-quarter profits, causing a stock slump and a Nifty dip. The new rules, affecting loan upgrades and settlements, led to increased slippages, particularly in unsecured and agricultural sectors. This resulted in a profit decrease of ₹614 crore, ROA fell by 15 bps and ROE by 1.4%.

Gold prices experienced a rise due to a weaker U.S. dollar and persistent economic uncertainties, enhancing its appeal as a safe-haven asset. Platinum prices saw a slight decrease after reaching a peak not seen since 2014. Market anticipates potential U.S. rate cuts, further bolstering gold's attractiveness amidst ongoing trade negotiations and geopolitical tensions.

European shares remained stable on Friday, balancing healthcare losses with gains in oil and gas, concluding a week of corporate earnings. The STOXX 600 held steady, while Germany's DAX fell and the UK's FTSE 100 rose. Investors are scrutinizing corporate guidance amid U.S. tariff policy shifts.

Microsoft will cease using China-based engineers for technical assistance to the U.S. military following a ProPublica report raising security concerns. Senator Tom Cotton and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded swiftly, with Hegseth initiating a review of Pentagon cloud deals and ensuring China's immediate disengagement from cloud services.

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's former president, faces restrictions including an ankle monitor and social media ban amid a coup attempt trial. Federal police searched his home and party headquarters, while Trump decried the treatment as unjust. The U.S. imposed visa restrictions on Brazilian judicial officials, escalating tensions over the trial, which is expected to resume later this year.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba conveyed that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed confidence in reaching a favorable trade agreement between the two countries. Ishiba encouraged continued vigorous discussions between negotiators to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. While specific trade details weren't discussed due to the visit's broader purpose, both sides acknowledged areas for economic and security cooperation.

Meta Platforms has declined to sign the European Union's code of practice for the AI Act, citing concerns about overreach and legal uncertainties for model developers. The voluntary framework aims to help companies comply with the AI Act, including copyright protections and transparency requirements.

Despite President Trump's repeated calls for lower interest rates and his near attempt to remove Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve is expected to hold steady at its upcoming meeting. Recent data indicates persistent inflation, complicating the case for a rate cut. The Fed's benchmark rate is anticipated to remain in the 4.25%-4.

In 2025, the US share of global equity flows has significantly decreased due to trade war concerns and doubts about American exceptionalism. Foreign inflows have slowed dramatically, influenced by President Trump's trade policies, fiscal deficit, and a weakening dollar.

India's apple imports are facing disruption. Geopolitics are influencing prices this harvest season. Traders are avoiding Turkish apples due to political tensions. The Attari-Wagah border closure halts Afghan imports. This may increase prices for Kashmiri and Himachali apples. Iranian apple imports are risky. India's domestic production is less than consumption. Apple imports are rising year-on-year.

The Election Commission's 'Special Intensive Revision' of Bihar's electoral rolls has ignited political debate, differing from past revisions. While intensive revisions aren't new, the timing of Bihar's SIR, months before assembly elections, is unusual. Unlike previous 'de novo' exercises, it builds upon the 2002-03 roll, incorporating new enumeration forms and document submission.

Rural India is experiencing an economic transformation, with a surge in the services sector driving growth. A recent report highlights that 112 rural districts, encompassing 291 million people, have exceeded a $2,000 per capita income. This milestone indicates rising prosperity and significant consumer potential, positioning rural areas as key contributors to India's consumption engine.

Pune's onion prices have surged by approximately 20% in the last two weeks due to crop damage from heavy rains, leading to reduced market arrivals. Despite increased production and storage, onions are becoming more expensive. Trade sources anticipate further price increases, potentially fueled by upcoming government onion procurement.

Economists anticipate Reserve Bank of India will reduce interest rates this week. This decision comes amid decreasing inflation. Experts await the central bank's insights on inflation and economic growth. These insights will help determine the duration of the easing cycle. The goal is to stimulate demand in India's growing economy. The focus remains on consumption, investment, and global uncertainties.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the government's focus on promoting lower denomination currency and increasing digital transaction awareness. With the Rs 2000 note nearly out of circulation, efforts are underway to encourage digital transfers, highlighted by UPI's record 16.73 billion transactions in December 2024, reflecting India's move towards a cashless economy.

The Reserve Bank of India's record dividend payout of nearly Rs 2.7 trillion to the government has been made possible due to robust gross dollar sales, higher foreign exchange gains, and steady increases in interest income, according to a report by the State Bank of India (SBI).

Simple Energy, an electric two-wheeler manufacturer, is planning an IPO by FY27 to raise ₹3,000 crore for market expansion, a new manufacturing unit, and R&D. The company aims to increase its touchpoints from 15 to 500 in the next two years and targets ₹800 crore in revenue in FY26.

The Indian rupee slipped on Tuesday, tracking mild losses in regional peers and dollar demand from foreign banks, though broader weakness in the greenback limited the decline.

Paytm is set to announce its Q4FY25 results with brokerages divided on outcomes. JM Financial and Yes Securities expect a PAT swing to profit, while Motilal Oswal sees narrowed losses. Revenue estimates range from Rs 1,975 to Rs 2,199 crore. UPI incentives, improving EBITDA margins, and operating leverage remain key drivers and monitorables across all forecasts.

The rupee closed at 84.25 against the U.S. dollar, up 0.4% on the day. The currency had touched a peak of 84.1275 in early trading but trimmed gains in the latter half of the session.

