Author: Aruna Kaim

The Assam Government will formally engage with insurance companies and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to push for the expeditious disposal of claims and secure a loan repayment moratorium for residents in the state’s four worst-hit districts: Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat. The announcement follows a State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, following a special State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting where commercial banks agreed to a six-month loan moratorium for affected borrowers. Key Relief Measures & Timelines Insurance & NBFC Meetings (August 5): The state government will convene a meeting with public and private insurance firms…

Top leadership at Motilal Oswal Financial Services has dismissed concerns regarding Bloomberg Index Services’ decision to defer the inclusion of Indian Government Securities (G-Secs) in its flagship Global Aggregate Bond Index, describing the setback as a temporary operational pause rather than a reflection of structural flaws. Speaking at the 9th edition of the Motilal Oswal Business Impact Conference (MOBIC 2026), market veterans Motilal Oswal and Raamdeo Agrawal expressed strong confidence that international benchmark managers will revisit Indian sovereign debt for index inclusion within the next few months. Key Takeaways Temporary Pause: Financial veteran Motilal Oswal characterized Bloomberg’s delay as a…

The Union Government released an additional instalment of tax devolution amounting to ₹1,09,019 crore to state governments on August 1, 2026. This advance tranche comes over and above the regular monthly tax devolution scheduled for August 10, aimed at bolstering state finances and accelerating capital and developmental expenditures across the country. Key Highlights Early Financial Injection: The early release provides immediate liquidity to state exchequers, enabling state governments to front-load capital spending, infrastructure projects, and social welfare schemes. In Addition to Regular Share: The ₹1.09 lakh crore transfer is separate from the normal monthly devolution slated for release on August…

India’s flagship digital payment infrastructure, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), set a new benchmark in July 2026, processing a record 23.66 billion transactions valued at ₹29.88 lakh crore (~₹29.9 lakh crore). According to figures released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the platform registered strong sequential and year-on-year growth, reaffirming its role as the backbone of everyday retail commerce across the nation. Key Highlights Record Volume: Transaction volume surged to 23.66 billion in July 2026—a 4.1% month-on-month (MoM) increase over June’s 22.72 billion transactions and surpassing the previous volume record of 23.20 billion set in May 2026. Annual…

Two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp reported a strong 18.60% year-on-year (YoY) increase in total dispatches for July 2026, reaching 5,33,416 units compared to 4,49,755 units in July 2025. The growth was primarily driven by robust domestic demand across both motorcycle and scooter portfolios, offsetting a temporary dip in overseas shipments. Key Highlights Strong Domestic Demand: Domestic sales grew 21.58% YoY to 5,01,403 units (up from 4,12,397 units in July 2025), reflecting resilient consumer sentiment across urban and semi-urban markets ahead of the upcoming festive season. Scooters Drive Volume Growth: The scooter segment surged 31.97% YoY to 64,851 units, led by strong…

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen described her emotional return to Kolkata after nearly two decades as a victory for fundamental rights and free expression, declaring that her homecoming demonstrates “injustice cannot be permanent.” Nasreen, who was forced to leave the city in 2007 following violent protests over her writings, shared her reflections upon revisiting West Bengal, emphasizing her enduring affection for the cultural hub she considers her second home. Key Highlights A Long-Awaited Return: Marking her first time back in Kolkata in 19 years, Nasreen re-established her connection with the city where she lived for years following her exile from…

During a shared public appearance in Mysuru at the inauguration of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre (Viveka Smaraka), Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greater Union assistance, arguing that India’s economic and global ambitions rely heavily on the state’s progress. Highlighting the principles of cooperative federalism, Shivakumar stressed that supporting Karnataka serves the broader national interest. Key Takeaways Direct Appeal: Speaking on stage with PM Modi, Shivakumar urged the Union Government to “help Karnataka and save Karnataka,” emphasizing that global investors often view India through the lens of Bengaluru and the state’s…

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh faces a pivotal dilemma in monetary policy. Following his recent public declarations that inflation will be brought under control without explicitly signaling readiness for interest rate hikes, fixed-income markets reacted sharply—flashing what senior economists describe as a clear vote of “no confidence.” The pushback has left the Fed chief balancing pressures between an increasingly hawkish contingent of regional Fed presidents calling for rate hikes and a White House favoring easier monetary policy. Key Takeaways Yield Spike Signal: Warsh’s comments—asserting inflation will cool while hinting at potential changes to the Fed’s long-standing 2% inflation target framework…

Apple stock fell nearly 10% following a disappointing forward outlook, signaling that even tech’s most powerful supply chain is buckling under the pressure of the global AI boom. The projected single-day plunge puts Apple on track for its sharpest market decline since March 2020, threatening to erase roughly $500 billion in market value and surrender its position as the world’s most valuable company back to AI chipmaker Nvidia. Key Highlights Severe Component Shortages: Massive infrastructure buying by hyperscalers build-out AI data centers has drained global advanced processor and memory chip supplies, choking Apple’s hardware manufacturing. CEO Transition Context: Outgoing CEO…

As global markets transition into August, investors face a complex macroeconomic landscape marked by shifting monetary policy expectations, heavy corporate earnings releases, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Here are five key themes dominating global market focus in the week ahead. 1. Central Bank Divergence: Fed vs. BoE vs. BoJ Traders are closely evaluating monetary policy trajectories across major central banks: Federal Reserve: Markets continue to digest recent employment data and inflation metrics, calibrating expectations for potential interest rate cuts in the final quarter of the year. Bank of England (BoE): Investors are scrutinizing UK inflation figures and growth indicators to gauge…