The Economic Times

Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr indicated potential interest rate increases if inflation remains elevated. He stated that the central bank might act decisively to raise rates. Incoming data will guide the decision on further monetary policy tightening.

Banks are increasingly selecting microfinance institutions for loans instead of individual borrowers, leading to a reclassification of microfinance loans as part of retail portfolios. Despite this trend, non-banking financial companies focused on microfinance (NBFC-MFIs) received considerable debt support from banks recently. However, the overall microfinance sector saw a decline in its borrower base, with higher loan amounts being distributed to a lesser number of borrowers.

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank appointed Carol Furtado as interim chief executive officer. This appointment follows the sudden resignation of MD and CEO Sanjeev Nautiyal. Nautiyal stepped down from his position citing health grounds and requested early retirement. The Reserve Bank of India has approved Furtado's interim appointment for three months. The bank will now begin the process to find a permanent successor.

Starman Optical will acquire struggling GoPro for $285 million in cash. This deal aims to repay GoPro's debt and navigate market challenges. The acquisition will integrate Starman's optical transceivers into GoPro's product line. GoPro's consumer business will continue while tapping new markets. The transaction is expected to be finalized by the year's end.

U.S. Treasury yields retreated from earlier highs on Tuesday after economic data emerged. The manufacturing PMI fell to 54.6 in August, while job openings rose slightly. Oil prices surged due to renewed Middle East conflict, reigniting inflation concerns globally. This led to a significant global bond selloff and increased Fed rate hike expectations. Yields on the 10-year and two-year notes hit multi-month highs.

Rising U.S. government bond yields are driving up borrowing costs across the board, directly affecting households, businesses, and government finances. Higher rates on mortgages and auto loans can dampen consumer spending and disrupt the housing market. Furthermore, companies will grapple with increased costs for new debt and projects, while global markets experience repercussions as U.S. Treasuries influence pricing worldwide.

Indian markets stayed volatile but held above 24,000 as crude prices and geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment. Analysts recommended KSB, City Union Bank, Acme Solar and BEML, citing bullish technical patterns, breakouts, improving momentum and key support levels.

During a finance leaders' gathering in Asheville, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the significance of recent economic indicators. He pointed out that current bond yields indicate a stable or declining expectation of inflation, while also signaling a robust acceleration in the growth of the United States economy. Bessent's insights were shared alongside discussions from the Group of 20 meeting.

Oil prices surged as hostilities reignited between the United States and Iran. This escalation raised alarms over possible supply interruptions from the vital Middle East region. In a concerning incident, two Saudi oil supertankers were targeted by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz. Efforts are underway to negotiate a resolution to restore access to this crucial shipping route.

Wall Street stocks fell as rising oil prices intensified inflation fears and pushed U.S. bond yields higher. The S&P 500 dropped 0.7%, while the Dow Jones fell 0.6% and the Nasdaq slid 1.4%. A sell-off in U.S. government bonds added to pressure on equities.

The Indian bond market saw a downturn, reflecting a broader global selloff in debt markets. Escalating geopolitical conflicts and soaring oil prices raised inflation fears in India, leading to intensified speculation regarding potential interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India. Additionally, foreign investors experienced their first month of securities outflows in August. Yet, sufficient liquidity in the banking sector helped to stabilize bond demand.

Japans 30-year high bond yields, hawkish US Federal Reserve policies, and rising crude oil prices are straining global liquidity. These factors exert pressure on Indian equities, challenging investor sentiment despite Indias resilient 7.8% GDP growth.

Five debt mutual funds delivered higher one-year returns than conventional fixed deposits, led by Bank of India Credit Risk Fund with a 17.68% return. Aditya Birla Sun Life Credit Risk Fund, DSP Credit Risk Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term Plan and Bandhan Gilt Fund also featured among the top performers.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), representing over 90% of Indias banking workforce, has announced strikes on September 11 and September 28-30, followed by an indefinite strike from October 26 if its demands are not resolved.

European shares were largely flat on Tuesday as a sharp rise in government bond yields kept investors cautious amid renewed inflation concerns. The STOXX 600 edged up 0.04%, while energy stocks gained 1.4% as Brent crude traded near $92 a barrel.

HDFC Bank CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan will depart after his term ends next month. New chairman Rajiv Kumar sought aggressive changes and executive replacements. Jagdishan resisted some proposals and decided not to seek reappointment. The bank now faces a swift search for a new leader. This departure adds to recent turmoil and stock market struggles.

28 stocks have declined more than 10% so far in CY2026, while 14 have seen their share prices fall between 25% and 50% in just eight months.

