A massive rally has been held in Tel Aviv, Israel, against the Israeli government's moves to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip. Many demonstrators say more fighting would put hostages held in the strip in even greater danger.

Police issued a public safety alert after discovering “toy” guns being distributed as prizes in arcade crane games are just as lethal as the real thing.

Ukrainian and European officials have met US Vice President JD Vance in Britain, apparently to convey their position on a ceasefire in Ukraine.

A memorial service has been held in northeastern India to remember those who died in one of the fiercest battles of World War Two.

If big is beautiful, large is lovely. There are some sectors where the macro structure is such that, for one or the other reason, the overall growth is higher. It could be a large market size, or the fact that it is a utility product or service which is required by everyone such as power or healthcare; or simply that in a developing economy it is a sector that is bound to see growth. This is not to say that growth comes without phases of slowdown. But when tailwinds come, they take care of all the slowdown and, over a period of time, growth is much better. These are the companies to target in times such as these.

Japanese astronaut Onishi Takuya and three crewmates have returned to Earth after completing a roughly five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Whenever the market grapples with uncertainty, there is a tendency among equity investors to park money in sectors which are considered “defensive”. These are sectors where demand may not be very high, but, at the same, it does not shrink dramatically even when there is an economic slowdown. And FMCG is likely to be among the sectors that could attract such tactical attention in the next couple of months.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has told his chief negotiator on US tariffs to explain to the public the measures he has confirmed so far with Washington.

South Korea's military says North Korea has begun removing some of its loudspeakers along the heavily fortified border, following recent similar moves by Seoul.

Tokyo, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Financial Services Agency Commissioner Yutaka Ito has expressed eagerness to support the realignment of regional banks to enhance financial services in Japan.

Nagasaki, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, in this year's Nagasaki Peace Declaration on Saturday, stressed that postponing nuclear abolition efforts cannot be tolerated.

Nagasaki, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Saturday that he will assess his responsibility for the ruling camp's crushing defeat in a recent parliamentary election based on an upcoming election review report, as well as on the opinions of lawmakers of his Liberal Democratic Party.

US President Donald Trump says he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

People in Kumagaya, north of Tokyo, one of the hottest Japanese cities in summer, gathered to try a traditional method of cooling off by sprinkling water on the ground.

Nagasaki, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday reiterated his view that his country should strive for a world without nuclear weapons within the framework of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, signed by both nuclear powers and nonnuclear states.

Tokyo, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Internal information taken from MUFG Bank by a Nippon Life Insurance Co. employee who was on loan at the bank was deleted soon after the major insurer began its in-house investigation in July, it was learned Saturday.

Indian stock markets faced a tough week. Nifty 50 and Sensex both declined. Global worries and continuous selling by foreign investors impacted the market. Analyst Sudeep Shah suggests caution. Nifty's key support is around 24200-24150. Bank Nifty's support lies near 54950-54850. Auto sector shows resilience. Pharma and IT sectors face bearish trends.

Washington, Aug. 8 (Jiji Press)--The United States will revise the way it applies the 15 pct reciprocal tariffs on Japanese products, a White House official told Jiji Press on Friday.

Congestion on expressways, trains and flights has peaked in Japan as people flocked to resorts and their hometowns during the annual Bon holidays.

US space agency NASA says James Lovell, the commander of the abortive Apollo 13 moon mission in 1970, has died at the age of 97.

I was in Nagasaki recently. In the scorching heat, I visited The Nagasaki Shimbun building where a “No War” monument stands.

Nagasaki, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, in this year's Nagasaki Peace Declaration on Saturday, stressed that postponing nuclear abolition efforts cannot be tolerated.

Officials of Kirishima City in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, Japan, where many homes were flooded due to record rain on Friday, have begun inspecting the damage caused by the downpour.

SEBI proposes to increase resident Indian participation in Foreign Portfolio Investments by enabling retail schemes in IFSCs to register as FPIs and aligning contribution limits. Indian mutual funds may also become constituents of FPIs, allowing investment in overseas funds with Indian securities exposure. Public feedback is invited by August 29, 2025, potentially reshaping FPI operations in India.

Nagasaki, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, in this year's Nagasaki Peace Declaration on Saturday, stressed that postponing nuclear abolition efforts cannot be tolerated.

The upcoming week of August is packed with dividend declarations and corporate actions from several companies across sectors like FMCG, finance, energy, and infrastructure.Heavyweights like Akzo Nobel, Grasim, ICICI Bank, Godrej Consumer, Pidilite, and many more are scheduled to distribute generous payouts. Under the T+1 settlement cycle, investors must purchase shares one trading day before the ex-date to qualify for dividends or corporate actions.

FIIs have heavily sold Indian IT stocks in 2025, causing a significant downturn and making it the worst-performing sector. Disappointing earnings and layoffs have fueled the sell-off, impacting major companies like TCS. While valuations are now more attractive, analysts are cautiously optimistic, suggesting a potential tactical bounce but emphasizing the need for a new technology cycle for a sustained recovery.

NSDL shares have surged 62.5% since its IPO, exceeding unlisted market peaks and delivering substantial gains for pre-IPO investors. The IPO, subscribed 41.02 times, reflects strong investor confidence in NSDL's market leadership and steady financial performance. Analysts suggest a hold for allotment recipients and advise caution for new entrants amid market volatility.

