The Atlantic
진보 성향
기타
The Road Wound Upward
A poem
"UPWARD" · 총 49건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.2
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 74,568건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.2(균형)입니다. 긍정 3,730건(5.0%)·중립 69,020건(92.6%)·부정 1,818건(2.4%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 15.2(중도 균형)입니다.
A poem
• Prices stay high despite export disruptions • Beef hits Rs1,500-1,800 per kg, mutton Rs2,700-2,900 KARACHI: Amid disease outbreaks, export suspensions, volatile market conditions and rising feed and production costs, the poultry sector has continued to grow by eight per cent annually over the past 10 years. Higher prices for poultry might cause a slowdown in the purchasing patterns of low- and middle-income people, but they still rely on poultry as it costs much less than beef and mutton. As per the Economic Survey FY25, rural poultry had shown modest gains, but commercial production remained the main growth driver. After remaining on the higher side, poultry live bird prices have fallen by an average Rs100 per kg to Rs370-420 per kg in Karachi after Eidul Azha. Consumers were expecting a further price drop in the wake of the closure of borders with Afghanistan, but the prices of poultry continued to show an upward trend. In October 2025, when the Afghan border was closed, the live-bird price had fallen to Rs310-360 per kg, down from Rs460-540 in September. However, according to traders, the export of poultry products such as birds, feed, day-old chicks and eggs remains suspended, but consumers have not seen any significant price falls. Prior to and after Eidul Azha, the demand for poultry usually declines as consumers shift towards meat from sacrificial animals, but this year traders kept chicken prices higher due to robust demand ahead of Eid. According to the weekly Sensitive Price Index (SPI) data for the period ending June 4, the prices of live birds in various cities across the country remained unchanged at Rs288-460 per kg. Consumers have seen the price of an egg drop to Rs20-22 from Rs25, as demand is thin due to school closures and hot weather. The Commissioner of Karachi had issued retail rates for live birds and meat at Rs296 and Rs445 per kg, respectively, but these rates are not available in shops. Member of the Executive Committee of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui, said the farm rate for live birds had plunged by Rs100 to Rs290-300 per kg after Eid, while the meat rate should not exceed Rs500 per kg, but retailers are charging over Rs500 per kg. He said chicken remains affordable despite the impact of the Afghan border closure and the Middle East crisis, which also led to the suspension of poultry product shipments to Iran. Veal meat with and without bones is available at Rs1,500 and Rs1,800 per kg, while mutton is priced at Rs2,700-2,900 per kg, which is beyond the reach of many people. Compared with red meat, chicken is still affordable for many low- and middle-income people, he said. Mr Akhtar said that demand for chicken has currently dropped after Eidul Azha, as consumers’ freezers are packed with Qurbani meat. Demand will pick up when sacrificial animal meat is fully consumed. No price respite Irrespective of the rise and fall in rates due to the demand and supply situation, consumers have not seen any respite in the prices of chicken tikka and broast, seekh kabab, boneless boti, and Chinese dishes. The average price of half kg chicken karahi is Rs1,200 while the average price of quarter broast (chest piece) is tagged at Rs500. At branded outlets, the price of quarter broast is over Rs600. There is no change in the price of chicken biryani, selling between Rs250-320 (single plate). Average price of chicken tikka (leg and chest piece) is available at Rs360-400 but some big food outlets charge Rs500-600 per tikka. A zinger burger costs not less than Rs500. Mighty zinger and chicken burgers offered by branded outlets carry a price of Rs600-800. As per Economic Survey FY25, the average annual growth rate of poultry sector is 8.1pc over past 10 years. The survey said the total poultry bird population was projected to reach 2.26 billion, driven primarily by commercial broiler expansion, estimated at 2.06bn birds. Similarly, day-old chick production was expected to rise by 9.8pc to 2.19bn, indicating robust forward integration in the breeding and hatchery segments. Poultry meat production was forecast to grow to 2.58 million tonnes, up by 9.4pc Egg production was also expected to reach 26.7bn, reflecting improvements in layer performance and flock management. Poultry meat accounts for over 40pc of Pakistan’s total meat production. The industry, being the 11th largest producer in the world, employs over 1.5m nationwide. Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026
TACLOBAN CITY — The 2026 whale shark interaction season in Pintuyan, Southern Leyte has attracted at least 9,842 local and foreign tourists, the local tourism office reported. The latest figures show an upward trend in visitor arrivals over the past three seasons, with 2,040 visitors in 2023, 3,894 in 2024 and 6,521 in 2025, reflecting growing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Economic Advisory Council to discuss strengthening India's economic growth amidst global uncertainty. The Reserve Bank of India kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, citing geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns, while revising GDP growth and inflation projections downwards and upwards respectively for FY2026-27.
