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Hindalco Indiustries, the metals arm of Aditya Birla Group, is eyeing a Rs 1,000 crore of revenue by fiscal year 2029 with the launch of its Eternia experience centre in New Delhi on Thursday.Eternia is among the fastest-growing players in the system aluminium windows segment, recording nearly 65% CAGR growth over the last three years, the company said. The revenue target would largely be driven by rapid category growth, an expanding nationwide partner network, and strengthened manufacturing capabilities.The windows and façade segment in India represents an estimated ₹40,000 crore market opportunity and remains largely unorganised, with premium segments growing at nearly 15% CAGR, Hindalco said in a regulatory filing, citing rising demand for high-performance, design-led offerings."The building and construction sector is a critical pillar of India’s growth story, and we see significant opportunity in delivering high-performance, system-driven solutions to this evolving market," said Satish Pai, Managing Director.The Eternia brand has positioned Hindalco to move up the value chain, from aluminium production to engineered building solutions. The metals major manufactures and distributes products through facilities located at Renukoot, Silvassa, Kuppam, and Alupuram.The company has also built a manufacturing hub in Bilaspur, Gurugram, spanning 120,00 sq. ft. and a capacity to produce up to 250,000 sq. ft. of windows per month. The facility, Hindalco said, is strategically located to serve the rapidly growing North Indian market and improve delivery speed and responsiveness.The Gurugram facility also houses a R&D centre for ongoing product development and testing, along with a training centre.
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.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in soccer history, spread across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For millions of fans, getting to the games may prove almost as challenging as the matches themselves.With airfares climbing, gasoline prices rising and airport security lines stretching patience to the limit, North America's rail and bus operators see the month-long tournament as a rare opportunity: a chance to persuade travelers to swap planes and cars for trains, buses and public transit.For transportation providers, the World Cup is more than a sporting spectacle. It is a high-stakes audition before a global audience."We want you to be able to use our system seamlessly from the minute you decide to come to the World Cup, all the way into the games, and after that to get home," said Conan Cheung, chief operations officer for LA Metro, the public transportation authority serving the Los Angeles region.Los Angeles, which will host eight matches including the U.S. team's opening game, hopes the tournament will help reshape perceptions of a city often synonymous with traffic jams and sprawling freeways.For Cheung, the objective extends beyond impressing foreign visitors. The World Cup is also an opportunity to convince more Angelenos to embrace a public transportation system that has expanded significantly in recent years.That challenge resonates across much of the United States and Canada, where public transit networks are often less extensive than those found in Europe or Asia and where private vehicles remain the preferred mode of transport."Transit providers have an opportunity to provide service to a group of people who do not typically use transit on a day-to-day basis," said Yonah Freemark, a principal research associate at the Washington-based Urban Institute."Many of the World Cup fans coming from the U.S. or Canada do not necessarily use transit services regularly."The impressions those travelers form during the tournament could have lasting consequences."They should be making sure that the services they provide are high quality and not too expensive, because the people who are riding them are going to form an impression of those transit agencies — and there's a chance to really prove that they can provide a good service," Freemark said.Opportunity meets realityYet attracting new riders may prove easier than accommodating them.The World Cup's 104 matches will unfold across four time zones and thousands of miles, placing enormous demands on transportation networks already operating close to capacity.Ground transportation companies are eager to capitalize on soaring airline costs, but many are also wrestling with higher operating expenses of their own, particularly fuel prices.That leaves operators balancing competing priorities: attracting new customers while avoiding disruptions or price increases that could alienate the commuters who rely on them every day.For intercity bus giant FlixBus, the tournament represents a significant growth opportunity.Together with sister brand Greyhound, the company operates one of North America's largest transportation networks and says demand between host cities is already accelerating, with some departures sold out and others filling rapidly.Ahead of the tournament, the company has invested heavily in new buses and technology while placing renewed emphasis on punctuality."What is critical here is every Flix experience needs to be a happy one. That's how we actually grow our business. And this is a great opportunity," said Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan."We