Asian Games 2026: India face Afghanistan in quarterfinal on Sep 28; Pakistan clash with Hong Kong

Myanmar training camp case: US national, 6 Ukrainians allowed to meet their families abroad

Bigg Boss 20: Salman Khan schools Rhiti Tiwari over Qazi Touqeer clash, compares her to Dolly Bindra

Mushtaq Khan dies at 56: When Welcome actor opened up about his salary for iconic role Ballu

LPU students go on rampage, vandalise campus amid widespread protest: What's happening

'FIRST LOOK from inside Noah’s Ark': Researchers share video from inside mysterious mound in Turkey

‘Attack on Mecca a red line for Pakistan’: Shehbaz Sharif warns Houthis at UN

Pakistan deploys over 20,000 security personnel as PTI vows march for Imran Khan's release

OpenAI AI Agents hacked 4 websites before Hugging Face, researchers reveal

'A terrorist country is asking me that question?': Jaishankar hits back at Pakistani journalist at UN; flags attacks on commercial shipping

Trump-Xi summit wrap: Big pageantry, Iran talks, few major developments and more meetings planned

Did Hitler kill his niece Geli Raubal? Newly found records reopen a 95-year-old mystery

Hawaii braces for Hurricane Nolo: NOAA warns of flash flooding and mudslides 

'What kind of confession is this?': Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s 'terrorists would be roaming New York' remark goes viral, raises alarm online. Watch

US-Iran war: Trump rejects Iran's Hormuz proposal, reports suggest talks expected next week

Bollywood x K-pop crossover! LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha charms fans with Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Chammak Challo’ steps

Gaza's war turned environmental damage into second crisis

‘Serial practitioner of terrorism’: Jaishankar calls out Pakistan’s ‘state-sponsored’ terror at UNGA

‘It is all possible’: Putin weighs next steps on Ukraine talks, rules out Europe conflict

Prince Harry offers rare glimpse into Archie and Lilibet’s life after UK move

Nigeria Navy moves to boost oil security, tackle crude theft and infrastructure threats

Donald Trump shares image of Xi's arrival in Washington, carries signs of AI

Pentagon quietly adds 37 wounded troops to Iran war tally without explaining when or how

US court backs Pentagon's decision to exclude Anthropic over Claude AI restrictions

US Supreme Court backs Trump administration's use of SAVE database to check voter citizenship

‘Could kill billions...’: Bill Gates backs calls to slow AI development amid fears of catastrophe

'Countries far from conflict are penalised': Jaishankar calls for Gulf peace, seafarer safety at UN

WATCH | As Shehbaz Sharif claims Pakistan’s ‘victory’ during 2025 conflict, Indian diplomat R Srinivas laughs at UN

Outrage erupts after 3-year-old is married to 60-year-old man in Pakistan, link to her sister's murder being probed

New Friday OTT releases (September 25, 2026): Don’t Be Shy, Hunkkaar: The Roar, Mango Pachcha- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Global community 'absent' in Gulf crisis: Saudi at UN calls for freedom of navigation, pre war status for Hormuz

Farhan, who went viral for AK47 celebration vs India in Asia Cup, hopes to lead Pakistan beyond Asian Games

‘I rejected it’: Trump confirms turning down Iran’s proposal to reopen Hormuz, claims Tehran is losing ‘badly’

Russia will achieve Ukraine war aims; Europe doing everything to block peace talks: Lavrov at UN

The global push for bond tokenisation is gaining momentum, but financial experts warn that creating digital tokens is only the beginning of a much longer journey. The Zee Business Bond Tokenization Summit 2026, organised in Mumbai on September 9, brought together leaders from finance, policy and technology to examine how real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation and digital bonds could reshape India’s financial landscape and democratise passive income for retail investors.&nbsp;The penultimate panel discussion at the summit focused on the need for robust frameworks, safeguards and stronger investor protection as tokenised assets move closer to mainstream adoption. STOEX CEO Sudeep Chatterjee said the concept of Security Token Offerings (STOs) has helped streamline the asset issuance process, but argued that a much broader infrastructure is required to support digital assets beyond the point of issuance. Chatterjee said industry leaders are increasingly turning their attention to the logistical, legal and operational challenges that emerge after a token is minted.<h2>Singapore offers a glimpse of the challenges</h2>Chatterjee cited Singapore as an example of the gap that can emerge between technological capability and market readiness. The country has emerged as a major testing ground for digital finance, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) using Project Guardian to explore tokenised financial assets. "Under the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) Project Guardian, financial institutions have conducted approximately 15 localized sandbox experiments to test tokenized assets.While these trials proved that tokenized bonds can be successfully issued on a ledger, they also exposed a fragmented secondary market," said Chatterjee. The experience, he said, highlights a fundamental challenge facing the tokenisation industry: successfully creating a token does not automatically create a functioning market around it.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-919-kolkata-hotels-receive-temporary-closure-notices-over-fire-safety-lapses-1789023488468">Over 919 Kolkata hotels receive temporary closure notices over fire safety lapses</a><h2>Three key challenges after a token is created</h2><ul><li>Trading and liquidity: Tokenised bonds need access to traditional and digital exchanges where they can be listed and actively traded. Without sufficient secondary-market liquidity, tokenisation may not deliver its promised benefits to investors.</li><li>Asset safeguarding: The industry needs secure, institutional-grade custody infrastructure capable of protecting digital assets while providing investors with confidence around ownership and security.</li><li>Settlement and onboarding: Market participants also need mechanisms for real-time distribution and standardised processes through which global investors can legally access tokenised asset networks.</li></ul><h3>Legal recognition of digital ownership</h3>One of the biggest challenges, he said, is establishing the legal status of tokenised ownership. "First, the industry is introducing an entirely new method of asset ownership. For these digital bonds to scale, this new format must be deeply regularized and legislated. Global legal frameworks must explicitly define what a token represents, ensuring that digital ownership holds the exact same legal weight as traditional paper-and-registry documentation in a court of law," he said.<h2>Cybersecurity remains another major hurdle</h2>Beyond regulation, blockchain-based infrastructure introduces a new set of operational and cybersecurity risks. "Second, blockchain infrastructure brings its own distinct operational challenges, most notably the threat of cyberattacks and hacking risks. Smart contracts and distributed networks open up new vulnerabilities that require robust, institutional-grade defense systems," said Chatterjee.&nbsp;He argued, however, that such technology-related risks should be viewed as part of the broader evolution of financial systems rather than as a reason to halt innovation. Chatterjee emphasised that the banking sector itself has faced significant IT and technology risks during its digital transformation over the past three decades. Tokenisation, he said, will face similar challenges as traditional financial ownership is combined with blockchain-based technology. The priority now, according to Chatterjee, should be to address these vulnerabilities proactively by establishing stronger legal, regulatory, cybersecurity and market infrastructure.

Bond tokenisation in India faces challenges beyond issuance, with experts highlighting regulation, liquidity, custody, settlement and cybersecurity risks

The global push for bond tokenisation is gaining momentum, but financial experts warn that creating digital tokens is only the beginning of a much longer journey. The Zee Business Bond Tokenization Summit 2026, organised in Mumbai on September 9, brought together leaders from finance, policy and technology to examine how real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation and digital bonds could reshape India’s financial landscape and democratise passive income for retail investors. The penultimate panel discussion at the summit focused on the need for robust frameworks, safeguards and stronger investor protection as tokenised assets move closer to mainstream adoption. STOEX CEO Sudeep Chatterjee said the concept of Security Token Offerings (STOs) has helped streamline the asset issuance process, but argued that a much broader infrastructure is required to support digital assets beyond the point of issuance. Chatterjee said industry leaders are increasingly turning their attention to the logistical, legal and operational challenges that emerge after a token is minted. Singapore offers a glimpse of the challenges Chatterjee cited Singapore as an example of the gap that can emerge between technological capability and market readiness. The country has emerged as a major testing ground for digital finance, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) using Project Guardian to explore tokenised financial assets. "Under the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) Project Guardian, financial institutions have conducted approximately 15 localized sandbox experiments to test tokenized assets.While these trials proved that tokenized bonds can be successfully issued on a ledger, they also exposed a fragmented secondary market," said Chatterjee. The experience, he said, highlights a fundamental challenge facing the tokenisation industry: successfully creating a token does not automatically create a functioning market around it. Also Read: Over 919 Kolkata hotels receive temporary closure notices over fire safety lapses Three key challenges after a token is created Trading and liquidity: Tokenised bonds need access to traditional and digital exchanges where they can be listed and actively traded. Without sufficient secondary-market liquidity, tokenisation may not deliver its promised benefits to investors. Asset safeguarding: The industry needs secure, institutional-grade custody infrastructure capable of protecting digital assets while providing investors with confidence around ownership and security. Settlement and onboarding: Market participants also need mechanisms for real-time distribution and standardised processes through which global investors can legally access tokenised asset networks. Legal recognition of digital ownership One of the biggest challenges, he said, is establishing the legal status of tokenised ownership. "First, the industry is introducing an entirely new method of asset ownership. For these digital bonds to scale, this new format must be deeply regularized and legislated. Global legal frameworks must explicitly define what a token represents, ensuring that digital ownership holds the exact same legal weight as traditional paper-and-registry documentation in a court of law," he said. Cybersecurity remains another major hurdle Beyond regulation, blockchain-based infrastructure introduces a new set of operational and cybersecurity risks. "Second, blockchain infrastructure brings its own distinct operational challenges, most notably the threat of cyberattacks and hacking risks. Smart contracts and distributed networks open up new vulnerabilities that require robust, institutional-grade defense systems," said Chatterjee. He argued, however, that such technology-related risks should be viewed as part of the broader evolution of financial systems rather than as a reason to halt innovation. Chatterjee emphasised that the banking sector itself has faced significant IT and technology risks during its digital transformation over the past three decades. Tokenisation, he said, will face similar challenges as traditional financial ownership is combined with blockchain-based technology. The priority now, according to Chatterjee, should be to address these vulnerabilities proactively by establishing stronger legal, regulatory, cybersecurity and market infrastructure.