WASHINGTON, June 6 — Iran still has “21, 22 per cent” of its missiles left, US President Donald Trump...
As India sees incessant FII selloff so far this year, the government and RBI announced a slew of measures to ease foreign investments in government securities, with analysts suggesting that these may provide some short-term support for Dalal Street.India scrapped the long-term capital gains tax on investments by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in government securities through an ordinance issued on Friday. The government has now exempted FIIs from tax on any interest income from government securities, as well as capital gains arising from their sale, exchange or transfer, according to an official gazette. Separately, while announcing the outcome of the MPC meeting, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra also unveiled a series of measures to boost FPI investments, including expanding the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to cover new issuances of 15-, 30- and 40-year government bonds.Limits on investments by NRIs and OCIs in equity instruments without Sebi registration are being raised, allowing them to invest larger amounts without regulatory registration. The facility is also proposed to be extended to all Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), bringing them on par with NRIs and OCIs. This came as the RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%What does this mean for Indian stock market?The proposal to increase investment limits for NRIs and OCIs in listed equity instruments without Sebi registration, and to extend the same facility to all individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), is a significant step toward broadening participation in Indian capital markets, which is expected to improve market depth, liquidity and long-term capital inflows, said Arun Poddar, CEO of Choice International.He highlighted that equally important is the removal of capital gains tax on government securities investments for foreign investors. “This move strengthens the attractiveness of India's bond market and could encourage greater foreign participation in government debt. At a time of heightened global volatility, these measures reinforce investor confidence, support capital inflows, and reaffirm India's commitment to building deeper, more globally integrated financial markets, with the policy rate expected to remain low for an extended period,” he said.The government's move to exempt Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) from capital gains tax on any interest earned from government securities is “highly positive” for the capital markets, said Sumit Singhania, Head of Research at Bajaj Broking. “This fiscal cushion arrives at a crucial time, offering a strong shield to domestic markets as the RBI chief warned of volatile forex markets driven by shifting global sentiments,” he added.The policy is distinctly positive for bond markets and well-capitalized Banks and NBFCs, which benefit from targeted hedging subsidies and systemic stability, according to Archit Doshi, Senior Vice President at PL (Prabhudas Lilladher) AMC. “Conversely, one should be underweight rate-sensitive sectors, which remain highly vulnerable to margin compression, higher inflation expectations, and the threat of the RBI reaching its tightening tipping point,” he said.Rajeev Radhakrishnan, CFA, CIO of Fixed Income at SBI Mutual Fund, also said that the announcements aimed at enabling more dollar inflows are more significant in the near term, even though the overall policy stance has been broadly in line with expectations. “The concessional swap facility should help stabilise short end market rates and the foreign exchange market in the near term,” he said.For equities and debt markets, the measures to attract FII inflows are supportive of liquidity and inflows, while for the rupee, they signal a clear intent to anchor expectations and reduce volatility amid global oil shocks and sustained foreign selling pressure, said Ajit Mishra, Senior VP of Research at Religare Broking.Sachin Bajaj, Chief Investment Officer at Axis Max Life Insurance, also said that the initiatives are expected to support capital inflows, deepen domestic bond markets, and provide support to the Indian rupee over the short to medium term.RBI’s hawkish tone and the Indian stock marketWhile the measures taken to attract FII inflows in the debt market will likely provide short-term support for Dalal Street, analysts advised caution over the RBI’s hawkish policy stance. While the RBI maintained its policy repo rate as per expectations, the tone was much more cautious than in previous meetings.Sachin Bajaj highlighted that the policy emphasised preserving macroeconomic stability amid the prevailing global macroeconomic environment. “We believe there are significant risks to inflation in the coming months due to the pass-through of higher commodity prices to consumers and elevated food prices resulting from a below-normal monsoon. Going forward, there is a risk of an upward revision in inflation projections, and given the evolving global backdrop, we believe the RBI is likely to maintain a prudent, data-dependent approach. Future policy actions will be contingent on evolving growth-inflation dynamics and global developments,” he added.Also read: Explained: Sebi's Rs 15.15 lakh crore revenue inflation allegations against Rajesh ExportsWhile hawkish rhetoric without an accompanying rate hike provides a temporary respite for equity markets, it does not constitute an unequivocal endorsement of investment, particularly in highly rate-sensitive sectors such as real estate, automotive, and consumer discretionary goods, said Vipul Bhowar, Senior Director, Head of Equities at Waterfield Advisors.