will welcome all the new customers and we want them to see what a change we've done and what a great experience they're going to have."Boysan believes buses are well-positioned to benefit from frustrations increasingly associated with air travel."Airports are congested and the costs are rising. And clearly travelers are naturally looking for alternatives. And there we come into effect," he said.The price problemWhile operators hope to lure travelers away from planes, some transit agencies have faced criticism for sharply increasing fares during the tournament.Few examples generated more backlash than New Jersey Transit, whose train service between Manhattan and MetLife Stadium — venue for eight matches including the July 19 final — initially carried a round-trip fare of $150 for a journey that normally costs less than $13.NJ Transit argued that the increase was necessary to cover approximately $48 million in additional costs related to security, crowd management and World Cup operations.Public criticism forced a rethink.The agency subsequently lowered the fare to $98 after securing additional advertising revenue, while shuttle bus prices on the same route were cut to $20 from the originally proposed $80 after organizers arranged additional capacity through local school buses.Boston has also announced higher event-day transportation prices. Round-trip rail tickets between downtown Boston and the stadium hosting seven World Cup matches will cost $80, compared with the usual $20 to $30, while a bus ride will cost $95.The fare hikes have drawn criticism from politicians, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer."Charging more than 11 times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple. FIFA is making billions from this World Cup," Schumer said after the original New Jersey fare was announced."FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill."FIFA has countered that high transit costs could encourage fans to seek alternative ways to reach stadiums and noted that comparable international sporting events have generally not required organizers to fund transportation impacts.Different approachesNot every city has opted for higher prices.In Los Angeles, riders heading to World Cup matches will pay standard fares."Our regular fare is $1.75, so people will be able to pay that," said Cheung. "We will honor all of the discounts we have."Philadelphia is going a step further.Fans attending matches in the city will pay just $2.90 to travel to the stadium by train and receive a free ride home, courtesy of tournament sponsor Airbnb.National rail operator Amtrak is also preparing for increased demand as supporters move between host cities throughout the month-long competition."We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad ... and ensuring our infrastructure is ready to accommodate new and returning guests," said W. Kyle Anderson, Amtrak's director of communications.For transportation providers across North America, the World Cup offers a fleeting but valuable chance to showcase what their systems can do.The tournament will crown a world champion on the field. Away from the stadiums, trains, buses and transit networks will be competing in a contest of their own — to convince millions of travelers that public transportation can be fast, reliable and worth returning to long after the final whistle.
More than two lakh applicants opted to pay USD 100,000 for their H-1B visas to work in the US in the fiscal year 2026, Markwayne Mullin, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said here.Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday, Mullin said the DHS had received about 2.86 lakh H-1B applications in the fiscal year 2026."We had 286,000 applicants a year to date for the H-1B visas, out of those, over 200,000 of them paid USD 100,000 to be able to come in because it allows us to process them in a little bit faster of a manner," Mullin said in response to a question by US Senator Susan Collins on the shortage of doctors in rural parts of the country.Mullin said applicants paying USD 100,000 get their papers processed in about 15 days and it takes about 7.5 months to process other applications.Collins told the subcommittee that a hospital in Presque Isle, a rural community in northern Maine, recently had to pay the fee to secure a much-needed surgeon from overseas.She said that medical service providers serving remote areas should be treated differently from employers recruiting highly skilled workers in sectors with larger domestic labour pools."Would you be willing to consider carving out an exemption for medical professionals from this fee when a community can demonstrate that there is not a medical professional available?" Collins asked.Mullin assured the Senator that he would look at possible solutions on whether such applications could be dealt with some flexibility on a case-by-case basis."I would suggest that there's a huge difference between bringing in a computer expert from another country to work in wealthy California and Silicon Valley versus a much-needed surgeon to work at a rural hospital in northern Maine," she said.Republican Senator from Alaska Lisa Murkowski flagged concerns about the shortage of teachers in school districts in rural areas of her state."I'll follow up with you about the issue that I raised previously with regards to H-1B visas for teachers," Murkowski told Mullin.
