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The game, 'Indian Air Force: A Cut Above', seeks to give the youth a "realistic feel of the Air Force" and motivate them to take up career in the IAF Current affairs : A new video game themed on various aerial combats and missions of the IAF, including airstrikes, and featuring a pilot character resembling Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was launched by Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Wednesday. The game, 'Indian Air Force: A Cut Above', seeks to give the youth a "realistic feel of the Air Force" and motivate them to take up career in the IAF. The game, available on both Android and iOS, aims to engage tech-savvy audience above the age of 14, and tell them that a career in the IAF is a "cut above the rest", a senior IAF officer said. Dhanoa launched the 3D mobile video game, which has elements of augmented reality, at the National Bal Bhawan here... read more

Non-subsidised LPG will now cost Rs 574.50 with effect from midnight tonight Current affairs : Non-subsidised cooking gas (LPG) price was on Wednesday cut by Rs 62.50 per cylinder on softening international rates. Non-subsidised or market priced LPG, which consumers buy after exhausting their quota of 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates, will now cost Rs 574.50 with effect from midnight tonight, IOC said in a statement. "It may be noted that the price of non-subsidised LPG was reduced by Rs 100.50/cylinder earlier in July 2019 also. Considering this, the price of non-subsidised LPG cylinder has come down by Rs 163.00/cylinder cumulatively in two months," it said.

India Post will partner with Common Service Centre to provide a suite of citizen centric services such as banking, remittance, insurance, DBT, bill and tax payments etc at post offices Current affairs : The postal department said it has decided to convert the India Post Payments Bank into a small finance bank, enabling it to offer small loans to customers. Besides, the department looks to open one crore accounts for IPPB in 100 days. The decisions were taken at the annual Heads of Circles Conference held at Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir from July 29-31, 2019 to adopt a 100-day action plan and a five-year vision to align the Department of Posts with the Prime Minister's New India initiative, a statement from the postal department said. The decision included "Converting the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) into a Small Finance Bank (SFB) to... read more

The Santacruz and Colaba observatories in the city recorded 1,464.8 mm and 1,175.1 mm rainfall, respectively, this month Current affair : Though the monsoon arrived in Mumbai late, the city recorded second-highest rainfall for the month of July in the last 60 years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. The Santacruz and Colaba observatories in the city recorded 1,464.8 mm and 1,175.1 mm rainfall, respectively, this month. Five years ago, the city had witnessed even more rainfall in July, setting a record. The Santacruz observatory had recorded 1,468.5 mm rainfall in July 2014, said K S Hosalikar, Deputy Director General of the Regional Centre of the IMD here.

The assets include fixed assets, loans and advances, deposits made, investments, etc. Liabilities include bank borrowings, sundry creditors, overdrafts, other liabilities   Current affairs : The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) assets rose over 22 per cent in the financial year 2017-18 (FY18), compared to FY17, according to a report by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), an independent election watchdog. The ADR has analysed the assets and liabilities declared by the seven national parties — the BJP, the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the CPI (Marxist) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The assets include fixed assets, loans and advances, deposits made, investments, etc. Liabilities include bank borrowings, sundry creditors, overdrafts... read more

India has brought down the import of oil from Iran, with which it has historic and cultural ties, to almost zero Current affairs : The United States is "highly gratified by co-operation from a great friend and partner like India" on the Iranian oil sanctions, the White House said on Wednesday as the Trump administration slapped sanctions against Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, ramping up its tension with Tehran. "We have been highly gratified by cooperation from a great friend and partner like India, and even less well-aligned countries such as China, in making the rather obvious choice that the United States would be the business partner of choice, not Iran," a senior official told reporters during a conference call after the Trump administration slapped sanctions against Zarif. India, which has galloping energy needs, went out of its way to co-operate with the United states. India has brought down the import of oil from Iran, with which it has hist...

