The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock warned that a quarterly rise of 0.9 % in core inflation would represent a "material miss" compared with the Bank's forecast of about 0.6 % and the market's expectation of around 0.8 %. Her remarks suggest that such a figure could reduce the chances of an interest-rate cut at the upcoming board meeting. With the cash rate at 3.60 %, markets currently assign a roughly 60 % chance of a 0.25 % cut and about a 70 % chance that rates will eventually bottom out around 3.10 %.Read more

AkzoNobel recently announced that it would intensify its asset-sale programme after revising down its adjusted core EBITDA forecast for 2025 to around EUR 1.48 billion. The paints and coatings major attributed the revision to persistent macroeconomic uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and currency fluctuations. The company also recorded a EUR 300 million provision related to a legal case in Australia and incurred a EUR 30 million foreign-exchange loss in the recent quarter. Its divestment of the Indian decorative-paints business, valued at USD 1.6 billion, is expected to close by December, signalling its continued focus on portfolio optimisation.Read more

CBRE has released a new viewpoint highlighting recent developments in the automotive retail real estate sector across Asia Pacific amid a shifting market environment. The report outlines how supply chain disruptions, changing consumer demands, regulatory shifts, and sustainability pressures have prompted automakers to reorganise operations and reassess real estate strategies. It also sheds light on key trends such as the expansion of mainland Chinese EV brands, the growing role of landlords in EV charging infrastructure, and the importance of strategic market mapping for future retail formats.Read more

A team of transport specialists from South and Southeast Asian countries visited the Namo Bharat corridor this week to study India's advanced regional rail development. Accompanied by senior officials from the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) and facilitated by the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD), the group examined the corridor's modern infrastructure, commuter-focused design, and advanced signalling systems. They also explored the Make in India trainsets built in Gujarat and learned about the corridor's emphasis on sustainability, accessibility, and integration with other public transport systems.Read more

Premier Energies has entered the residential solar inverter market by acquiring KSolare Energy for INR 170 crore through a joint venture with Syrma SGS Technology. This move follows its acquisition of a majority stake in Transcon Industries for INR 500.3 crore. The JV aims to make made-in-India inverters widely available under government rooftop solar initiatives. A new manufacturing facility in Pune will increase production to one million inverters annually, while Premier Energies continues to expand its solar cell, module, and battery storage operations.Read more

Uttar Pradesh's paddy procurement drive for 2025-26 has seen active farmer participation, with over 1.37 lakh registrations and more than 35,630 metric tonnes already purchased. Nearly 3,790 of the planned 4,000 centres are operational, and registration is facilitated via an OTP-based system on the state portal and mobile app. Payments are directly credited to Aadhaar-linked accounts. Procurement has begun in western and Lucknow divisions, while eastern divisions will start in November. The government targets 60 lakh metric tonnes, offering MSPs of INR 2,369 for common and INR 2,389 for Grade-A paddy.Read more

Earlier this week, a study by Aon projected that salaries across India are set to rise by nine percent in 2026, led principally by the real-estate and non-banking financial company (NBFC) sectors. The research highlights robust demand for talent in those industries driven by government capital expenditure, strong institutional participation and a shift in workforce strategy. Attrition is also down, signalling improved employee retention. Meanwhile, sectors such as technology consulting appear more restrained, reflecting broader global headwinds.Read more

Deloitte India has projected the country's GDP to expand between 6.7-6.9% in the current fiscal, reflecting an upward revision from earlier forecasts. Growth in the April-June quarter reached 7.8%, driven by robust domestic demand and policy reforms. Analysts expect the festive season to boost consumption, followed by heightened private investment. While structural reforms, accommodative monetary policy, and low inflation support growth, global uncertainties-such as trade tensions, high US interest rates, and inflationary pressures-pose risks. Strengthening MSMEs remains key to sustaining long-term economic momentum.Read more

Rajasthan has approved a new industrial area in Dhuwala village, Bhilwara, spanning 82.60 hectares allocated to RIICO for structured development. The land allotment follows Rule 11A of the Rajasthan Industrial Area Allotment Rules, 1959, with a condition that only non-polluting industries operate there. The project is expected to boost local employment, attract private investment, and accelerate industrial and energy development across the state. Strengthening Bhilwara's status as an emerging industrial hub, the initiative reflects Rajasthan's ongoing strategy to expand sustainable industrial infrastructure and support economic growth in emerging regions.Read more

India's eight core infrastructure sectors grew by 3% in September, slowing from 6.5 % in the previous month but remaining above last year's 2.4 per cent. In the first half of the fiscal year, growth across these sectors was 2.9 %, lower than the 4.3 % recorded the same period last year. Sectors like power, steel, cement, and transport faced supply chain and demand challenges, while experts highlighted the need for targeted investment and policy support to sustain momentum and strengthen industrial output.Read more