Category: Business

Mumbai, July 1: Q1 FY27 sales in the domestic & international markets stood at 1,08,488 units, compared to 85,606 units during Q1 FY26. June 2026 sales in the domestic & international markets stood at 40,805 units, compared to 30,238 units during June 2025.

• Domestic sales of MH&ICV in June 2026, was 16,327 units vs 12,871 units in June 2025 (27% YoY); In Q1 FY27 it was 44,571 units, compared to 37,370 units in Q1 FY26 (19% YoY).

• Domestic & International sales for MH&ICV in June 2026, was 18,063 units vs 14,027 units in June 2025 (29% YoY); while in Q1 FY27 it stood at 48,062 units, vs 40,401 units in Q1 FY26 (19% YoY).

• EV volumes saw 4.4X YoY growth in Q1 FY27

Mr. Girish Wagh, MD & CEO, Tata Motors Ltd., said, 

“We commenced FY27 on a positive note, delivering consistent double-digit growth in each month of Q1, on a year-on-year basis. Despite heightened geopolitical uncertainties, sales for the quarter stood at 1,08,488 units, up 27% year-on-year, reflecting healthy industry fundamentals and sustained demand across segments.

HCV growth continues to be led by increased freight availability, infrastructure and mining activity, while ILMCV demand is supported by e-commerce, FMCG, courier and parcel. SCVPU is seeing improving momentum in last-mile mobility, with electric SCVs and pick-ups achieving highest ever salience of ~10% for the months of May and June. Demand in the commercial passenger segment remains strong, driven by school transport and Government orders.

Our focus on future-ready solutions is translating into traction in the market. Customer interest in electric heavy trucks is strengthening, with our ecosystem-led approach supporting a growing order pipeline. For our international business, we have commenced shipments for the Indonesia order, and are gradually resuming supplies to the Middle East, following a two-month pause.

Looking ahead, while commodity pressures will persist, we expect the momentum to continue, driven by gradual improvement in customer sentiment which had seen softening during the quarter. The growth is expected to be driven by auto and port logistics, e-commerce and core sectors, with the monsoon remaining a key monitorable. With strong market acceptance of our refreshed portfolio and a continued focus on deepening customer engagement, we are well positioned to build on this positive trajectory and drive sustained growth in the coming quarters.”

New Delhi, July 1: India’s retail leasing activity reached 2.4 million square feet (MSF) in Q2, registering a 17.6% year-on-year increase, driven by strong demand from retailers despite constrained supply conditions, according to a recent report.

The growth reflects continued expansion in organized retail space, with brands across fashion, food and beverage, electronics, and lifestyle segments actively leasing premium high-street and mall spaces.

The report highlighted that limited availability of quality retail space in key urban markets has led to tighter supply, even as demand from retailers remains strong and diversified across segments.

Industry experts said the sustained leasing activity underscores resilience in consumer demand and growing confidence among retailers in India’s consumption-driven market.

The trend is expected to continue as developers gradually add new retail inventory, while established brands expand their physical presence across major cities.

Mumbai, July 01: DBS Bank India has revised the interest rates on its Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] deposits for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) recent announcement. The new rates are effective from 1 July 2026.

The bank will now offer up to 5.6% per annum* on USD FCNR(B) deposits for tenures ranging from three to five years. This provides NRIs with an opportunity to earn attractive returns while maintaining their savings in a foreign currency. Deposits are fully repatriable, with both principal and interest payable in the designated foreign currency, thereby reducing exposure to exchange-rate fluctuations at maturity.

DBS has been named Asia’s Safest Bank for 17 consecutive years by Global Finance (2009–2025), and the bank’s AA- and Aa1 credit ratings are among the highest in the world. DBS Bank India combines the strength of a leading Asian bank with a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to the needs of NRI customers.

DBS Bank India differentiates itself through DBS Treasures, its NRI banking and wealth management proposition. It brings together a comprehensive suite of banking, wealth, and investment solutions for seamless financial management across geographies, alongside its enhanced FCNR(B) offering.

Eligible NRIs can also benefit from seamless digital onboarding, enabling them to open accounts from overseas with ease, including for FCNR(B) deposits. By taking a holistic view of clients’ financial needs, DBS Bank India delivers integrated banking, investment and financing solutions that help them manage remittances, grow their investments and plan for long-term wealth creation.

Key features of DBS Bank India FCNR(B) deposits:

• Earn up to 5.6%* per annum on USD deposits.
• Available for flexible tenures ranging from three to five years.
• Principal and interest payable in foreign currency.
• Fully repatriable, enabling the seamless movement of funds.
• Reduced exposure to exchange-rate fluctuations at maturity.