The Bill subsumes four labour laws -- Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act and Equal Remuneration Act Current affairs : Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday said in Lok Sabha that the Wages Code Bill will enable introduction of minimum wage for every worker besides addressing issues concerning delay in payment to employees. The Code on Wages Bill, 2019, which seeks to amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages and bonus and matters connected therewith, will benefit 50 crore workers, the Minister said while moving the Bill for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha. The Bill subsumes four labour laws -- Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act and Equal Remuneration Act. After enactment of the Code, all these four Acts would be... read more

With Rajya Sabha now approving it, the practice of instant divorce by Muslim men will be punishable by jail term of up to three years Current affairs : Parliament on Tuesday approved the bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence, after the contentious legislation was passed by Rajya Sabha following non-aligned BJD extending support and NDA constituents JD-U and AIADMK walking out. Lok Sabha had passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill last week and with Rajya Sabha now approving it, the practice of instant divorce by Muslim men will be punishable by jail term of up to three years. The Upper House passed the bill by 99 votes in favour and 84 against it. It earlier rejected an opposition sponsored motion to send the bill to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee with 100 votes against it... read more

The designation of Kumar as the Finance Secretary comes in the backdrop of transfer of Subhash Chandra Garg as the power secretary Current affairs : Rajiv Kumar, currently serving as Financial Services Secretary, was on Tuesday designated as the new Finance Secretary. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the designation of Kumar as the new Finance Secretary, according to an official order. Kumar is a 1984 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre. The designation of Kumar as the Finance Secretary comes in the backdrop of transfer of Subhash Chandra Garg as the power secretary. Garg has already sought voluntary retirement from service.  

The Uttar Pradesh police yesterday filed a murder case against Sengar and nine others in connection with the accident after the rape survivor's family filed a complaint, alleging 'conspiracy' Current affairs : The Centre on Tuesday handed over to the CBI probe into a road accident in which the Unnao rape survivor and her lawyer were critically injured and her two aunts killed, officials said. An order from the Department of Personnel and Training accessed by the PTI said the case is being handed over to the agency to probe "abetment and conspiracies" into the accident. The 19-year-old woman had accused BJP MLA from Unnao Kuldeep Singh Sengar of raping her. The rape case is being probed by the CBI, they said. On Sunday, the woman, her family and lawyer were travelling in... read more

It has also alerted its officials who may visit the accident site in Rae Bareli and take details from officials of the Gurubakshganj police station, they said People stand near the site of accident in which the Unnao rape survivor was seroiusly injured after the car in which she was travelling collided with a truck, near Raebareli   Current affairs : The Centre on Tuesday handed over to the CBI probe into a road accident in which the Unnao rape survivor and her lawyer were critically injured and her two aunts killed, officials said. CBI officials said the agency is all set to file an FIR into the accident. It has also alerted its officials who may visit the accident site in Rae Bareli and take details from officials of the Gurubakshganj police station, they said. The Centre on Tuesday handed over the probe to the agency on the recommendation of the Uttar Pradesh government which had come under severe criticism for failing to provide security to the 19-year-old victim ...

Gokarn was the first Indian central banker who regularised warnings to the government, through the monetary policy statement, on the need to reduce fiscal deficit Current affairs : Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy governor and executive director at the International Monetary Fund, Subir Vithal Gokarn breathed his last in Washington DC, USA, on Tuesday after battling cancer. He was 60. Gokarn, who had a distinguished career as a central banker as well as a leading economist, was a columnist with Business Standard. At the RBI, he was in charge of the monetary policy department, from his appointment in November 2009. He was at the RBI till January 2013. He was the trusted deputy to governor D Subbarao and together they navigated the post-credit crisis period deftly for the Indian banking and financial system. Both were fierce proponents... read more

Sengar, a four-time MLA who represents Bangermau in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, was arrested in 2018 for allegedly raping the teenage girl at his residence in 2017 Current affairs : BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was among the 10 people named in an FIR registered on Monday in connection with a road accident in which the Unnao rape survivor and her lawyer were critically injured and her two aunts killed, police said. The FIR, in which 15-20 unnamed people were also mentioned, was registered at the Gurubuxganj police station in Raebareli, they said. "FIR has been registered under the Indian Penal Code's sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), 120b (criminal conspiracy) against 10 named persons, including the BJP MLA, and 15-20 others," a police officer said. Sengar, a four-time MLA who represents Bangermau in the... read more