“Should inflation necessitate a rate increase later this year, these sectors are likely to experience pressure on both margins and demand. For investors, the current strategy emphasises capital preservation by focusing on high-quality equities with strong pricing power. This cautious approach is designed to navigate the prevailing geopolitical uncertainties until conditions stabilise,” the analyst added.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Shares of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone rebounded after a two-session decline, rising more than 1% to Rs 1,812 on Friday after Goldman Sachs reaffirmed its 'Buy' rating on the stock. The brokerage also raised the stock's target price to Rs 1,870. Goldman Sachs highlighted that cargo volumes in May 2026 rose 16% year-on-year to 48.3 million tonnes, led by a 33% increase in liquid cargo and a 17% rise in container volumes. Quarter-to-date cargo volumes stood at 91.4 million tonnes, up 15% from a year ago and ahead of analyst expectations.Goldman Sachs noted that thermal coal volumes are witnessing a recovery and are likely to remain robust during the summer months. However, logistics rail volumes in May declined 19% year-on-year to 48,170 container units.The brokerage identified key growth drivers as higher Tata Power-linked coal volumes at Mundra, the ramp-up of operations at the Vizhinjam transhipment hub, growth in liquid cargo at Mundra, and expansion of multimodal logistics parks.Reflecting the strong volume momentum and improving return on capital employed (ROCE), Goldman Sachs has revised its earnings estimates upward and increased its target price for the stock.Adani Ports Q4 snapshotAdani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,329 crore for the March-ended quarter, compared to Rs 3,014 crore in the year-ago period, marking a 10% increase. The profit after tax (PAT) is attributable to equity holders of the parent.India's largest port operator posted revenue growth of 26% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 10,737 crore in Q4FY26, as against Rs 8,488 crore posted by the company in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.The company's Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) in the quarter under review stood at Rs 6,02 crore, up 20% from Rs 5,006 crore reported in Q4FY25.Also read: Rajesh Exports shares hit 5% lower circuit for 2nd day; firm cites 'communication gap' after Sebi order For the full financial year, PAT jumped 16% to Rs 12,782 crore compared to Rs 11,061 crore in FY25, while the topline stood at Rs 38,736 crore for FY26 versus Rs 31,079 crore in FY25, recording a 25% growth. EBITDA saw a 20% YoY uptick at Rs 22,851 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Indian stock market traded in the green on Friday, with Sensex and Nifty extending gains for the second consecutive session as investors await the outcome of RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) meeting today.Sensex gained 270 points at 74,629.94, while Nifty 50 rose over 62 points at 23,478.95. This came as India VIX, which measures volatility in markets, fell over 2% to 15.89.Infosys, UltraTech Cement, TCS, Tech Mahindra, M&M and Maruti Suzuki shares gained over 1% each to lead gains on Sensex. Tata Steel shares meanwhile fell over 1% to lead losses on the benchmark index.Broader markets also traded in the green, with Nifty Smallcap 100 and Nifty Midcap 100 indices gaining over 0.3% each. All sectoral indices opened in the green, with Nifty Consumer Durables, Nifty IT and Nifty Media rising nearly 1% each. Around 1,824 stocks advanced on NSE, while 523 declined and 101 remained unchanged.What’s moving the stock market upward today?"There are some mild positive indications for the market today. There are signs of weakness in the AI trade in the US, South Korea and Taiwan and rotation away from tech stocks, but it is too early to say whether this will sustain,” said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments.The focus of the market today will be on the monetary policy and the message from the RBI Governor, the analyst said. “The MPC is likely to hold rates with a guidance of a rate hike later in the year to combat inflation which is expected to rise in H2 FY27. RBI is likely to revise the GDP growth for FY 27 downward and CPI inflation upward in the context of the energy shock and its implications,” he added.According to Vijayakumar, the most likely policy action is a ‘hawkish hold’, that is, the RBI would hold the rates without any change but would send a hawkish message that inflation is set to rise and, therefore, expect rate hike later this year. If the RBI decides to act now with a 25 bps rate hike, that will move the banking stocks sharply upwards since they would benefit from rate hikes, he further said. However, a rate hike would be negative for interest elastic segments like automobiles and real estate, the analyst added.Rupee risesRupee meanwhile