HSBC Mutual Fund's RedHex Hybrid Long-Short Fund has impressively reached a whopping Rs 1,000 crore in assets under management within just two months. This unique investment strategy has drawn in nearly 1,950 individual investor folios, providing an innovative blend of fixed income, equity arbitrage, REITs, and INVITs aimed at optimizing risk-adjusted returns. The fund's rapid growth illustrates an increasing interest in diverse mutual fund options.

All 219 equity mutual funds delivered positive SIP XIRRs over the last five years, with 165 funds generating double-digit returns. HSBC Midcap Fund topped the list with a 22.70% XIRR, while ITI Small Cap Fund and Bandhan Small Cap Fund followed closely. The analysis highlights how disciplined SIP investing can compound wealth over time.

Eurozone manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest pace in more than four years in August, with the PMI rising to 52.7 as new orders and factory output strengthened. Germany led the recovery, while France also expanded, although Italy and Spain remained under pressure. Improving confidence and easing input cost inflation offered further signs of a broader industrial recovery.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has handed over the reins to John Ternus after a 15-year tenure that transformed Apple into a $4.6 trillion company. The stock has surged 2,275% since Cook succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011, as he diversified Apple beyond the iPhone. Ternus now faces the daunting task of sustaining that growth and delivering further value to shareholders.

UK government bond yields surged on Tuesday, with the 10-year gilt yield hitting its highest level since 2008 as rising oil prices revived inflation concerns. The 10-year yield climbed to around 5.23%, while the two-year yield rose to 4.59%.

Artificial intelligence could fundamentally reshape financial markets and force central banks to rethink monetary policy communication and regulation, according to Princeton economist Markus Brunnermeier. He warned that AI-powered trading systems could anticipate policy decisions faster than humans, creating asymmetric understanding and potentially increasing market volatility and manipulation risks.

HDFC Banks newly issued dollar bonds fell to record lows as CEO Sashidhar Jagdishans unexpected exit intensified investor concerns over leadership succession and governance. The banks shares have also underperformed the broader market, though analysts say its fundamental creditworthiness remains intact. HDFC Bank is reportedly seeking an executive search firm to accelerate succession.

TBZ shares surged 20% to hit the upper circuit after GRT Jewellers announced an open offer as part of a deal to acquire control of the jewellery retailer. GRT will buy a 74.12% promoter stake for up to Rs 1,033.71 crore, while the open offer covers the remaining 25.88% stake.

Indian government bonds experienced a sharp decline, pushing yields higher. U.S. Treasury yields rose significantly due to escalating geopolitical risks. High oil prices are fueling inflation concerns and tighter monetary policy expectations. India's strong economic growth adds to potential monetary tightening pressures. Bond yields are nearing a key psychological level, indicating market vulnerability.

Ather Energy shares have surged nearly 130% in 2026, outperforming global EV stocks, as analysts expect rising market share and new launches to drive growth. Backed by Hero MotoCorp, Ather is expanding its mass-market reach, while strong investor interest and bullish analyst ratings support further upside.

InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy are merging to create an AI-enabled insurance distribution platform with over 6,600 crore in premiums, 600,000+ digital partners and coverage across 98.57% of Indias pincodes. The combined business will operate under the InsuranceDekho brand, with Ankit Agrawal as CEO, and will offer motor, health, life and commercial insurance products.

India's insurance regulator is proposing a Public Insurance Registry for data sharing. This digital infrastructure will connect insurers, intermediaries, and policyholders for better underwriting. Policyholders can view all their policies and make common service requests easily. Insurers will gain access to anonymized industry-wide claims data for analysis. The registry aims to improve transparency and facilitate informed, low-cost insurance purchases.

Ace investor Ashish Dhawan bought nearly 35 lakh shares of Religare Enterprises across two sessions, according to NSE bulk deal data, sending the stock higher. Dhawan purchased 18 lakh shares on August 28 and another 16.98 lakh shares on August 31. Religare Enterprises also reported a 26% rise in Q1 FY27 income.

India's UPI processed transactions near record highs in August, reaching 29.8 lakh crore. The platform handled a fresh record of 24.51 billion transactions, a significant jump from July. This impressive performance was bolstered by festive activity and expanding consumer adoption across the nation. Industry experts highlight the importance of resilient digital infrastructure for continued growth.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh told G20 finance leaders that the global economy may be shifting from a savings glut toward an investment boom, driven partly by AI spending. Stronger investment and productivity could boost growth, but reduced Treasury demand, higher yields and potential inflation pressures may complicate monetary policy decisions.