The amendments give committee of creditors of a loan defaulting company explicit authority over the distribution of proceeds in the resolution process Current affairs : The Rajya Sabha on Monday approved amending the three-year-old Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), providing clarity about preference to secured lenders over operational creditors and giving lenders explicit authority over distribution of proceeds of auction of loan defaulting companies. Replying to a debate on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the changes being brought in now are in response to events that eroded legislative intent of the IBC. She referred to the Essar Steel insolvency case where the lenders and operational creditors have been treated at par by the bankruptcy court for... read more

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that efforts of the government were laudable but expressed concern that "sometimes this government passes a bill in haste and then repeals it" Current affairs : Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to repeal 58 old laws which the government said are a source of inconvenience to people. Moving The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2019, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that after the BJP-led government came to power "we have repealed 1,428 old and archaic Acts". "Today we are (going to repeal) 58 old Acts," the minister said and noted that from 1950 to 2004, only 1,929 old laws were repealed. Most of these laws, he said, date back to... read more

The ED alleged the accused in the illegal manufacture, sale and distribution of gutkha products of Tamil Nadu had earned a turnover of Rs 639.40 crore from June 2013 to June 2016 Current affairs : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized properties worth Rs 246 crore in three states during its investigation of a scam in which manufacturers allegedly bribed government authorities to sell gutkha, which was banned in Tamil Nadu in 2013. As many as 174 immoveable properties in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh worth Rs 243.80 crore were seized under laws on money laundering. The moveable properties in the form of shares and vehicles are worth Rs 2.29 crore. The ED alleged the accused in the illegal manufacture, sale and distribution of gutkha products of Tamil Nadu had earned a turnover of Rs 639.40 crore from June 2013 to June 2016. The money they earned was invested in... read more

The state had been claiming the sugary delicacy originated years ago, and it was first served at the 12th-century shrine of Lord Jagannath's temple in Puri Current affairs : The Geographical Indication (GI) Registry has accorded the GI tag for Odisha Rasagola, a year after the state applied for it. Rasagola has been a bone of contention between Odisha and West Bengal over its origin. The Registrar of Geographical Indication, Chennai has registered the sweet as 'Odisha Rasagola'. The Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC) and Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti are the registered proprietors of the GI tag who jointly filed for it in 2018. This makes Odisha Rasagola the latest entrant in the list of GIs of... read more

Although UP Police was quick to label it 'prime facie' a road accident, the Opposition smelt a rat and demanded a CBI probe in the matter, People stand near the site of accident in which the Unnao rape survivor was seroiusly injured after the car in which she was travelling collided with a truck, near Raebareli   Current affairs : Around the same time, when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was waxing eloquent on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow for improving law and order and curbing politicisation of government, the rape survivor — in a case involving a ruling BJP legislator — was grievously wounded in a road accident in Rae Bareli district, while her kin were killed. Although UP Police was quick to label it ‘prime facie’ a road accident, the Opposition smelt a rat and demanded a CBI probe in the matter, or that the Supreme Court order an independent investigation. The rape survivor, accompanied by her two aunts, sister and a lawyer, was travel...

Earlier, Madhav, who is the party's pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir, had urged the Election Commission to hold polls in the state this year Current affairs : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend a meeting of BJP's Jammu and Kashmir core group called here on Tuesday, with top party leaders, including its chief Amit Shah, set to discuss political atmosphere and party's preparedness for assembly elections whenever they are held, sources said. The likely presence of Modi and Shah in the meeting is significant and hints at the party gearing up for the state assembly elections, whose schedule will be finalised by the Election Commission after it receives a go-ahead from the central and state governments on law and order situation. The sources said Union minister Jitendra Singh, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and its state unit president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders from the state will attend the... read more

