Need Know

• Global markets remained muted as prospects for a deal to end the conflict in the Middle East continued to recede. • TSX futures trended positive following an announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a trade agreement with Canada. • As part of this development, Trump has agreed to postpone his latest round of threatened tariffs for a period of three days.

• Global markets remained muted as efforts to resolve the U.S.-Iran conflict reached an impasse, discouraging investors from taking high-risk positions. • Market volatility was further compounded by an uncertain inflation outlook, contributing to a general sense of caution among traders. • While U.S. markets closed lower on Monday, Wall Street futures turned higher on Tuesday morning, signaling a potential shift in momentum.

• The 18th edition of the Korea Masters badminton tournament, a BWF World Tour Super 300 event, is scheduled to take place from August 4 to 9, 2026. • The event will feature a competitive field including registered Indian players vying for the tournament's prize money. • As a Super 300 event, the tournament provides critical ranking points for athletes aiming to climb the BWF world standings.

• SAMHI Hotels' board approved fundraising of up to Rs 750 crore and the acquisition of a 100% stake in Itmenaan Lodges for Rs 12 crore. • Power Grid acquired Krishnagiri REZ Transmission for approximately Rs 19.82 crore to develop transmission systems and substations across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. • UNO Minda Limited is currently reviewing and approving a merger scheme involving Minda Onkyo India Private.

• The Korea Masters 2026, a BWF Super 300 badminton tournament, is scheduled to begin on August 4. • The event will feature a competitive field including several Indian players vying for a share of the tournament's prize money. • This competition is significant as it allows shuttlers to earn critical ranking points and provides a platform for emerging players to challenge top seeds.

• Deadly protests have erupted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir over the allocation of 12 refugee seats, leading to calls for election boycotts and staggered voting. • The Jammu and Kashmir Awareness Campaign (JAAC) claims these seats allow external political parties to influence the local government and divert essential development funds. • On June 5, authorities designated the JAAC as a "proscribed organisation" and implemented a region-wide internet and mobile service blackout lasting until June 20.

• The Model Context Protocol (MCP), which allows AI assistants to integrate with company tools and data, has undergone its most significant revision since launch. • The final technical specification for this major rewrite was released on July 28 to address scaling challenges and operational "headaches" for maintainers. • This update is critical as it streamlines how AI agents access proprietary data, coinciding with new AI-driven developments from Jack Dorsey’s Slack rival and xAI’s voice models.

• South Korea’s KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices dropped approximately 8% for the second consecutive day, triggering Level 1 circuit breakers due to extreme volatility. • The decline has sparked panic among investors, as both indices remain in a fragile state and are heavily dependent on the performance of the tech sector. • Market recovery is currently contingent on upcoming Samsung earnings reports and a critical interest rate decision from the US Federal Reserve.