Bond tokenization is gaining momentum, but experts warn that regulation, liquidity, custody, settlement and cybersecurity must evolve before digital bonds scale

Bond Tokenization Summit 2026: Experts flag liquidity, custody and cybersecurity challenges for digital bonds

Real-world asset (RWA) tokenization could open up new ways of investing in bonds, private credit, trade receivables and other income-generating assets, according to experts speaking at the&nbsp;Zee Business Bond Tokenization Summit 2026, organised in Mumbai on Wednesday, September 9. The Summit saw the country’s finance, policy and technology leaders come together to discuss the future of bond tokenization. The central idea was to use blockchain-based digital tokens to represent the ownership or economic value associated with real-world financial and physical assets.&nbsp;Experts said the technology could potentially improve access, liquidity, price discovery and fractional participation in assets that are currently difficult for smaller investors to access. However, they also cautioned that India will need to clearly define what a token represents from a legal and regulatory perspective before the market can scale.<h2>What is real-world asset (RWA) tokenization?</h2>&nbsp;RWA tokenization broadly refers to bringing an asset or its economic value onto a blockchain-based digital infrastructure through tokens. During the discussion, Ramana Kumar A, President of ADI Foundation of Abu Dhabi, said tokenization should not be viewed only through the lens of corporate bonds.&nbsp;"I think the concept is very clear. People have run behind equity. Debt is now the biggest factor," Kumar said, arguing that investors should look beyond conventional bonds at other assets capable of generating cash flows.&nbsp;According to Kumar, these could include trade receivables, private credit, treasury-related cash flows and other forms of economic interests linked to real-world assets.&nbsp;"We should not just focus on bonds. Focus on trade receivables. Focus on cash flow arbitrage. Focus on treasury tokens," he said.&nbsp;Kumar said the broader opportunity could create new liquidity and investment avenues for investors who currently have relatively limited choices between bank deposits, savings products and more complex wealth-management offerings.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bond-tokenization-summit-market-leaders-map-out-the-future-of-digital-debt-in-mumbai-1789021040196">Bond Tokenization Summit 2026: Market leaders map out the future of digital debt in Mumbai</a><h2>How could tokenization change the bond market?</h2>&nbsp;Zubin Goyal, CEO and Director of Exchange One, said bond tokenization could be particularly significant for India because many bonds currently have limited liquidity and price discovery. Goyal, who previously worked as a bond trader, said the market for government securities and corporate bonds has significant potential for wider participation.&nbsp;"If you're able to tokenize these assets, open up the access to this market, to not just institutional investors, but high net worth investors, retail investors, foreign investors, and just make the sort of guardrails a little bit more relaxed," he said, clarifying that he was referring to participation rather than relaxing compliance requirements. According to Goyal, greater participation could improve price discovery and liquidity in bonds.&nbsp;He said tokenization could also expand the utility of a bond after it has been purchased. A tokenized bond, for example, could potentially be used as collateral to borrow funds."If that bond is sitting in my ledger, I can take that anywhere," Goyal said. He gave an example of an investor using a Rs 10 lakh bond as collateral to borrow against it. Because the asset is tokenized, borrowing periods could potentially become more flexible, allowing for shorter-duration funding rather than requiring conventional three-month, six-month or one-year borrowing periods, he said. "The settlement cycle, everything gets accelerated," Goyal added.<h2>Could tokenization improve access to credit for SMEs?</h2>&nbsp;Prashant Nikam, co-founder and Chairman of Sapio Analytics, said bond tokenization could potentially help deepen and widen India's financial markets, particularly by improving access for smaller businesses.&nbsp;According to Nikam, government and highly rated blue-chip issuers generally do not face major difficulties in accessing the bond market through existing systems. "It is the SME who hasn't been able to really access the bond market," he said. Nikam said tokenization and fractionalisation could potentially help bring a wider pool of investors into SME financing.&nbsp;"If we can use this new methodology, this new technology, to give them better access to the market, to raise finance, and to get more wider participation through getting that bond fractionalized, I think that will be the real great value we can unleash in a bond tokenization market," he said. However, he acknowledged that attracting investors to SME-linked credit would remain challenging because of credit-risk concerns.&nbsp;"If we can fractionalize the bonds, then we might be able to attract a new set of investors who may be willing to take the chances on this new asset class," Nikam said, while adding that the process would not necessarily be easy. He said the benefits could outweigh the cost of building the required blockchain infrastructure if the system succeeds in bringing SMEs and new investors into the market.<h2>Beyond bonds: Trade receivables and private credit</h2>&nbsp;Kumar said some of the biggest opportunities in RWA tokenization may lie outside traditional corporate bonds. He cited examples from overseas markets involving trade receivables, private credit and other cash-flow-linked assets.&nbsp;For example, Kumar described a model in which receivables from fintech companies were pooled through a special purpose vehicle, or SPV, to create what he called a "treasury token".&nbsp;He said such structures could create investment products linked to short-duration receivables rather than requiring investors to rely solely on conventional corporate bonds.Kumar also pointed to private credit and trade-related financing as areas that could potentially be replicated in India.&nbsp;"These are the assets that should go into tokenization," he said while discussing suppliers that wait 90 to 120 days to receive payments. The opportunity, according to Kumar, lies in bringing economic interests and cash flows associated with such assets onto digital infrastructure.&nbsp;<h2>Fractional investing and faster movement of capital</h2>&nbsp;One of the major potential benefits of tokenization is fractionalisation, which could allow investors to participate in assets in smaller units. Goyal compared the potential impact of tokenization with the way digital infrastructure increased the speed and convenience of payments in India.&nbsp;"Nothing in the existing infra has been replaced, but you've been able to add a level of speed, a level of velocity to sort of daily life," he said, referring to the evolution of India's digital financial infrastructure.&nbsp;According to Goyal, tokenization could similarly add "velocity, discoverability, fractionalization" to financial markets and real-world assets. The underlying idea, he said, is that faster circulation and movement of capital could potentially improve liquidity across the financial system.<h2>Token ownership versus economic value: The key legal question</h2>&nbsp;Despite the potential benefits, experts said one of the most important questions for India is determining exactly what ownership of a token represents. Kumar said the industry cannot treat all forms of tokenization in the same way. "We should understand, while we are talking tokenization very easily, let's understand what is a token," he said.&nbsp;"Are we talking about a legal ownership? Are we talking about a financial instrument? Are we talking about a token being an economic value? It's important what it is, so we know what regulation is needed."&nbsp;According to Kumar, direct tokenization of legal ownership of physical assets could create complex legal and jurisdictional questions. He gave the example of a coffee-related asset, where questions could arise over responsibility if there were disputes over the quality of the underlying product.&nbsp;Kumar said his experience had led to a different approach: instead of directly tokenizing legal ownership of an underlying asset, structures could potentially place assets into an SPV and create a tokenized fund or instrument linked to their economic value. "You're not buying the legal ownership of the tokens. You're buying the economic value of the tokens and that's how you create liquidity," he said.<h2>Can India use its existing financial infrastructure?</h2>&nbsp;Goyal argued that tokenization does not necessarily require India to replace its existing financial system.&nbsp;"I don't think you need fresh regulation, you don't need fresh institutions, you don't need fresh platforms to come out," he said, adding that regulators, exchanges, market infrastructure providers and other existing participants could potentially continue to operate while tokenization adds another layer to the system.&nbsp;However, Kumar took a more nuanced view, saying that existing frameworks may not be sufficient where tokens represent direct legal ownership of assets. "If you talk about asset ownership, you cannot have existing systems work. It will not work," he said.&nbsp;"You need to have new regulation that defines what is a token legal ownership means."The discussion highlighted that the regulatory approach may depend on the nature of the underlying asset and what rights the token holder receives.&nbsp;Zubin Goyal also pointed out that fungible assets such as bonds may be easier to structure than unique or bespoke physical assets.&nbsp;A unit of a particular government security or bond can be interchangeable, whereas different lots of physical commodities such as coffee may have different characteristics and associated risks, he said.<h2>Why bonds could be India's starting point</h2>&nbsp;Nikam said beginning with bond tokenization could be a practical way for India to build investor awareness and experience before expanding tokenization into more complex real-world assets such as infrastructure. "I think the government is doing the right thing. They have started off with a bond tokenization," he said.&nbsp;"To tokenize real world asset, infrastructure asset, is gonna be a little more complicated. So before we can go there, I think the bond tokenization will probably set the stage, will create investor awareness."&nbsp;He said tokenization could later potentially be extended to infrastructure financing and municipal bonds.&nbsp;Infrastructure projects require capital at different stages, including planning and design, construction, and operations and maintenance, Nikam said. Different financing structures could potentially be designed for different stages to access capital more efficiently.<h2>The road ahead for India</h2>&nbsp;The experts agreed that RWA tokenization could create new investment and financing possibilities, but its success would depend on balancing innovation with governance.Nikam said India should not lose sight of governance while pursuing efficiency."We have embarked on a new journey," he said. “Governance and efficiency will have to be finally balanced. So I think we must not lose sight of governance, just to push efficiency agenda.” Kumar, meanwhile, said India should look beyond simply copying global models and develop structures that work within clear legal and financial frameworks.&nbsp;The opportunity, according to the panel, could extend from tokenized bonds to SME financing, private credit, trade receivables and other cash-flow-generating assets.For investors, tokenization could eventually mean access to a wider range of assets in smaller units. For borrowers and businesses, it could potentially open new channels for raising capital. And for financial markets, supporters believe it could improve liquidity, price discovery and the speed at which capital moves through the system.&nbsp;But before that opportunity can fully take shape, India will have to answer a fundamental question: when an investor buys a token, what exactly do they own—the underlying asset, a financial instrument or simply its economic value? The answer could determine how India's real-world asset tokenization market develops.

Discover how discussions at the Bond Tokenization Summit 2026 are paving the way for digital debt, real-world asset tokenization, and fresh investment avenues across India's financial landscape.

