Is Keir Starmer set to quit? UK PM faces growing pressure as rivals circle

Bitish Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the biggest challenge of his political career, with report claiming he could announce his resignation as early as Monday. 

The Finance Ministry's proposal to impose fees on UPI and RuPay debit card payments has sparked concerns over the influence of the "Trump factor" on India's digital payments policy. While the government justifies it as necessary for the UPI ecosystem's financial sustainability, experts fear it may be a response to US pressure.

The Aqua Line metro in Noida and Greater Noida has become a crucial mode of daily travel. NMRC is expanding the network with two new extensions, awarded to L&T, which will provide smoother interchange options and connect Sector 142 to Botanical Garden and Depot Station to Boraki MMTH.

The upcoming week in the primary market will be filled with 5 mainboard IPOs and 3 SME issues, along with 8 IPO listings. Molbio Diagnostics, Dhoot Transmission, Milky Mist Dairy Food, Shiprocket, Behari Lal Engineering, Fascinate Textiles, Sham Foam, and Pramodini Medicare will all be open for subscriptions.

India's urban freight sector is vital for the economy, but its heavy use of diesel trucks has caused issues like congestion and emissions. Experts urge a switch to cleaner vehicles and better efficiency. The government's PM E-DR aims to address this problem.

France has proposed to sell 114 Rafale fighter jets to India, with a promise to produce 94 of them in India. The deal, worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore, will boost business for Indian companies and strengthen the strategic alliance between the two nations. The proposal also involves the incorporation of domestic weapons and the creation of a complete MRO system in India.

The Chennai Metro is expanding with three new corridors, covering 118.9 km and adding 128 stations. This will improve connectivity to the airport, railway stations, IT hubs, and fast-growing suburbs. The expansion is more than halfway complete, reducing travel time for commuters and benefiting the IT corridor and major employment centers.

Indian Railways to upgrade rail connectivity in Bihar's Seemanchal region with 764 km of projects. This will improve passenger and freight movement, strengthen connections with neighboring countries, and enhance the passenger experience. Katihar Junction will also be transformed into a major rail hub.

Macquarie maintains 'Outperform' rating and raises target prices for Trent, PB Fintech, Marico, Avalon Technologies and UNO Minda citing demand resilience, capacity expansion, improving profitability and multi-year growth visibility. Strong operating performance and demand trends at Trent, earnings momentum and profitability at PB Fintech.

India's IPO pipeline remains packed with several large companies across various industries such as financial services, power, technology, chemicals, hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing. SEBI has approved IPOs for companies like Avaada Electro, Oravel Stays, Credila Financial Services, and Dorf-Ketal Chemicals India, with proposed issue sizes running into thousands of crores.

Jefferies, a global brokerage house, has given a 'Buy' rating to three large-cap stocks - ONGC, PB Fintech, and Bharti Airtel - with a potential upside of up to 30%. ONGC's earnings have improved, but production remains a concern, while PB Fintech's revenue growth has improved despite higher expenses. Bharti Airtel's subscriber growth remains a key support.

Scientists have used AI to create full viral genomes, a major step in synthetic biology. This could transform the battle against drug-resistant infections, but also raises concerns about safety and security. 285 top designs were selected from millions, but experts stress the importance of careful governance for safe use.

Etsy Inc is cutting 12% of its employees, mostly in product and engineering, as part of a restructuring plan to enhance decision-making. CEO Kruti Patel Goyal confirmed the layoffs and stated that the company denies AI as the reason but acknowledges its impact. Laid-off workers will receive severance pay and healthcare support.

Maharashtra government approves deployment of sovereign AI solutions from Sarvam AI for government departments with a two-year outlay of Rs 11.26 crore. The package includes Indus, a sovereign AI workspace for 2,500 state government users, Samvaad voice and WhatsApp-based agents, and Saaras and Bulbul speech models. The Indus platform offers drafting and file noting assistance.

Indian Navy strengthens coastal defence with launch of INS Machilipatnam, the seventh of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. The vessel is equipped for underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, low-intensity maritime operations, and mine warfare capability.

India urged to protect its UPI policies from US pressure and focus on long-term sustainability of its payments ecosystem. The think tank GTRI warns against introducing merchant charges to address trade complaints and instead suggests alternative funding models, such as targeted budgetary support and charges on high-turnover merchants.

The Western Railway has extended the Dadar-Bhusaval Special Train to improve connectivity and provide extra capacity for passengers travelling on the Mumbai-Bhusaval route. The weekly service will run every Friday until 2026, stopping at major stations in Maharashtra and Gujarat. This will ease passenger load and improve access to destinations.

PNB Housing Finance aims to boost affordable and emerging housing loans to 50% of its portfolio by FY28, with a projected 60% growth in FY27. Disbursements declined in Q1 but are predicted to rise by 18-20%. The company's focus is on retail housing finance, with improved margins expected through portfolio diversification.

