Monday, August 31
Gold delivered a remarkable performance in 2025, soaring over 60% and notching more than 50 all-time highs, according to the World Gold Council. The surge was driven by a potent mix of geopolitical and economic uncertainties, a weaker US dollar, and positive price momentum.The metal’s appeal as a safe haven strengthened, drawing sustained interest from both investors and central banks looking for diversification and stability.Looking ahead, the 2026 outlook is being shaped by a continuation of global uncertainty, with gold prices largely tracking macroeconomic consensus expectations. The World Gold Council notes that while a broad rangebound scenario is most probable under current conditions, surprises are likely.Depending on how economic and geopolitical developments evolve, gold could
When Russia's full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago, a 26-year-old soldier known as Monka didn't see a combat role she could do. But that changed as technology reshaped the battlefield and opened new paths. Last year, she joined the military as a pilot of short-range, first-person view, or FPV, drones after giving up a job managing a restaurant abroad and returning home to Ukraine to serve. Her shift is part of a larger trend of more women joining Ukraine's military in combat roles, a change made possible by the technological transformation of modern warfare, military officials say. "The fact that technology lets us deliver ammunition without carrying it in our hands or running it to the front line - that's incredible," said Monka, who serves in the Unmanned Systems Battalion of
The Indian rupee plunged past the psychologically crucial ₹90 mark against the US dollar on Wednesday, its weakest level ever, making it the worst-performing currency in Asia. This sharp depreciation underscores mounting pressure from persistent foreign portfolio outflows, a record trade deficit, and stalled India-US trade negotiations. This persistent weakness raises critical questions about its underlying causes and the broader impact on commodity prices and the Indian economy.Historical Performance of INR vs USDThe Indian rupee has witnessed a persistent decline over the past decade, depreciating nearly 40% from ₹62 in 2014 to today’s record low beyond ₹90 per dollar. This year alone, the rupee weakened by over 5%, continuing a long-term trend. In mid-2022, INR hovered around
Marcellus Investment Managers’ Pramod Gubbi expects India’s IT sector to stage a relative comeback in 2026 after a subdued 2025 marked by weak discretionary spending and AI-driven disruption fears. With valuations now at a discount to the broader market and global rate cuts likely to revive enterprise tech budgets, he sees performance momentum improving.Edited excerpts from a chat:What is your outlook for the Indian equity market in 2026, considering global interest rate cycles and domestic growth trends?Market outlook will depend on earnings and multiples reflecting flows and sentiment. On earnings cycle, we may have likely bottomed out in Q2 as Q3 will likely see a fillip from GST cut driven consumption boom. With further interest rate cuts as hinted by the RBI Governor and possible
