Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) significantly increased their buying in Indian equities during the first half of August, with financial services attracting the largest inflows, reversing previous outflows. The IT sector also continued to see strong interest from overseas investors, driven by a reassessment of valuations and the role of Indian IT firms in AI deployment.
India's UPI system continues its rapid growth, dominating retail payments. Recent amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act allow for targeted Merchant Discount Rates (MDR) on high-value merchant transactions, aiming to create a self-sustaining revenue model for the ecosystem while keeping P2P and low-value payments free. This move could generate significant revenue and encourage ecosystem participation.
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed an additional fee of USD 103,265 for all H-1B visa cap-subject applications, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. This new fee aims to recover interagency costs for immigration programmes and would be paid in addition to existing fees. The proposal is open for public comments for 30 days and has drawn criticism from immigration advocates.
Government departments are establishing Quick Response Teams (QRTs) to promptly address and counter misleading or fake content circulating on social media. These teams will monitor digital platforms, verify information, and coordinate with fact-checking units to ensure timely and accurate responses to misinformation, with some ministries already having formed their QRTs.
Icra predicts that the top seven Indian cities will see an 8-11 per cent year-on-year growth in housing sales value by FY27, reaching approximately 7.9 trillion, primarily driven by the ongoing trend of premiumisation and a favourable product mix.
Aditya Birla Capital has entered the gold loan business, aiming to establish 1,000 branches within three years, capitalising on the strong structural growth and surge in demand for gold-backed credit in India.
'The fundamental issue that I have raised, how come India's GDP in current prices went down from Rs 86 lakh crore down to Rs 80 lakh crore -- a staggering erasure of Rs 6 lakh crore. This disappearance of Rs 6 lakh crore has not been answered by anyone.'
A 17-year-old girl was allegedly murdered by her cousin in north Delhi's Burari, with her body subsequently packed into a suitcase and dumped at a secluded spot. Police apprehended the accused after receiving a tip-off, and he confessed to the crime, leading them to the body.
Making UPI payments fee-based for some transactions could enhance mental reservations against digital payments -- which have largely been overcome -- once more. Do we want to regress?, asks R Jagannthan.
A 21-year-old Delhi University student was brutally stabbed to death at her home in Tilak Nagar. Police suspect a known acquaintance, Imran, committed the crime out of rage over her talking to another person. Imran is currently absconding, and multiple police teams have been formed to apprehend him as investigations continue.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (Irdai) recent actions against insurers for breaching expense of management (EoM) limits indicate a serious commitment to enforcing operating and distribution cost controls, according to industry experts.
'Since the category has a limited track record, assess the fund manager's experience across equity and debt market cycles rather than relying only on past returns.'
The last major business daily to launch in India was Financial Chronicle in April 2008, preceded by Mint on February 1, 2007.
India's six publicly listed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) collectively distributed approximately 3,136 crore to over 485,000 unitholders during the first quarter (April-June) of the current financial year (FY27), demonstrating the sector's resilience despite global uncertainties.
'Every period of excessive optimism eventually gives way to a correction, while periods of extreme pessimism often create the best investment opportunities.'
Five men have been arrested near Guruvayur temple in Kerala for allegedly plotting to kill a woman. The accused reportedly planned to disguise themselves as women to enter her hostel. The motive appears to be a relationship breakup, and the men were also found with cannabis and accused of selling drugs to children.
A man in Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, helped solemnise the marriage of his wife, a mother of five, with her lover at a Shiva temple after she expressed her desire to live with the other man, ending marital discord.
rediffGURU Ravi Mittal shares a list of dos and don'ts to stay safe while using online matrimony platforms.
'India is vulnerable to the West Asia crisis in three ways: Energy costs, the business Indian companies conduct in the region, and remittances from the Indian diaspora.'
Meera tells Rishika Shah/Rediff how a relationship that seemed perfect from the outside turned into a marriage she walked away from within a year.
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have injected Rs 16,621 crore into Indian equities during the first half of August, continuing a buying spree driven by improving relative valuations, resilient corporate earnings, and expectations of softer US interest rates.
