💹 Economy & Policy
• Passenger vehicles and two-wheelers are expected to post strong sales in October, driven by festive demand and rural recovery, says Nomura.
• Zero GST on health insurance has led to a 38% surge in demand, boosting new policy subscriptions, according to an industry report.
• India’s engineering exports rose in September, though shipments to the U.S. fell 9.4%, reflecting trade imbalances and slower global orders, said EEPC.
• Some Indian companies received licenses from China to import rare earth materials (REMs), the MEA confirmed, as supply diversification efforts continue.
🏦 Companies & Sectors
• Reliance Jio announced 18 months of free “Google AI Pro” subscription, targeting higher digital engagement and premium user adoption.
• India is unlikely to immediately halt Russian crude oil imports, according to S&P Global, with refiners balancing U.S. pressure and supply security needs.
🌏 Global & Currency
• The rupee slipped sharply as optimism for a December U.S. Fed rate cut faded, prompting mild capital outflows from emerging markets.
• Global market sentiment stayed mixed, with investors awaiting clarity on trade talks and central bank signals ahead of year-end.