gained 8 paise to 95.66 against US dollar in early trade. “With India's import bill under pressure from elevated commodity prices and continued FII outflows, participants will closely monitor the Governor’s commentary for cues on inflation, currency stability, and future policy direction,” said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst of Commodity and Currency at LKP Securities.The analyst expects the near-term range for rupee to be 95.25–96.25.FII selling continuesForeign investors continued to remain bearish on Indian markets. FIIs net sold Indian shares worth Rs 4,447 crore on Thursday, according to data on NSE.Notably, FIIs have remained net sellers of Indian equities for five consecutive sessions. (With inputs from agencies)(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Hong Kong is embracing its growing role on the international stage in vital sectors driving global prosperity – a message highlighted at an annual gathering of international industry leaders, corporate executives and local policymakers who back the city’s upward momentum. The Global Prosperity Summit 2026 (GPS 2026) showcased high-stakes international dialogue over two days in Hong Kong last month for panel discussions on the city’s potential across several fast-evolving and globally significant...
The Korean film "Colony" continued its upward streak, drawing more than 4 million admissions since its release last month, data showed Thursday. The star-studded blockbuster reported 4,043,762 accumulated admissions as of Wednesday, adding 331,493 admissions from the previous day, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council. The milestone came on the 14th day of its release, marking the fastest pace by a film released in South Korea this year. "Colony" is the latest zombie thriller
Wall Street stocks pulled back from record highs on Wednesday as flaring tensions in the Middle East and rising crude prices stoked inflation jitters and convinced investors to take some profits.All three major U.S. stock indexes closed in negative territory, dragged lower by financials and tech , with the small-cap Russell 2000 underperforming its larger-cap counterparts.Chips advanced, indicating the artificial intelligence fervor is alive and well. Still, most of the Magnificent Seven group of AI-related megacaps were lower."The AI names are trading on their own completely separate world, largely oblivious to macro and geopolitical risk, at least within reason," said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird in Louisville, Kentucky. "And so there's going to be a bid for those names, especially on days where everything else looks a little bit less attractive."The S&P Software & Services index declined. It has been battered in recent months by fears of AI disruption.Middle East hostilities intensified as the U.S. and Iran traded a new round of air strikes, the latest test of a shaky ceasefire.Oil prices rose, adding to worries that upward pressure on energy prices could metastasize into broader, systemic inflation."This market continues to demonstrate a tug of war between fundamentals in the U.S. economy, which are incredibly positive, and concerns that the duration of the conflict in the Middle East will lead to downside risks," said Bill Northey, senior investment director at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, Billings, Montana. "Our framework is centered around the duration of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as the primary input to inflation expectations.""The longer the duration of that closure, the less likely the Federal Reserve will be able to ease in 2026," Northey added.In fact, financial markets are pricing more than a 40% likelihood of a rate hike at the conclusion of the U.S. Federal Reserve's December meeting, up from 9.1% one month ago, according to CME's FedWatch tool.New York Fed President John Williams reiterated his position that the central bank does not need to change interest rates despite upside inflation risks, stating monetary policy is "in the right place."Economic data suggested the labor market was stable, and the services sector continued to expand, but input prices remained elevated and corporate spending plans appeared soft amid rising energy costs and geopolitical uncertainties.The Beige Book, the Fed's regional economic survey, showed economic activity gathered steam in recent weeks, employment was little changed, but the fallout from higher energy prices due to the war was pervasive.According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 54.11 points, or 0.74%, to end at 7,555.67 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 230.97 points, or 0.85%, to 26,862.93. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 581.84 points, or 1.13%, to 50,725.95.Among chipmakers, Marvell, Intel, Qualcomm , and Sandisk outperformed.Asset managers dropped after Switzerland's Partners Group capped withdrawals from an $8.6 billion private equity fund. KKR, Blackstone, Blue Owl and Ares Management all lost ground.GameStop advanced after the original meme-stock posted a rise in quarterly revenue and unveiled a $2 billion share buyback program.Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to price its IPO at $135 a share to raise a record $75 billion, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.Broadcom results were expected shortly.
