💹 Economy & Policy
- India and Qatar aim to double bilateral trade by 2030, with an FTA expected by 2026, said Minister Piyush Goyal.
- India’s GDP growth likely stayed strong in Q2, though slightly slower amid global uncertainties.
- India’s defence exports hit record highs, reflecting growing manufacturing strength and global partnerships.
- The Indian pharma market grew 7.3% in September, driven by chronic drug demand.
- The banking sector reported double-digit growth in Q2, supported by robust credit and deposit momentum.
📈 Equity Markets
- Sensex and Nifty began the week with strong gains, with Nifty closing near 25,080, up 0.74%.
- The Nifty IT index rebounded sharply from long-term support, signaling renewed investor confidence.
- Nifty 50 Q2 earnings season begins, with analysts expecting 6–7% YoY profit growth; results from TCS, DMart, and Tata Elxsi due this week.
- The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs, lifted by AI-driven dealmaking optimism.
- Global markets showed mixed trends, with Asian and European indices diverging.
- Japan’s Nikkei Index surged 4.5%, emerging as the top global performer.
🏦 Companies & Tech
- AMD shares jumped 34% after signing a major AI chip-supply deal with OpenAI.
- Global tech giants, including OpenAI and Meta, are investing billions in AI infrastructure to meet surging demand.
- Aravind Srinivas of Perplexity AI highlighted AI-driven efficiency, saying, “Instead of hiring more people, use Comet.”