Nifty 200 cos Q1 net up highest in 5 qtrs, sales slowest in 7 qtrs +

By Anjana Therese Antony
The June quarter earnings season was 'sombre' but 'resilient', with India's top 200 listed companies seeing a slightly higher-than-expected growth compared with the year-ago quarter. While growth in these companies' aggregate bottom line was the fastest in five quarters, the rise in their top line continued to lag and was the slowest in seven quarters as there was no major pickup in demand and government capital expenditure was lower-than-expected. For 2025-26 (Apr-Mar), the outlook remains uncertain amid weak household income, fall in corporate capital expenditure, the government's fiscal consolidation, and the impending 50% US tariff, research analysts said. Register to read more

Crop damage in Maharashtra not as bad as reported, say experts +

By Shreya Shetty
With incessant rainfall battering most parts of Maharashtra since last week, farmers in the state have started reporting crop losses. Though the extent of damage to standing crops is still being evaluated--with many parts of the state still receiving heavy showers--the loss is unlikely to be huge, analysts and traders said. Register to read more

Cheap ethanol byproduct hitting oilmeal demand - Sunvin's Bajoria

–Sunvin CEO Bajoria: India palm oil output seen rising to 1 mln tn by 2030 Read more

Rupee's sharp rise may not sustain as US tariff blues loom large

By Pratiksha
The rupee has jumped sharply against the dollar in recent sessions as investors' risk appetite improved after India announced an overhaul of the goods and services tax system and S&P upgraded India's credit rating to investment grade 'BBB'. However, market participants do not see this positive momentum sustaining as uncertainties related to US tariffs continue to weigh on the Indian unit. Read more

Pause in import duty on cotton to lower prices, support exports

By Pallavi Singhal
In a move to protect India's textile industry against the recently imposed 50% US tariff, the government has suspended the 11% import duty on raw cotton till Sept. 30. The short-term waiver, notified by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs on Monday, is meant to stabilise domestic prices of cotton, relieve cost pressures on mills, and strengthen the competitiveness of textile exporters amidst fierce rivalry from Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China, according to experts. Read more

GST Council must revive anti-profiteering norms to pass rate cut

By Priyasmita Dutta and Sagar Sen
In order to ensure consumers enjoy the benefits of the proposed lower goods and services tax, the government may have to bring back the GST anti-profiteering provisions, tax experts said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the stage for a reduction in GST rates to boost consumption and address the long-standing public demand for lower indirect tax, but the success of the proposed move hinges on businesses passing on the cut without undue profiteering, experts said. Read more

GST bonanza to bring masses joy, success hinges on demand pick-up

By Priyasmita Dutta and Sagar Sen
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines with his announcement of reforms in the goods and services tax that has markets and policymakers anticipating a big boost to consumption which will eventually drive growth. But before the surge in demand materialises, a consumption shock is imminent as purchase decisions get deferred. To add to this, an overambitious target of rolling out the reforms by Diwali have further added to the uncertainty, especially because a GST rate rationalisation exercise has never worked out in such a short timeframe. So, it is fair to say, while demand may--if all things go smoothly--be robust post-Diwali, there is going to be a period of lull in the interim, experts believe. Read more

S&P rating upgrade vindicates India's fiscal journey but more joy unlikely

By Shubham Rana and Aaryan Khanna
It took S&P Global Ratings 18 years to upgrade India's sovereign credit rating, vindicating the country's half a decade of fiscal discipline, focus on high quality expenditure, and resilient economy. Read more

Eight-year low print shows CPI may still undershoot RBI FY26 estimate

By Shubham Rana
Retail inflation in India has likely bottomed out with an eight-year low print of 1.55% in July. The benign outlook on food prices suggests inflation may undershoot the Reserve Bank of India's forecast of 3.1% for the current financial year, offering room to the Monetary Policy Committee to lower interest rates further, though the bar for more rate cuts remains high, economists said. Read more

WPI inflation seen falling further to -0.5% in July

By Shubham Rana
Wholesale prices in India likely declined on a year-on-year basis for the second consecutive month in July because of a high base effect and lower food prices, according to 10 economists polled by Informist, who see WPI inflation for last month at (-)0.5%. Read more