global trading order

The Indian rupee strengthened significantly against the US dollar, closing at 95.26, driven by positive global sentiment surrounding a potential US-Iran peace deal and easing West Asian tensions. RBI Governor's assurance of orderly forex market movements and positive remarks on the rupee's valuation also boosted confidence.

The Centre has exempted customs duties on cotton imports for five months until October 30, aiming to boost availability and reduce costs for India's textile sector. This move is expected to enhance competitiveness, particularly benefiting MSMEs and enabling garment exporters to secure orders more effectively amidst global volatility.

India's economy shows 'cautious resilience' despite global headwinds like Middle East conflict and rising oil prices. While manufacturing and services remain strong, and forex reserves offer a buffer, inflation concerns are mounting due to wholesale price surges. A weaker monsoon could further challenge growth and rural demand.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament on February 1, 2026 with a focus on driving economic growth and making India a developed country by 2047, under the Viksit Bharat vision.

IBM is set to receive $1 billion from the US government as part of a $2 billion quantum computing funding package. This investment, aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing and accelerating development in strategic technology sectors, includes minority equity stakes for the government.

For fuel, price hikes will do the job. For rupee, a hike in interest rates, one-time dollar bonds issue for NRIs & capital gains tax rejig will do the trick. Remember, our macros are just fine

The CEA’s words could not be more direct and the situation the world’s sixth largest economy faces is by no means small. Several macroeconomic indicators are in focus; inflation, health of the current account, and the exchange rate.

Sanjay Mehrotra is CEO of Micron Technology, the memory-chip giant that just crossed a market cap of $1 trillion to break into the top 10 US companies by valuation

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are directly impacting household budgets, driving up prices for everyday essentials like cooking oil, milk, and bread. Soaring global crude oil prices and a weakening rupee are increasing import, fuel, and transportation costs, leading to a domino effect on consumer goods and even healthcare services.

Marine archaeologists discovered an astonishing Mesolithic factory complex off England's coast, revealing advanced Stone Age British shipbuilding skills. Found at Bouldnor Cliff, the site yielded worked wood, tools, and campfires, proving sophisticated maritime navigation and trade with Europe before rising sea levels submerged this connected world. This find rewrites our understanding of ancient Britain's technological prowess.

China has agreed to purchase over 200 Boeing aircraft. This deal could expand to 750 planes. The agreement follows President Donald Trump's visit to China and meeting with President Xi Jinping. This marks a significant order for Boeing. GE Aerospace will supply the engines. The deal is important for China's aviation expansion.

India is preparing to send ships through the Strait of Hormuz to secure vital crude oil and energy cargoes amid ongoing disruptions. The government is finalizing plans for Indian vessels to navigate the waterway, which handles a significant portion of global oil flows, as shipping activity has slowed due to the Iran conflict.

President Trump's Beijing visit concluded without major breakthroughs, highlighting a widening gap in core interests between the US and China. While projecting stability, the meetings revealed limited cooperation on issues like Iran and Taiwan, with trade offering the only tangible deliverables. Both leaders claimed victory, entering a transactional phase focused on leverage.

Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked the "Thucydides Trap" during talks with US President Donald Trump, highlighting concerns that the rising power's growth could lead to conflict with the established dominant power. This theory, popularized by Graham Allison, suggests structural tensions make war more likely, a concept now central to global geopolitical debates involving trade wars and technological competition.