West Asia

The deal that US President Donald Trump signed at Versailles in June set an ambitious 60-day deadline for ending the war with Iran and reaching an accord on its nuclear program. The deadline was Monday, and the two sides are further apart than they were then. Talks, such as they are, have focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting a US blockade on Iran, both of which were supposed to have happened under the interim deal. There has been no sign of any compromise on the strait, or that detailed nuclear talks have even begun. The US, meanwhile, has no good options for getting out of the war it started alongside Israel. Acceding to Iran's latest demands would mean giving it control over a critical international waterway that carried a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas before the war - and would be tantamount to admitting defeat. Escalating the deeply unpopular war would further draw down US supplies of advanced missile interceptors, jolt the world economy, and drive

Gold and silver prices are expected to remain positive next week, although elevated volatility is likely to persist amid developments in West Asia and key global economic data, analysts said. Market participants will track US housing and trade data, inflation figures from the UK, Eurozone, and Japan, as well as China's economic indicators for cues on industrial metals. The minutes of the Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting will also be watched for signals on the US Central bank's monetary policy outlook, they added. "The outlook for gold and silver remains positive and are expected to move up towards Rs 1.57 lakh per 10 grams and Rs 2.54 lakh per kg level," Pranav Mer, Senior Vice President, EBG - Commodity & Currency Research, JM Financial Services Ltd, said. On the domestic front, gold futures for October delivery climbed Rs 2,686, or nearly 2 per cent, last week to close at Rs 1.54 lakh per 10 grams on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). MCX silver for September contract gained Rs .

Recent measures have targeted Iran's shadow oil fleet; shipping insurers; freezing an estimated $500 billion in ‌Iran-linked cryptocurrency

Panama Canal transit fees have surged to record levels, with auction prices for some shipping slots crossing $3 million as global demand for the key trade route rises

Donald Trump claims the US Navy has full control of the Strait of Hormuz after clearing mines, while Iran says it will not fully reopen the key oil route until its demands are met

While several firms have responded with calibrated price increases to protect margins, many signalled that further price escalations could follow

India's development ambitions will depend not on promises alone, but on sustained reforms, better-designed welfare, inclusive products, capable leadership and accountability

Turkiye has a geographical and institutional foothold in Europe and West Asia. It is a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, but it is also the largest Nato member after the US

Donald Trump could move away from his demand for a new Iran nuclear deal if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz, as he looks for a way to end the conflict and ease pressure on oil prices

By sharply reducing oil imports, China not only shielded its own economy from a supply shock (to an extent) - its impact also helped cushion the price shock for other Asian economies, analysts said

India recorded investment announcements worth Rs 26.75 trillion between April 1 and August 5, led overwhelmingly by data centres, AI and proposed nuclear power projects

Crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia, and upcoming inflation data will dictate stock market direction this week, according to analysts. Moreover, developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, foreign investor trading activity, and domestic quarterly earnings will also remain key monitorables for the Indian stock market, experts added. "Domestically, investors will closely monitor the July CPI inflation print, WPI inflation, and the latest foreign exchange reserves data for fresh insights into inflation trends and external sector stability. The Q1 FY27 earnings season will gather further momentum, with several companies, including HAL, Bharat Forge, Grasim Industries, and Tata Motors, scheduled to announce their quarterly results," Ajit Mishra SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said. Globally, market participants will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, movements in crude oil prices, and broader geopolitical negotiations involving ..

The cost of a home-cooked vegetarian thali increased 4 per cent year-on-year in July, while a non-vegetarian thali became costlier by 9 per cent due to higher prices of onion, vegetable oil and cooking gas, as well as a sharp rise in chicken rates, according to a report released on Friday. The average cost of a vegetarian thali rose as onion prices climbed 20 per cent from a year earlier, while vegetable oil and LPG cylinder prices increased 11 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. In the case of a non-vegetarian thali, a 14 per cent increase in rates of broiler chicken over and above the onion and cooking gas rates led to the steeper increase, Crisil Intelligence said in the report, adding that broiler accounts for nearly half of the cost of a non-veg meal. According to the report, onion prices remained elevated due to the arrival of higher-priced stored rabi stocks. Supplies were further tightened after unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms in Maharashtra during March and April ...

India successfully shielded consumers from supply disruptions triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year through diversified sourcing, expanded refining capacity and higher domestic production, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday, while outlining the government's broader strategy to strengthen the country's energy security. Addressing an industry event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Puri said India had moved beyond viewing energy security solely through the lens of access to hydrocarbons, citing diversified imports, strategic partnerships, infrastructure expansion and alternative fuels as key pillars of its approach. "Today, I think we are in the happy situation of being able to say that, as far as India is concerned, we have moved on from that," he said. He said India maintained uninterrupted fuel supplies despite disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy transit route. The Iran war disrupt

West Asia demand may remain at 60-65 per cent of FY26 levels, while domestic and short-haul travel are expected to help Thomas Cook offset the decline in FY27

Domestic private companies accounted for 86 per cent of investment announcements between April 1 and August 5, while ITES led with Rs 14.98 trillion in proposed capex

Says current DBT framework needs a relook; comes down heavily on bundling

Gold and silver futures advanced as easing West Asia tensions boosted hopes the US Federal Reserve may delay further interest rate hikes