Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced declines in early trade, driven by a surge in Brent crude oil prices above USD 91 per barrel due to escalating tensions between Iran and the US, alongside an increase in US 10-year bond yields. Track Sensex, Nifty on August 18.
RBI Deputy Governor Rohit Jain discussed the future of India's foreign exchange markets, highlighting the increasing role of local currencies in cross-border trade, the impact of technology, and existing challenges. He emphasised the need for market evolution to facilitate India's global engagement, absorb shocks, and serve all users efficiently. Jain also addressed concerns about unauthorised forex trading platforms and the importance of customer awareness.
Domestic air passenger traffic in India decreased by 4.80 per cent in July 2026 compared to the previous year, reaching 1.20 crore, with major airlines experiencing a drop in load factor, according to DGCA data. Despite the overall dip, IndiGo and Air India Group increased their market share.
A new report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd (MOFSL) indicates that inflation, interest rates, and monetary policy have become more significant drivers of gold prices than traditional geopolitical conflicts, with markets increasingly focusing on these economic factors.
New players like Maruti Suzuki, VinFast, and Tesla are significantly expanding India's electric passenger vehicle (e-PV) market, capturing an 8.1 per cent share and contributing 18 per cent of incremental registrations in the first half of 2026, according to Fada Research data.
'I don't see fear becoming a dominant factor for retail investors.'
Crude oil futures surged over 3 per cent, snapping a three-session losing streak, as renewed military escalation in West Asia revived fears of supply disruptions, driving prices higher on both domestic and international exchanges.
Indian stock markets this week will be primarily influenced by a series of corporate Q1 earnings, the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia, and fluctuations in crude oil prices, according to market analysts.
Indian stock market indices closed on a mixed note, with the Sensex gaining 374 points driven by buying in Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank, while the Nifty remained flat. This divergence is attributed to a new Closing Auction Session (CAS) mechanism introduced by stock exchanges, impacting market liquidity and price discovery.
A joint report by Deloitte India and FICCI projects India's consumer economy to reach USD 1.9 trillion by 2030. This growth will be fuelled by rapid AI adoption, evolving consumer preferences, and new commerce models like e-commerce and quick commerce. India leads in AI adoption among top countries, with businesses leveraging it for engagement, innovation, and forecasting. The report also highlights the emergence of a new Indian consumer seeking convenience and transparency, and identifies key trends shaping FMCG, retail, and e-commerce sectors.
The Indian stock market's trajectory this week will be significantly influenced by crude oil prices, global market trends, and the commencement of the corporate earnings season, with IT major TCS set to announce its June-quarter results on July 9.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased by $9.9 billion to $716.9 billion for the week ended August 14, as reported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This surge follows a previous jump of $14.14 billion in the week prior, indicating a robust recovery after a period of decline earlier this year.
"Our endeavour is to bring headline inflation in line with the target over the medium term," said RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, addressing concerns about the central bank's policy stance and economic outlook.
'Buy on dips, buy on dips and sell on rise.'
Axis Bank has opened 50 new branches across India, while Abakkus Mutual Fund has surpassed Rs 10,000 crore in AUM. YES Bank launched a new credit card for women, and J&K Bank partnered with HDFC Life to enhance its insurance offerings, showcasing significant growth and strategic developments in the Indian financial sector.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced volatile trade, declining in early deals before fluctuating, as investors reacted to unabated foreign fund outflows and rising geopolitical uncertainties, particularly in West Asia.
Commercial banks in India recorded their highest credit growth in two years, accelerating to 18.6 per cent year-on-year by June 27, while also mobilising nearly 7 trillion in deposits, marking the third-highest fortnightly deposit growth in 29 years.
Investor interest in precious metal exchange-traded funds (ETFs) rebounded sharply in June, with silver ETFs attracting an estimated 4,900 crore and gold ETFs around 2,900 crore in net inflows, following a significant correction in gold and silver prices.
While SUVs have steadily gained share across the industry, data shows that nearly three in 10 luxury vehicles sold in India are sedans, highlighting the segment's resilience despite years of SUV-led growth.