The state-run People's Daily said rescue work is ongoing at the site in Shuicheng county, Guizhou province, where a thick torrent of mud buried 22 houses in the landslide on Tuesday Current affairs : The death toll in a landslide which buried a village in southwest China rose to 36, state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday, with 15 still missing days after the disaster struck. The state-run People’s Daily said rescue work is ongoing at the site in Shuicheng county, Guizhou province, where a thick torrent of mud buried 22 houses in the landslide on Tuesday. CCTV broadcast footage of rescue workers trying to reach survivors through a huge mound of earth, and excavators digging through the collapsed hill. Two children and a mother with a baby were among those dead. Official news agency Xinhua said Saturday night that 40 people had... read more

The BJP is now mulling approaching the state Governor with a request to verify the signatures of the Congress MLAs who participated in the voting on the Criminal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill Current affairs : Days after two BJP MLAs voted in favour of the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, the saffron party on Sunday accused the ruling Congress of forging the signatures of 8 to 12 legislators during voting on a bill, although they were "not present" in the Assembly. The BJP is now mulling approaching the state Governor with a request to verify the signatures of the Congress MLAs who participated in the voting on the Criminal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill. On Wednesday, two BJP MLAs - Sharad Kol (Beohari) and Narayan Tripathi (Maihar) - backed the seven-month-old Nath government during voting on the Criminal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2019, in the... read more

Sitharaman inaugurated the one-day Himalayan conclave held here on Sunday Current affairs : The Himalayan states on Sunday came together at a conclave here to demand a separate Union ministry to deal with problems endemic to them and a green bonus in recognition of their contribution to environment conservation. The twin demands formed part of a common agenda of the Himalayan states and a proposal in this regard was handed over to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the end of the conclave, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat told reporters after the event. Sitharaman inaugurated the one-day Himalayan conclave held here on Sunday. Chief ministers and representatives of the Himalayan states -- Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakahand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagalaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur -- took part in... read more

His condition deteriorated after suffering multi-organ failure on Sunday afternoon, sources said Current affairs : Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy passed away on Sunday at a hospital in Gurgaon following a brief illness, officials said here. He was 64. Roy, the former chief minister of the state, was first admitted to a state-run hospital in Shillong before being referred to the Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana, where he was undergoing treatment for the last 10 days, his family members said. His condition deteriorated after suffering multi-organ failure on Sunday afternoon, they said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed anguish over... read more

The IMD has forecast "extremely heavy" rainfall in Maharashtra, Odisha and parts of north Gujarat on Monday A biker drives through a waterlogged street during heavy monsoon rain at Kings Circle, in Mumbai   Current affairs : Heavy showers lashed large swathes of the country on Sunday, with nine more people dying in rain-related incidents in Rajasthan, while there was no let up in the flood situation in Assam and Bihar where the deluge has claimed 209 lives this monsoon season. Rains also lashed Madhya Pradesh where a 10-year-old boy was swept away in a swollen nullah in Sehore district on Sunday, officials said. Widespread intermittent rains in Jammu & Kashmir led to suspension of the Amarnath yatra from three main base camps for the fourth successive day, with the weatherman predicting snowfall in the cave area, officials said. The metrological department has forecast heavy downpour in Odisha in the next one week. The IMD has forecast "extremely heavy...

Reddy was an exceptional parliamentarian, an efficient minister and widely acknowledged for his integrity and practice of clean politics Current affairs : S Jaipal Reddy began his career as a Congressman, and died aged 77 on Sunday, a Congressman. However, in his 50 years of public life, he did not always remain one. Reddy, who would always describe himself as a committed socialist, always put his convictions first, which made him quit the Congress and the Andhra Pradesh Assembly to protest the Emergency in 1977. Never did the lure of office or reputation of his rivals faze Reddy — whether it was his grit and determination in overcoming his lifelong physical disability or contesting the Lok Sabha elections against Indira Gandhi from Medak in 1980, or taking on the might of the Reliance group as the Union minister for petroleum and natural gas in 2011-12. Reddy was an exceptional parliamentarian, an efficient minister and widely acknowledged for his integrity and practice of c...