Real-world asset (RWA) tokenization could open up new ways of investing in bonds, private credit, trade receivables and other income-generating assets, according to experts speaking at the Zee Business Bond Tokenization Summit 2026, organised in Mumbai on Wednesday, September 9. The Summit saw the country’s finance, policy and technology leaders come together to discuss the future of bond tokenization. The central idea was to use blockchain-based digital tokens to represent the ownership or economic value associated with real-world financial and physical assets. Experts said the technology could potentially improve access, liquidity, price discovery and fractional participation in assets that are currently difficult for smaller investors to access. However, they also cautioned that India will need to clearly define what a token represents from a legal and regulatory perspective before the market can scale. What is real-world asset (RWA) tokenization? RWA tokenization broadly refers to bringing an asset or its economic value onto a blockchain-based digital infrastructure through tokens. During the discussion, Ramana Kumar A, President of ADI Foundation of Abu Dhabi, said tokenization should not be viewed only through the lens of corporate bonds. "I think the concept is very clear. People have run behind equity. Debt is now the biggest factor," Kumar said, arguing that investors should look beyond conventional bonds at other assets capable of generating cash flows. According to Kumar, these could include trade receivables, private credit, treasury-related cash flows and other forms of economic interests linked to real-world assets. "We should not just focus on bonds. Focus on trade receivables. Focus on cash flow arbitrage. Focus on treasury tokens," he said. Kumar said the broader opportunity could create new liquidity and investment avenues for investors who currently have relatively limited choices between bank deposits, savings products and more complex wealth-management offerings. Also read: Bond Tokenization Summit 2026: Market leaders map out the future of digital debt in Mumbai How could tokenization change the bond market? Zubin Goyal, CEO and Director of Exchange One, said bond tokenization could be particularly significant for India because many bonds currently have limited liquidity and price discovery. Goyal, who previously worked as a bond trader, said the market for government securities and corporate bonds has significant potential for wider participation. "If you're able to tokenize these assets, open up the access to this market, to not just institutional investors, but high net worth investors, retail investors, foreign investors, and just make the sort of guardrails a little bit more relaxed," he said, clarifying that he was referring to participation rather than relaxing compliance requirements. According to Goyal, greater participation could improve price discovery and liquidity in bonds. He said tokenization could also expand the utility of a bond after it has been purchased. A tokenized bond, for example, could potentially be used as collateral to borrow funds. "If that bond is sitting in my ledger, I can take that anywhere," Goyal said. He gave an example of an investor using a Rs 10 lakh bond as collateral to borrow against it. Because the asset is tokenized, borrowing periods could potentially become more flexible, allowing for shorter-duration funding rather than requiring conventional three-month, six-month or one-year borrowing periods, he said. "The settlement cycle, everything gets accelerated," Goyal added. Could tokenization improve access to credit for SMEs? Prashant Nikam, co-founder and Chairman of Sapio Analytics, said bond tokenization could potentially help deepen and widen India's financial markets, particularly by improving access for smaller businesses. According to Nikam, government and highly rated blue-chip issuers generally do not face major difficulties in accessing the bond market through existing systems. "It is the SME who hasn't been able to really access the bond market," he said. Nikam said tokenization and fractionalisation could potentially help bring a wider pool of investors into SME financing. "If we can use this new methodology, this new technology, to give them better access to the market, to raise finance, and to get more wider participation through getting that bond fractionalized, I think that will be the real great value we can unleash in a bond tokenization market," he said. However, he acknowledged that attracting investors to SME-linked credit would remain challenging because of credit-risk concerns. "If we can fractionalize the bonds, then we might be able to attract a new set of investors who may be willing to take the chances on this new asset class," Nikam said, while adding that the process would not necessarily be easy. He said the benefits could outweigh the cost of building the required blockchain infrastructure if the system succeeds in bringing SMEs and new investors into the market. Beyond bonds: Trade receivables and private credit Kumar said some of the biggest opportunities in RWA tokenization may lie outside traditional corporate bonds. He cited examples from overseas markets involving trade receivables, private credit and other cash-flow-linked assets. For example, Kumar described a model in which receivables from fintech companies were pooled through a special purpose vehicle, or SPV, to create what he called a "treasury token". He said such structures could create investment products linked to short-duration receivables rather than requiring investors to rely solely on conventional corporate bonds. Kumar also pointed to private credit and trade-related financing as areas that could potentially be replicated in India. "These are the assets that should go into tokenization," he said while discussing suppliers that wait 90 to 120 days to receive payments. The opportunity, according to Kumar, lies in bringing economic interests and cash flows associated with such assets onto digital infrastructure. Fractional investing and faster movement of capital One of the major potential benefits of tokenization is fractionalisation, which could allow investors to participate in assets in smaller units. Goyal compared the potential impact of tokenization with the way digital infrastructure increased the speed and convenience of payments in India. "Nothing in the existing infra has been replaced, but you've been able to add a level of speed, a level of velocity to sort of daily life," he said, referring to the evolution of India's digital financial infrastructure. According to Goyal, tokenization could similarly add "velocity, discoverability, fractionalization" to financial markets and real-world assets. The underlying idea, he said, is that faster circulation and movement of capital could potentially improve liquidity across the financial system. Token ownership versus economic value: The key legal question Despite the potential benefits, experts said one of the most important questions for India is determining exactly what ownership of a token represents. Kumar said the industry cannot treat all forms of tokenization in the same way. "We should understand, while we are talking tokenization very easily, let's understand what is a token," he said. "Are we talking about a legal ownership? Are we talking about a financial instrument? Are we talking about a token being an economic value? It's important what it is, so we know what regulation is needed." According to Kumar, direct tokenization of legal ownership of physical assets could create complex legal and jurisdictional questions. He gave the example of a coffee-related asset, where questions could arise over responsibility if there were disputes over the quality of the underlying product. Kumar said his experience had led to a different approach: instead of directly tokenizing legal ownership of an underlying asset, structures could potentially place assets into an SPV and create a tokenized fund or instrument linked to their economic value. "You're not buying the legal ownership of the tokens. You're buying the economic value of the tokens and that's how you create liquidity," he said. Can India use its existing financial infrastructure? Goyal argued that tokenization does not necessarily require India to replace its existing financial system. "I don't think you need fresh regulation, you don't need fresh institutions, you don't need fresh platforms to come out," he said, adding that regulators, exchanges, market infrastructure providers and other existing participants could potentially continue to operate while tokenization adds another layer to the system. However, Kumar took a more nuanced view, saying that existing frameworks may not be sufficient where tokens represent direct legal ownership of assets. "If you talk about asset ownership, you cannot have existing systems work. It will not work," he said. "You need to have new regulation that defines what is a token legal ownership means." The discussion highlighted that the regulatory approach may depend on the nature of the underlying asset and what rights the token holder receives. Zubin Goyal also pointed out that fungible assets such as bonds may be easier to structure than unique or bespoke physical assets. A unit of a particular government security or bond can be interchangeable, whereas different lots of physical commodities such as coffee may have different characteristics and associated risks, he said. Why bonds could be India's starting point Nikam said beginning with bond tokenization could be a practical way for India to build investor awareness and experience before expanding tokenization into more complex real-world assets such as infrastructure. "I think the government is doing the right thing. They have started off with a bond tokenization," he said. "To tokenize real world asset, infrastructure asset, is gonna be a little more complicated. So before we can go there, I think the bond tokenization will probably set the stage, will create investor awareness." He said tokenization could later potentially be extended to infrastructure financing and municipal bonds. Infrastructure projects require capital at different stages, including planning and design, construction, and operations and maintenance, Nikam said. Different financing structures could potentially be designed for different stages to access capital more efficiently. The road ahead for India The experts agreed that RWA tokenization could create new investment and financing possibilities, but its success would depend on balancing innovation with governance. Nikam said India should not lose sight of governance while pursuing efficiency. "We have embarked on a new journey," he said. “Governance and efficiency will have to be finally balanced. So I think we must not lose sight of governance, just to push efficiency agenda.” Kumar, meanwhile, said India should look beyond simply copying global models and develop structures that work within clear legal and financial frameworks. The opportunity, according to the panel, could extend from tokenized bonds to SME financing, private credit, trade receivables and other cash-flow-generating assets. For investors, tokenization could eventually mean access to a wider range of assets in smaller units. For borrowers and businesses, it could potentially open new channels for raising capital. And for financial markets, supporters believe it could improve liquidity, price discovery and the speed at which capital moves through the system. But before that opportunity can fully take shape, India will have to answer a fundamental question: when an investor buys a token, what exactly do they own—the underlying asset, a financial instrument or simply its economic value? The answer could determine how India's real-world asset tokenization market develops.

Discover how discussions at the Bond Tokenization Summit 2026 are paving the way for digital debt, real-world asset tokenization, and fresh investment avenues across India's financial landscape.

Bond Tokenization Summit 2026: How India's bond market is transforming for retail investors

