2026

JPMorgan has shifted its stance on Indian equities to neutral, citing high valuations and geopolitical uncertainties. The brokerage warns of a potential 15% Nifty 50 decline in a worst-case scenario, impacting earnings due to energy supply risks. While the long-term outlook remains robust, near-term caution is advised, with other emerging markets potentially offering better opportunities.

India and the US concluded three days of trade talks in Washington, aiming to finalize an interim trade pact and advance negotiations for a broader bilateral agreement. Discussions covered market access, digital commerce, and economic security.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has directed banks to bolster cybersecurity against advanced AI threats, including those posed by Anthropic’s ‘Claude Mythos’. Emphasizing proactive measures and real-time threat sharing, she urged banks to collaborate, hire top professionals, and leverage AI for defense, ensuring robust protection of customer data and financial assets.

Tokyo’s metropolitan government is allowing employees to wear shorts to work this summer as part of an expanded “Cool Biz” energy-saving initiative. This move aims to combat rising energy costs, exacerbated by the Middle East war, and address increasingly harsh summers. The policy encourages comfortable attire, including polo shirts, T-shirts, and sneakers, alongside teleworking and…

Indian consumer goods firms are grappling with soaring input costs, driven by the Middle East conflict. Companies are now tracking expenses daily and frequently adjusting prices, impacting long-term strategies. Executives fear higher prices could dampen consumer spending, which had recently shown signs of recovery. This volatility is forcing immediate, short-term decisions across various product categories.

Under the proposed interim trade deal, the US has lowered tariffs on India from 50% to 18%. In August last year, Trump had imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on India and an additional 25% penal tariff for India’s crude oil purchases from Russia.

According to data from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, crude production fell 2.5 per cent to 28 million metric tonnes in 2025–26. This marks a cumulative drop of 22 per cent since 2014–15.

Asian markets faltered after touching record highs, weighed down by surging oil prices and lingering US-Iran peace talk uncertainties. Japan’s Nikkei briefly crossed 60,000 before retreating. Escalating Middle East tensions, including shipping disruptions, fueled oil price spikes, impacting investor sentiment across the region. Despite a Wall Street rally, regional markets succumbed to geopolitical anxieties.