The S&P 500 and the Dow closed modestly higher on Tuesday as risk appetite driven by AI fervor was counterbalanced by tensions arising from U.S.-Iran talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the months-long war.Gains in most of the 11 major S&P sectors kept the S&P 500 and the Dow in the green, with the small-cap Russell 2000 outperforming its larger-cap peers. The Nasdaq ended the session essentially unchanged.Small-cap stocks have been some of the biggest beneficiaries of the ongoing enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence stocks, which provided some upside muscle. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index advanced on the day.The Software & Services Index, battered in recent months over worries of AI disruption, closed in negative territory.Strong results from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and a funding commitment from Alphabet reinforced confidence in the AI buildout."The market is kind of muted at the surface level, but there is a lot going on under the hood, and that describes much of this year," said Mike Dickson, head of portfolio management at Horizon Investments in Charlotte, North Carolina. "There's some massive dispersion in the whole AI infrastructure ecosystem.""Markets could be in for one of these heated, melt-up rallies where the momentum keeps winning," Dickson added. "I would not be surprised at all to be sitting here at the end of the summer a good bit higher."Tehran is studying a U.S. proposal to bring the war to a halt, but has not been in contact with Washington for days, according to Iranian media, which also said Iran is taking a "stern" approach, given what it views as a history of U.S. noncompliance and mutual distrust. Simultaneously, Israel is continuing its strikes on Lebanon, despite Tehran's warnings that the attacks are threatening to derail the fragile truce.The war has sent crude prices soaring, reviving worries over inflation and giving rise to an increasing likelihood that the U.S. Federal Reserve could hike interest rates by year-end. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said on Tuesday that such a hike could become necessary if already-elevated inflation pressures continue to mount. On the economic front, a report from the Labor Department showed an unexpected spike in job openings, driven by the volatile professional and business services sector. Otherwise, hiring, firing and quits all decreased, suggesting a slowdown in labor market churn in the face of uncertainties related to strife in the Middle East and inflationary effects.Analysts look to the May employment report due on Friday, which is expected to show the U.S. economy added 85,000 jobs last month, a monthly deceleration of 26.1%. The unemployment rate is forecast to stand pat at 4.3%.According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 10.07 points, or 0.13%, to end at 7,610.03 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 8.78 points, or 0.03%, to 27,095.59. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 237.13 points, or 0.46%, to 51,316.01.Hewlett Packard Enterprise jumped after the AI server maker pulled forward its long-term financial targets by two years. In further evidence of AI buildout, Alphabet said it was looking to raise $80 billion in equity offerings, including an investment from Berkshire Hathaway, to fund a costly expansion of its AI infrastructure. Its shares lost ground on the day. Marvell Technology's shares surged after Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang called the chipmaker the next "trillion-dollar company" at the Computex conference in Taipei. Nvidia invested $2 billion in Marvell in March.A drop in bitcoin hit cryptocurrency firms Coinbase and Strategy Inc.Broadcom is expected to report quarterly results on Wednesday.
New Delhi: Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing's ongoing India trip could open a major opportunity for New Delhi to harness rare earths from the neighbouring Southeast Asian country which to date are being extracted by China.Myanmar's Kachin and Shan states have massive deposits of rare earth elements including dysprosium and terbium used for permanent magnets for EVs, wind turbines, and defence items. The issue of India harnessing rare earths from Myanmar will figure prominently on the agenda of the meeting between PM Narendra Modi and the visiting President here on Monday. The visiting leader will also address a business forum here.Also Read: NSA Ajit Doval calls on Myanmar President on his maiden visitCurrently, Myanmar's northern neighbour China has been extracting rare earths from the Kachin state, but the visit has provided an opportunity to push its initiative, according to a person familiar with the issue. The Myanmar Army has stepped up its offensive in the border areas which have rare earth deposits, but rebel groups have major influence there.India-Myanmar bilateral trade has expanded over the years, with annual trade growing 23% to touch $2.15 billion in FY25-Myanmar exports totalled $1.53 billion and Indian exports were at $614.3 million. In particular, pulses exports, comprising about 77% of Myanmar's exports to India, increased by 29% in FY25. India is the fourth-largest trading partner of Myanmar.Also Read: Myanmar President Aung Hlaing begins India visitThe rupee-kyat settlement has also been functional since January 2024. The scope for further expanding bilateral trade is significant, particularly if Myanmar could increase fuel and pharmaceutical imports from India under the rupee-kyat mechanism and against its beans and pulses exports in rupees. Indian-made medicines are widely used in Myanmar due to their affordability and quality.As per the Government of Myanmar's statistics, India is presently the eleventh-largest investor with an approved investment of US$782.821 million by 39 Indian enterprises, out of the total estimated investments of US$96.05 billion from 53 countries (as on 31st March, 2025).
