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Bata India plans to extend its Zero Base Merchandising strategy to over 900 stores by the end of 2026. The company said this shift helps tailor products to local demand. Chairman Ashwani Windlass said, "We are strengthening competitiveness, improving agility and preparing the business for sustainable growth" during the meeting.
MMTC-PAMP partnered with STOEX to offer its Gold Accumulation Plan to retail investors across India. Users can now buy 24-karat gold starting at Rs 10. Harshit Gupta said, "We are making that same trusted, assay-certified gold accessible to a new generation of digital-first investors." The gold gets physical backing.
The Income Tax Department launched a verification exercise on August 18 covering 394 entities and 36 professionals. Officials said these groups sent large foreign remittances that did not match their reported income. The department noted, "The findings raise concerns about whether adequate due diligence was carried out by the Accountants."
Ashok Leyland plans to launch new trucks, buses, and LNG models to expand its product range. On Tuesday, MD and CEO Shenu Agarwal said the company will enter the 280 hp, 320 hp, and 360 hp tipper segments. They also aim to increase bus manufacturing capacity to 1,650 units monthly.
Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting acquired a 60% stake in skincare brand Dermatouch for Rs 387.5 crore. The company said on Tuesday that it will buy the remaining stake over three years. CEO Kumar Chander noted, "Dermatouch represents an exciting opportunity for us as our first foray into digital brands."
The rupee weakened by 24 paise against the dollar this week as foreign portfolio flows turned negative. Rising Brent crude prices, now trading around $91 per barrel, added pressure on the currency. The rupee currently sits at 95.68, with experts watching the 95.80 support level to see if it recovers.
Citibank’s Samiran Chakraborty said India’s summer crop sowing is close to last year’s numbers despite a 13% seasonal rainfall shortfall. He noted that food prices have not surged yet, suggesting the El Nino effect might be limited. The RBI also lowered its inflation forecast as the economy shows resilience today.
Indian IT companies spent ₹35,000 crore on AI-related acquisitions during FY2025 and FY2026. This accounted for 70% of the total M&A deal value. Aditya Jhaver said, "AI has become a strategic acquisition trigger for Indian IT companies." Firms now use these deals to gain specialist talent and stronger market capabilities.
Former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique became a strategic shareholder in the FYERS American Gambits, a franchise in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League. The league’s fourth season will be held in Bengaluru from September 3 to 13. This move shows how chess is trying to become a popular franchise sport.
Manipal Health Enterprises said on Tuesday it will acquire Kinder Women's Hospital in Bengaluru for Rs 130 crore. The deal includes all operations and assets of the hospital. Managing Director Dilip Jose said, "The acquisition of Kinder Women's Hospital strengthens our presence in Bengaluru's fast-growing Whitefield micro-market and complements our ecosystem."
The RBI’s surprise FCNR (B) move left banks scrambling as communication concerns grew. Markets reacted sharply, and the rupee fell. Economist Madhavi Arora said, “Markets can adjust to policy changes; what they find harder to price is uncertainty around the policy framework.” Banks now face tighter deadlines to finish their work.
SBI Dividend Yield Fund topped the one-month return chart with 2.1 percent gains, according to ACE MF data on August 17. Franklin India and HDFC Dividend Yield funds followed with 1.5 and 1.2 percent returns. Investors should check multiple time periods, as ICICI Pru leads over a three-year window instead.