The air inside Mumbai's grand Sahara Star ballroom was thick with quiet, electric energy on Wednesday (Sep 9). On stage, the high-definition LED backdrop glowed with a single, compelling title:&nbsp;BOND TOKENIZATION SUMMIT 2026. In the world of global finance, bonds have long been the bedrock of stability. Yet, traditionally, they have remained locked behind institutional doors—burdened by mountains of paperwork, high minimum investment thresholds, and slow settlement layers. Co-hosted by&nbsp;WION&nbsp;and&nbsp;Zee Business, the landmark summit brought together a rare assembly of exchange leaders, Web3 pioneers, and policy architects under one roof to address a fundamental question:&nbsp;What happens when you rewrite the DNA of capital markets with code?<h2>The Prime Minister's Spark</h2>The momentum in the room was fueled by an unmistakable policy tailwind. Just two days earlier in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set the stage at the Global Fintech Fest. In his address, PM Modi highlighted&nbsp;tokenisation—alongside Agentic AI and quantum computing—as one of the three cornerstone technologies destined to drive the next global financial revolution. Emphasising the need to move real-world asset digitisation from experimental sandboxes into full-scale market execution, the Prime Minister’s remarks provided a clear vision for the evening’s discussions.&nbsp;At its foundation, bond tokenisation converts traditional debt instruments into programmable digital assets hosted on secure blockchain networks. By automating interest (coupon) payouts via smart contracts, reducing settlement timelines from days to instant atomic execution, and fractionalising large issues into smaller ticket sizes, tokenisation opens high-yield debt markets to a vastly wider pool of investors.<h2>Setting the vision</h2>Summit host WION's&nbsp;Disha Yadav&nbsp;brought the central theme into sharp focus. "Bond tokenisation may sound technical," she told the gathered audience, “but at its core, it is about using technology to make debt markets more digital, efficient, and accessible.” The tone for the evening was established by key figures in Indian financial sector.&nbsp;Anil Singhvi, Managing Editor of Zee Business, delivered the opening welcome, highlighting the structural shifts already sweeping across global fixed-income markets. Raktim Das, CEO of ZEE Media Corporation Limited, joined Singhvi and&nbsp;NN Kumar&nbsp;(Advisor, E-Sutra) on stage to felicitate the Chief Guest of the evening:&nbsp;Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD &amp; CEO of BSE Ltd.Taking the podium, Ramamurthy delivered an authoritative keynote address on how traditional stock exchanges must actively lead asset digitisation while preserving the regulatory trust and investor protections that anchor robust capital markets.<h3>From code to capital: Key highlights of Bond Tokanization Summit</h3>&nbsp;The narrative of the evening unfolded through a series of focused, high-impact conversations:&nbsp;<ul><li>Code to Capital:&nbsp;In the opening panel,&nbsp;Tajinder Virk&nbsp;(Co-Founder &amp; CEO, Blockmaze),&nbsp;Kanhaiya Singh(Co-Founder, E-Sutra), and&nbsp;Mohan Lal Kumawat&nbsp;(Executive Director, REC), moderated by WION's Kanishka Sarkar, debated how programmable digital debt unlocks liquidity and lowers issuance costs.</li><li>Sandbox to Scale:&nbsp;Addressing the regulatory landscape, compliance experts&nbsp;C.A. Sonu Jain&nbsp;(Tickr),&nbsp;Edul Patel&nbsp;(Mudrex &amp; Saber Money), and&nbsp;Sudeep Chatterjee&nbsp;(Stoex) explored how risk management protocols and legal safeguards can be coded directly into smart contracts.</li><li>Strategic Roadmap:&nbsp;Media personality&nbsp;Bhupendra Chaubey&nbsp;detailed strategic market initiatives, complemented by presentation insights from Blockmaze and E-Sutra leadership.</li><li>The Troika of Trust:&nbsp;Moderated by&nbsp;Nikhil Aggarwal&nbsp;(Founder, Grip Invest), industry leaders&nbsp;Ashish Singhal&nbsp;(CoinSwitch/Lemonn),&nbsp;Rudresh Kunde&nbsp;(BSE), and&nbsp;DC Patwari&nbsp;(Former Chairman, MSE) examined how code, network connectivity, and institutional capital must converge to build long-term market confidence.</li><li>Civic Infrastructure in Action:&nbsp;A fireside chat with&nbsp;Devidas Kshirsagar, Joint Municipal Commissioner (Finance) at the BMC, offered a practical look at how municipal debt tokenization could transform urban development by funding local infrastructure projects.</li><li>Think Global, Tokenize Local? Led by moderator&nbsp;Avinash Rao&nbsp;(ALT DRX), international perspectives were shared by&nbsp;Ramana Kumar&nbsp;(ADI Foundation, Abu Dhabi),&nbsp;Jubin Goyal&nbsp;(eXchange1), and&nbsp;Prashant Nikam&nbsp;(Sapio Analytics) on building cross-border digital asset standards.</li></ul><h2>A new chapter for digital assets</h2>Presented by&nbsp;E-SUTRA&nbsp;and&nbsp;Blockmaze, co-powered by&nbsp;Grip Invest&nbsp;and&nbsp;STOEX, and supported by associate partner&nbsp;Alt DRX, the&nbsp;Bond Tokenization Summit 2026&nbsp;demonstrated that digital debt has moved out of theoretical whitepapers and into the core architectural design of modern finance.As co-hosts&nbsp;WION&nbsp;and&nbsp;Zee Business&nbsp;brought the evening to a close, the consensus across the ballroom was clear: with strong regulatory alignment and institutional technology, tokenised bonds are set to define the next era of global capital markets.

At the Bond Tokenization Summit in Mumbai, industry leaders and market experts mapped out the future of digital debt and blockchain-powered finance.

The air inside Mumbai's grand Sahara Star ballroom was thick with quiet, electric energy on Wednesday (Sep 9). On stage, the high-definition LED backdrop glowed with a single, compelling title: BOND TOKENIZATION SUMMIT 2026. In the world of global finance, bonds have long been the bedrock of stability. Yet, traditionally, they have remained locked behind institutional doors—burdened by mountains of paperwork, high minimum investment thresholds, and slow settlement layers. Co-hosted by WION and Zee Business, the landmark summit brought together a rare assembly of exchange leaders, Web3 pioneers, and policy architects under one roof to address a fundamental question: What happens when you rewrite the DNA of capital markets with code? The Prime Minister's Spark The momentum in the room was fueled by an unmistakable policy tailwind. Just two days earlier in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set the stage at the Global Fintech Fest. In his address, PM Modi highlighted tokenisation—alongside Agentic AI and quantum computing—as one of the three cornerstone technologies destined to drive the next global financial revolution. Emphasising the need to move real-world asset digitisation from experimental sandboxes into full-scale market execution, the Prime Minister’s remarks provided a clear vision for the evening’s discussions. At its foundation, bond tokenisation converts traditional debt instruments into programmable digital assets hosted on secure blockchain networks. By automating interest (coupon) payouts via smart contracts, reducing settlement timelines from days to instant atomic execution, and fractionalising large issues into smaller ticket sizes, tokenisation opens high-yield debt markets to a vastly wider pool of investors. Setting the vision Summit host WION's Disha Yadav brought the central theme into sharp focus. "Bond tokenisation may sound technical," she told the gathered audience, “but at its core, it is about using technology to make debt markets more digital, efficient, and accessible.” The tone for the evening was established by key figures in Indian financial sector. Anil Singhvi, Managing Editor of Zee Business, delivered the opening welcome, highlighting the structural shifts already sweeping across global fixed-income markets. Raktim Das, CEO of ZEE Media Corporation Limited, joined Singhvi and NN Kumar (Advisor, E-Sutra) on stage to felicitate the Chief Guest of the evening: Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD & CEO of BSE Ltd. Taking the podium, Ramamurthy delivered an authoritative keynote address on how traditional stock exchanges must actively lead asset digitisation while preserving the regulatory trust and investor protections that anchor robust capital markets. From code to capital: Key highlights of Bond Tokanization Summit The narrative of the evening unfolded through a series of focused, high-impact conversations: Code to Capital: In the opening panel, Tajinder Virk (Co-Founder & CEO, Blockmaze), Kanhaiya Singh(Co-Founder, E-Sutra), and Mohan Lal Kumawat (Executive Director, REC), moderated by WION's Kanishka Sarkar, debated how programmable digital debt unlocks liquidity and lowers issuance costs. Sandbox to Scale: Addressing the regulatory landscape, compliance experts C.A. Sonu Jain (Tickr), Edul Patel (Mudrex & Saber Money), and Sudeep Chatterjee (Stoex) explored how risk management protocols and legal safeguards can be coded directly into smart contracts. Strategic Roadmap: Media personality Bhupendra Chaubey detailed strategic market initiatives, complemented by presentation insights from Blockmaze and E-Sutra leadership. The Troika of Trust: Moderated by Nikhil Aggarwal (Founder, Grip Invest), industry leaders Ashish Singhal (CoinSwitch/Lemonn), Rudresh Kunde (BSE), and DC Patwari (Former Chairman, MSE) examined how code, network connectivity, and institutional capital must converge to build long-term market confidence. Civic Infrastructure in Action: A fireside chat with Devidas Kshirsagar, Joint Municipal Commissioner (Finance) at the BMC, offered a practical look at how municipal debt tokenization could transform urban development by funding local infrastructure projects. Think Global, Tokenize Local? Led by moderator Avinash Rao (ALT DRX), international perspectives were shared by Ramana Kumar (ADI Foundation, Abu Dhabi), Jubin Goyal (eXchange1), and Prashant Nikam (Sapio Analytics) on building cross-border digital asset standards. A new chapter for digital assets Presented by E-SUTRA and Blockmaze, co-powered by Grip Invest and STOEX, and supported by associate partner Alt DRX, the Bond Tokenization Summit 2026 demonstrated that digital debt has moved out of theoretical whitepapers and into the core architectural design of modern finance. As co-hosts WION and Zee Business brought the evening to a close, the consensus across the ballroom was clear: with strong regulatory alignment and institutional technology, tokenised bonds are set to define the next era of global capital markets.

At the Bond Tokenization Summit in Mumbai, industry leaders and market experts mapped out the future of digital debt and blockchain-powered finance.

Bond Tokenization Summit 2026: Market leaders map out the future of digital debt in Mumbai

Oil is approaching the psychologically important $100-a-barrel price. Americans are already paying record-high prices for the Labor Day period. This could become a political problem for Trump and the Republican Party as the November midterm elections loom. At the time of writing, Brent futures briefly hit $100 a barrel. The US West Texas Intermediate was around $94.13 on Wednesday (Sep 9). Brent has risen about 25 per cent since early August as renewed fighting with Iran crushed hopes of an end to the six-month conflict. Reports suggested that oil could hit $100 as early as Friday. Here is why it matters for Trump's midterm prospects.&nbsp;<h2>The Iran war is showing up at the pump for Americans</h2>Trump returned to office promising an energy boom, lower prices and inflation relief. The US military adventure in Iran upended these plans, emerging as a major source of uncertainty for the global oil market. Much of the Gulf's critical energy infrastructure is under attack or threat, caused by US strikes, Iranian attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, and Houthi hits on Saudi targets. Oil shipping is disrupted from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea and further afield. &nbsp;Iran conflict is leading to supply fears, causing higher crude prices and renewing inflation pressure on the US.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brent-crude-hits-100-per-barrel-after-seven-weeks-as-tension-in-middle-east-escalates-1788940129398">Brent Crude hits $100 per barrel after seven weeks as tension in Middle East escalates</a><h2>$4 gasoline is already a political problem</h2>The national average price of regular gasoline was about $4.15 a gallon around Labor Day, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), a record for this holiday period. AAA said the national average never exceeded $4 on Labor Day. For diesel prices, the national average climbed to a record of roughly $5.85-$5.90 a gallon. Diesel also powers much of America's freight, agriculture, construction and rail economy. And that could contribute to the inflation problem, as higher diesel and petrol prices hurt household budgets.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/goldman-warns-brent-could-top-120-again-wion-news-world-business-watch-1784783515303/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/goldman-warns-brent-could-top-120-again-wion-news-world-business-watch-1784783515303/embed</a><h2>Oil prices spike: The timing could hardly be worse for Republicans</h2>Republicans are entering the midterms with narrow margins, even as a Reuters/Ipsos poll put Trump approval ratings at just 33 per cent, with only 25 per cent of Americans saying the Iran war is worthwhile. A Financial Times/Focaldata survey found that 57 per cent of voters felt financially worse off under Trump. That is precisely why petrol prices are so dangerous politically.Republicans have spent years telling voters that Democratic policies were responsible for expensive petrol, but that won't wash this election season.Democratic candidates have been using gas prices as a political weapon against Republican incumbents, linking Trump's Iran policy to higher cost of living for Americans.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-jump-over-3-brent-tops-86-after-us-says-it-intercepted-iranian-missile-attack-1785285962484">Oil prices jump over 3% after US says it intercepted Iranian missile attack</a><h2>How oil prices historically affected the prospects of the ruling party</h2>A 2026 Morgan Stanley analysis found that since 1978, midterm cycles in which gasoline prices rose from January of the previous year through October of the election year were associated with an average loss of 32 House seats for the incumbent party, as opposed to lower prices, in which case the average loss was six seats. A TIME analysis said that in the three midterms in which inflation-adjusted oil prices were around or above $100 a barrel, the ruling party lost an average of 29 House seats. An energy shock just ahead of midterms is a scary prospect for the incumbent party.<h2>A looming inflation: Why Trump needs to bring down gas prices</h2>If gasoline prices fall dramatically in October, Trump - who put himself at the centre of the Republican campaign - can point to the decline as evidence that his administration's strategies worked. But if they still hover around $4 or higher, Democrats will be able to tell voters that Trump's war made energy more expensive.But will the market correct itself? Brent repeatedly approached $100 in past months without decisively breaking through it. So far, whatever oil is passing via Hormuz, alternative export routes, rising production outside OPEC and weaker Chinese demand have prevented a larger price shock.But if prolonged disruptions to oil shipments cause Brent to remain around $100, the pinch at the pump could persist. And that could translate into anger against Trump and the Republicans at the elections.