Krishnan Ramachandran's reappointment as CEO and MD of Niva Bupa Health Insurance has been approved by the IRDAI for a five-year term, starting May 1, 2025. With over two decades of experience in health insurance and healthcare, Ramachandran previously held leadership roles at Deloitte Consulting L.P., Arthur Andersen and Apollo DKV Insurance.

Despite mixed market conditions, India’s financial sector remained resilient in Q4 FY25, with 11.1% YoY credit growth and stable asset quality. Gold loans and vehicle financiers led the performance, while microfinance showed improving collections. With RBI rate cuts likely, FY26 is expected to see 12% credit growth. Shriram Finance and HDFC Bank emerge as top picks for investors.

BJP has accused Arvind Kejriwal of orchestrating hoax calls to mislead voters, alleging that the AAP is claiming votes are being cut by the BJP to support AAP. They also allege distribution of money in slum areas and raised concerns about voter data confidentiality, demanding an investigation.

Lok Sabha election 2024: ​​The BJP-Shiv Sena won 41 of the 48 seats in the 2019 polls, but the Sena has split since and a vast majority of the Bal Thackeray-founded party is now allied with the BJP. The Nationalist Congress Party also split as well with Ajit Pawar joining the ruling alliance in the state, led by Eknath Shinde. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP emerged the top party with 23 seats, followed by the undivided Sena with 18.

Gujarat's upcoming Lok Sabha elections are influenced by PM Narendra Modi's charisma, anti-incumbency, unemployment, inflation, education, healthcare challenges, and BJP's endeavor to secure all 26 seats. ​​Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on May 7. Counting of votes will be held on June 4. Anti-incumbency, unemployment, inflation, education and healthcare facilities are some of the other important issues in the election, where the ruling BJP in Gujarat will attempt to retain all the 26 Lok Sabha seats it won in 2019.

The BJP, riding high on its growing voter base in Telangana, is now aiming to win over 12 out of the total 17 seats and 35 per cent vote share, in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The party doubled its vote share to nearly 14 per cent resulting in eight seats in the assembly elections held on November 30, last year. BRS, which ruled the state for about a decade since its emergence, is low on morale following the defeat, even as its founder and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha was arrested on the eve of poll dates announcement, adding insult to the injury.

Kavitha's arrest before Lok Sabha elections may psychologically impact BRS party. Meanwhile, fomer minister Harish Rao announced protests in the state. Moreover, desertion of MPs and leaders who are not contesting polls adds to party's troubles. Nagesh Kumar predictsed that more desertions could happen due to Kavitha's arrest.

Anita Nariani Schulze is part of the Sindhi minority. Her complaint alleges that her senior and direct managers, both male, consistently excluded her from meetings while inviting her male counterparts, criticised her, micromanaged her work and deprived her of bonuses, despite positive performance evaluations and significant team contributions.

But two senior envoys who attended said there was no direct response from the ministers gathered in Brussels when Blinken said: "We must push back on China together and show strength in unity."

This comes as the San-Francisco based firm is at the receiving end of the Indian government over an issue of blocking and unblocking certain handles tweeting about farmer protests.

Foreign companies looking for incentives under the scheme may have to invest Rs 500 crore over four years, while the threshold for domestic firms is likely to be around Rs 20 crore for five years, the source who did not wish to be named said.

Growth More than in MetrosAccording to companies like Aisle and Truly Madly, which have millions of users and position themselves as “serious” dating apps, and bespoke high-end dating services like Sirf Coffee, a lot more users from such places are not only keen on using these apps, but also willing to pay for it.

“Indian companies need to re-skill, train, and acquire more relevant talent, if they are to successfully integrate AI technologies. Most importantly, they should be willing to make the continued investment. It is an uphill race in which there will be winners and losers,” said Deloitte India CEO N Venkatram.

Ambassador Joao Cravinho, head of the EU delegation, led Ambassadors of various European countries to a quiet lunch with Modi at the capital last year.

"It is the collective wisdom of the marketplace that there is action and we will move with speed. That improves the confidence level of industry."

Directives from the Centre have to be executed at the state level. So, there are many things that are not in Modi’s hands, says Raamdeo Agrawal.

"The fact that we are the world’s largest democracy and we are all aware that power and a role in global affairs for a nation comes from economic strength."

"Now there is a stage three and stage four of digitisation, we will take a call on this only after taking all things into account."

"There is a leadership vacuum in the company, because they made the wrong choice of CEO three years ago and that is playing out right now."

Rupee#CAD#Economic crisis#Food Bill

The team behind The Artist will have spent the first day of the rest of their lives conforming to the grandest, and most lucrative, of Hollywood traditions.

It's the World Book fair, which comes around once every two years sprawling across the giant halls of Pragati Maidan. This is the fair's 20th edition.

An elephant figurine gifted by the then HM LK Advani to US Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2002, has made its way to the State Department hall.

Statistical models used by IMD will still be used for monsoon forecast, but the ministry of earth sciences is putting more emphasis on dynamic models.

Newly discovered documents have revealed the first telegraph messages and joy when England was linked for the first time with India on 23 June, 1870.

Hundreds of worried fans of ailing Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan today performed a yagna here to pray for his speedy recovery.

Alfa Laval (India) today said its parent firm has raised the delisting offer price to Rs 2,850 a share.