Hero MotoCorp reported a 29% increase in standalone net profit for the June quarter, surpassing Bloomberg consensus estimates. Revenue from operations also rose 36%, with strong growth in its premium, electric mobility, and global businesses.

Microsoft has launched its fourth cloud region in Hyderabad, India to meet the increasing demand for AI and cloud services. The region has three availability zones and supports mission-critical workloads, strengthening India's sovereign-ready AI infrastructure. Early demand has been seen from companies like Adani Group and HDFC Bank.

A Silk Way West Boeing aircraft experienced an emergency in the US, leading to confusion as the pilot declared "Pan-Pan" and requested directions to Houston while unknowingly heading in the wrong direction. The flight was safely diverted to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and landed with a delay of 1 hour and 9 minutes.

The Indo-Russian BrahMos missile is a top defence export for India, known for its supersonic speed, precision strike, and versatility. It has gained global recognition and is viewed as India's flagship weapon. Its unique capabilities make it attractive to countries in Asia and Latin America, despite its higher cost.

The Donald Trump administration has already refunded around $100 billion in tariffs it collected before the US Supreme Court struck down most of those duties, according to a court filing reviewed by Reuters.

JM Financial recommends buying shares of Ventive Hospitality, Neuland Laboratories, and Metropolis Healthcare, with potential gains of 25-35%. The companies are expected to see growth in the hospitality, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics sectors due to portfolio expansion, new products, and operational efficiency. Investors should seek advice from a SEBI-registered advisor before investing.

Indian government focusing on developing manufacturing ecosystem for trainer aircraft and seaplanes to meet demand for pilots and regional connectivity. Steps include policy incentives, 5-year roadmap, and Special Purpose Vehicle. Aim to boost pilot training, infrastructure, and domestic production, reduce import dependence, and promote tourism through seaplane operations.

The long-awaited Bengaluru Metro link to Kempegowda International Airport is making significant progress.The 58.19-km corridor, being developed under Metro Phase 2B, will connect Silk Board with KIA and is expected to provide a faster public transport option. The project is scheduled to open in phases, with the entire line becoming operational by 2027.

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is ready to increase interest rates if inflation remains high, but believes that factors like tariffs and AI investments may eventually ease it. However, she warns that persistent inflation could become ingrained in pricing and wage decisions, making it difficult to manage.

Samvardhana Motherson, a major auto components company, reported a nearly doubled net profit of Rs 1,032.05 crore in Q1FY27, with a 16.65% YoY increase in revenue. However, on a sequential basis, net profit declined by 31%, while revenue rose slightly by 2.72%. The company's strong balance sheet and disciplined execution helped drive profitability.

Motilal Oswal, a leading brokerage firm, has maintained a 'Buy' rating on ONGC with a target price of Rs 290, citing an upside potential of 21%. The recent Q1FY27 earnings report showed lower-than-expected sales for crude oil and natural gas. However, profitability exceeded expectations due to a rise in contribution from New Well Gas and positive results from ONGC Videsh.

Indian Railways has introduced a new licensing system for Container Train Operators to promote private involvement in rail freight and improve business operations. This framework will enable operators to run container trains nationwide with a single licence.The move is expected to boost businesses, reduce logistics and ease the burden on roads.

Morgan Stanley upgrades PNB Housing Finance's rating due to strong performance in June quarter, favoring it over LIC Housing Finance which faced weaker growth and loss in home loan market. PNB Housing Finance expected to sustain momentum in affordable and emerging housing finance, while LIC remains exposed to slower-growing segments. Brokerage has 'Overweight' rating.

Himachal Pradesh CM approves 78% salary hike for contract and trainee medical officers to improve public health infrastructure and address specialist shortages. This increase aims to attract and retain doctors, especially in remote areas. It follows a 24% raise in 2022 and is part of efforts to enhance technology and facilities.

Goldman Sachs reversed its stance on India's aerospace and defence sector, upgrading Hindustan Aeronautics to 'Buy' and downgrading Data Patterns (India) to 'Neutral'. The brokerage cited easing execution bottlenecks and order visibility for Hindustan Aeronautics, while noting that Data Patterns had already delivered strong stock returns and faced limited near-term catalysts.

Southern Railway has launched weekly special trains between Coimbatore and Jaipur to cater to the increasing travel demand. These fully reserved Weekly Express Specials will connect major cities in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.The trains will run as fully reserved Weekly Express Specials.