US oil prices are near $100 once again as the Iran conflict disrupts energy supplies. The pinch at the pump and looming inflation could become a political headache for Trump and Republicans ahead of the midterms. Here is how

Oil is approaching the psychologically important $100-a-barrel price. Americans are already paying record-high prices for the Labor Day period. This could become a political problem for Trump and the Republican Party as the November midterm elections loom. At the time of writing, Brent futures briefly hit $100 a barrel. The US West Texas Intermediate was around $94.13 on Wednesday (Sep 9). Brent has risen about 25 per cent since early August as renewed fighting with Iran crushed hopes of an end to the six-month conflict. Reports suggested that oil could hit $100 as early as Friday. Here is why it matters for Trump's midterm prospects. The Iran war is showing up at the pump for Americans Trump returned to office promising an energy boom, lower prices and inflation relief. The US military adventure in Iran upended these plans, emerging as a major source of uncertainty for the global oil market. Much of the Gulf's critical energy infrastructure is under attack or threat, caused by US strikes, Iranian attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, and Houthi hits on Saudi targets. Oil shipping is disrupted from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea and further afield. Iran conflict is leading to supply fears, causing higher crude prices and renewing inflation pressure on the US. Also read: Brent Crude hits $100 per barrel after seven weeks as tension in Middle East escalates $4 gasoline is already a political problem The national average price of regular gasoline was about $4.15 a gallon around Labor Day, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), a record for this holiday period. AAA said the national average never exceeded $4 on Labor Day. For diesel prices, the national average climbed to a record of roughly $5.85-$5.90 a gallon. Diesel also powers much of America's freight, agriculture, construction and rail economy. And that could contribute to the inflation problem, as higher diesel and petrol prices hurt household budgets. https://www.wionews.com/videos/goldman-warns-brent-could-top-120-again-wion-news-world-business-watch-1784783515303/embed Oil prices spike: The timing could hardly be worse for Republicans Republicans are entering the midterms with narrow margins, even as a Reuters/Ipsos poll put Trump approval ratings at just 33 per cent, with only 25 per cent of Americans saying the Iran war is worthwhile. A Financial Times/Focaldata survey found that 57 per cent of voters felt financially worse off under Trump. That is precisely why petrol prices are so dangerous politically. Republicans have spent years telling voters that Democratic policies were responsible for expensive petrol, but that won't wash this election season. Democratic candidates have been using gas prices as a political weapon against Republican incumbents, linking Trump's Iran policy to higher cost of living for Americans. Also read: Oil prices jump over 3% after US says it intercepted Iranian missile attack How oil prices historically affected the prospects of the ruling party A 2026 Morgan Stanley analysis found that since 1978, midterm cycles in which gasoline prices rose from January of the previous year through October of the election year were associated with an average loss of 32 House seats for the incumbent party, as opposed to lower prices, in which case the average loss was six seats. A TIME analysis said that in the three midterms in which inflation-adjusted oil prices were around or above $100 a barrel, the ruling party lost an average of 29 House seats. An energy shock just ahead of midterms is a scary prospect for the incumbent party. A looming inflation: Why Trump needs to bring down gas prices If gasoline prices fall dramatically in October, Trump - who put himself at the centre of the Republican campaign - can point to the decline as evidence that his administration's strategies worked. But if they still hover around $4 or higher, Democrats will be able to tell voters that Trump's war made energy more expensive. But will the market correct itself? Brent repeatedly approached $100 in past months without decisively breaking through it. So far, whatever oil is passing via Hormuz, alternative export routes, rising production outside OPEC and weaker Chinese demand have prevented a larger price shock. But if prolonged disruptions to oil shipments cause Brent to remain around $100, the pinch at the pump could persist. And that could translate into anger against Trump and the Republicans at the elections.

US oil prices are near $100 once again as the Iran conflict disrupts energy supplies. The pinch at the pump and looming inflation could become a political headache for Trump and Republicans ahead of the midterms. Here is how

US oil prices at $100 could be bad news for Trump ahead of midterm elections

Robots building robots is no longer just a science-fiction idea. Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng says it has commissioned an automated production line where humanoid robots can help manufacture other humanoid robots.&nbsp;XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng announced the development on X, calling it the world’s first automated production line for advanced general-purpose humanoid robots. The company says the system is designed to reduce manual involvement and help take humanoid production towards larger-scale manufacturing. The first robot produced on the line has also been given a name: IRON.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, we launched the world’s first automated production line for advanced general‑purpose humanoid robots, using robots to mass‑produce robots, autonomously. This was uncharted territory, and we solved it from scratch. The commissioning of our production line means humanoid… <a href="https://t.co/qlpeSLJx77">pic.twitter.com/qlpeSLJx77</a>&mdash; Xiaopeng He (@xiaopenghexpeng) <a href="https://x.com/xiaopenghexpeng/status/2097135503015616798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>XPeng’s IRON robot walks off the line</h2>According to He, IRON completed its assembly and then walked away from the production line on its own. The moment is significant because XPeng is not simply showing a robot performing one task inside a factory. The company says its manufacturing system can produce a complete advanced general-purpose humanoid.&nbsp;He shared images of the facility and IRON, saying the production line had been developed from scratch. However, XPeng has not disclosed how many robots the factory can currently produce, or provided detailed information about its production capacity.<h2>Why robots building robots matters</h2>The bigger challenge for the humanoid robotics industry may not simply be making robots walk, talk or perform tasks.&nbsp;It is making them cheaply and quickly enough to produce in large numbers.Humanoid robots contain complex mechanical, electrical and computing systems. If companies can automate more of the manufacturing process, production could eventually become faster and more consistent while reducing the need for manual assembly. That could be crucial if humanoids are ever expected to move beyond expensive prototypes and enter factories, warehouses, homes and other workplaces at scale.&nbsp;<h2>XPeng wants IRON to do more than factory work</h2>He said he hopes future versions of IRON will develop stronger general-purpose abilities.&nbsp;The longer-term goal is for humanoids to handle dangerous, repetitive or undesirable jobs that people may not want to perform. He also suggested a much more ambitious future, saying robots could one day become companions, friends or even part of a family.&nbsp;For now, that remains a vision rather than a demonstrated capability.&nbsp;XPeng has yet to reveal IRON’s full capabilities, commercial availability or the actual scale of the new production line. But the development highlights a major shift in the robotics race: companies are no longer only trying to build smarter humanoids. They are also trying to build the factories that can build them.&nbsp;

Chinese EV maker XPeng says it has launched an automated production line where humanoid robots help build other humanoid robots. Its first IRON robot reportedly completed assembly and walked off the line autonomously, though production capacity remains undisclosed.

Robots building robots is no longer just a science-fiction idea. Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng says it has commissioned an automated production line where humanoid robots can help manufacture other humanoid robots. XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng announced the development on X, calling it the world’s first automated production line for advanced general-purpose humanoid robots. The company says the system is designed to reduce manual involvement and help take humanoid production towards larger-scale manufacturing. The first robot produced on the line has also been given a name: IRON.

Chinese EV maker XPeng says it has launched an automated production line where humanoid robots help build other humanoid robots. Its first IRON robot reportedly completed assembly and walked off the line autonomously, though production capacity remains undisclosed.

Future of manufacturing is here: Chinese EV maker sets up factory where robots are building robots

Over the last decade, five countries have been quietly building over $40 billion alternative to the World Bank and the IMF-dominated global financial system: the New Development Bank or the BRICS Bank. The amount is modest when compared to the Bretton Woods Twins, but it's a project aimed at dismantling 80 years of financial control, creating a parallel system without replacing it.&nbsp;There is huge asymmetry in place; by the end of 2025, the National Development Bank has approved roughly $42.9 billion. The World Bank approves roughly $100 billion in every fiscal year. The New Development Bank has an authorised capital base of $100 billion. The World Bank has an authorised capital base of roughly $327 billion, while the IMF has a $646 billion quota base. Combined, the Bretton Woods System has roughly $1 trillion in capital base.But there are positive signs too; the New Development Bank has been around for just over a decade, and the Bretton Woods System has been there since the aftermath of the Second World War. It has grown from five founding members to eleven members. It has sanctioned development projects such as in India, the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut original rapid transit system; in China, an offshore wind power plant which generated over 1 billion kWh of carbon-free electricity in the first year; in Brazil, Pernambuco state expanded water supply and sanitation services, which benefits roughly $2 million people; and in South Africa, they are modernising the Durban port, a gateway to the African continent. It is more democratised, where every nation has an equal vote, despite China being a bigger economy and Brazil being comparatively smaller. Unlike the World Bank and IMF, where the US holds veto power with over 16 per cent of total voting rights. It does not seek harsh austerity measures, nor does it require structural and political change in exchange for loans to nations.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zohran-mamdani-170000-9-11-records-toxic-air-1788882722776">Zohran Mamdani releases 170,000 pages of 9/11 records, says officials misled New Yorkers over toxic air</a><h2>Can it help the Global South out of Western hegemony?</h2>Structurally, the New Development Bank is an extension of the same capitalist financial architecture that fuels the Bretton Woods System. It's not a radical break from the Western Hegemony; it is an extension of it. It is merely a scaled-up and pooled version of domestic development banks, copying the exact financial blueprint of the World Bank.But the real problem is that it is still dependent on dollar-based assets; it seeks finance from Wall Street and international capital markets for the majority of its bond issuances. Its credit rating is associated with Western credit agencies like Flich and S&amp;P. This is one of the reasons the bank had to freeze one of its founding members, Russia, following the Western sanctions in 2022 to maintain its credit rating of AA+.&nbsp;Under the leadership of President Dilma Rousseff, the NDB has grown its local currency lending portfolio to approximately 25 per cent and plans to achieve the 30 per cent mark by 2026. It actively issues bonds and uses local-currency financing such as the Chinese Yuan, Indian Rupee, and South African Rand to protect from US monetary policy shocks and exchange rate volatility. The position is somewhere between hegemony and autonomy. &nbsp;It is not breaking free but trying to build a more inclusive pipeline inside the existing global financial grid.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The New Development Bank, or BRICS Bank, has emerged as an alternative development finance institution, expanding local-currency lending while seeking to reduce dependence on the Western-dominated financial system.

