US-China trade deal talks: Top delegates meet in London; rare earth minerals, visa issues to be discussed

Top US and Chinese officials met in London on Monday in fresh efforts to stabilise the fragile pause in their trade fight, which has shaken global markets. The Chinese delegation, led by vice premier He Lifeng and commerce minister Wang Wentao, met with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, treasury secretary Scott Bessent and trade representative…

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India-EFTA trade agreement: Deal set to kick in by September; $100 billion investment incoming in 15 years

The much-awaited free trade agreement between India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA is expected to come into force by September this year, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal announced on Monday.The trade and economic partnership agreement (TEPA), signed on 10 March 2024, marks a significant milestone in India’s trade diplomacy. Under the deal, India…

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US-China trade negotiations: Oil prices steady as investors eyes trade talks in London; Brent holds above $66

Oil prices remained steady on Monday following last week’s gains, as markets awaited the outcome of renewed US-China trade negotiations in London. Brent remained above $66 per barrel following a 4% increase last week, with West Texas Intermediate hovering near $65.US and Chinese negotiators are scheduled to meet in London on Monday for the first…

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Bupa weighs foray into private hospitals market in India

British health insurance major Bupa is looking to enter the fast-growing private hospital and healthcare market in India, currently dominated by players like Max Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals, Fortis, Narayana Health, and Medanta, as the company grows its engagement beyond the traditional insurance business (Niva Bupa), global CEO Inaki Ereno told TOI in an interview. Excerpts:…

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H&M owners quietly buying its shares

Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), the fast-fashion retailer that’s been listed on the Swedish stock market since 1974, is steadily moving back towards private ownership. The founding family has stepped up purchases of H&M shares, spending more than $6.6 billion since 2016 to amass nearly two-thirds control and fuelling speculation it could take the Stockholm-based company…

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Risk-on rally: Defence and microcaps drive May surge in Indian markets; RBI rate cut extends momentum into June

Indian equities surged in May as defence stocks and microcaps led a broad-based rally, with investor appetite turning decisively risk-on. The rally picked up further pace in June following a surprise rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), lifting rate-sensitive sectors and extending bullish momentum.According to a report by Motilal Oswal, the benchmark…

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Future of work: Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu says AI job loss isn’t the threat—economic distribution is

As artificial intelligence and automation continue to reshape industries, the real challenge lies not in job displacement but in ensuring fair access to the wealth created by machines, Zoho cofounder Sridhar Vembu has said.In a hypothetical future where software development becomes fully automated—a possibility Vembu believes is still distant—millions of engineers could lose their jobs….

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FinTech push: Infosys opens GIFT City centre for BFSI digital services; new hub to house over 1,000 employees in hybrid model

Infosys on Saturday announced the opening of its new development centre at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, marking a strategic expansion of its presence in India’s premier international financial hub. The Bengaluru-based IT major said the facility will support more than 1,000 employees in a hybrid working setup and serve as a…

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