Category: Business

July 3: India’s benchmark equity index, the Nifty, closed above the 24,270 mark at the end of the week’s trading session, registering a gain of around 1% for the week amid positive global market sentiment and sustained investor confidence.

The rally was supported by favourable international cues, improving risk appetite among investors, and buying interest across key sectors. Market participants also tracked global economic developments and expectations surrounding monetary policy, which contributed to the positive momentum.

Analysts noted that strong participation from domestic investors and selective buying in heavyweight stocks helped the benchmark index maintain its upward trajectory despite intermittent market volatility.

The week’s performance reflects continued resilience in the Indian equity market, with investors remaining optimistic about the country’s economic outlook and corporate earnings. Market experts expect global developments, domestic macroeconomic indicators, and quarterly earnings announcements to remain key drivers of market sentiment in the coming weeks.

Mumbai, July 3: XECH Technologies, a leading manufacturer of innovative portable home appliances and consumer electronics, has announced the launch of its latest seasonal campaign, “This monsoon – Simplify life with new-age appliances.” Timed to coincide with Amazon Prime Days, the campaign brings together a curated selection of smart lifestyle gadgets aimed at making everyday/ routines easier during the rainy season.

The monsoon often brings with it a unique set of everyday challenges, from managing humidity and maintaining hygiene to staying prepared for sudden travel or work disruptions. Keeping this in mind, XECH’s campaign focuses on offering practical, design-led solutions that seamlessly integrate into modern lifestyles. The product range includes compact and portable gadgets that prioritize ease of use, efficiency, and reliability, helping consumers stay comfortable and organized regardless of weather conditions.

As part of the campaign, customers can enjoy special discounts across XECH’s entire product portfolio, including offerings from its sub-brands Everyday Organisers and Timalfi, both of which are known for their functional and thoughtfully designed lifestyle products. The campaign reinforces XECH’s ongoing commitment to innovation, combining technology with real-world usability.

Commenting on the campaign, Pranay Punjabi, Founder & CEO of XECH Technologies, said: “With this campaign, we wanted to focus on solving real, practical problems through smart, thoughtfully designed products. The monsoon season often disrupts daily routines, and our goal is to offer solutions that bring ease and convenience into people’s lives.”

Niranjan Shendge, Head – D2C, XECH Technologies, added: “Amazon Prime Days is the perfect opportunity for customers to upgrade their everyday essentials. Through our campaign, we are offering attractive deals and exciting new launches across XECH, Everyday Organisers, and Timalfi. We expect strong demand as consumers continue to seek smart, practical, and value-driven products during the monsoon season.”

Consumers can take advantage of exclusive deals and limited-time offers during Amazon 10-year Anniversary Prime Days from July 4 to July 6, 2026, making it an ideal opportunity to upgrade their everyday essentials with smart, innovative gadgets.

July 3: Housing affordability remained largely unchanged across six of India’s eight major cities, indicating continued resilience in the residential real estate market despite evolving economic conditions, according to a recent industry report.

The report attributes the stable trend to steady income growth, relatively stable home loan rates, and balanced residential property prices in most urban markets. Together, these factors have helped preserve homebuying capacity for prospective buyers.

Although affordability moderated in two cities due to rising property prices and financing costs, the overall outlook for the housing sector remains positive. Demand continues to be driven primarily by end-users, supported by improving consumer sentiment and sustained interest in home ownership.

According to the report, stable affordability is expected to support continued growth in the residential real estate sector, with developers focusing on demand across both mid-income and premium housing segments.

Bangalore, July 3: Continuing its journey as one of Bangalore’s most culture-driven dining destinations, KICO has introduced an all-new menu that reflects the way the city eats today. Built around the idea of community dining, the refreshed offering expands across breakfast, small plates, global mains, and comfort food, bringing together familiar flavours, international influences, and thoughtfully crafted dishes designed for every moment of the day.

Staying true to its philosophy of “The Community Is You,” the new menu encourages guests to gather, discover, and share. Whether it’s an unhurried breakfast, after-work cocktails with small plates, or leisurely weekend meals, the menu has been designed to complement KICO‘s evolving social experience.

Breakfast sees a fresh line-up of dishes that balance comfort with creativity. Guests can begin the day with the indulgent Signature Basque Cheesecake French Toast, or the Lamb Keema Dosa that brings together crisp South Indian flavours with slow-cooked spiced lamb. The breakfast menu also welcomes new additions such as the Katsu Chicken Sando and KICO Club Sando, offering hearty options for those looking beyond the traditional.

