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US stocks fell sharply Friday after President Donald Trump threatened to impose steep new tariffs on the European Union, reigniting fears of a global trade war and rattling markets on both sides of the Atlantic.The S&P 500 slipped 0.4% in afternoon trading, positioning the benchmark index for its worst weekly performance in nearly two months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 132 points, or 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite shed 0.6%, AFP reported.Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform before markets opened, said trade talks with the EU were stalling and warned that “straight 50%” tariffs could take effect as soon as June 1. The EU is among the US’s largest trading partners, and the announcement sent shockwaves through global markets.European stocks took an immediate hit, with France’s CAC 40 plunging 1.7%. US markets opened lower in response, and losses deepened as the day progressed. Around 60% of stocks in the S&P 500 traded in the red.Tech giant Apple fell 2.6% after Trump singled it out, saying he’s urged CEO Tim Cook to relocate iPhone production to the US Trump threatened that Apple would face tariffs of “at least 25%” on its products if it didn’t comply.Trump has a history of calling out companies directly when frustrated with trade negotiations. Walmart previously drew his ire after saying tariffs would likely lead to higher prices for consumers. Trump responded that Walmart and China should “eat the tariffs.”The uncertainty surrounding trade policy also prompted major retailers to revise their financial guidance. Deckers Outdoor, the parent of Hoka and Uggs, plunged 19.6% after it withheld full-year guidance, citing economic unpredictability, despite posting better-than-expected quarterly earnings.Ross Stores also removed its full-year forecast, with its CEO warning that continued high tariffs would hurt profitability, given that over half of the retailer’s goods come from China. Its stock dropped 11.1% even after beating earnings estimates for the quarter.“The volatility of trade policies and the corresponding impact on the economy, the consumer, and our profitability is highly unpredictable,” said Ross CEO Jim Conroy.Amid the turmoil, there were a few bright spots. Intuit jumped 8.4% after reporting robust earnings, helped by a strong tax season. The TurboTax and Credit Karma parent also raised its outlook for the year.The bond market reflected investor unease. Yields on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 4.51% from 4.54% the previous day, as investors sought safety. Earlier in the week, yields had risen amid concerns that tax cuts in Washington would balloon the national debt.Higher yields typically dampen demand for stocks by increasing borrowing costs and offering more attractive returns on safer investments.Global markets showed mixed reactions. Asian indexes closed before Trump’s tariff announcement, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gaining 0.5% and Shanghai’s market declining by 0.9%.Meanwhile, gold prices jumped 2.1% as investors flocked to safer assets in the face of renewed trade tensions.Wall Street had recently rebounded close to its all-time highs after earlier losses tied to trade fears. The S&P 500 had been down as much as 20% from its record before recovering amid signs of easing tensions—until now.
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Modi’s Asia Double Play: Japan Now, China Next — What India Wants (and Risks)
ndia has kicked off a tightly choreographed Asia tour at a delicate moment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Tokyo first, meeting Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, before flying to Tianjin for the SCO summit hosted by China. The sequencing matters: Japan is a steadfast strategic and economic partner; China is a rival with whom India still needs a functional modus vivendi. The backdrop? Up to 50% US tariffs on Indian exports, which raise the premium on diversified trade and investment ties. ReutersAP NewsThe Times of IndiaThe Guardian Why Japan first Tokyo and New Delhi are doubling down on a “special strategic and global partnership” built over two decades. Expect deliverables in economic security (critical minerals, supply chains), high-tech collaboration, and infrastructure. Reports suggest the leaders are setting a decade-long joint vision and pushing private-sector investment goals alongside people-to-people exchanges […]
Luxury skincare expansion: L’Oreal acquires majority stake in Medik8; announces 1 billion Euro deal
[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
270 million pulled out of poverty! How Modi government achieved a remarkable dip in extreme poverty & what’s the road ahead? Explained
[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
Ayodhya land prices: Circle rates revised first time in 8 years; soar up to 200%
[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
China exports: Global shipments rose 4.8% in May; inflow to US falls nearly 35% amid trade talks
