Author: Aruna Kaim

Financing for pre-owned vehicles grew at a faster clip than overall auto loans in India over the past five years (2021–2026), according to a recent report by credit information bureau CRIF High Mark. Financiers aggressively expanded their used-car portfolios despite navigating elevated credit stress and higher default rates compared to new vehicle financing. Driven by shifting consumer preferences toward larger premium vehicles via the pre-owned route and deeper credit penetration into non-metro regions, the used-car loan portfolio reached ₹1.3 lakh crore by June 2026. Key Portfolio Metrics (As of June 2026) Used Car Finance Portfolio: Scaled to ₹1.3 lakh crore,…

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has appointed Mihir Rale, Partner at legal firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, as the Chair of its Legal Tech Committee. Concurrently, Dibyajyoti Das, Head of Legal & Compliance at Experian India, has been named Co-Chair. The appointments arrive at a pivotal juncture for India’s digital economy, as internet enterprises, fintechs, and tech platforms navigate a dense matrix of evolving privacy, data protection, and cross-sector regulatory requirements. Key Operational Focus Areas 1. Mitigating Regulatory Overlap The committee functions as a standing panel uniting General Counsels, corporate law firms, and legal technology providers. A core…

Indian logistics and e-commerce enablement unicorn Shiprocket made a roaring debut on Dalal Street on August 19, 2026, with its shares listing at a strong 35% premium over the issue price. The successful public listing underscores surging investor confidence in India’s tech-driven logistics infrastructure, propelled by a nationwide boom in direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, small business digitization, and quick-commerce expansion into Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets. Key Listing Highlights IPO Price Band: ₹92 – ₹97 per share NSE Opening Price: ₹131 (+35.05% premium) BSE Opening Price: ₹129.50 (+33.51% premium) Total Issue Size: ₹1,617.48 Crore (Fresh issue of ₹885.5 Cr + OFS of…

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) posted record-breaking results for the first half of 2026, boosted by a massive resurgence in initial public offerings (IPOs)—particularly from technology and artificial intelligence enterprises. Driven by strong secondary trading volumes and buoyant market sentiment, HKEX solidified its position as the world’s second-largest IPO market in H1 2026. Key Financial Highlights Attributable Net Profit: HK$10.57 billion (~$1.35 billion), up 24% YoY (beating analyst estimates of HK$10.2 billion). Revenue & Other Income: HK$16.7 billion, an increase of 19% YoY. Core Business Revenue: HK$15.5 billion (+19% YoY), setting half-yearly volume records across cash, derivatives, and commodities…

Early-stage venture capital firm Caret Capital has invested ₹12 crore ($1.4 million) in seed funding in Yantra Packs, a B2B startup providing sustainable, reusable packaging solutions to enterprise customers. The fresh capital will be deployed to accelerate Yantra Packs’ pan-India market expansion, enhance its technological infrastructure, and scale its fleet of reusable packaging assets across key industrial supply chains. Core Investment Details Investor: Caret Capital Funding Amount: ₹12 Crore (~$1.4M) Funding Stage: Seed Round Primary Focus: Fleet expansion, tech stack enhancement, and regional market penetration across India. Business & Technology Highlights 1. Reusable Packaging as a Service (PaaS) Yantra Packs…

European equities traded largely flat on Wednesday as investors exercised caution amid escalating Middle East geopolitical risks and high global bond yields, with market focus turning to the release of the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes. The pan-European STOXX 600 index remained virtually unchanged at 652.36 points, balancing gains in energy and defense stocks against losses in technology and media sectors. Key Market Movers & Macro Factors 1. Escalating Geopolitical Risks & Middle East Tensions Persistent uncertainty regarding the Strait of Hormuz and U.S.-Iran relations kept energy prices elevated, with Brent Crude holding above $90–$91 per barrel. Energy stocks led…

Estée Lauder has issued an annual profit forecast that beats Wall Street estimates, driven by surging demand for upscale fragrances and premium skincare products. Following the news, shares of the cosmetics giant—parent to brands like Clinique and M.A.C—surged roughly 18% in early trading. The strong outlook comes as CEO Stephane de La Faverie’s “Beauty Reimagined” strategy gains momentum, refocusing the company on operational execution following the collapse of merger talks with Puig earlier this year. Key Financial Highlights Q4 Net Sales: $3.63 billion, beating analyst expectations of $3.54 billion. Q4 Adjusted Profit: $0.39 per share, surpassing the consensus estimate of…

When financial markets face geopolitical friction—such as diplomatic standoffs or threats in the Gulf region—uncertainty causes broad-based sentiment to turn cautious. During these phases, evaluating market breadth (the ratio of advancing stocks to declining ones across the exchange) provides a much clearer picture of underlying market health than tracking flagship indices like the Nifty or Sensex alone. Why Large-Caps Offer Strategic Refuge When broader market breadth deteriorates and geopolitical news flow remains unpredictable, large-cap companies tend to stabilize significantly faster than mid or small-caps: Balance Sheet Resilience: Large-cap market leaders possess fortress balance sheets with low leverage, enabling them to…

When global headlines drive market turbulence—whether through crude oil price swings, tariff uncertainty, or foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows—businesses tied strictly to domestic demand remain largely insulated. These mid-cap companies cater to essential everyday consumer needs. For long-term investors capable of looking past short-term index volatility, five distinct mid-cap stock categories offer strong fundamentals and upside potential of up to 19%. Sector Breakdown: Essential Domestic Demand Drivers Sector / Business Model Key Demand Driver Volatility Insulation Factor Healthcare & Hospitals Inelastic medical needs Patients seek treatment regardless of market sentiment or foreign policy changes. City Gas Distribution (CGD) Household cooking…

Market pullbacks triggered by sudden geopolitical conflicts present a classic financial dilemma: volatile market sentiment creates sharp downward pressure on asset prices, yet underlying balance sheets remain surprisingly robust. While market headlines focus on near-term volatility and headline risk, examining fundamental bank performance reveals a striking divergence between temporary market fear and long-term domestic economic strength. 1. What Happens to Emerging Markets During Global Instability? When macro shockwaves strike, international institutional capital routinely initiates a “risk-off” retreat. Emerging Markets (EMs) bear the immediate brunt of this liquidity shift through three primary transmission channels: Capital Flight: Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) reallocate…