New Delhi: India's CPI inflation is expected to rise by around 70 bps to 4.8 per cent with crude oil averaging USD 90/bbl in FY27, according to a report by 360 ONE Capital. This projection comes as the ongoing conflict in West Asia and a downgraded domestic monsoon forecast introduce fresh challenges to India's macroeconomic trajectory.The report noted that the conflict in West Asia and the resulting energy supply disruptions warrant a reassessment of key macroeconomic assumptions. "Our revised base case assumes de-escalation by mid-June, with crude oil averaging USD 90/bbl in FY27. Under this scenario, CPI inflation is expected to rise by around 70 bps to 4.8% (from 4.1%), while GDP growth moderates to 6.3% (from 6.7%). The fiscal deficit is projected to widen to 4.6% of GDP (from 4.4%), and the current account deficit to 2.1% of GDP (from 1.3%)," the report stated.Also read: India meets FY26 fiscal deficit goal at 4.4% of GDP despite revenue and global pressuresThe report noted that India's economic momentum remains stable due to domestic consumption and public spending, but geopolitical frictions pose tangible downside risks. Supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz are particularly vital, as India sources nearly 50 per cent of its LPG and around 30 per cent of its natural gas requirements through this route.Even though the "net petroleum import bill has declined from 5.5% of GDP in FY14 to around 3.0% in FY25, the economy remains exposed to a prolonged disruption in energy supplies."On the monetary front, global financial conditions continue to tighten as central banks react to persistent inflationary impulses. While the Reserve Bank of India is expected to keep policy rates unchanged in the upcoming meeting, domestic bond yields face upward pressure from a widening fiscal deficit and higher energy costs.Also read: Manufacturing activity at 3-month high in May despite cost woesThe report mentioned that the impact on macroeconomic variables is likely to be non-linear, implying significantly larger downside risks if the conflict persists. "A further USD 10/bbl increase in crude prices above our base assumption could push inflation to 5.6% (assuming a partial pass-through of around 5% to retail fuel prices), lower GDP growth by an additional 40 bps to 5.9%, widen the current account deficit to 2.5% GDP, and increase the fiscal deficit to 4.8% of GDP," the report added.Compounding these external geopolitical risks, the domestic agricultural outlook faces unexpected pressure. In its Second Long Range Forecast, the IMD downgraded the Southwest Monsoon 2026 forecast to 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) from 92 per cent estimated in April.This development represents the weakest monsoon outlook since 2015, which raises immediate concerns over overall agricultural output and rural demand.In the global perspective, the IMF has lowered its 2026 global growth forecast by 20 bps, citing risks from the Middle East conflict through higher commodity prices, inflation, and tighter financial conditions.The report stated that under the IMF's reference scenario, "global growth is projected at 3.1% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, below both the recent 3.4% pace and the historical average of 3.7%. In adverse scenarios, growth could slow to 2.5% or even 2.0%, accompanied by significantly higher inflation, with emerging markets expected to be disproportionately affected."