As the day unfolds, the menu moves into a diverse selection of globally inspired plates that celebrate bold flavours and approachable cooking. Highlights include the creamy Pesto Burrata salad, Chicken Souvlaki Open Taco, Firecracker Cottage Cheese, and Butter Garlic Prawns, each designed to be shared around the table.

The larger plates continue KICO‘s global yet familiar approach. Guests can explore dishes such as Stuffed Chicken Roulade with Garlic Mash & Winter Vegetables, and Herb Crusted New Zealand Lamb Chop with Pumpkin Mash, alongside Indian comfort favourites including Paneer Angara with Butter Naan, and Goan Prawns Curry with Steam Rice.

KICO has always been about creating a space where people come together through food, drinks and culture. This new menu is a natural extension of that philosophy.

 “ KICO introduces dishes that feel familiar yet exciting, while giving guests more reasons to return at different times of the day, whether for breakfast, casual lunches, evening gatherings or shared dinners,” says Ranbir Nagpal, Founder, Yazu Hospitality.

Together with its coffee programme, evolving cocktail menu, music programming, and community-led experiences, the new menu further strengthens KICO‘s position as a modern cultural living room where every visit offers something new to discover.

Hyderabad July 03: Dabur India’s trusted hair care brand, Vatika, has launched Bio Infusions, India’s first ‘No Added Salt’ shampoo range, reinforcing its commitment to science-backed innovation and transparency.

 Developed with the philosophy of combining nature and science, the new range blends globally inspired natural ingredients such as Tuscan Rosemary, Ginseng, Spanish Olives, and Moroccan Argan with advanced actives including Plant Biotin Complex, Collagen, and Hyaluronic Acid to deliver effective haircare solutions.

Beyond introducing a new product range, Vatika aims to encourage greater consumer awareness about product formulations and ingredients. Through its unique ‘No Added Salt’ proposition, the brand seeks to educate consumers about the role ingredients play in haircare products and inspire more informed purchase decisions. The initiative challenges long-held perceptions in the shampoo category, where added salt has traditionally been used as a thickening agent and is often associated with product effectiveness.

 Commenting on the launch, Gurdatar Singh Ryait, Group Product Manager, Dabur India Ltd., said that Bio Infusions represents a commitment to greater transparency and informed consumer choices, encouraging people to look beyond marketing and better understand the products they use.

 The launch has been supported by a comprehensive integrated marketing campaign spanning digital, social media, e-commerce, and on-ground activations. The campaign features actress Ayesha Khan, partnerships with over 300 influencers and creators, including Parul Gulati and Isha Malviya, and extensive visibility across leading commerce platforms such as Blinkit, Amazon, Zepto, and Reliance Retail. The product range is also available in more than 500 Reliance stores nationwide.

 To drive awareness and product trials, Vatika has distributed samples through modern trade, e-commerce channels, and consumer engagement programs. A notable Blinkit activation saw select consumers receiving salt packets alongside shampoo orders, sparking conversations around ingredient transparency and highlighting the range’s key differentiator. The brand also launched ‘The Vatikan’, an interactive digital platform designed to educate consumers about ingredients and product formulations in an engaging manner.

 Taking the message beyond digital platforms, Vatika conducted experiential activations at events such as Flipkart Glam Up and Anime India, engaging consumers through product sampling, blind hair-feel demonstrations, and educational initiatives focused on shampoo ingredients and formulation awareness.

 Avtej Sawhney, Category Head – Shampoos & Post Wash, Dabur India Ltd., added that the launch brings together nature, science, and transparency in line with evolving consumer expectations and marks an important milestone in Vatika’s growth journey.

 The launch of Bio Infusions also reflects a broader transformation of the Vatika brand—from being known primarily for natural care to embracing a more holistic approach where nature is enhanced by science, innovation is driven by consumer insights, and transparency remains central to product development. Through Bio Infusions, Vatika aims to foster meaningful conversations, challenge category norms, and empower consumers to make better-informed haircare decisions.

New Delhi, July 3: India’s consumer goods sector is projected to register strong growth, with revenues expected to rise by 17.3 per cent through 2030, according to industry estimates.

The outlook is driven by steady demand across both urban and rural markets, supported by rising disposable incomes, evolving consumer preferences, and greater adoption of branded and packaged products.