Analysts at Sharekhan expect the bank to report a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 1,377 crore as against a loss of Rs 120 crore in the June quarter of the previous fiscal Market news : ICICI Bank is scheduled to announce its April-June quarter earnings for financial year 2019-20 (Q1FY20) on Saturday, July 27. Analysts expect the private lender to report an over Rs 1,000 crore in net profit. Asset quality, especially in the power sector, and trends in loan restructuring would be keenly watched. Analysts at Sharekhan expect the bank to report a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 1,377 crore as against a loss of Rs 120 crore in the June quarter of the previous fiscal (Q1FY19). The bank reported a profit of Rs 42.1 crore in the quarter ended March, 2019 (Q4FY19). “Moderation in credit costs, stable fee income and an improved treasury performance could aid ICICI Bank’s profitability,” say analysts at Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFS), who peg the bank’s net... read more

India this month imposed a levy on its companies' share purchases Market news : Politicians from both sides of the aisle in Washington are agitating for curbs on the record pace of stock buybacks planned by American companies. But agitation has turned to outright action in one of the world’s 10 biggest stock markets. India this month imposed a levy on its companies’ share purchases. The proximate motive was to close a loophole after introducing a dividend tax two years back -- to ensure that companies pay something no matter how they return cash to shareholders. India’s practice of taxing markets started at least 15 years ago, when it put a duty on most financial transactions, a measure that European politicians have also been looking at. Being something of a G-20 pioneer in financial taxes hasn’t stopped the rise of India’s equity market, which exceeds $2 trillion, making it three quarters the size of its economy. But the measures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s govern...

Views on derivative call by Nandish Shah, Senior Technical & Derivative Analyst, HDFC securities. Market news : Bear Spread strategy on TATA STEEL Buy TATA STEEL August 430: Put at Rs 14 & simultaneously sell 410 Put at Rs 8. Lot Size: 1061. Cost of the strategy : Rs 6 (Rs 6366 per strategy) Maximum profit: Rs 14854 if Tata Steel closes at or below Rs 410 on August expiry. Break-even point: Rs 424 Rationale : -- Short build up is seen in the Tata steel Futures’ yesterday, where we have seen sharp rise in Open Interest with price falling by 1.27%. -- Stock price has broken down from the bearish cup and handle... read more

Commodity outlook and trading ideas by Bhavik Patel - Sr. Technical Analyst (Commodities), Tradebulls. Market news : Gold is witnessing some normal, healthy, corrective consolidation after prices on July 19 soared to six-year high. Until July, 31st (US Fed meeting), we expect gold prices to oscillate between $1440-$1400 and would move according to the US data.  Traders and investors' main focus would be on European Central Bank (ECB) and the US Fed. We might see some correction in gold and then a pull back after the ECB hinted at an additional accommodative policy which has made EURO weaker and Dollar stronger and by extension Gold weaker. But any accommodative policy is positive for metal so we may see rally later on in gold. Silver speculators sharply boosted their bullish bets after 2 dull weeks. We continue to prefer silver against gold currently as silver has still catching up to do. Since the past 4-5 trading sessions, silver is outperforming gold and any dips have ...

The plan, if it does go ahead, may need to be revised, according to Kenichi Kurahashi, a Tokyo-based chief fund manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co Market news : Advocates of India’s first global bond offering are set to face another obstacle: there may not be enough appetite for $10 billion of yen-denominated debt. The nation’s planned sale has been marked by controversy even before it gets off the ground, as reports surface of opposition from the prime minister’s office and the departure of an official handling the issuance. The government is said to be considering raising $10 billion at one go as early as October, with the yen and euro marked as preferred currencies. The plan, if it does go ahead, may need to be revised, according to Kenichi Kurahashi, a Tokyo-based chief fund manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai... read more

The major factors shaping the market direction today will be corporate results, global cues, and update on monsoon. Market news : The major factors shaping the market direction today will be corporate results, global cues, and update on monsoon. As many as 54 companies are scheduled to declare their June quarter results today. Among them is the country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki which, according to analysts, may post weak numbers due to the slowdown in demand and plummeting volumes which would offset the gains due to higher net realization. As for Bajaj Auto, although the company has reported a rise in volumes in an otherwise subdued quarter for auto firms, analysts expect the inferior product mix and higher discounting to... read more