DBS was recently recognised at the Euromoney Private Banking Awards 2026, where it was named the World’s Best Private Bank and the World’s Safest Private Bank, reinforcing the Group’s position as a trusted partner for clients seeking to protect and grow their wealth.

Mumbai, July 1: Indian equity benchmarks ended the trading session in positive territory, supported by strong buying interest in FMCG, banking, and realty stocks, which helped lift overall market sentiment.

The Sensex and Nifty closed higher as investors remained upbeat amid sectoral strength and selective stock-specific momentum. FMCG stocks led the gains, followed by banking and realty counters, which witnessed steady accumulation throughout the session.

Market participants said optimism in domestic demand-driven sectors, along with improved investor sentiment, contributed to the positive close. Broader markets also reflected a stable trend, indicating sustained participation across segments.

Analysts noted that the upward movement was driven largely by sector rotation, with investors focusing on fundamentally strong companies in key consumption and financial sectors.

Overall, the session reflected resilient market sentiment, with benchmark indices managing to end the day on a firm note despite global uncertainties.

July 01: Raising capital has become more demanding for private equity fund managers, with increased due diligence requirements and regulatory uncertainty now the biggest barriers in the market, new research* from Ocorian, a leading U.S. and global asset services provider, shows. 

 The study of 300 senior executives at private equity fund managers across the U.S. and Europe, whose firms manage a combined $3.511 trillion in assets, found that 62% say raising capital has become slightly more difficult in 2026 compared with 2025. However, the picture is not uniformly negative: 32% say fundraising has become slightly easier, while 5% report no change.

 The findings suggest that the capital-raising environment is becoming more selective rather than simply more constrained. More than half of respondents – 51% – say investors are increasing the number of specialised managers they allocate to, while 42% say investors are maintaining stable manager relationships. Just 5% say investors are consolidating with fewer managers.

 When asked about the biggest barriers to raising capital, 63% of managers cited increased due diligence requirements, making it the most common challenge. Regulatory uncertainty was cited by 57%, followed by overallocation constraints at 48% and LP reallocation away from alternatives at 38%.

 The research also shows that valuation methodologies have become the most prominent risk area in investor due diligence. More than half of respondents – 51% – identified valuation methodology as the area now receiving the greatest scrutiny, ahead of leverage and financing risk at 34%.

 ESG remains part of the investor conversation, but its role appears to be changing. Nearly two-thirds of managers — 65% — say ESG is now primarily a reporting and compliance focus, while 28% say it remains important for certain investor segments.

Looking ahead, managers expect to increase allocations across a range of private market strategies over the next three years. Venture capital was the most commonly selected strategy, cited by 58% of respondents, followed by growth equity at 51% and private credit/direct lending at 49%. Renewable energy was selected by 39% and infrastructure excluding renewables by 38%.

 Richard Hansford, Head of EMEA Fund Sales – Global Funds at Ocorian, said: “The capital-raising environment for private equity managers is not simply tightening — it is becoming more selective, more evidence-led and more operationally demanding.

 “While most managers say raising capital has become slightly more difficult this year, a significant minority are finding conditions easier. That points to a market where investors are still allocating, but with greater scrutiny over manager selection, due diligence standards and the operational infrastructure behind each fund.

 “One of the clearest findings is the growing importance of valuation methodology in investor due diligence. This is now distinct from leverage and financing risk, and it underlines the need for managers to demonstrate robust valuation processes, transparent reporting and specialist operational support as they compete for capital.”

July 01: New research by Wealth Club, the UK’s leading non-advised investment service for high-net-worth individuals, reveals wealth managers and independent financial advisers increasingly agree that exposure to private markets is now a necessity for retail and HNW investors seeking to capture a broader spectrum of growth opportunities – and this trend will only accelerate over the next five years.

An overwhelming 94% of the UK-based wealth managers and IFAs who are responsible for assets under management of £332.7 billion surveyed agree that for the sophisticated retail investor, relying solely on a conventional listed equity portfolio risks missing out on the primary wealth-generation engines of the modern economy. That includes nearly a third (31%) who strongly agree that clients need exposure to private markets to access a broader range of growth opportunities while 63% slightly agree.

The study evaluates the explicit benefits that private markets provide over traditional 60/40 portfolios and cites several institutional-grade advantages, with 72% of advisers highlighting the enhanced long-term capital growth benefits. This is followed by inflation protection (48%) and access to unique, non-public market sectors (47%). A third (35%) of respondents point to the benefit of reduced portfolio volatility and a quarter (26%) cite lower correlation with public markets.