Indian stock market traded in deep red on Tuesday, with Sensex and Nifty falling more than 0.5% each as renewed tensions around the Iran-US war, along with persistent FII selling spooked investors.Sensex declined over 415 points to 73,852, while Nifty 50 fell 142 points to 23,240, as seen at 9.17 am. This came even as India VIX, which measures volatility in markets, tumbled 2.5% to 16.13.Bajaj Finance shares were the top losers on the index, falling nearly 3%. Eternal, Bharat Electronics (IBEL), Bajaj Finserv, Trent, NTPC, Power Grid, UltraTech Cement and L&T followed, dropping 1-2%. Bucking the trend, IT stocks including Infosys, TCS, TechM and HCL Tech gained 1-3%.Broader markets underperformed benchmarks, with Nifty Smallcap 100 and Nifty Midcap 100 indices falling around 1% each. Sectorally, Nifty Auto, Nifty Realty, Nifty Consumer Durables and few other indices declined more than 1% each. Bucking the trend, Nifty IT gained nearly 2%. Around 887 stocks advanced on NSE, while 1,650 declined and 97 remained unchanged.The trend of sustained AI trade, new records for markets in US, South Korea and Taiwan, sustained FPI selling in India and India’s underperformance are continuing with no immediate signs of reversal, said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments. “To add to India’s problems, the energy shock has led to downward revision of India’s GDP growth and upward revision of inflation this financial year. And now we have the additional threat of the IMD’s latest projection of monsoon rains at 90% of long term average, which will have negative implications for growth and inflation,” he added.A resolution of the West Asia conflict and the consequent dip in crude price will be a big positive, but expectations on that front have been belied and the issue continues to hang fire, the analyst explained. “In these tough times of huge uncertainty and challenges, the ideal strategy for investors is to stick to the basics. Do proper asset allocation based on one’s risk profile and financial goals and wait with patience,” he further said.Iran-US war uncertaintiesIran and US traded strikes, while Israel ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in its battle with the Tehran-backed Hezbollah militant group. The renewed tensions in the Middle East, after Washington hosted Israel-Lebanon peace talks on Friday, dimmed hopes that the US and Iran could soon announce an extension to their ceasefire, which continues to grow fragile.US President Donald Trump meanwhile took to Truth Social on Monday evening, saying that he persuaded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off the strike on Beirut, following which the Israeli leader "turned his troops around". "I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today (Monday), asking him not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon. He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi," he said, referring to the Israeli prime minister by his widely used nickname.Trump said on Friday he would soon decide on a proposed deal to extend a ceasefire announced in early April. Israel would be key to any such deal, and Iran has said repeatedly that Hezbollah and Lebanon must be included. The US has proposed a "gradual de-escalation" plan, a US official said on Sunday.Oil prices riseBrent crude futures neared $95 per barrel mark while WTI Crude futures neared $92 per barrel as a result of the recent escalations. This comes after Brent and WTI Crude dropped 19% and 17% in May, recording their biggest monthly fall in absolute terms since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic slashed energy demand.The rising military strikes in the geopolitically fragile Middle East raised worries over the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow 33-kilometre waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman that handles over 20% of the world’s daily oil and gas shipments.FII selling continuesForeign investors remained net sellers of Indian equities, net selling shares worth nearly Rs 3,912 crore on Dalal Street on Monday. This came after a massive Rs 22,102 crore selloff in just one session on May 29. Notably, South Korea’s equity market has overtaken India’s as the world’s sixth largest, driven by a relentless surge in chip heavyweights powering the global artificial intelligence buildout.(With inputs from agencies)(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Countries: Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key Messages Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected across South and El-Nabatieh governorates through September 2026, driven by sustained insecurity, collapsed market functionality, and severely constrained humanitarian access. From June through September, a deterioration from Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) is likely in Akkar, Baalbek-El Hermel, Beirut, and parts of Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, and North, reflecting mounting displacement pressures and declining income-earning opportunities alongside a reduction in humanitarian food assistance after May. Hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah persist in May, with continued airstrikes and ground operations driving large-scale displacement, reducing market access, disrupting agricultural production, and constraining humanitarian operations. Despite a 45-day ceasefire extension announced on May 15, fighting intensified in mid- to late May, with attacks remaining concentrated in southern Lebanon, particularly in Tyre, Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil, and Marjayyoun districts. Israeli air and drone strikes are also increasing in frequency in the Bekaa Valley. Attacks targeting critical infrastructure — including health facilities, water systems, and transportation routes — continue to disrupt supply chains and constrain service delivery, while humanitarian access remains constrained across insecurity-affected areas, further isolating southern populations. Displacements continue to increase, placing additional strain on collective shelters and intensifying social tensions in host communities. Returns to southern Lebanon remain limited due to persisting insecurity, widespread infrastructure destruction, restricted access, and disruptions to markets and essential services. Expanded evacuation orders beyond southern Lebanon are constraining movement and access to assistance across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs, with 90 percent of forced displacement orders concentrated in South, triggering further population movements. As of May 21, nearly 130,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are residing in 635 collective shelters, while the majority of the estimated 1.3 million IDPs remain outside formal sites in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and