Here's a look at the top stocks that may trade actively in today's trading session. Market news : At 08:49 am, Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) were trading 27 points or 0.24 per cent lower at 11,274 levels, indicating a negative start for the Indian market on Friday. Here's a look at the top stocks that may trade actively in today's trading session - Maruti Suzuki India : The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki (MSIL) will report its June quarter earnings on Friday. Analysts expect a weak quarter for Maruti due to the slowdown in demand and plummeting volumes which would offset the gains due to higher net realization. Bajaj Auto : Bajaj Auto will declare its June quarter results on Friday. And, although the company has reported a... read more

It was the North's first missile test since an impromptu meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month International news : North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the sea on Thursday, complicating efforts to resume stalled nuclear talks with Washington and signalling its anger over planned US-South Korea joint military exercises. It was the North's first missile test since an impromptu meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month that produced an agreement to resume a working-level denuclearisation dialogue. But those talks have yet to begin, and Pyongyang warned recently they could be derailed by Washington and Seoul's refusal to scrap military exercises scheduled for next month. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the two missiles were... read more

The arms package included thousands of precision-guided munitions, other bombs and ammunition and aircraft maintenance support International news : President Donald Trump has vetoed a trio of congressional resolutions aimed at blocking his administration from bypassing Congress and selling billions of dollars in weapons and maintenance support to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month cited threats from Iran as a reason to approve the $8.1 billion arms sale to the two US allies in the Persian Gulf, which are enemies of Tehran. But Trump's decision in May to sell the weapons in a way intended to bypass congressional review infuriated lawmakers. Democrats and Republicans in the Senate banded together to introduce resolutions to block the weapons sale in what was viewed as a bipartisan pushback to... read more

Hasbro is the latest company changing its strategy amid heightened tensions between the US and China International news : The trade war is changing the landscape of toyland, with Hasbro Inc accelerating plans to shift away from China in favor of new plants in Vietnam and India. The world’s largest publicly traded toymaker, which has licenses for popular franchises such as “Frozen” and the “Avengers,” said US goods produced in China could drop to about 50 per cent by the end of 2020, from just under two-thirds currently. “We’re increasingly spreading our footprint and adding new geographies for production globally,” Chief Executive Officer Brian Goldner said on a conference call to discuss second-quarter earnings. “So we feel very good about where... read more

After You's "core profit" in the second quarter probably more than doubled from a year earlier to a quarterly record on higher sales International news : The world’s best-performing restaurant stock this year comes from the home of “tom yum goong” soup and pad thai. But Thailand’s After You Pcl isn’t about spicy red peppers or curry, instead it sells brownies, pudding and elaborate pancakes. After You shares have almost tripled this year. By comparison, gains of the next-best performing restaurants, Chinese hot-pot chain Haidilao International Holding Ltd. and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., rose at less than half that pace, according to data compiled by Bloomberg on restaurant operators with market values of at least $300 million. “After You has very high growth potential based on its strong brand in the domestic market and overseas expansion plans,” said Poramet Tongbua, an analyst at Bualuang Securities Pcl. “The upcoming earnings results will give an... read mo...

US Federal Trade Commission probe that resulted in the $5 billion settlement uncovered a wide range of privacy issues International news : Facebook Inc will pay a record-breaking $5 billion fine to resolve a government probe into its privacy practices and will boost safeguards on user data, the US Federal Trade Commission and the social media company said on Wednesday. After the stock market closed, Facebook disclosed as a part of its earnings report that the FTC told it last month that the commission had opened a separate antitrust investigation of the company. The FTC, which early in the day issued a statement and held a press conference about the privacy settlement, did not mention an antitrust probe. The FTC probe that resulted in the $5 billion settlement uncovered a wide range of privacy issues. It was triggered last year by allegations that... read more