Over the last decade, five countries have been quietly building over $40 billion alternative to the World Bank and the IMF-dominated global financial system: the New Development Bank or the BRICS Bank. The amount is modest when compared to the Bretton Woods Twins, but it's a project aimed at dismantling 80 years of financial control, creating a parallel system without replacing it. There is huge asymmetry in place; by the end of 2025, the National Development Bank has approved roughly $42.9 billion. The World Bank approves roughly $100 billion in every fiscal year. The New Development Bank has an authorised capital base of $100 billion. The World Bank has an authorised capital base of roughly $327 billion, while the IMF has a $646 billion quota base. Combined, the Bretton Woods System has roughly $1 trillion in capital base. But there are positive signs too; the New Development Bank has been around for just over a decade, and the Bretton Woods System has been there since the aftermath of the Second World War. It has grown from five founding members to eleven members. It has sanctioned development projects such as in India, the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut original rapid transit system; in China, an offshore wind power plant which generated over 1 billion kWh of carbon-free electricity in the first year; in Brazil, Pernambuco state expanded water supply and sanitation services, which benefits roughly $2 million people; and in South Africa, they are modernising the Durban port, a gateway to the African continent. It is more democratised, where every nation has an equal vote, despite China being a bigger economy and Brazil being comparatively smaller. Unlike the World Bank and IMF, where the US holds veto power with over 16 per cent of total voting rights. It does not seek harsh austerity measures, nor does it require structural and political change in exchange for loans to nations. Also Read: Zohran Mamdani releases 170,000 pages of 9/11 records, says officials misled New Yorkers over toxic air Can it help the Global South out of Western hegemony? Structurally, the New Development Bank is an extension of the same capitalist financial architecture that fuels the Bretton Woods System. It's not a radical break from the Western Hegemony; it is an extension of it. It is merely a scaled-up and pooled version of domestic development banks, copying the exact financial blueprint of the World Bank. But the real problem is that it is still dependent on dollar-based assets; it seeks finance from Wall Street and international capital markets for the majority of its bond issuances. Its credit rating is associated with Western credit agencies like Flich and S&P. This is one of the reasons the bank had to freeze one of its founding members, Russia, following the Western sanctions in 2022 to maintain its credit rating of AA+. Under the leadership of President Dilma Rousseff, the NDB has grown its local currency lending portfolio to approximately 25 per cent and plans to achieve the 30 per cent mark by 2026. It actively issues bonds and uses local-currency financing such as the Chinese Yuan, Indian Rupee, and South African Rand to protect from US monetary policy shocks and exchange rate volatility. The position is somewhere between hegemony and autonomy. It is not breaking free but trying to build a more inclusive pipeline inside the existing global financial grid.

The New Development Bank, or BRICS Bank, has emerged as an alternative development finance institution, expanding local-currency lending while seeking to reduce dependence on the Western-dominated financial system.

BRICS Bank: Can the New Development Bank challenge the World Bank and IMF?

Nvidia is becoming much more than the company behind the world’s most powerful AI chips.&nbsp;The chip giant’s equity investments have surged to $99 billion, up from about $7 billion a year earlier and roughly $2.2 billion two years ago, according to its latest regulatory filing. Nvidia also disclosed another $25 billion in equity investment commitments as of July 26. The rapid expansion shows how Nvidia is using its enormous financial strength to shape the AI industry around its hardware. Instead of simply selling GPUs, Nvidia is increasingly putting money into the companies that need those GPUs.<h2>Where is Nvidia putting its billions?</h2>A large part of the strategy is focused on frontier AI labs.&nbsp;Nvidia CFO Colette Kress said the company had invested nearly $50 billion in frontier AI labs. Nvidia announced a $30 billion investment in OpenAI in February as part of OpenAI’s $110 billion funding round. Nvidia is also backing the rapidly growing group of so-called neoclouds companies that buy large numbers of GPUs and rent computing power to AI customers. It invested $2 billion in CoreWeave in January and another $2 billion in Nebius in March. Nvidia said the Nebius investment would help accelerate its build-out of a full-stack AI cloud platform. The strategy has now expanded beyond cloud and AI models.<h2>Nvidia is betting on the technology behind AI</h2>Nvidia has also been investing heavily in optical and photonics technology, which uses light to move data rather than traditional electrical connections. Companies including Lumentum, Coherent and Marvell have each received major investments, according to CNBC’s analysis. The technology could become increasingly important as AI systems require faster movement of enormous amounts of data. Nvidia has also benefited from the rising value of some of its investments. Its $5 billion Intel investment has reportedly risen to around $30 billion, while its SpaceX holding was valued at about $21 billion as of June, according to CNBC.<h2>Why Nvidia is doing this</h2>The strategy is simple: help the AI ecosystem grow, and Nvidia can grow with it. Nvidia itself says its investments are intended to enhance growth opportunities, cultivate its ecosystem and strengthen its competitive position.&nbsp;That creates a powerful cycle. AI companies need computing power. Nvidia supplies the GPUs. By investing in those companies, Nvidia can also help them raise the capital needed to buy more computing infrastructure.The result is a company that increasingly sits at several levels of the AI economy supplier, investor, infrastructure partner and, increasingly, owner. Nvidia’s $99 billion portfolio shows just how much that role has expanded.

Nvidia’s equity investments have surged to $99 billion from about $7 billion a year earlier. The chip giant is backing AI labs, cloud providers, infrastructure and emerging technologies, using its capital to strengthen the ecosystem around its GPUs.



Nvidia is becoming much more than the company behind the world’s most powerful AI chips. The chip giant’s equity investments have surged to $99 billion, up from about $7 billion a year earlier and roughly $2.2 billion two years ago, according to its latest regulatory filing. Nvidia also disclosed another $25 billion in equity investment commitments as of July 26. The rapid expansion shows how Nvidia is using its enormous financial strength to shape the AI industry around its hardware. Instead of simply selling GPUs, Nvidia is increasingly putting money into the companies that need those GPUs. Where is Nvidia putting its billions? A large part of the strategy is focused on frontier AI labs. Nvidia CFO Colette Kress said the company had invested nearly $50 billion in frontier AI labs. Nvidia announced a $30 billion investment in OpenAI in February as part of OpenAI’s $110 billion funding round. Nvidia is also backing the rapidly growing group of so-called neoclouds companies that buy large numbers of GPUs and rent computing power to AI customers. It invested $2 billion in CoreWeave in January and another $2 billion in Nebius in March. Nvidia said the Nebius investment would help accelerate its build-out of a full-stack AI cloud platform. The strategy has now expanded beyond cloud and AI models. Nvidia is betting on the technology behind AI Nvidia has also been investing heavily in optical and photonics technology, which uses light to move data rather than traditional electrical connections. Companies including Lumentum, Coherent and Marvell have each received major investments, according to CNBC’s analysis. The technology could become increasingly important as AI systems require faster movement of enormous amounts of data. Nvidia has also benefited from the rising value of some of its investments. Its $5 billion Intel investment has reportedly risen to around $30 billion, while its SpaceX holding was valued at about $21 billion as of June, according to CNBC. Why Nvidia is doing this The strategy is simple: help the AI ecosystem grow, and Nvidia can grow with it. Nvidia itself says its investments are intended to enhance growth opportunities, cultivate its ecosystem and strengthen its competitive position. That creates a powerful cycle. AI companies need computing power. Nvidia supplies the GPUs. By investing in those companies, Nvidia can also help them raise the capital needed to buy more computing infrastructure. The result is a company that increasingly sits at several levels of the AI economy supplier, investor, infrastructure partner and, increasingly, owner. Nvidia’s $99 billion portfolio shows just how much that role has expanded.

Nvidia’s equity investments have surged to $99 billion from about $7 billion a year earlier. The chip giant is backing AI labs, cloud providers, infrastructure and emerging technologies, using its capital to strengthen the ecosystem around its GPUs.

Nvidia now has $99 billion invested across the AI industry, here’s where the money is going

Adobe’s Board of Directors has appointed company insider Anil Chakravarthy as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective December 1, 2026. Chakravarthy, currently serving as President of Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, will also join the company’s Board. He succeeds long-time CEO Shantanu Narayen, who will transition to the role of Executive Chair after a transformative 18-year tenure.&nbsp;Narayen’s planned departure was initially signalled earlier this year. During his nearly two-decade leadership, he oversaw Adobe’s pivotal shift from desktop software licences to a recurring cloud-subscription model, growing revenue from approximately $3 billion to over $25 billion.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/jensen-huang-s-nvidia-makes-a-huge-open-source-ai-bet-with-hugging-face-deal-1788439759576">Jensen Huang’s Nvidia makes a huge open-source AI bet with Hugging Face deal</a><h2>A Tech Veteran Primed for the AI Era</h2>Chakravarthy joined Adobe in January 2020 as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Digital Experience business, expanding his remit over the years to manage global sales, enterprise customer support, and field operations across creative and productivity suites. Before his time at Adobe, Chakravarthy served for four years as CEO of cloud data management giant Informatica and held executive posts at Symantec, VeriSign, and McKinsey &amp; Company. He holds a Bachelor of Technology from IIT (BHU) Varanasi and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.&nbsp;During his time at Adobe, Chakravarthy has championed major AI-driven customer experience products including Adobe CX Enterprise, GenStudio, and Brand Visibility and spearheaded key strategic acquisitions, such as Workfront.&nbsp;"I am deeply honoured to have been chosen to lead Adobe during this pivotal moment," Chakravarthy said in a statement. "I’m energised by the opportunity to fuel growth and drive Adobe's leadership in the next era of agentic software for creativity, productivity, and customer experience."&nbsp;The leadership transition arrives as legacy software giants face unprecedented market pressures and shifting investor sentiment surrounding generative AI disruption. Despite embedding AI capabilities across flagship products like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat, Adobe’s shares have felt the heat of emerging competitors.&nbsp;

Adobe appoints Anil Chakravarthy as its new President and CEO, effective December 1. He succeeds long-time leader Shantanu Narayen, who will transition to Executive Chair as the software giant steps up its AI innovation focus. 