When questioned about the tactical importance of private market access in capturing the high-performing growth phase of a company’s lifecycle, 89% of wealth managers and IFAs surveyed deem it critical, with 30% categorising it as “essential” and 59% “very important”.

This trend is not a transient reaction to short-term market cycles, but a long-term strategic view. More than nine out of 10 (92%) respondents anticipate the need for retail and HNW investors to be exposed to private markets in order to access a broader range of growth opportunities will only accelerate over the next five years.

Alex Davies, Founder and CEO of Wealth Club, said:

“These findings suggest private markets are approaching a tipping point among individual investors in the UK. For decades, pension funds, insurers and endowments have used private equity and private credit as important components of their portfolios. Increasingly, wealth managers and IFAs believe suitable investors should also have the opportunity to access these strategies.

“ With companies staying private for longer, much of the potential upside now comes before they reach public markets. By the time they list, investors have often missed a significant part of their growth.

“Private markets are moving from being a niche allocation to becoming an increasingly important part of a well-diversified long-term portfolio. Investors who ignore them risk missing an increasingly important source of long-term growth.”

Wealth Club, which launched the UK’s first Private Funds Supermarket in November 2024, is growing rapidly as interest in private markets among sophisticated and high-net-worth investors continues to increase. The platform now offers 22 funds from 18 leading private markets managers and earlier this year launched the UK’s first dedicated Private Markets SIPP, marking a further important step in broadening access to private markets.

This growth is being driven by rising interest from both investors and fund managers reflecting growing demand for private market investments and the increasing popularity of semi-liquid fund structures.

Mumbai, 01 July:  Škoda Auto India continues the momentum from its Biggest Year in 2025 well into the first half of 2026. The brand registered sales of 38,894 units, which is a 7.5% growth over the same period last year. In the first half of 2025, the brand had hit its then-highest half-yearly sales in its 25-year history in India. With H1 2026, the company has surged further from its record-setting year.  

Commenting on the landmark, Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, said, “Our record half-yearly sales reflect the growing confidence and trust customers place in the Škoda brand. In 2026, we have strengthened this connection through a focused product offensive, customer-first initiatives, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The demand for the new Kushaq, updated Kodiaq, and the all-new Kodiaq RS, which sold out in just six minutes, highlights strong market momentum, while the Kylaq continues to drive volumes and the Slavia reinforces our sedan legacy. We remain focused on delivering differentiated products, transparent communication, and a delightful ownership experience to support sustainable long-term growth in India.” 

Growing Network

Škoda Auto India has expanded its presence to over 340 touchpoints, making the brand more accessible across India. The brand also recently inaugurated Škoda Express Care, further strengthening its promise of convenience, transparency, and peace of mind for our customers. 

Surge through performance

This growth journey has also seen the company focus on its racing DNA and motorsport legacy. Škoda Auto India’s entire fleet of cars, from the Slavia Monte Carlo and Kushaq Monte Carlo to the Kylaq, Kodiaq and the limited-volume Octavia RS, set an India and Asia Book of Records for ‘The Fastest Multi-Car Relay of a Single Manufacturer on a Circuit’. All five cars, including driver change-over times, set a lap time of 12:30.97 in total at the CoASTT track in Coimbatore. With this, the brand also set in motion its ‘Greatest On A Track is a Škoda On A Track’ campaign, showcasing its engineering and dynamic prowess while maintaining its growth momentum.

New Delhi, July 1: India’s manufacturing sector continued its steady expansion in June, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) recorded at 54.2, indicating sustained growth in factory activity and overall business conditions.

A PMI reading above 50 reflects expansion, and the latest data suggests that manufacturing output remained strong, supported by healthy demand, rising production levels, and consistent inflow of new orders.

The growth momentum was driven by resilient domestic consumption and improved operational conditions, enabling manufacturers to maintain production stability and expand capacity where required.

Experts noted that the sustained expansion underscores the resilience of India’s industrial sector amid global economic uncertainties, with firms continuing to benefit from steady market demand.

The positive PMI reading is expected to support broader economic growth, strengthen industrial output, and reinforce confidence in India’s manufacturing ecosystem going forward.

Mumbai, July 1: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) reported a strong performance in June, registering a 37% year-on-year growth in total vehicle sales to 1,06,207 units, driven by robust demand across its passenger and commercial vehicle segments.

