US stock indices experienced gains on Wednesday following a promising wholesale inflation report, fueling anticipation that the Federal Reserve might consider resuming interest rate cuts later this year. The S&P 500 neared its all-time high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also saw an increase. Bank shares, particularly PNC Financial Services, contributed significantly to the positive market performance.
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Costa Coffee India witnessed substantial growth in FY25, with revenue reaching Rs 198.5 crore and profit climbing to Rs 149.7 crore, fueled by expansion to 220 outlets. Despite a slight dip in gross margin and same-store sales growth, the company is aggressively expanding, targeting 40-50 new outlets annually.
BSE and NSE shares have plummeted due to the Jane Street controversy, regulatory actions, and declining derivatives volume, resulting in a significant market capitalization loss. BSE has entered a bear market, while NSE approaches a substantial reduction.
India's core infrastructure sectors experienced a slowdown in June 2025, growing by only 1.7%, a significant drop from the previous year's 5%. The decline was primarily due to contractions in key sectors like coal and electricity. While steel and cement showed strong growth, the overall performance indicates a broader weakness in industrial activity during the April-June quarter.
India's petroleum regulator, PNGRB, has mandated a uniform rate for piped natural gas (PNG) for all households, regardless of consumption. This directive addresses concerns that tiered pricing systems may encourage misuse of subsidized gas by commercial entities misclassified as domestic consumers.
HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank both reported robust earnings growth for the June 2025 quarter, fueled by increased interest and non-interest income. HDFC Bank announced a bonus issue and dividend, with net profit rising 12.2%. ICICI Bank's net profit grew by 15.4%, driven by income growth, while both lenders expressed caution regarding margin pressures and certain retail lending segments.
Malaysia has placed immediate restrictions on the movement of high-performance AI chips from the US. This is to prevent unauthorized rerouting to countries like China. All movements of US-origin AI chips now need a permit. This move follows concerns about transshipment of chips via Malaysia. Malaysia is investigating reports of Chinese firms circumventing US export controls.
Electric car sales in India are expected to rise. CareEdge Advisory projects over 7% sales by FY28. This depends on resolving rare earth element supply issues. New models and charging infrastructure are growing. Government's PLI scheme supports battery production. Electric car ecosystem has grown rapidly. Policy support and reduced costs will boost EV adoption in India.
The government is preparing to establish the 8th Central Pay Commission. Consultations are underway with various ministries and state governments. This commission will revise the pay for central government employees and pensioners. The 8th CPC is expected to be implemented from January 1, 2026. The government revises dearness allowance twice a year to adjust for inflation.
Omar Abdullah requested the central government to approve the Tulbul Navigation Barrage and Chenab River water scheme. This request follows the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty after a terror attack. Abdullah has long opposed the IWT, deeming it unfair to Jammu and Kashmir. The Tulbul project aims to regulate Jhelum River water levels.
US wholesale inflation remained flat in June, despite concerns over President Trump's tariffs. The producer price index showed a 2.3% year-on-year increase, the smallest since September. While some sectors saw tariff impacts, like furniture, others, such as steel, defied expectations. Retailers are feeling the squeeze, and the Federal Reserve is monitoring the impact on inflation.