Reaching the Rs 25 lakh milestone signifies a transformative moment in wealth creation for young investors. It indicates that accumulated capital is now playing a crucial role in enhancing portfolio growth, alongside new savings. With market downturns having a more pronounced effect in rupee terms, effective risk management strategies become essential. Moreover, optimal asset allocation is key for achieving a balance between growth and stability.

Japans benchmark government bond yield hit 3% on Tuesday for the first time since September 1996, marking a major shift for a market long defined by ultra-low rates. Rising inflation concerns, fiscal risks, a weak yen and expectations of further Bank of Japan tightening are driving the selloff, while reduced central-bank support adds to pressure on JGB yields.

The US is urging Japan to adopt tougher monetary and fiscal policies after supporting the yen. Pressure is mounting on the BOJ to raise rates faster as inflation persists, while Japans expansionary fiscal stance fuels bond-market concerns and risks broader global financial volatility.

Bitcoin hovered near $79,000 as traders remained cautious following its strong August rally and renewed macroeconomic risks. While volatility has eased and institutional demand remains supportive, analysts expect consolidation to continue. Experts advise against chasing price moves, instead favouring staggered entries, disciplined position sizing and close monitoring of key support and resistance levels.

Faridabad-based auto-parts maker Victura Technologies is considering an India IPO that could raise up to $300 million through fresh shares and an offer for sale. The company has held preliminary talks with investment banks and may appoint advisers soon. The potential listing comes amid growing interest in Indias auto-components sector.

Alpha Wealth Summit 2.0 brings together leading investment voices to explore a fundamental question for modern portfolio management: where can AI create a genuine investment advantage? From research and execution to risk and portfolio monitoring, the conversation will consider what technology can change, and what still depends on human judgement.

Jewellery stocks fell after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to avoid non-essential gold purchases. The appeal, aimed at conserving foreign exchange, follows a similar call made by Modi in May to avoid gold purchases for weddings for a year.

Amazon shares fell after the FTC and 22 states sued over alleged manipulation of advertising auctions, potentially causing $20 billion in advertiser overcharges. The case intensifies regulatory pressure, threatening Amazons high-margin advertising business and raising concerns about penalties, operational changes and future profitability.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board committed $215 million to NIIF Infrastructure Fund II for investing in Indian infrastructure assets and platforms. The investment aims to build on a strong existing partnership between the two entities.

Chinese equities remained largely subdued on Tuesday, with defensive sectors cushioning losses in technology stocks. The Shanghai Composite was nearly flat, while the CSI300 slipped marginally. Liquor, consumer staples and banking stocks gained, but technology-focused indices declined. Hong Kong stocks came under greater pressure, while global bond yields, Middle East tensions and oil prices above $90 added to risk-off sentiment.

Gold and silver have rallied sharply, but renewed US rate hike fears following Fed Chief Kevin Warshs Jackson Hole remarks have clouded the near-term outlook. While experts remain bullish on both metals, gold is preferred for stability and safe-haven demand, whereas silver offers higher upside potential but comes with greater volatility and correction risks.

Broadcoms upcoming earnings report faces high expectations after Nvidias strong results. Investors will closely watch its $16 billion AI revenue target, quarterly growth, custom-chip demand, networking sales and guidance as concerns over AI valuations and stock volatility intensify.

Purple Style Labs IPO enters its second bidding day with subdued demand and a GMP of around 1%, down from 5%. The Rs 680-crore issue has seen limited subscription, while ongoing losses and high valuation concerns weigh on sentiment despite strong revenue growth, celebrity backing and expansion of Pernias Pop-Up Shop.

HDFC Bank has accelerated its search for a successor to CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan, who will not seek an extension, with an executive search firm likely to be appointed this week. The bank is considering both internal and external candidates, including deputy MD Kaizad Bharucha, executive director V. Srinivasa Rangan, former SBI chairman Dinesh Khara, Axis Bank CEO Amitabh Chaudhry and other senior bankers.

Bajaj Auto shares rose on Tuesday after the two- and three-wheeler maker reported a 28% year-on-year increase in August sales. Strong export growth drove the performance, with two-wheeler exports rising 53%. Commercial vehicle sales also grew 22%, while the companys April-August sales increased 29% year-on-year.

Retail investors reduced holdings in 1,051 NSE-listed stocks in the June quarter, even as these stocks gained an average 35.79%. This outpaced the 24.22% average rise in 1,130 stocks where retail ownership increased, suggesting investors may have exited some winners too early.