The railway has extended the Hyderabad-Gorakhpur special train services through September 2026 to cater to the high passenger demand. With four additional weekly trips in each direction, the train aims to improve seat availability and provide extra capacity. The route covers several major cities, offering better connectivity between Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Juniper Green Energy, a renewable energy Independent Power Producer, raised Rs 1,800 crore through its IPO with a premium of 9% and 8% on the NSE and BSE, respectively. The issue was subscribed 2.81 times overall, with the QIBs section being subscribed 8.90 times. The company plans to use the funds to repay existing borrowings and invest in its subsidiaries.

LIC, India's largest life insurance company, made headlines with its successful IPO in 2022, raising over Rs 20,500 crore at Rs 949 per share. Now, in August 2026, the government has launched an OFS with a floor price of Rs 382 per share, offering a discount to retail investors. The stake sale has been expanded and is expected to garner significant interest.

Western Railway has cancelled five trains connecting major stations in Maharashtra and Gujarat due to Pre-NI and NI work in the Bhusaval Division. The cancelled trains serve important stations and impact daily and long-distance passengers, with journey times ranging from 4 to 11 hours. The cancellations are due to infrastructure and signalling upgrades.

ONGC, India's leading explorer, will sign deals with Venezuela to operate two oil blocks under the country's new petroleum law. This shows a change in strategy as ONGC had avoided expanding in Venezuela due to US sanctions. The company also regained a 20% stake in Russia's Sakhalin-1 project, increasing its revenue contribution.

India plans to charge cooking gas and natural gas consumers to create a $42 billion strategic fuel reserve, expanding beyond crude oil for the first time. The reserves will cover two months of crude and LNG demand and six weeks of LPG consumption.

RBI governor and deputy governors reaffirm commitment to controlling headline inflation and completing monetary policy transmission. Liquidity surplus to peak in September, but will be gradually absorbed. Stance to remain unchanged unless significant changes in growth-inflation dynamics. Polymer notes to be introduced in next financial year, government considering MDR on certain transactions.

The Centre's offer for sale (OFS) of a 6.5% stake in LIC was a huge success, raising Rs 31,552 crore and making it India's largest public offering. This brings the total disinvestment amount to Rs 52,700 crore, the highest since FY19. The OFS was subscribed 1.38 times, with the institutional portion being subscribed 1.45 times and the retail portion at 0.7 times. This helped LIC meet

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the media for the first time in two years via video link from New Delhi, coinciding with the second anniversary of her ouster. The press conference was held at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia and comes amid political tensions between Dhaka and the Awami League, with India distancing itself from the event.

A new 10.30-km highway link, the PR-07 spur, will soon be constructed to ease traffic around Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali. It will connect the Ambala-Chandigarh section of NH-205A with the Zirakpur bypass and is expected to be completed within two years. This project will divert 20,000 vehicles daily from congested areas, benefitting long-distance and freight vehicles.

The Silver Line project in Kerala has been paused, as efforts are now being directed towards improving the current railway network through various upgrades. The proposed high-speed rail project has been deemed unfeasible, and the Railway Ministry has approved nine new projects worth ₹11,650 crore, including three new railway lines.

Elon Musk ambitiously predicts SpaceX will reach $1 trillion in annual revenue by 2030, despite posting a $542 million net loss in the second quarter. The company's space segment contributed $4.3 billion, while its connectivity segment, including Starlink, brought in $4.29 billion. SpaceX also announced a partnership with Nvidia for "space compute" design.

HSBC recommends 10 Indian stocks due to improving earnings outlook, strong domestic demand, and potential for foreign investor flows. India is a stable market with potential for $25 billion inflow. 73% of companies met or exceeded earnings expectations. HSBC prefers domestic sectors like financials, autos, retail, hospitals, and select industrials.

SEBI, India's market regulator, is unlikely to review the newly implemented Closing Auction System (CAS). The system has faced criticism after the Benchmark Nifty 50 experienced sharp spikes in closing trade. However, SEBI believes there are no flaws in the system and expects participation to increase. The CAS involves a five-minute transition period, followed by an order entry period.

The Maharashtra government has directed officials to fast-track work on Mumbai Metro Line 10 connecting Mira Road and Gaimukh. Additionally, the state has approved the planning of 11 new metro corridors across the MMR, Pune and Nagpur to further strengthen metro connectivity. The projects aim to enhance connectivity, decrease travel time, and provide efficient public transport.

Rapido's food delivery platform Ownly has rapidly gained success, onboarding 25,000 restaurants in Bengaluru and planning to expand to five other major cities. Co-founder Aravind Sanka discusses Ownly's cost structure, zero fees, and the state of Rapido's core mobility business. The company aims to create a new market and increase its market presence.

Motilal Oswal has identified three companies with strong potential for returns: Safari Industries, Jain Resource Recycling, and Emami. These companies have target prices indicating an upside potential of 34% to 50%. Motilal Oswal cites capacity expansion, demand for recycled metals, and steady domestic demand as key drivers, but cautions about risks such as competition and input cost spikes.