The jobs market is weaker than it looks

• A think tank reports that banking regulations implemented following the 2008 financial crash are currently hindering lending to UK households and businesses. • The analysis suggests that post-crisis rules, designed to ensure financial stability, have created unintended barriers to credit accessibility.

• Brokerages have identified several top stock picks for today's trade, including SBI Life, SBI Cards, Adani Energy, Tata Consumer, and Shriram Finance. • ACC is undergoing a merger with Ambuja Cements, where ACC shareholders will receive 328 Ambuja shares for every 100 ACC shares held.

• Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo is stepping down from his leadership role, according to an official government announcement. • Warjiyo first assumed the position of governor in 2018, overseeing the nation's monetary policy and financial stability for several years.

• Indian equities have extended their losing streak for a fifth consecutive session, driven by rising oil prices and persistent Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) outflows. • Market sentiment remains fragile due to increasing US Treasury yields and general global economic uncertainty, despite some intraday recovery efforts.

• Goldman Sachs has increased its 12-month target for Japan's TOPIX index from 4,400 to 4,500, suggesting a potential upside of approximately 12%. • The firm's optimistic outlook is driven by expectations that a weak yen will significantly boost Japanese corporate earnings.

• Indian stock markets are expected to face high volatility this week as investors monitor several critical global and domestic triggers. • Key factors influencing market sentiment include the US Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision, June IIP data, and a busy Q1 earnings season.

• U.S. equities declined for a second consecutive week from July 20-24, 2026, with the S&P 500 falling 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite dropping 2.1%. • Market weakness was heavily concentrated in the "Magnificent 7" stocks, which plummeted 3.9% and lost approximately $893 billion in market value.

• Europeans are increasingly adopting air conditioning units following the hottest June on record, narrowing the historical gap in AC usage between Europe and the United States. • Samsung reported double-digit year-on-year growth in AC sales across Europe during the first half of 2026, with significant gains in France, Spain, and Italy.

• The Nikkei 225 is projected to trade within a pivotal range of 63,000 to 67,000 next week. • Market volatility is expected as investors weigh upcoming earnings reports from AI and semiconductor firms alongside policy meetings from the U.S. and Japanese central banks.

• Investors are maintaining an optimistic outlook on India's long-term economic growth, driven by steady foreign investment flows and strong domestic consumption. • Benchmark indices saw significant growth, with banking, financial services, and technology companies emerging as the strongest performers.

• Global economic trends show mixed signals, with US unemployment claims hitting a near 60-year low, indicating a highly stable labor market. • South Korea's economy experienced faster-than-expected growth, primarily fueled by a continuing boom in artificial intelligence chips.

• XRP is currently trading at $1.09, reflecting a slight increase of 0.75% as it finds support near the $1.0968 Ichimoku Kijun level. • Technical indicators show the asset is trading above its 20-day ($1.0978) and 50-day ($1.0972) moving averages, though it remains below the 200-day average of $1.3951.