Motilal Oswal’s MOSt Signature model portfolio continues to follow a high-conviction approach, investing in 20 carefully selected stocks—each with a 5% allocation. The idea is to strike the right balance between maximizing upside and managing risk. The portfolio is reviewed and rebalanced every month to adapt to changing macro trends and earnings updates, with the Nifty 200 Index serving as its benchmark.Since its launch on March 7, 2025, the portfolio has delivered a solid 17.1% return over five months, beating the Nifty 200’s 12.1%. Over the last three months, it gained 5.5% compared to the benchmark’s 2.6%, while the one-month return stood at -1.0%, still ahead of the Nifty 200’s -3.1%. Here are the stocks included and excluded in August:

U.S. tariffs on Indian imports, effective August 1, 2025, have sent shockwaves through India's markets. Gold prices soared to record highs, while crude oil and natural gas prices declined amid demand concerns. Base metals experienced volatility, and the rupee weakened against the dollar. India is focusing on trade negotiations and diversification to mitigate the impact, avoiding retaliatory tariffs.

The UN Security Council is set to convene for an emergency meeting on Sunday following Israel's decision to expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip.

A group of survivors of the Nagasaki atomic bombing has released nearly 100 video testimonies of their experiences.

India's banking sector is witnessing a shift as public sector banks regain market share after a decade, even with moderating credit expansion. While overall loan growth has slowed due to tighter liquidity and regulatory measures, PSBs are outperforming private banks, driven by stronger financials.

Hedge fund performance in July was a mixed bag, with stockpickers benefiting from rising markets while systematic funds initially struggled due to crowded trades. Goldman Sachs reported stockpickers gained almost 1.5%, while systematic funds saw a negative 2% return before recovering. Multi-strategy funds posted muted results, and individual fund performances varied widely.

J.P.Morgan anticipates a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut of 25 basis points in September, influenced by a weakening labor market and uncertainty surrounding President Trump's Fed nomination. Trump's nomination of Stephen Miran and the potential replacement of Jerome Powell are expected to intensify divisions within the Fed.

U.S. stock market's rally faces a test as investors brace for potential pullback amid high valuations and seasonal weakness. The upcoming CPI report could trigger volatility, influencing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. Concerns over tariffs and their economic impact persist, despite the market's recent gains, creating uncertainty.

U.S. stock market's rally faces a test as investors brace for potential pullback amid high valuations and seasonal weakness. The upcoming CPI report could trigger volatility, influencing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. Concerns over tariffs and their economic impact persist, despite the market's recent gains, creating uncertainty.

U.S. stocks surged, with the Nasdaq hitting a record high, fueled by tech gains, particularly Apple's 13.3% weekly jump after Trump announced a $600 billion U.S. investment commitment. Rate cut optimism, spurred by weak economic data and Trump's Fed nominee, further boosted markets.

The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia have signed a joint declaration for peace brokered by US President Donald Trump, aiming to end decades of tensions between the two former Soviet republics over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Japan’s summer Bon holiday exodus was in full swing Aug. 9 as millions rushed to their hometowns and vacation destinations aboard packed trains.

Indian equity indices experienced a nearly 1% drop on Friday, marking their sixth consecutive week of losses due to concerns over the economic impact of US tariffs. Analysts anticipate continued selling pressure, with technical indicators suggesting further weakness. While foreign investors sold shares, domestic institutions were net buyers, and market volatility is expected to persist amid trade negotiation uncertainties.

With the rise of AI and data security concerns, venture capital funds are increasingly relying on cybersecurity specialists to evaluate potential investments. The complex and technical nature of the sector demands domain expertise beyond general technology knowledge. Funds are either building dedicated teams or bringing in specialists to assess opportunities in this rapidly growing field.

Donald Trump has refused trade talks with India until tariff issues are settled. This follows the US raising tariffs on Indian imports to 50%. The US trade negotiators are still expected to visit New Delhi later this month for trade agreement talks. An Indian official confirmed that the visit is still on schedule.

Foreign investors heavily sold IT stocks in July, pulling out ₹14,422 crore due to weak quarterly results, headcount reductions, and global macroeconomic uncertainty. This selling pressure extended to other sectors, including financial services, oil and gas, and realty, as investors trimmed exposures and booked profits. Concerns about potential NPA increases in export-oriented sectors further influenced investment decisions.

ICICI Bank has significantly increased its minimum balance requirements for savings accounts, particularly in metro and urban areas, signaling a strategic shift towards attracting affluent customers.

AU Small Finance Bank is set to become a universal bank, pending promoter Sanjay Agarwal's transfer of his 22% stake to a holding company within 18 months. This transition, a condition for the license, allows Agarwal to explore other financial services. The bank aims to reduce geographic concentration and focus on retail loans, leveraging its strengths in the NBFC space.

Axis Max Life anticipates a smooth merger with Max Financial Services, pending parliamentary approval of the insurance bill. The amendment to the Insurance Act will explicitly permit mergers between insurance and non-insurance entities, addressing a current legal ambiguity. Regulatory clearance, following the NCLT-led process, is expected to take 8 to 12 months after the bill's enactment.

Life insurers in India experienced a significant surge in premium income. The premium income rose by 22.4% in July 2025, reaching ₹38,958 crore. Both private and state-run Life Insurance Corporation contributed to this growth. Individual single premiums and non-single premiums also saw increases. The industry added a substantial number of new agents.

Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey spoke about redefining independent directors' roles. He addressed the 2025 Annual Directors' Conclave. Pandey emphasized that independent directors should be stewards of accountability. He urged them to freely dissent and question information. He highlighted the importance of diverse views for a stronger board.