New Delhi: Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Saturday described his tenure as "very satisfying" as he wrapped up a three-year-and-eight-month stint at the top military post, during which he focused on bringing synergy among the three services.Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (retd) will take charge as India's next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Sunday."I had a very satisfying and excellent tenure," the outgoing CDS told reporters after he was accorded a ceremonial tri-services guard of honour.Gen Chauhan, a former Eastern Army Commander, took charge as the country's senior-most military commander in September 2022, over nine months after the first CDS General Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.As Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Chauhan played a key role in planning and implementation of Operation Sindoor along with the three service chiefs.During his tenure, he focused on ensuring tri-services synergy to enhance India's military prowess in view of the evolving regional security scenario.The Chief of Defence Staff also initiated a number of measures towards India's plan to roll out the theaterisation model by creating integrated military commands."It's a matter of great honour for me to superannuate with a tri-services guard of honour. I thank the three services and Headquarters IDS (Integrated Defence Staff) for it. With the conclusion of the guard of honour, I bid farewell to my colleagues in uniform, comrades in arms," Gen Chauhan said."I just laid the wreath at the War Memorial for the last time in uniform, as a humble tribute to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty. After the wreath laying, I was welcomed by friends, relatives and well-wishers. This is symbolic of my transition from uniform to civilian life," he said.Gen Chauhan's tenure was to end on September 30 last year, but he was given an extension.He had retired from service in May 2021 in the rank of lieutenant general, but assumed the rank of a four-star General after taking charge as India's second Chief of Defence Staff.Gen Chauhan was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) when Indian fighter jets pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan's Balakot in February 2019. He was known to have provided key inputs for the operation.Born on May 18, 1961, Gen Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981.In his distinguished career, Gen Chauhan held several command, staff and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India.The officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.In the rank of Maj General, the officer had commanded an Infantry Division in the critical Baramulla sector in the Northern Command.Later, he commanded a corps in the Northeast and subsequently went on to become the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command.Gen Chauhan was awarded with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his exemplary services to the Indian Army.
US President Donald Trump will only make a peace deal with Iran if it meets all of his conditions, a White House official told AFP on Friday, as questions swirled about the state of negotiations to end the war.The White House had indicated Trump was close to a decision on a potential deal, even as Tehran insisted there was still "no final agreement" on ending the Middle East conflict.Also read: To the Situation Room, now! With new message, Trump stirs Iran cauldron again An Iranian state media report also rebutted several key elements of Trump's characterization of the deal, with sources calling his remarks a "mixture of truth and lies."US sources had told AFP the deal was waiting on Trump's sign-off following weeks of halting negotiations over a conflict that has engulfed the Middle East and shaken the global economy. Trump attended a two-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday but did not reach a decision."President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines," a White House official told AFP afterward. "Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon," the official added.Trump had announced the meeting in a lengthy social media post, reiterating long-held demands that Iran agree never to develop nuclear weapons and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei pushed back, telling state media that the Islamic republic "said goodbye to the language of 'must' 47 years ago." Exchanges of messages were continuing, he added, but "no final agreement has been reached yet."In a phone call with the Emir of Qatar, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to achieve a "dignified framework" to end the war, according to state news agency IRNA.In his post, Trump said Tehran would remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz and end its blockade of the waterway with "no tolls," while the US would lift its parallel blockade of Iranian ports. The two countries would also coordinate on removing and destroying Iran's enriched uranium, he said, adding that "no money will be exchanged, until further notice."Iran's Fars news agency, however, cited sources as saying Tehran was demanding "the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets" before moving to the next phase of negotiations. On the toll-free reopening of Hormuz, the sources said "no such clause appears in the text of the agreement," while Trump's comment on destroying Iran's nuclear material "is fundamentally baseless."Also read: ‘Tehran said goodbye to “must” 