Author: Aruna Kaim

At the maiden stakeholder consultation for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) reforms on Tuesday, developers and operational units strongly urged the government to allow supplies to the domestic market to be settled in Indian Rupees (INR) rather than forcing foreign exchange realization. Faced with muted global demand, the industry argued that current regulations leave SEZs running well below their true capacity. The inter-ministerial committee, which was established in February, is using these consultations to build a blueprint for a comprehensive “SEZ 2.0” policy adapted to modern global trade realities. 1. The Case for Rupee Payments Currently, SEZ units providing services to…

The Japanese yen plunged to a historic four-decade low on Tuesday, touching 162.41 per dollar—a weakness not seen since 1986. Despite recent rate hikes by the Bank of Japan and previous massive market interventions totaling 11.7 trillion yen ($72.25 billion), the currency remains severely defensive. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama stated that authorities are ready to “respond appropriately at any time,” sparking heavy market speculation that Tokyo may be forced into direct currency market intervention to prop up the sliding yen. 1. A Widening US-Japan Interest Rate Gap The fundamental driver behind the yen’s drop is the vast disparity between…

Female participation in cross-border investing among Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) has experienced a significant surge, growing by nearly 70% over the past year. A comprehensive study tracking NRI investors across 34 countries reveals that women now comprise 7.3% of the total NRI investor pool, a notable jump from 4.3% in the previous year. However, the report highlights a distinct geographic divide: female investor participation in Western markets is nearly 1.7 times higher than in Gulf nations. Financial Footprint by Region The data highlights how regional economic structures and household types directly impact investment behavior across the global Indian diaspora: Western Markets…

US stock indexes opened flat on Tuesday, the final trading day of a historic quarter. Despite looming global uncertainties—including the ongoing US-Iran war and market anxieties regarding oil and AI sectors—equities managed to hold their ground, capping off their strongest quarterly performance in years. Opening Numbers On the final morning of the quarter, major indexes showed minimal movement as investors paused to digest the massive gains accummulated over the previous three months: S&P 500: Decreased by 0.8 points (0.01%) to 7,441.27 Nasdaq Composite: Increased by 4.3 points (0.02%) to 25,824.47 Dow Jones Industrial Average: Decreased by 14.6 points (0.03%) to…

In a rare move, brokerage firm Oppenheimer has downgraded several major U.S. investment banks, signaling a belief that these firms have entered the later stages of an expansionary cycle. While the firm noted no immediate threats to these banks’ growth or returns, analysts stated they would “rather not wait around for the warning signs to appear.” Key Rating Changes Goldman Sachs & Morgan Stanley: Downgraded from “perform” to “underperform.” Citigroup & Bank of America: Downgraded from “outperform” to “perform.” The Strategic Pivot Oppenheimer suggests that investors “take the money and run” from large-cap investment banks, recommending a reallocation of funds…

Every experienced long-term investor understands that corrections are a natural, healthy phase of any sustained bull market. However, maximizing these phases requires looking beneath the surface to identify the underlying catalysts. Whether a market pullback is triggered by international friction or domestic economic shifts drastically alters its depth, duration, and eventual recovery pattern. The recent volatility in the Indian market represents a complex, overlapping scenario driven by both forces: Global Triggers: Rising geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region have directly disrupted supply chains and sparked a sharp increase in global oil prices. Domestic Fallout: Because India imports the vast majority…

Oberoi Realty shares are showing strong upward potential after breaking out of an inverse head and shoulders pattern on the daily charts. This technical development strongly signals a transition from a corrective phase to a robust bullish trend. Backed by positive momentum indicators and strong price action above key moving averages, experts suggest that short-term traders and swing investors could target the ₹2,000 level in the coming weeks. The Technical Setup: Anatomy of the Breakout The classic inverse head and shoulders pattern is highly regarded by technical analysts as one of the most reliable bottom-reversal formations. After a period of…

As the trading week unfolds, market sentiment is expected to hinge heavily on macroeconomic indicators coming out of the United States, specifically the trajectory of Federal Reserve interest rate policies and treasury yields. If macroeconomic data signals a prolonged restrictive monetary environment, rising yields could serve as a near-term headwind, challenging equity valuations and testing bullish momentum. Furthermore, the broader market must remain resilient against ongoing geopolitical developments in the Gulf region; a stable baseline there will allow domestic fundamentals to dictate market direction. In environments marked by macro uncertainty, alpha generation requires a shift toward rigorous bottom-up stock selection.…

It looks like you have pasted the intro and layout data for the June 29, 2026 edition of The Economic Times Markets weekly screening report: “Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus.” Here is how the quantitative evaluation system works behind the curtain to produce this list, followed by the typical structural breakdown of the large-cap companies that make the final cut. How a Stock Scores a Perfect “10 on 10” The Stock Reports Plus system (powered by Refinitiv/LBG) generates its score by aggregating data across five core investment pillars. To hit a perfect…

For years, the traditional clamshell laptop has been the undisputed anchor of the modern workday—the default machine for pounding out articles, managing endless browser tabs, and juggling communication channels. But with mobile chips matching desktop-class performance, a compelling question emerges: Can a modern tablet fully replace a laptop as a primary work device? To find out, tech reviewer Amit Rahi locked his laptop away for an entire week, relying solely on a tablet setup for full-time work and after-hours entertainment. The results highlight exactly where modern tablets soar, where their software stumbles, and who should actually consider making the switch.…