Adobe’s Board of Directors has appointed company insider Anil Chakravarthy as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective December 1, 2026. Chakravarthy, currently serving as President of Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, will also join the company’s Board. He succeeds long-time CEO Shantanu Narayen, who will transition to the role of Executive Chair after a transformative 18-year tenure. Narayen’s planned departure was initially signalled earlier this year. During his nearly two-decade leadership, he oversaw Adobe’s pivotal shift from desktop software licences to a recurring cloud-subscription model, growing revenue from approximately $3 billion to over $25 billion. Also read: Jensen Huang’s Nvidia makes a huge open-source AI bet with Hugging Face deal A Tech Veteran Primed for the AI Era Chakravarthy joined Adobe in January 2020 as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Digital Experience business, expanding his remit over the years to manage global sales, enterprise customer support, and field operations across creative and productivity suites. Before his time at Adobe, Chakravarthy served for four years as CEO of cloud data management giant Informatica and held executive posts at Symantec, VeriSign, and McKinsey & Company. He holds a Bachelor of Technology from IIT (BHU) Varanasi and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During his time at Adobe, Chakravarthy has championed major AI-driven customer experience products including Adobe CX Enterprise, GenStudio, and Brand Visibility and spearheaded key strategic acquisitions, such as Workfront. "I am deeply honoured to have been chosen to lead Adobe during this pivotal moment," Chakravarthy said in a statement. "I’m energised by the opportunity to fuel growth and drive Adobe's leadership in the next era of agentic software for creativity, productivity, and customer experience." The leadership transition arrives as legacy software giants face unprecedented market pressures and shifting investor sentiment surrounding generative AI disruption. Despite embedding AI capabilities across flagship products like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat, Adobe’s shares have felt the heat of emerging competitors.

Adobe appoints Anil Chakravarthy as its new President and CEO, effective December 1. He succeeds long-time leader Shantanu Narayen, who will transition to Executive Chair as the software giant steps up its AI innovation focus.

Adobe appoints Anil Chakravarthy as next CEO, succeeding Shantanu Narayen

The Volkswagen Board has approved a plan to cut another 50,000 jobs as part of sweeping changes amid losses. In March, the German car giant had announced that it would chop off 50,000 positions by 2030. This brings the total number of roles that will be eliminated by the end of the decade to 100,000. The group manufactures Audi, Porsche, and Skoda, besides the VW brand. SEAT, Bentley, and Lamborghini are also wholly owned subsidiaries of the Volkswagen Group.&nbsp;Volkswagen is facing a demand crunch as other players enter the field. Chinese car brands have turned into fierce competitors, forcing the company to take drastic steps amid falling profits. VW's chief executive Oliver Blume said in a statement on Thursday, “This is a strong signal for the future of the Volkswagen Group. [The plan will] make our iconic brands even more attractive, stronger, and competitive.”<h2>What Volkswagen said about job cuts</h2>He added that "a consistent alignment of workforce capacity with economic reality is essential" amid "intensifying global competition, shifting demand, and technological change in the automotive industry." Blume had talked about the additional cuts in July this year. The company stated the conditions necessitate "a Group-wide workforce adjustment of approximately 50,000 positions - including management roles."&nbsp;Volkswagen plans to prioritise the "most compelling vehicles" and make more of these models to lower costs. Alternate uses of manufacturing plants in Emden, Zwickau, Hanover and Neckarsulm will be assessed since the production capacity here exceeds demand.<h2>Chinese brands are giving fierce competition</h2>Volkswagen started operations in 1937 and has never witnessed such drastic restructuring in all these decades. VW employed more than 660,000 people worldwide as of 2025. But the demand for its cars has seen a sharp drop, especially in China, which once used to be its biggest market. It also witnessed a drop in sales in the United States, with the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump being partly responsible.&nbsp;Christianne Benner, the president of Europe's largest industrial union IG Metall and deputy chair of VW's Supervisory Board, said the company tried its best to fix the crisis situation.&nbsp;

Volkswagen has announced 50,000 more job cuts, taking the total number to a massive 100,000. All these positions will be eliminated by the end of 2030. The German car maker is facing fierce competition from Chinese brands and is suffering because of extreme tariffs in the US. 

The Volkswagen Board has approved a plan to cut another 50,000 jobs as part of sweeping changes amid losses. In March, the German car giant had announced that it would chop off 50,000 positions by 2030. This brings the total number of roles that will be eliminated by the end of the decade to 100,000. The group manufactures Audi, Porsche, and Skoda, besides the VW brand. SEAT, Bentley, and Lamborghini are also wholly owned subsidiaries of the Volkswagen Group. Volkswagen is facing a demand crunch as other players enter the field. Chinese car brands have turned into fierce competitors, forcing the company to take drastic steps amid falling profits. VW's chief executive Oliver Blume said in a statement on Thursday, “This is a strong signal for the future of the Volkswagen Group. [The plan will] make our iconic brands even more attractive, stronger, and competitive.” What Volkswagen said about job cuts He added that "a consistent alignment of workforce capacity with economic reality is essential" amid "intensifying global competition, shifting demand, and technological change in the automotive industry." Blume had talked about the additional cuts in July this year. The company stated the conditions necessitate "a Group-wide workforce adjustment of approximately 50,000 positions - including management roles." Volkswagen plans to prioritise the "most compelling vehicles" and make more of these models to lower costs. Alternate uses of manufacturing plants in Emden, Zwickau, Hanover and Neckarsulm will be assessed since the production capacity here exceeds demand. Chinese brands are giving fierce competition Volkswagen started operations in 1937 and has never witnessed such drastic restructuring in all these decades. VW employed more than 660,000 people worldwide as of 2025. But the demand for its cars has seen a sharp drop, especially in China, which once used to be its biggest market. It also witnessed a drop in sales in the United States, with the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump being partly responsible. Christianne Benner, the president of Europe's largest industrial union IG Metall and deputy chair of VW's Supervisory Board, said the company tried its best to fix the crisis situation.

Volkswagen has announced 50,000 more job cuts, taking the total number to a massive 100,000. All these positions will be eliminated by the end of 2030. The German car maker is facing fierce competition from Chinese brands and is suffering because of extreme tariffs in the US.&nbsp;

Volkswagen to cut 50,000 more jobs, 100,000 roles to be eliminated by 2030

A new artificial-intelligence platform has entered India’s retail trading landscape with a clear brief: equip individual participants with enough real-time technical understanding that they no longer have to trade on tips, guesswork or late-night commentary alone.Kwala Intel (kwalaintel.com) is being presented as a user-friendly market-intelligence tool designed to help retail traders read technical indicators, interpret what is unfolding on the chart, and make more informed decisions while positions are open. In a market where regulatory data shows that the large majority of individual futures and options traders finish the year with losses, any system that aims to improve decision quality is drawing attention.&nbsp;The Trust Problem the Data Keeps Highlighting&nbsp;SEBI’s studies of individual traders in the equity F&amp;O segment have become a standing reference point. Across multi-year windows, loss rates have remained extremely high — in some periods above 90 per cent of unique individual participants after transaction costs. Cumulative losses over five years have been estimated at around Rs 3.85 lakh crore. Even after participation moderated in FY26, roughly 87–88 per cent of remaining individual traders still recorded net losses, with options accounting for the bulk of the damage.Those figures have concerned regulators, brokers and educators alike. They also help explain a quieter erosion of trust among participants who entered in large numbers after the COVID-era retail boom. Many discovered that access to a trading app was not the same as access to usable market intelligence. Tips arrived easily; continuous, understandable technical context did not. The familiar cycle followed: entry on a tip, hours of uncertainty, then an exit driven by emotion. Repeated losses reduced both capital and confidence.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/this-indian-ai-is-bringing-market-intelligence-to-intraday-traders-1788419237060">This Indian AI is bringing market intelligence to intraday traders</a>&nbsp;What the New Platform Is Trying to Change&nbsp;Kwala Intel frames itself as an intelligence layer rather than a tip engine. Users can query charts and market structure in plain language, receive explanations of technical indicators and key levels, and see visual context linking the commentary to actual price action. The intent is to give retail participants a practical way to apply the same categories of information professional desks treat as routine: support and resistance, momentum readings, pattern structure and related signals.&nbsp;The platform is also positioned for continuous use, not only during market hours. That matters for traders who review positions, prepare levels or learn after the close. By remaining available as a companion rather than a one-time alert service, it aims to support both decision-making and ongoing learning.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/this-indian-ai-is-making-stock-charts-easier-to-understand-in-hindi-tamil-telugu-and-other-indian-languages-1788315316303">This Indian AI is making stock charts easier to understand in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and other Indian languages</a>&nbsp;Company representatives have described an explicit ambition: over the coming year, to help reduce the share of retail participants who lose money through purely uninformed or tip-dependent trading. Whether any single platform can shift industry-wide loss rates remains an open question. What is clear is the problem the product is built around — the persistence of high retail loss ratios despite years of easy market access.&nbsp;A Generation That Arrived After COVID&nbsp;Much of the recent expansion in retail participation has come from younger adults, roughly in the 22–30 age band, who began trading actively after the pandemic. This group is digitally native, comfortable with apps and conversational interfaces, and often more willing to try new tools than earlier cohorts. It is also a group that has experienced both the excitement of easy onboarding and the disappointment of repeated losses in derivatives.&nbsp;Platforms that speak this cohort’s language — simple interfaces, on-demand explanations, visual feedback — are betting that behaviour can still be shaped. If technical structure becomes easier to query and understand, a larger share of these traders may move from speculative tip-following toward more deliberate, context-aware decisions. That would mark a shift from the dominant retail pattern of the post-COVID years.&nbsp;Trend Change or Incremental Tool?&nbsp;Claims of a complete trend change should be treated with caution. Loss rates are driven by leverage, options product design, behavioural biases and the advantages of better-capitalised counterparties — not only by the absence of chart explanations. No AI companion removes the need for risk limits or the decision not to trade at all.&nbsp;At the same time, after years in which retail growth was fuelled mainly by access — discount brokerages, smartphone apps, social distribution of ideas — a second wave of tools is focusing on interpretation. Kwala Intel is one of the newer entrants in that wave. Its success will ultimately be measured by whether users trade with clearer context, fewer blind intervals, and, over time, better outcomes than the broad averages published by SEBI.&nbsp;For now, the platform’s arrival adds another data point to a larger experiment: whether giving retail participants a user-friendly way to understand technical indicators and live market structure can help restore a degree of trust that years of high loss rates have eroded — especially among younger traders who still have the longest road ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp;Disclaimer: Trading in equity derivatives involves substantial risk of loss. SEBI data cited pertains to individual traders in the equity F&amp;O segment. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Ambitions attributed to platforms reflect stated positioning, not guaranteed outcomes.