47 years ago’: Iran rejects Trump’s claims of imminent dealBaqaei also told state TV there were currently "no negotiations" taking place on Iran's nuclear program, as Iran's top diplomat suggested the US was holding up a deal with its approach to the talks.'Telling the truth'? Ali, a resident of the city of Tonekabon north of Tehran, said that whatever the deal was, there would likely be more strife to come."Both sides are speaking in a way that keeps their supporters satisfied. It's not clear who is telling the truth," the 49-year-old said.Hopes of an agreement had risen on Thursday after US officials voiced optimism about the diplomatic progress.Energy markets have whipsawed this week as investors parse the chances of an agreement that could potentially resume normal shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating the truce in and around the strait as recently as this week, with US strikes on the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas countered by retaliatory Iranian fire.Iranian state TV said Friday that 24 ships had transited the strait in the past 24 hours, in coordination with the Revolutionary Guards and the foreign ministry.But it warned that "ships from hostile countries face a severe response" from Iran's military.Lebanon fighting On the war's Lebanon front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his country's forces had pushed deeper inside Lebanon, while Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a series of drone attacks on military targets in northern Israel, including troop gatherings and barracks.It also said its forces were attacking Israeli troops trying to advance in the area of the medieval Beaufort fortress, near the city of Nabatieh.The attacks came as Israeli and Lebanese military delegations held security talks in Washington, which were called "productive" by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's second-in-command.Israel kept up its heavy bombardment of southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese health ministry said a rescuer was among the 11 killed.A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was supposed to have taken effect on April 17, but has never been observed.Both sides accuse each other of violating it and justify their attacks by the other camp's alleged breaches.Lebanon was drawn into the war in early March when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel over the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli attacks, prompting Israeli strikes and a ground invasion.
Wall Street's main indexes hit record closing highs on Friday and posted weekly and monthly gains as Dell results drove tech shares higher, while investors awaited details on a potential U.S.-Iran deal. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that he would make a final decision on the Iran deal on Friday. Tehran earlier said it was looking for action, not words, when it came to an agreement.Dell surged after raising its full-year profit and revenue forecasts on Thursday. The tech sector climbed, fueled by gains in chip stocks.Peers Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Super Micro Computer gained. Microsoft climbed.The software services index also advanced.Earlier in the session, all three indexes hit intraday record highs, cruising on renewed optimism around AI and strong earnings growth, despite concerns about the Iran war's impact on inflation and the global economy.According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 16.11 points, or 0.21%, to end at 7,579.74 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 53.74 points, or 0.20%, to 26,971.21. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 363.48 points, or 0.72%, to 51,032.45.EARNINGS-DRIVEN RALLY"There's definitely euphoric sentiment in the market around AI. The rally has really been driven by earnings," said Ohsung Kwon, chief equity strategist at Wells Fargo.He suggested investors buy and hold AI stocks, then earn extra income by selling call options at prices much higher than the current stock price.Melissa Brown, head of investment decision research at SimCorp, said over the past few weeks volume has gone up, which suggests more people are coming into the market.The S&P 500 was on track for a ninth consecutive weekly gain, its longest winning streak since December 2023.The S&P 500 communications services sector dropped, as Alphabet declined. Consumer staples shares were weak with heavyweights Costco and Walmart both down.The S&P automaker index dropped after reports the Trump administration wants North American-built vehicles to have 82% regional content to qualify for preferential treatment under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.Shares of General Motors and U.S.-listed shares of Stellantis fell. U.S. economic data on Thursday showed inflation increased at its fastest pace in three years in April, while GDP for the first quarter was revised lower to a 1.6% annual rise. The Fed's Kansas City President Jeffrey Schmid warned the energy shock may not be temporary. Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said a persistent rise in inflation might require tighter monetary policy.Money markets expect the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady for the rest of the year, with expectations of a 25-basis-point hike in December. Among other movers, Gap shares tumbled after the apparel retailer cut its annual sales forecast, while American Eagle Outfitters dropped after keeping its annual comparable sales forecast unchanged.