[ad_1] China’s export growth lost momentum in May, rising 4.8% year-on-year, a sharp slowdown from the 8.1% surge recorded in April, as per the customs data released on Monday.The deceleration came amid a sharp drop in shipments to the United States, down 35% year-on-year, as tensions between the two economic giants continued to cloud trade prospects.The figures were released just hours ahead of another round of US-China trade negotiations scheduled for later in the day, in London. These talks come after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Zichun Huang of Capital Economics anticipated exports growth to revive in June, thanks to a 90-day suspension on most of the tariffs the two countries have imposed on each other.China’s imports also fell in May, down 3.4% year-on-year, leaving the country with a trade […]
Tata Motors future plans: Rs 33,000-35,000 crore investment to boost passenger vehicles; hoping to lead in EV segment
[ad_1] Automaking giant Tata Motors is planning massive investment plans for the future, earmarking Rs 33,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore for FY 26-30 on product actions. The Mumbai-headquartered company is targeting 30 product actions, including the launch of seven new models, as it looks to sharpen its competitive edge in India’s fast-evolving passenger vehicle (PV) market.As part of its long-term strategy, the automaker aims to secure a 16% market share, including electric vehicles (EVs), by FY27, rising to 18–20% over the next few years. Tata Motors expects the domestic PV industry to hit annual sales of 60 lakh units by 2030 and is positioning itself to ride that wave with a refreshed and expansive portfolio.“Looking ahead, we will strengthen our portfolio by FY30...7 new nameplates and 23 product refreshes will holistically enhance the portfolio,” the company told analysts in […]
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US Tariffs vs. India’s Trade Diplomacy: How New Alliances Are Shaping
India’s global trade playbook has shifted abruptly in 2025. The US recently imposed tariffs as high as 50% on Indian exports, citing New Delhi’s continued oil imports from Russia. The immediate fallout was brutal: the rupee sank to a record low, and Indian markets felt the shock. For a country that built its post-1991 trajectory on closer US ties, this tariff punch could have been destabilising. Instead, India is doubling down on multi-alignment diplomacy — diversifying trade and diplomatic engagement with Japan, China, Russia, and the SCO bloc. Why tariffs hit hard The US remains a top destination for Indian goods — from IT services to textiles. Tariffs of this magnitude erode competitiveness and raise uncertainty for exporters. Analysts warn of job impacts in labour-intensive sectors. The rupee’s plunge to historic lows only underscored the vulnerability. India’s counter-strategy Japan: Securing […]
Reliance AGM 2025: Jio IPO Timeline, New AI Subsidiary, and What It Means
Reliance Industries’ AGM has again doubled as India’s tech-policy bellwether. The biggest headline: Jio will file for an IPO in the first half of 2026, a move that could be among the largest listings on Dalal Street and a pivotal unlock of value for Reliance shareholders. In parallel, the company announced a dedicated AI subsidiary aimed at building domestic AI infrastructure and services. Reutersmint+1NDTV Profit Jio IPO: Why the timing matters Analysts have long argued that Jio’s value is partially buried within the conglomerate structure. A separate listing could surface value for a digital-and-telecom pure play with 500M+ users, deep fiber, and growing home broadband. International coverage pegs potential valuations in the eleven-digit-USD range if growth and ARPU trends hold through 2026. The listing window — H1 2026 — provides time to polish metrics, expand revenue lines (enterprise, broadband, OTT), […]
E20 Petrol in India: Green Revolution or Hidden Scam?
For the past few years, India has been pushing hard towards adopting alternative fuels and reducing its dependency on imported crude oil. One of the most talked-about initiatives is the rollout of E20 petrol, which is a blend of 80% petrol and 20% ethanol. On paper, this looks like a revolutionary step — it’s designed to reduce carbon emissions, cut down fuel imports, and boost ethanol demand that directly benefits Indian farmers. But there’s a rising question among common people: If E20 petrol contains only 80% petrol, why are we still paying the same price as regular petrol? Shouldn’t the price be lower since 20% of the mix is ethanol, which is significantly cheaper to produce compared to crude oil-based petrol? This is where many start suspecting that the promotion of E20 might not be as transparent as it seems. […]
Luxury skincare expansion: L’Oreal acquires majority stake in Medik8; announces 1 billion Euro deal
[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
270 million pulled out of poverty! How Modi government achieved a remarkable dip in extreme poverty & what’s the road ahead? Explained
[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
Ayodhya land prices: Circle rates revised first time in 8 years; soar up to 200%
[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
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