Key categories expected to contribute to this growth include packaged foods, personal care, home care, and lifestyle products. Expansion of modern retail channels and rapid growth in e-commerce are also expected to support wider product reach and availability.

Industry experts note that premiumisation, convenience-led consumption, and increased brand awareness are shaping purchasing behaviour across segments.

While the long-term growth trajectory remains strong, analysts caution that inflationary pressures, input costs, and global supply chain fluctuations may influence short-term performance.

Overall, the sector is expected to remain a major driver of India’s consumption-led economic growth over the coming years.

New Delhi, July 3: The Government’s National SC/ST Hub (NSSH) scheme is helping Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs scale up their businesses by improving access to credit, market linkages, and capacity-building support.

Officials said the initiative is designed to strengthen entrepreneurship among SC and ST communities by providing structured support to micro and small enterprises, enabling them to become more competitive and sustainable.

Through the scheme, entrepreneurs receive assistance in areas such as business development, skill enhancement, procurement opportunities, and integration with larger supply chains. This has helped many small enterprises expand operations and explore new markets.

The programme also focuses on improving access to government and private sector procurement opportunities, helping beneficiaries participate more actively in the formal economy.

Officials noted that the initiative is contributing to inclusive growth by encouraging self-reliance and promoting wider participation of SC and ST entrepreneurs in India’s economic development.

New Delhi, July 3: India’s services sector recorded a slower pace of expansion in June, with the HSBC India Services PMI declining to 57.4 from 59.8 in May, indicating easing momentum in domestic demand.

The latest reading marks the weakest growth in services activity in 17 months, although it remains above the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction.

The moderation was mainly driven by the slowest increase in new orders in over two-and-a-half years. While some firms benefited from stronger e-commerce activity, tourism demand, and competitive pricing, others reported weaker client interest and challenging market conditions.

Employment levels remained largely unchanged during the month, suggesting cautious hiring trends among service providers. However, export demand showed relative strength, with new overseas orders rising at the fastest pace in three months.

Economists say the data points to a cooling in domestic demand, even as overall sector activity continues to expand at a healthy level.

Kolkata, July3 : As West Bengal enters a phase of renewed optimism driven by infrastructure-led growth, improving connectivity, and increasing homebuyer confidence, Eden Realty Group has announced a limited–period homeownership initiative aimed at making quality housing more accessible for aspiring homeowners.

With affordability continuing to be a key consideration for first-time buyers and young families, the initiative is designed to reduce the initial financial burden while encouraging buyers to secure their homes at current prices before future appreciation.

As part of this initiative, buyers at Solaris City Serampore can own a home starting from ₹26 Lakh, along with the exclusive benefit of not paying the Registration Charges which Eden Realty will bear. This translates to a saving of close to ₹3 Lakh, for the buyer. At Solaris Joka, premium residences are available starting from ₹33.75 Lakh, accompanied by special booking advantage of a ₹5 Lakh Cash Back.

Both developments have witnessed encouraging buyer interest owing to their strategic locations, excellent connectivity, thoughtfully planned amenities, and the credibility of the Eden Realty Group brand.

“A home is one of the most important aspirations for a family. We understand that while demand remains strong, many homebuyers are looking for the right opportunity to take the final step. Through this initiative, we want to make that decision easier by reducing the upfront financial burden and enabling buyers to own a quality home at today’s prices before the next phase of market appreciation. We believe that as West Bengal continues its growth journey, quality residential developments in well-connected locations will create lasting value for homeowners”, said Mr Arya Sumant, Managing Director, Eden Realty Group.

The announcement comes at a time when the residential market in the Kolkata Metropolitan Region is witnessing sustained demand, supported by improving infrastructure, expanding employment corridors, and a positive outlook among homebuyers. Locations such as Serampore and Joka have emerged as attractive residential destinations due to enhanced connectivity and evolving social infrastructure.

Solaris City Serampore offers a modern lifestyle with landscaped open spaces, recreational amenities, and seamless connectivity to Kolkata, making it an ideal choice for first-time buyers and growing families.

Solaris Joka, situated in the rapidly evolving Joka corridor offers premium homes with excellent connectivity, future-ready infrastructure, and thoughtfully curated lifestyle amenities, making it an ideal choice for both end-users and long-term investors.

The limited–period initiatives are available for a short duration and are aimed at helping more families realise their dream of homeownership while benefiting from the long-term appreciation potential of well-located residential developments.