'It's not about individuals operating the mule accounts being more or less skilled. Instead, 'lower-level' refers to the role the individual account plays in the broader mule network.'
Tata Electronics has surpassed Taiwanese giant Foxconn in assembling iPhones for export from India during the FY22-FY26 PLI scheme period, with exports valued at $26.3 billion compared to Foxconn's $25.6 billion.
Indian benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher, recovering from previous losses, driven by a global market rebound, a pause in Israel-Iran hostilities, and a rally in bank stocks.
India's retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 4.45 per cent in July, up from 4.38 per cent in June, primarily due to higher food prices, particularly onions and ginger. This marks the second consecutive month the inflation rate has remained above the Reserve Bank's median target.
India Inc's first-quarter earnings season was significantly impacted by the West Asia conflict, leading to rising costs, calibrated price increases, and margin pressures across various sectors including FMCG, automotive, steel, and cement. Companies are implementing price hikes to protect profitability, with many anticipating further escalations if input costs remain elevated.
ICICI Bank, India's second-largest private-sector lender, is set to raise approximately $500 million through an overseas dollar bond issuance, marking its first such move in nearly a decade. This fundraising effort will utilise the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) concessional swap window, a facility designed to reduce hedging costs for foreign currency borrowings.
India is significantly expanding its crude oil sourcing to Latin America, with Venezuela emerging as a major supplier, as geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz compel the world's third-largest oil consumer to diversify its energy supplies.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, recorded their fifth consecutive day of losses, driven by investor caution over rising oil prices due to West Asia tensions and renewed concerns regarding US trade tariffs.
Members of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) have indicated that interest rate hikes may be necessary sooner rather than later, as headline inflation is projected to rise from its current benign levels in the coming months, according to the minutes of the August review.
India's mutual fund industry has significantly increased its share of public trading in the stock market, widening its lead over the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for the fifth consecutive year. While LIC's share of free-float listed shares has fallen to 7.42% as of March 2026, the mutual fund industry's share has surged to 22.92% from 7.06% in 2012.
The Indian equity market is set for an event-heavy week, with analysts pointing to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) interest rate decision, developments in the US-Iran situation, and crude oil prices as the primary determinants of market trends.
'Investors spend too much time picking the right mutual fund and too little time choosing the right asset allocation. That's where real wealth is created.'
If Khalifa: The Ruler continues to bleed at the box office, the odds of a big-budget sequel materialising drop to practically zero. The harsh reality of franchise filmmaking is incredibly simple: If the 'ruler' fails to conquer, absolutely no one is going to care about the 'legacy', no matter how many superstars you cram onto a poster.
Dubai-based Danube Group plans to launch projects with a combined sales potential of approximately $4 billion in fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27), adopting a more selective approach to new developments as the Emirati property market enters a correction phase.
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Ltd reported a significant 34 per cent year-on-year increase in Profit After Tax (PAT) to Rs 5,455 crore for the June quarter, driven by strong performance in its Auto and Farm segments despite challenging macro-economic conditions.
Bajaj Auto plans to increase its annual production capacity by nearly 25 per cent, from around 7 million to over 9 million vehicles, in the coming quarters. This expansion is driven by strong export demand and rapid growth in electric vehicles, which have stretched current capacity across key product segments.
Analysts predict that developments in US-Iran negotiations, fluctuations in crude oil prices, and key global economic data will be the primary drivers of gold and silver prices in the coming week, with a strong focus on talks in Switzerland.
IT stocks had their worst first half fall in decades, with the Nifty IT index declining 31% in the January-June 2026 period, its biggest decline in the first six months of a calendar year since 2003.
Air India has announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Campbell Wilson. This strategic appointment comes as the airline navigates expansion amidst significant challenges.
The refreshed Brezza will target first-time, replacement and additional-car buyers as Maruti responds to changing preferences and intensifying competition in compact SUVs.
A recent SBI Economic Research report indicates that the significant gap between credit and deposit growth, currently over 530 basis points, is likely to persist if geopolitical risks and external supply shocks continue. However, an improvement in deposit growth is anticipated with inflows into foreign currency non-resident (bank) deposits.
