1. The U.S. and India are close to finalising an interim trade deal aimed at reducing tariffs, with discussions expected to conclude this week. This follows comments from U.S. officials confirming the progress.
2. India’s Competition Commission has opened an antitrust investigation into Asian Paints following a complaint from Birla’s rival paints company. The probe will assess allegations of anti‑competitive behaviour.
3. June sales for major Indian carmakers fell significantly, with Maruti Suzuki dropping 13%, Tata Motors 15%, and Hyundai 12%, due to weak urban demand. Mahindra bucked the trend with an 18% SUV sales increase.
4. June gold prices in India firmed over 1%, supported by a softer dollar and uncertainty around U.S. tariffs and fiscal policy, although the immediate outlook remains guarded.
5. A parliamentary panel will review civil aviation safety on July 9, following the June 12 Air India Boeing 787‑8 crash that killed 260 people, with airlines and regulators expected to testify.
6. India’s cabinet approved a ₹1 trillion (US\$11.7 billion) employment‑linked incentive plan to generate around 35 million jobs over two years, aiming to boost workforce participation.
7. The GST (Goods & Services Tax) net for June reached ₹1.85 trillion, marking strong revenue performance and reflecting sustained economic activity.
8. India’s manufacturing PMI hit a 14‑month high in June, at 58.4, driven by rising export orders—especially from the U.S.—and the strongest factory growth in over a year.
9. The rupee is expected to appreciate slightly after the U.S. dollar weakened to a multi‑year low, though gains are limited due to continued importer demand for dollars.
10. Lupin, a major Indian pharmaceutical company, announced it will spin off its consumer healthcare segment into a separate unit named LupinLife, effective from July.