This story is based on conversations with parliamentarians, advisers and ministers and shows how Johnson convinced his skeptical colleagues to put their faith in him International news : In a luxury hotel in the heart of one of London’s most expensive neighborhoods, Boris Johnson celebrated his victory in the race to become UK prime minister on Tuesday night. Gathered with his team at the reception in Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, he and guests swapped stories of the six-week contest over salmon mousse and sausages on sticks. They toasted the triumph with glasses of premium rosé champagne. The entertainment was a magician performing card tricks. But the most spectacular act of wizardry had already taken place: the transformation of a politician derided as a failure 12 months earlier into the most powerful... read more

I think Robert Mueller did a horrible job, both today and with respect to the investigation, said Trump International news : As former Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded hours of marathon testimonies before Congressional committees, US President Donald Trump claimed that he stood vindicated that the entire Russian investigation was nothing but a witch hunt and a hoax. Former FBI director Mueller appeared before two Congressional committees on Wednesday to respond to questions from Congressmen on the recently-concluded investigations about his allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. The Democrats allege that the Russian interference helped Trump in his election. Trump dismisses it and says it is a... read more

Maasry recommends relative value: Buy the Brazilian real by shorting the Australian dollar, for example, or fund a long position in the Mexican peso with euros Market news : Goldman Sachs Group Inc. says sputtering global growth means it’s too late to go “naked long” emerging markets, instead bet on short-term carry trades and assets in nations that can afford fiscal stimulus. “We are getting late cycle and it is very hard for emerging markets to outperform in this scenario,” Caesar Maasry, a New York-based emerging-market strategist at the firm, told journalists in Sao Paulo. Maasry recommends relative value: Buy the Brazilian real by shorting the Australian dollar, for example, or fund a long position in the Mexican peso with euros and bet on the South African rand by shorting the Chilean peso. He’s avoiding shorting the US dollar on concern it... read more

Market news : Nifty Current : 11,331 ( fut : 11,337) Target : NA Stop long positions at 11,270. Stop short positions at 11,420. Big moves could go till 11,475, 11,200. A long 11,300p (25), short 11,200p (7) could gain 15-20 if the index breaks below 11,270. Bank Nifty Current : 29,128 ( fut : 29,187) Target : NA Stop long positions at 29,170. Stop short positions at 29,300. Big moves could go till 29,500, 28,900. Trend continues to look negative but there may be short... read more

On a standalone basis, analysts are eyeing a pre-provision profit for Bank of Baroda of up to Rs 4,765 crore the quarter under review Market news : India’s first three-way merged public sector bank, Bank of Baroda, is scheduled to announce its April-June quarter result of financial year 2019-20 (Q1FY20) on Thursday, July 25. The bank, which got merged with Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with effect from April 1, 2019, is expected to post stronger numbers on standalone basis while analysts would eye results for the merged entity. According to analysts at Sharekhan, the public lender is likely to report a net interest income (NII) of Rs 5,853 crore, a jump of nearly 34 per cent year-on-year (YoY) from Rs 4,381 crore clocked in the June quarter of the previous financial year (Q1FY19). The same was Rs 5,067 crore in the quarter ended March, 2019 (Q4FY19). Analysts at Antique Stock Broking, however, estimate the same at Rs 6,891 crore, up 57 per cent YoY and 36 per cent sequentially. A...

Here are the weekly stock recommendations by Religare Broking Market news : Buy Dabur India Limited Last Close: Rs 423.75 Initiation range: Rs 415-418 Target: Rs 444 Stop loss: Rs 405 We’re seeing a mixed trend on the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) front and Dabur is maintaining its positive bias amid volatility. Post breakout from its consolidation range, it has witnessed a marginal dip of late, offering a fresh buying opportunity. We suggest traders using this chance and initiate fresh longs at the given levels. Buy Aurobindo Pharma Limited Last Close: Rs 561.75 Initiation range: Rs 560-566 Target: Rs 595 Stop loss: Rs 550 Aurobindo Pharma has retraced considerably after retesting its record high... read more

