Lights

• Global markets turned cautious as the Dow Jones ended its record streak with a 464-point drop, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed lower due to rising US Treasury yields and weak chip-maker earnings. • Brent crude futures rose above $83 per barrel and US WTI futures climbed to $78.84, driven by renewed geopolitical tensions near the Strait of Hormuz. • These rising energy costs pose a significant economic risk to India, which relies heavily on crude imports, while Asian markets and Japanese equities continue to trade lower.

• Real Madrid announced the signing of new right winger Yan Diomandé on August 6. • The club also reached an agreement to extend the contract of star player Vinícius Júnior through 2032. • These strategic moves position Los Blancos as a central figure in what is expected to be a highly competitive season in Spain's La Liga.

• On August 7, 2026, the Indian stock market ended its two-day recovery as the Sensex fell 456 points and the Nifty 50 slipped. • The decline was primarily driven by weakness in banking and financial stocks, alongside concerns over elevated crude oil prices and regulatory issues for NBFCs. • Broader investor sentiment was weighed down by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, mirroring a mixed performance across Asian markets.

• The Rajya Sabha cleared the Appropriation No. 3 Bill 2026 during the Parliament Monsoon Session despite a walkout by the Congress and other opposition parties. • Opposition members staged the walkout to demand an official statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding government actions taken against protesting students. • Critics and opposition leaders further pressed for a discussion on alleged long-term theft and looting within temples, accusing the government of avoiding the issue.

• Parliament's Monsoon Session faced a deadlock on its 14th day as Opposition members demanded accountability from the government. • The Opposition is calling for a formal statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding police action and the use of pellet guns against student protesters. • Tensions escalated further with demands for an immediate discussion concerning alleged theft related to Ram Mandir donations.

• Global oil prices have dropped below $80 per barrel following talks between Iran and Oman, raising hopes for a potential peace deal between the US and Iran. • US equity markets showed mixed results as investors weighed strong corporate earnings against ongoing uncertainty regarding the broader economic outlook. • Market participants are now focusing on upcoming US macroeconomic data, specifically labor-market indicators, to gauge future risk sentiment.

• The Indian stock market ended higher on August 5, with the Sensex rising 152 points and the Nifty 50 closing above 24,620. • Gains were driven by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) decision to keep the repo rate unchanged, alongside an improved FY27 growth outlook and lowered inflation projections. • Strong performance in the auto, realty, and metal sectors helped offset market concerns regarding geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices.

• Thailand is nearing removal from the U.S. Treasury's currency monitoring list, a move expected to reduce trade tensions and increase economic flexibility. • In sports, the national volleyball team secured the SEA V Cup title by defeating host nation Vietnam in straight sets. • The Thai football team has seized control of Group B in the ASEAN Championship following a victory over Malaysia.

• The Indian stock market ended the session in the green, with the Sensex closing 150 points higher while the Nifty50 remained flat. • Investors balanced market mechanics against expectations for the Reserve Bank of India's upcoming policy decisions, while monitoring crude oil prices and the rupee. • Analysts noted that recent fluctuations are likely due to adjustments in the revised settlement framework rather than a decline in economic fundamentals.

• On August 5, 2026, during the 13th day of the Monsoon Session, the Rajya Sabha cleared the Supreme Court Judges' Bill. • The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following the legislative proceedings. • Government representatives emphasized their commitment to the independence of the judiciary, citing the handling of writ petitions over recent years.

Snow falls in Wellington for the first time in 15 years while snow blanketed Dunedin and Christchurch on the country’s south islandTemperatures have plummeted across New Zealand as an Antarctic cold snap hovers over the country, delighting the capital, Wellington, which experienced snow for the first time in 15 years, while giving a southern city’s residents a chance to ski through the streets.The front moved in on Tuesday, with much of the country waking to freezing conditions, frosts, snowfall, hail and bitingly cold wind. Continue reading...

• Brent crude oil prices dropped 4.7% to $83.77 per barrel, while WTI crude fell 5.1% to $80.34 per barrel. • The insurance sector is seeing a balanced distribution model where digital-first younger advisors drive volume and experienced advisors secure high-value protection policies. • Mintoak, a payments and engagement OS for acquirers, has acquired ICC Loyalty to expand its operations across Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

• Indian stock markets ended in the red on August 4, 2026, with the Sensex dropping 210 points and the Nifty slipping 159 points. • The decline was driven by investor caution surrounding a new F&O closing-auction mechanism, rising crude oil prices, and weekly derivatives expiry. • Markets are currently awaiting the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) policy announcement, with traders focusing on the central bank's commentary regarding inflation risks and liquidity.

• Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition suffered a crushing defeat in the Negeri Sembilan polls. • The loss has sparked concerns regarding Ibrahim's political strategy as the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition grows in dominance. • This development is highlighted as one of seven key stories from the South China Morning Post's recent Asia reporting.