The shares of Ola Electric Mobility surged nearly 9% to hit their highest level in more than four months on Friday, recovering around 93% from March lows.The shares of the EV-scooter maker jumped to Rs 42.88 apiece on the NSE on Friday. This is the highest level seen by the stock since January 7 this year. The stock has staged a strong recovery after hitting an all-time low of Rs 22.25 apiece on March 16 this year.Despite the latest recovery, the stock remains far away from its post-IPO all-time high level of Rs 157.40 apiece, which it hit days after its market debut in August, 2024.Ola Electric Q4 earningsOla Electric shares have gained more than 17% since releasing its Q4 results last week. The Bhavish Aggarwal-led company last Wednesday reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 500 crore for the January-March quarter of the financial year 2026, down 42.5% from the Rs 870 crore net loss reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.While Ola Electric has seen some sequential volume improvement (March-April retails at 10,000-12,000/month vs around 8,000/month on average from November 2025 to January 2026) and market share (8-9% in April 2026/May 2026; 5% in Q4 FY26), Emkay attributes the volume growth to the currently better placed production capacity, share gains in the more price-sensitive northern markets, and electric two wheeler incumbents along with Ather operating at peak utilization amid strong demand."Ola is adopting several measures to improve execution, cut costs/conserve cash, and improve brand perception (service-related issues have started resolving). We believe this could be a difficult, long-drawn-out process, especially due to greater focus by incumbents + scale-up at Ather. Additionally, new capacities coming onstream for incumbents/Ather in H2 FY26 would reintroduce competition in the industry structure," the brokerage said.Given the current dynamics, Emkay believes that Ola's recovery in volume and market share remains monitorable. “We increase FY27E volume by around 10%, given the strong momentum in the underlying E-2W industry,” it added.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday retained its forecast for below-average monsoon rainfall in 2026, with the weather office warning that the El Nino weather pattern is likely to develop during June and July.The weather watchdog said monsoon rainfall this year is expected to be at 90% of the long-term average, while rainfall in June is likely to be around 92% of the long-term average.The IMD said neutral ENSO conditions over the equatorial Pacific are now transitioning towards El Nino, with a 92% probability of El Nino conditions prevailing during the 2026 monsoon season. Most global climate models indicate that the weather pattern is likely to strengthen as the season progresses.Also Read: Southwest monsoon further advances in Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Bay of Bengal, says IMD According to the IMD’s forecast, June is expected to witness weak El Nino conditions, while July and August could see weak-to-moderate El Nino conditions. By September, the weather office expects El Nino to intensify into a moderate-to-strong phase.The weather office also warned that the monsoon core zone, which includes most rain-fed agricultural regions across central and northwest India, is likely to receive below-normal rainfall of less than 94% of the long-period average (LPA). Northwest India is expected to receive rainfall below 92% of the LPA, while central India and the southern peninsula are also likely to see below-normal rains. Only northeast India is forecast to receive normal rainfall, in the range of 94-106% of the long-period average.Also Read: El Nino, Strait of Hormuz risks may fuel fresh global food inflation surge, says Citi Research Report The IMD’s probability forecast showed that below-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of the country during the June-September monsoon season. However, some areas in northwest India, parts of the southern peninsula, adjoining east-central India and isolated pockets in the northeast could receive normal to above-normal rainfall.The forecast comes at a time when concerns are rising over the impact of weaker rains on farm output and food prices, further adding to already rising inflation in India amid the ongoing Iran-US war.El Nino conditions, which are associated with lower rainfall in the Indian subcontinent, are expected to emerge in the coming weeks, the weather office said. The phenomenon typically leads to hotter temperatures and uneven rainfall distribution across several parts of the country.A below-normal monsoon could put pressure on agricultural production and may increase risks of higher food inflation later in the year. India’s farm sector remains heavily dependent on seasonal rains as a large part of cultivated land still lacks irrigation coverage.The monsoon usually begins over Kerala in June and accounts for nearly 70% of India’s annual rainfall. The June-September rainy season is critical for kharif crop sowing, reservoir replenishment and rural consumption.