Corporate earnings and global cues will continue to dominate investor sentiment today. They will first react to major results announced Tuesday post-market hours. In that regard, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Market news : Corporate earnings and global cues will continue to dominate investor sentiment today. They will first react to major results announced Tuesday post-market hours. In that regard, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Hindustan Unilever (HUL) will be in focus. L&T’s net profit for the June quarter rose 21 per cent on the back of improved performance. FMCG major HUL reported its lowest volume growth in seven quarters owing to moderation in consumer demand while net profit rose 15 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,755 crore. Besides, market participants may also react to the International Monetary Fund lowering India's FY20 growth forecast by... read more

Here's a look at some of the counters that are likely to trade actively in today's session. Market news : At 08:30 am, Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) were trading 15 points or 0.13 per cent higher at 11,340, indicating a flat-to-positive start for the Indian market on Wednesday. Here's a look at some of the counters that are likely to trade actively in today's session - HUL: Hindustan Unilever (HUL), the country’s largest consumer goods company, on Tuesday reported its lowest volume growth in seven quarters for the April-June period (Q1FY20) on the back of moderation in consumer demand. HUL’s net profit rose 15 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,755 crore in Q1 while revenue (net sales plus other operating income) rose 6.6 per cent over last year to Rs 10,114 crore, in line with the Rs 10,171-crore estimate. L&T: Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T’s) net profit for the quarter ended... read more

The domestic unit on Tuesday pared most of its initial losses and closed with a marginal 2 paise drop at 68.94 amid strengthening of the dollar against major currencies. Market news : The rupee on Wednesday opened 15 paise lower at 69.09 against the US dollar. The domestic unit on Tuesday pared most of its initial losses and closed with a marginal 2 paise drop at 68.94 amid strengthening of the greenback against major currencies and sustained foreign fund outflows. Rupee on Tuesday consolidated in a narrow range for the third successive session as most market participants remained cautious ahead of the important ECB (European Central Bank) policy statement that will be released today. Yesterday, International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its forecast for global growth this year and next, warning that further US-China tariffs or a disorderly exit for... read more

US President Donald Trump had on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Modi had asked him to play the role of a mediator on Kashmir Current affairs : Prime Minister Narendra Modi made no request to US President Donald Trump to mediate on the Kashmir issue with Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Rajya Sabha Tuesday amid a massive controversy over the US leader's claim. He said all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan can be discussed only bilaterally. "I would like to categorically state that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President," he said after Congress and other opposition parties raised the issue in the House. US President Donald Trump had on Monday claimed that Prime... read more

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said India has never accepted third party mediation in Jammu and Kashmir Current affairs : The Congress along with other opposition parties demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should clarify whether there has been a shift in India's position of no third party involvement in the Kashmir issue after US President Donald Trump offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the matter. Trump's offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue came as he met Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House where the two leaders discussed a host of issues. India denied Trump's claim that Modi had asked him to mediate in resolving the Kashmir issue with... read more

It also said Pakistan taking "sustained and irreversible" steps against terrorism is key to a successful dialogue with India Current affairs : The Trump administration has launched a damage control exercise after the President's remarks about mediation on Kashmir, with the State Department on Tuesday saying it was a "bilateral" issue between India and Pakistan, and the US "welcomes" the two countries "sitting down" for talks. It also said Pakistan taking "sustained and irreversible" steps against terrorism is key to a successful dialogue with India. "While Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes Pakistan and India sitting down and the United States stands ready to assist," a State Department spokesperson told PTI in response to... read more

US lawmakers support India's stand on Kashmir, one of them apologises for Trump remarks Current affairs : An influential Democratic Congressman on Tuesday apologised to India's US envoy for President Donald Trump's "embarrassing" remarks on Kashmir, while several others came out in support of New Delhi's established stand against any third-party role on the issue. "I just apologized to Indian Ambassador Harsh Shringla for Trump's amateurish and embarrassing mistake," Congressman Brad Sherman tweeted hours after Trump's stunning claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought his mediation or arbitration efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue. India quickly rejected his claims. For the past 70 years, India has consistently resisted any third-party mediation proposal, and for over a decade now, the US has been reiterating that... read more