• By-election results were announced today for three assembly constituencies following votes cast on July 30, 2026. • Key outcomes include the BJP retaining the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat, while the Congress party secured a victory in Datia, Madhya Pradesh. • In Bihar's Bankipur seat, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor won in his electoral debut, breaking decades of BJP dominance in the area.

• Indian benchmark indices surged on Monday, August 3, with the BSE Sensex rising 544.39 points (0.70%) to 78,639.03 and the Nifty 50 jumping 390.70 points (1.60%) to 24,774.30. • The rally was primarily driven by gains in the IT and banking sectors, coinciding with strong capital inflows into the Indian market. • Global economic factors influenced the session, including strong AI chip demand boosting South Korean exports and joint FX interventions by Japan and the U.S. to support the yen.

• Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned during the monsoon session following intense disruptions and "Sadan mein aao" chants from the Opposition. • Opposition leaders, primarily from the Congress party, demanded the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to address critical issues. • Despite the political standoff and protests, the Rajya Sabha successfully passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

• Brent crude oil prices crashed 7%, falling below $84 per barrel, following news of peace talks between the US and Iran. • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to maintain a cautious stance while monitoring the impact of geopolitical shifts and currency movements on inflation. • India's 10-year government bond yield has remained stable at approximately 6.7%, suggesting that traders do not anticipate an immediate change in interest rates.

• On July 30, 2026, major venture capital firms including Bessemer Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins, and Lightspeed led a series of funding rounds for tech startups. • Investment is heavily concentrated in AI infrastructure, specifically targeting space tech, clean energy, and data center capabilities. • This shift signals a strategic move by investors toward hardware-heavy, mission-critical fields that support the growing demands of the AI boom.

• Several Indian deeptech and AI startups, including Arboreal Bioinnovations, Revspot, and Fixxly, secured significant investments in July 2023. • Arboreal Bioinnovations raised ₹230 crore in a Series A round led by EAAA Alternatives, with participation from Omnivore and Rainmatter by Zerodha. • The funding is critical for Arboreal to expand its manufacturing capacity, enhance R&D, and accelerate the commercialization of next-generation functional ingredients.

• The Indian stock market saw a positive close, with the Sensex rising 270 points and the Nifty ending above the 24,300 mark. • Major Asian markets experienced significant gains, including Taiwan's benchmark rising 1.66% to 40,705.65, South Korea's Kospi jumping 3.55%, and Japan's Nikkei climbing 1.43%. • Despite these daily gains, the Nikkei and Kospi are still facing overall weekly declines of 3% and 12%, respectively, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng dipped slightly by 0.13%.

• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility on Thursday for an attack on a US military base located in Kuwait as part of "Operation Nasr-2." • In a retaliatory move, US air strikes targeting Iran's Zanjan province resulted in the deaths of at least three IRGC members. • These escalating strikes highlight the intensifying military conflict between the US and Iran, signaling a dangerous shift in regional stability.

• The Federal Reserve decided to keep its key interest rate unchanged during its meeting on July 29. • The decision was not unanimous, as three officials dissented and advocated for a rate hike due to ongoing inflation concerns. • Chairman Kevin Warsh stated the Fed "will not hesitate" to act on inflation and noted that he welcomes the recent rise in Treasury yields.

• Savills India reported that office leasing across the country's top six cities reached a record 41.6 million sq. ft. in the first half of 2026, marking a 7% year-on-year increase. • Despite global macroeconomic uncertainties, vacancy rates declined to 13.2% from 14.7% YoY, while new office supply decreased by 5% to 23.7 million sq. ft. • This growth indicates resilient demand within India's commercial office market, driven by key sectoral trends and the expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs).

• SpaceX successfully conducted the 13th test flight of its Starship megarocket, focusing on evaluating the vehicle's performance and capabilities. • The mission provided significant data and high-quality visuals of the massive rocket during its ascent and flight phases. • This test is a critical step in SpaceX's goal to develop a fully reusable transport system for missions to the Moon and Mars.

• The Indian stock market saw a significant surge on July 29, 2026, with the Sensex climbing 888 points to close at 77,654 and the Nifty ending at 24,250. • Major gainers driving the rally included top companies such as Hindustan Unilever and Infosys. • The market movement coincided with a heavy schedule of Q1 FY27 earnings reports from diverse firms, including Adani Enterprises, Asian Paints, and Eicher Motors.

• On July 29, 2026, the Lok Sabha passed an anti-paper leak bill via voice vote during the eighth day of the Parliament's Monsoon session. • In the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain submitted an adjournment notice under Rule 267 to prioritize a discussion on the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. • Hussain is calling for a comprehensive independent audit of the Trust's accounts and a review of the current governmental regulatory oversight framework.

• Indian equity benchmarks rallied on Wednesday, with the Nifty 50 rising 1.1% to close above 24,250 and the Sensex gaining over 800 points (1.1%) to settle above 77,600. • The market surge was primarily driven by strong gains in the IT and metal sectors. • This growth occurs amid high volatility as investors monitor geopolitical risks in the Middle East and fluctuations in global oil prices.