The company continued its growth momentum on the back of sustained customer demand, a strong product portfolio, and improved market performance. The increase in sales reflects positive consumer sentiment and the company’s expanding presence in both urban and rural markets.

Industry observers said the strong June numbers underscore the resilience of the domestic automobile sector, with demand remaining healthy despite evolving market conditions. The performance also highlights Mahindra’s continued focus on delivering vehicles that cater to a wide range of customer needs.

The encouraging sales figures are expected to further strengthen the company’s position in the Indian automotive market as it continues to expand its product lineup and production capacity.

With the festive season approaching in the coming months, the company remains optimistic about maintaining its growth trajectory, supported by strong bookings and sustained consumer interest.

New Delhi, July 01: TEXMiN, the Technology Innovation and Translation Research Park at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airborne Geoscience International (AGI), India’s first technology aggregator in airborne geoscience technologies for exploration of critical & deep-seated minerals, to pioneer AI/ML-driven mineral prospectivity analysis and mineral target ranking systems, for the first time in India.

TEXMiN and AGI will work together to build proprietary AI-based systems, customized to Indian conditions, that will integrate and analyze disparate geoscience datasets (geological, geophysical, geochemical, GIS etc) with the mandate to generate high value exploration targets and ranking them in accordance with their prospectivity.

By combining airborne & ground geophysical data, geological inputs, geochemical samples and GIS elevation models with AI based machine learning, the partnership aims to reduce uncertainty in early-stage mineral exploration, accelerate target generation, and create a world class mineral prospectivity database in India, for the first time, not only enable more informed decision-making for explorers and policymakers, but to also attract technology and financial investments from international early stage explorers (also known as junior miners) who are responsible for more than 2/3rd of all new mineral discoveries reported worldwide.

The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment, when India is aiming to strengthen domestic critical mineral capabilities. The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 with an outlay of ₹16,300 crore, aiming to strengthen domestic exploration, secure supply chains, and build self-reliance across the mineral value chain. At the same time, India continues to face near-complete (70-100%) import dependence for key minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.

The partnership also strongly aligns with India’s energy transition and net zero goals. Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements are foundational to clean energy technologies, including batteries, solar modules, and wind turbines. Further, India’s quest to become “Atmanirbhar” and become a geopolitically stable global power shall forever remain incomplete without the country’s ability to explore, discover and control its own critical mineral resources.  

This shift is already visible in policy prioritisation, with the Geological Survey of India’s 2025-26 field season allocating 25% of its investigations to critical minerals, signalling both the scale of opportunity and the need for advanced analytical capabilities to convert data into discoveries.

Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Project Director, TEXMiN, said: “TEXMiN is focused on translating advanced research into field-ready technologies for the mining and mineral ecosystem. This collaboration with AGI reflects our commitment to bringing research into solutions with real-world impact. What makes this even more impactful is that AGI brings advanced airborne geoscience technologies and data interpretation capabilities, while TEXMiN contributes expertise in research, AI, and advanced mineral prospectivity modelling. Building on our ongoing work in the critical minerals domain, this partnership will be helpful for us to move beyond research outcomes and develop practical, field-deployable tools that can support faster, more informed exploration and contribute to India’s journey towards mineral self-reliance.”  

Sudipto Mukerji, Managing Director, AGI, said: “AGI was founded on the belief that India’s geoscience data holds immense untapped value and should be used to drive discoveries, not just fill repositories. This partnership with TEXMiN brings together AGI’s geoscience capabilities and TEXMiN’s research and AI expertise to transform data into actionable exploration intelligence. For years, the focus has been on collecting standard data; the next chapter must be about identifying strategic exploration technologies for prioritizing discoveries. We see this collaboration as an important step towards accelerating critical mineral exploration, strengthening India’s resource security, and contributing significantly to the vision of both Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.”  

The TEXMiN -AGI partnership seeks to address a critical gap in the exploration value chain: strategic application of exploration technologies and its’ integration with legacy data: the analytical layer that turns survey data into actionable processes. By applying AI and machine learning to multiple datasets, the collaboration aims to improve the speed, consistency, and accuracy of target generation for critical and deep-seated minerals all across India. 

India’s ambitions for Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India depend not only on manufacturing capabilities, but also on the ability to identify and responsibly develop the resources that underpin clean energy, water security, industrial growth, and strategic technologies. 

By combining the best-in-class global exploration technologies, Indian geoscience expertise, AI capability, and institutional research strength, the AGI–TEXMiN MoU represents the first step towards building a state-of-the-art, data driven, mineral exploration intelligence, which shall become the bedrock for the development of the “Viksit Bharat” mission.