Indian IT companies have significantly reduced their fresh H-1B visa applications for US FY27, a direct consequence of soaring fees imposed by the Trump administration and new lottery system changes that prioritise higher-salaried employees, leading to a seven-year low in registrations.
Can your money be protected against online frauds like hacking, digital arrests, etc?
Six companies, including Blackstone-backed Horizon Industrial Parks and Lalithaa Jewellery Mart, are poised to collectively raise nearly Rs 5,600 crore through initial public offerings (IPOs) in the upcoming week, adding to the bustling primary market activity.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has seen its revenue grow by over 9 per cent to 7,064 crore, driven by the strong performance of SonyLIV, Sony SAB, and Sony Entertainment Television (SET), said Gaurav Banerjee, head of SPNI.
The US push for clearer crypto rules is putting pressure on India to fill its own regulatory gap for virtual digital assets.
The US senate last week passed a bill that would allow Washington to impose tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy.
A Goldman Sachs report indicates that US and Indian equity markets are becoming less attractive due to lower free cash flow (FCF) yields as valuations rise, while European markets offer significantly higher yields. Concurrently, India's top-listed residential real estate developers experienced a moderation in pre-sales in Q1FY27, attributed to delayed project approvals, limited launches, and high year-ago bases, though underlying housing demand remains healthy.
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) injected Rs 12,921 crore into Indian equities during the first week of August, extending their buying spree, driven by improving macroeconomic conditions, expectations of US rate cuts, lower crude oil prices, and a stable rupee.
Over 5.9 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) were filed for Assessment Year 2026-27 by the July 31 deadline, according to the income tax department.
Retirement planning is not a test of how smart you are; it is a test of how well you control your behaviour.
A 13-year-old girl in Keralam is suspected of playing a key role in the murder of her elderly relative, Sivankutty, with her minor boyfriend and two friends allegedly carrying out the crime. The teenagers reportedly planned the murder to steal gold and money for a high-end mobile phone and a motorbike. The boyfriend allegedly made a video call to the girl during the assault, showing her the killing. All four minors have been apprehended, and investigations are ongoing, with a possible 'bad touch' revenge motive also being explored alongside the primary theft motive.
A 19-year-old mechatronics engineering student was brutally murdered in Coimbatore, leading to a political controversy in Tamil Nadu. While his family alleges he was targeted for exposing drug abuse on campus, police and college management claim the attack stemmed from personal enmity and a retaliatory clash. Eight arrests have been made, and the issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly, with the Opposition demanding an inquiry into the conflicting narratives.
The market capitalisation of these 41 companies ranged from Rs 30 crore to around Rs 1.26 trillion, as on August 7.
N Chandrasekaran not only faces muted financial performance from the group's listed companies, but also mounting losses at Tata Sons' unlisted subsidiaries, many of which have been set up by him in the last decade.
Sumit Sarkar was never intellectually dismissive of the Hindutva project. He took it with deadly seriousness for he grasped the challenge it posed to the aspirations and ideals of the anti-imperialist movement that generated multiple imaginings of freedom and ways to attain it, recalls Pradeep Kumar Dutta.
Analysts predict that crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia, and upcoming inflation data will be the primary drivers of the Indian stock market this week, alongside foreign investor activity and domestic quarterly earnings.
Homicides declined during 2015-2024 compared to the previous decade, but those motivated by love and extramarital affairs did not.
India's top 11 listed real estate developers are projected to achieve combined presales of 1.82 trillion by FY27, a significant increase from 1.49 trillion in FY26, demonstrating sustained sales momentum despite market challenges.
Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has uncovered a Rs 1.5 crore WhatsApp fraud, leading to the arrest of two key SIM and OTP suppliers in West Bengal. The investigation revealed a sophisticated international cybercrime network spanning China, Pakistan, India, and Hong Kong, operating a "boss scam" and utilizing a "Cybercrime as a Service" model. Police recovered a significant portion of the defrauded amount and secured thousands of devices.