North. Within these governorates, large influxes are exacerbating overcrowding, straining local resources, and heightening tensions between displaced populations and host communities. Food and fuel prices remain key constraints on household food access amid Lebanon’s heavy reliance on imports and ongoing insecurity-related disruptions. Below-average 2025 wheat production, intermittent trade disruptions, and localized access constraints, particularly in the south and the Bekaa-Baalbek-Hermel corridor, are placing upward pressure on prices, with bread prices rising 12 percent from mid-February to mid-April and remaining elevated despite national wheat availability that is supported by sustained imports, especially in areas affected by insecurity and transport disruptions. Sharp increases in fuel prices — rising by approximately 84 percent between mid-February and mid-May — due to domestic price adjustments and regional fuel market pressures following the escalation are raising transportation and production costs. These price increases are further eroding household purchasing power, particularly for poor and displaced households. Market functionality and income-earning opportunities remain uneven across Lebanon, reflecting a geographic divide between insecurity-affected areas and areas not directly impacted by hostilities. In South and El-Nabatieh, market functionality remains severely degraded, with limited trader activity, supply chain breakdowns, and restricted physical access constraining food availability. In contrast, markets continue to operate in most displacement-affected areas, though growing strain on local markets — driven by the IDP influx, price inflation, depleting stocks, and overwhelming trader capacity — and declining purchasing power are increasingly constraining food access. Income-earning opportunities remain well below average countrywide, with the collapse of the tourism industry — an 80 percent drop compared to the same period in 2025 — and below-average activity in construction, services, and transport limiting urban labor demand. The increased labor supply from displaced populations is increasing competition and placing downward pressure on wages. In South, El-Nabatieh, and Baalbek-Hermel, agricultural labor opportunities, associated with the start of the typical wheat and barley harvest, are below average and compounded by displacement, land access constraints, and infrastructure damage, which are reducing a key source of seasonal income. Humanitarian food assistance remains ongoing but insufficient to meet rapidly rising needs. A revised extension of the Lebanon Flash Appeal through August — expected to launch in early June — will continue to target up to 1 million people, contingent on the availability of funding, including poor Lebanese, displaced Syrians, and Palestinian refugees. However, implementation remains highly dependent on securing additional funding, with substantial funding gaps limiting partners’ ability to sustain assistance delivery at scale. Since the start of the escalation, partners have delivered more than 10.3 million hot and cold meals, 129,852 ready-to-eat rations, and 37,256 bread bundles across Lebanon, and have supported 618,000 insecurity-affected people with cash assistance as of May 21. Operational effectiveness also continues to vary by area. In insecurity-affected areas, particularly South and El-Nabatieh, ongoing hostilities, movement restrictions, infrastructure damage, and localized market disruptions limit households’ ability to fully utilize cash assistance, while access constraints and convoy limitations continue to restrict the timely delivery of in-kind assistance to the most affected and isolated populations.
Country: World Source: Pan American Health Organization Please refer to the attached file. Regional situation: In EW 19 of 2026, respiratory virus activity in the Region of the Americas deepens the pattern of inter-hemispheric seasonal transition observed in previous weeks, with an increasingly marked divergence between hemispheres. North America, the Caribbean, and Central America are consolidating the end of the 2025–2026 season, with influenza positivity at low levels close to the interseasonal baseline. In contrast, Brazil and the Southern Cone establish themselves as the subregion of greatest epidemiological relevance for this reporting period, intensifying an accelerated upward trend of the start of the austral winter season, led by Argentina. The Andean Subregion maintains a mixed pattern, with an aggregate decline in influenza but divergent trajectories between countries and with RSV cases that continue to rise. The inter-hemispheric predominance of subtypes persists: influenza B, which has characterized the end of the Northern Hemisphere season, and influenza A, mainly A(H3N2), in the subregions of the Southern Hemisphere. Likewise, RSV shows opposite patterns according to hemisphere: declining in North America and rising in the Andean Region and in Brazil and the Southern Cone, consistent with the start of the austral season. SARS-CoV-2 maintains its generalized decline in all subregions, with no sign of resurgence. The burden of SARI and ILI is declining in the Northern Hemisphere, while the indicators are beginning to reflect an increase in the Southern Cone. Situación regional: En la SE 19 de 2026, la actividad de virus respiratorios en la Región de las Américas profundiza el patrón de transición estacional inter-hemisférica observado en las semanas previas, con una divergencia cada vez más marcada entre hemisferios. América del Norte, el Caribe y Centroamérica consolidan el fin de la temporada 2025–2026, con positividades de influenza en niveles bajos próximos a la línea de base interestacional. En contraste, Brasil y el Cono Sur se afirman como la subregión de mayor relevancia epidemiológica para este periodo de reporte, intensificando una tendencia ascendente y acelerada de inicio de temporada invernal austral, liderada por Argentina. La Subregión Andina mantiene un patrón mixto, con descenso agregado de influenza, pero trayectorias divergentes entre países y con casos de VRS que continúan en ascenso. Persiste el predominio inter-hemisférico de subtipos: influenza B que ha caracterizado el cierre de temporada del hemisferio norte e influenza A, principalmente A(H3N2), en las subregiones del hemisferio sur. Igualmente, el VRS muestra patrones opuestos según hemisferio: en descenso en América del Norte y en ascenso en la Región Andina y en Brasil y el Cono Sur, consistente con el inicio de la temporada austral. El SARS-CoV-2 mantiene su descenso generalizado en todas las subregiones, sin señal de resurgimiento. La carga de IRAG y ETI desciende en el hemisferio norte, mientras los indicadores comienzan a reflejar un incremento en el Cono Sur.
