WORLD
Switzerland defends role of executives in securing US trade deal
Some political parties, including the Greens, had questioned the agreement, in particular the involvement of billionaire Swiss executives
WORLD
Trump likely to sell F-35 fighters to Saudis, US official says
The sale of F-35s, if completed, would be a major concession to Saudi Arabia as Washington and Riyadh look to deepen their ties and as Trump presses the country to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel.
BUSINESS
Thailand says US trade talks separated from Cambodia border deal
Washington had earlier moved to halt trade negotiations pending Thai compliance over the peace declaration with Cambodia signed last month.
BUSINESS
Trump buys another $82 million of corporate and municipal bonds
New disclosures show that Trump’s purchases of at least $82 million include bonds from Netflix Inc., UnitedHealth Group Inc., Boeing Co., Meta Platforms Inc., Home Depot Inc., Broadcom Inc. and Intel Corp., of which the US government acquired a stake under his administration
BUSINESS
Google to lift India data hub plan above $15 billion, says Chandrababu Naidu
CM Naidu said the US-based company’s plans to build a data center in the state is “to start with.”
INDIA
IITs see opportunity in Trump’s H-1B curbs
For decades, graduates of the IITs — which accept fewer than 2% of those who apply — have flocked to the US to work in lucrative sectors from finance to technology.
CRYPTOCURRENCY
Bitcoin is on the verge of erasing year's gain as rout deepens
The largest digital-asset is on the verge of wiping out its gains for the year, dropping as much as 4.7% to $94,147. Bitcoin traded at a record high of $126,251 in early October. It ended 2024 at $93,714.
MARKETS
S&P 500 gets tech lift, but Fed anxiety lingers
The relief brought by the end of the longest shutdown in American history quickly gave way to market swings after a host of Fed speakers threw cold water on bets for further policy easing
BUSINESS
Tata Motors' luxury unit Jaguar Land Rover cuts margin outlook for FY26
The Range Rover maker said Friday its profit margin for the full year could now be entirely wiped out, having previously targeted as high as 7%
BUSINESS
Bitcoin's bear market deepens as ETF investors yank $870 million
Bitcoin: The largest digital-asset sank as much as 2.8% to below $96,000 on Friday before paring losses, leaving it more than 20% below a record high reached in early October.
WORLD
China and US still to agree on rare earth deal weeks after talks
The lack of clarity has left rare-earth exporters in limbo
BANKING
SBI chief backs fresh wave of bank mergers to boost scale and growth
SBI, which is 55%-owned by the government, is seeing signs of an industry-wide revival of capital spending by corporates but pricing for loans is becoming tighter.
IPO
Centre prepares to list Solar Energy Corporation of India
SECI, one of four government companies tasked with rolling out renewables in the country, has helped build about 30 gigawatts of wind and solar projects
INDIA
India, Canada deepen energy, mineral ties amid US tariffs
The two nations will also deepen engagement to widen investment and trading opportunities in the aerospace sector, the statement issued Friday said
BUSINESS
MUFG, HSBC bet big on GIFT City in warning to Asia hubs
Banks in GIFT-City disbursed nearly $20 billion in dollar loans to Indian corporates in the fiscal year ended March, more than a third of the total issued for local companies globally
BUSINESS
RBI sells dollars in offshore market as rupee nears record low
The moves helped steady the currency as it neared its September record low of 88.8050 per dollar
BUSINESS
Michael Burry’s Scion fund is deregistered, SEC filing shows
The hedge fund manager has previously warned about market exuberance, last month posting an image of his character from The Big Short movie and a warning that 'sometimes, we see bubbles'
BUSINESS
Gold set for best week in a month as data gap clouds US outlook
Gold is up nearly 60% this year and remains on target for its best annual performance since 1979.
BUSINESS
Asian stocks fall as Fed rate cut doubts emerge
Gauges in Japan, South Korea and Australia all opened weaker, even as an index of the region was poised for its third gain in four weeks.
BUSINESS
Blackstone, SoftBank said in talks for stakes in India cloud startup Neysa
A SoftBank deal would mark the Japanese conglomerate’s first new investment in India in more than three years.
BUSINESS
SBI Funds Management eyeing a potential $1.2-bn IPO in first half of 2026: Report
India’s biggest asset manager plans to ask banks to pitch for mandates to work on the IPO in the coming weeks, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. SBI Funds may be valued at $12 billion
BUSINESS
Singapore Air says Air India is still hurting its bottom line
Air India, in which SIA Group has a 25.1% stake, continued to weigh on its financials. Singapore Air said its share of results of associated companies was S$417 million lower year-on-year in the first half, reflecting the Indian carrier’s losses
BUSINESS
India revamps critical mineral royalties to boost local mining
Under the revised system, the royalties — the fees miners pay to local authorities for extraction — on graphite will be charged as a percentage of sale prices decided by the Indian Bureau of Mines, instead of a fixed value per ton.
BUSINESS
Gold holds gains as traders contend with data void on US economy
Bullion was trading around $4,200 an ounce on Thursday, consolidating four days of gains — the longest winning streak in a month