Companies in violation of the new law will face fines of upwards of $2.5 million, but critics say children will still find ways around the law.
India's UPI transactions reached record highs in May, with 23.2 billion transactions valued at Rs 29.90 lakh crore. This growth, driven by summer travel and seasonal spending, signifies a healthy upward trajectory for the digital payments ecosystem. Future expansion is anticipated through Credit-on-UPI and cross-border initiatives.
Akeso, whose drug ivonescimab was hailed as biotech’s “DeepSeek moment” amid US competition last year, announced better-than-expected clinical results showing it can treat a type of lung cancer commonly found in smokers, potentially expanding its approved uses. Analysts suggest it could become a backbone therapy in the US$20 billion global non-small cell lung cancer market and have revised their target prices upwards. The drug’s phase three trial found that ivonescimab reduced the risk of death...
External shocks from the war in the Middle East have had only a limited impact on Hong Kong’s inflation, the finance chief has said, despite an upwards revision to forecasts, citing the city’s service-based economy and stable energy and food supplies from mainland China. Briefing the Legislative Council’s Panel on Financial Affairs on Monday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the surge in global fuel prices was expected to feed through to fuel-related consumer prices, pushing inflation...
Shares of NMDC Steel rallied as much as 17.92% to an intraday high of Rs 52.62 during Monday's trading session after the company reported a sharp turnaround in its fourth-quarter and FY26 earnings. The stock hit a fresh 52-week high as investors cheered its return to profitability and strong revenue growth.NMDC Steel returned to profitability in the March quarter, posting a net profit of Rs 391.91 crore compared with a net loss of Rs 473 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. The company had also reported a loss of Rs 244 crore in the December 2025 quarter, making the latest earnings performance a significant turnaround.Revenue from operations jumped 37% year-on-year to Rs 3,879 crore in Q4 FY26 from Rs 2,838 crore in the same quarter last year. On a sequential basis, revenue rose sharply from Rs 3,007 crore reported in the previous quarter.The company also reported its first profitable full-year performance, posting a net profit of Rs 59 crore in FY26 compared with a substantial net loss of Rs 2,374 crore in FY25.Annual revenue from operations surged nearly 60% to Rs 13,641.81 crore, compared with Rs 8,503 crore in the previous financial year, highlighting strong growth in production and sales volumes.Further underlining the improvement in earnings quality, earnings per share (EPS) turned positive at Rs 1.34 for FY26.Valuation and Market PositionFollowing the sharp rally, NMDC Steel commands a market capitalization of approximately Rs 13,076 crore. The stock continues to trade at a Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio of 1.15 and a Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio of 1.0.Institutional Investors Increase ExposureForeign Institutional Investors (FIIs) marginally increased their stake from 4.81% to 4.85% during the March 2026 quarter. Meanwhile, mutual fund holdings rose from 0.71% to 0.83%, indicating growing confidence among domestic institutional investors.Technical Indicators Signal StrengthFrom a technical perspective, the stock remains firmly in bullish territory. NMDC Steel is currently trading above all 8 of its key simple moving averages (SMAs), a sign of strong upward momentum.The stock's 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 56.9. An RSI below 30 is generally considered oversold, while a reading above 70 indicates overbought conditions. The current RSI suggests the stock has room to move higher without entering overheated territory.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)