With SEBI data showing most individual F&O traders still losing money, Kwala Intel positions itself as a user-friendly intelligence layer for younger participants who entered markets after COVID — aiming to rebuild trust through understanding rather than tips.

A new artificial-intelligence platform has entered India’s retail trading landscape with a clear brief: equip individual participants with enough real-time technical understanding that they no longer have to trade on tips, guesswork or late-night commentary alone. Kwala Intel (kwalaintel.com) is being presented as a user-friendly market-intelligence tool designed to help retail traders read technical indicators, interpret what is unfolding on the chart, and make more informed decisions while positions are open. In a market where regulatory data shows that the large majority of individual futures and options traders finish the year with losses, any system that aims to improve decision quality is drawing attention. The Trust Problem the Data Keeps Highlighting SEBI’s studies of individual traders in the equity F&O segment have become a standing reference point. Across multi-year windows, loss rates have remained extremely high — in some periods above 90 per cent of unique individual participants after transaction costs. Cumulative losses over five years have been estimated at around Rs 3.85 lakh crore. Even after participation moderated in FY26, roughly 87–88 per cent of remaining individual traders still recorded net losses, with options accounting for the bulk of the damage. Those figures have concerned regulators, brokers and educators alike. They also help explain a quieter erosion of trust among participants who entered in large numbers after the COVID-era retail boom. Many discovered that access to a trading app was not the same as access to usable market intelligence. Tips arrived easily; continuous, understandable technical context did not. The familiar cycle followed: entry on a tip, hours of uncertainty, then an exit driven by emotion. Repeated losses reduced both capital and confidence. Also read: This Indian AI is bringing market intelligence to intraday traders What the New Platform Is Trying to Change Kwala Intel frames itself as an intelligence layer rather than a tip engine. Users can query charts and market structure in plain language, receive explanations of technical indicators and key levels, and see visual context linking the commentary to actual price action. The intent is to give retail participants a practical way to apply the same categories of information professional desks treat as routine: support and resistance, momentum readings, pattern structure and related signals. The platform is also positioned for continuous use, not only during market hours. That matters for traders who review positions, prepare levels or learn after the close. By remaining available as a companion rather than a one-time alert service, it aims to support both decision-making and ongoing learning. Also read: This Indian AI is making stock charts easier to understand in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and other Indian languages Company representatives have described an explicit ambition: over the coming year, to help reduce the share of retail participants who lose money through purely uninformed or tip-dependent trading. Whether any single platform can shift industry-wide loss rates remains an open question. What is clear is the problem the product is built around — the persistence of high retail loss ratios despite years of easy market access. A Generation That Arrived After COVID Much of the recent expansion in retail participation has come from younger adults, roughly in the 22–30 age band, who began trading actively after the pandemic. This group is digitally native, comfortable with apps and conversational interfaces, and often more willing to try new tools than earlier cohorts. It is also a group that has experienced both the excitement of easy onboarding and the disappointment of repeated losses in derivatives. Platforms that speak this cohort’s language — simple interfaces, on-demand explanations, visual feedback — are betting that behaviour can still be shaped. If technical structure becomes easier to query and understand, a larger share of these traders may move from speculative tip-following toward more deliberate, context-aware decisions. That would mark a shift from the dominant retail pattern of the post-COVID years. Trend Change or Incremental Tool? Claims of a complete trend change should be treated with caution. Loss rates are driven by leverage, options product design, behavioural biases and the advantages of better-capitalised counterparties — not only by the absence of chart explanations. No AI companion removes the need for risk limits or the decision not to trade at all. At the same time, after years in which retail growth was fuelled mainly by access — discount brokerages, smartphone apps, social distribution of ideas — a second wave of tools is focusing on interpretation. Kwala Intel is one of the newer entrants in that wave. Its success will ultimately be measured by whether users trade with clearer context, fewer blind intervals, and, over time, better outcomes than the broad averages published by SEBI. For now, the platform’s arrival adds another data point to a larger experiment: whether giving retail participants a user-friendly way to understand technical indicators and live market structure can help restore a degree of trust that years of high loss rates have eroded — especially among younger traders who still have the longest road ahead. Disclaimer: Trading in equity derivatives involves substantial risk of loss. SEBI data cited pertains to individual traders in the equity F&O segment. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Ambitions attributed to platforms reflect stated positioning, not guaranteed outcomes.

With SEBI data showing most individual F&amp;O traders still losing money, Kwala Intel positions itself as a user-friendly intelligence layer for younger participants who entered markets after COVID — aiming to rebuild trust through understanding rather than tips.

New AI platform enters market betting it can help retail traders stop flying blind

German firm ZEISS, best known for high-precision optics and opto-electronics, has opened its first Innovation Hub outside of its home country. This facility has been established at the IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP), which is India’s first university-based research park, created to bridge the gap between academia and industry, and accelerate deep-tech innovation. The hub will focus on areas including advanced frugal engineering, harsh-environment optics, robotics and fluid dynamics, while fostering interdisciplinary research with real-world industrial applications. The firm did not reveal its investment in this Indian facility.&nbsp;According to ZEISS, its Chennai-based Innovation Hub is meant to enhance collaboration between the firm's global research network and the IIT Madras ecosystem, bringing together faculty, researchers, startups and industry to accelerate long-term research and technology translation. It will also support researcher exchanges, postgraduate research and closer engagement with IIT Madras students and graduates.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bar-council-has-no-power-to-discipline-law-students-before-enrollment-supreme-court-1788442808743">Bar Council has no power to discipline law students before enrollment: Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;Natarajan Malupillai, Group CEO, IITM Research Park &amp; Incubation Cell, said the establishment of the ZEISS Innovation Hub at IIT Madras Research Park is a significant milestone for both our institutions. “ZEISS brings 180 years of leadership in precision optics, microscopy and advanced engineering, while IIT Madras Research Park has built one of India's most vibrant deep-tech innovation ecosystems. By joining hands, we have an opportunity to combine these complementary strengths to accelerate frontier research, develop globally competitive technologies to create a distinct innovation advantage that benefits both industry and society,” he commented.&nbsp;&nbsp;Further, he highlighted that IIT Madras Research Park continues to strengthen its position as a destination for global corporations seeking research-led collaboration in India. Today, the ecosystem brings together over 250 research-driven companies &amp; labs, startups and Centres of Excellence.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-ready-to-help-end-russia-ukraine-war-says-eam-jaishankar-during-kyiv-visit-1788437687980">India ready to help end Russia-Ukraine war, says EAM Jaishankar during Kyiv visit</a>&nbsp;Speaking at the launch, Andreas Pecher, President and CEO of the ZEISS Group, said that the establishment of the ZEISS Innovation Hub in Chennai, India, reflects the firm's confidence in the country's rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem and its growing significance as a strategic market. The dynamic ecosystem at IIT Madras Research Park provides an ideal platform to co-develop future-ready solutions and shape the next generation of technologies for India and the world, he added.&nbsp;Pecher revealed that in the previous fiscal year ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros, across major sectors such as: Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality &amp; Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets. On the importance of R&amp;D spending, he said that his group invests 14 percent of its revenue in research and development.

ZEISS said its Innovation Hub is meant to enhance collaboration between the firm's global research network and the IIT Madras ecosystem, bringing together faculty, researchers, startups and industry to accelerate long-term research and technology translation.

German firm ZEISS, best known for high-precision optics and opto-electronics, has opened its first Innovation Hub outside of its home country. This facility has been established at the IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP), which is India’s first university-based research park, created to bridge the gap between academia and industry, and accelerate deep-tech innovation. The hub will focus on areas including advanced frugal engineering, harsh-environment optics, robotics and fluid dynamics, while fostering interdisciplinary research with real-world industrial applications. The firm did not reveal its investment in this Indian facility. According to ZEISS, its Chennai-based Innovation Hub is meant to enhance collaboration between the firm's global research network and the IIT Madras ecosystem, bringing together faculty, researchers, startups and industry to accelerate long-term research and technology translation. It will also support researcher exchanges, postgraduate research and closer engagement with IIT Madras students and graduates. Also Read: Bar Council has no power to discipline law students before enrollment: Supreme Court Natarajan Malupillai, Group CEO, IITM Research Park & Incubation Cell, said the establishment of the ZEISS Innovation Hub at IIT Madras Research Park is a significant milestone for both our institutions. “ZEISS brings 180 years of leadership in precision optics, microscopy and advanced engineering, while IIT Madras Research Park has built one of India's most vibrant deep-tech innovation ecosystems. By joining hands, we have an opportunity to combine these complementary strengths to accelerate frontier research, develop globally competitive technologies to create a distinct innovation advantage that benefits both industry and society,” he commented. Further, he highlighted that IIT Madras Research Park continues to strengthen its position as a destination for global corporations seeking research-led collaboration in India. Today, the ecosystem brings together over 250 research-driven companies & labs, startups and Centres of Excellence. Also Read: India ready to help end Russia-Ukraine war, says EAM Jaishankar during Kyiv visit Speaking at the launch, Andreas Pecher, President and CEO of the ZEISS Group, said that the establishment of the ZEISS Innovation Hub in Chennai, India, reflects the firm's confidence in the country's rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem and its growing significance as a strategic market. The dynamic ecosystem at IIT Madras Research Park provides an ideal platform to co-develop future-ready solutions and shape the next generation of technologies for India and the world, he added. Pecher revealed that in the previous fiscal year ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros, across major sectors such as: Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets. On the importance of R&D spending, he said that his group invests 14 percent of its revenue in research and development.

ZEISS said its Innovation Hub is meant to enhance collaboration between the firm's global research network and the IIT Madras ecosystem, bringing together faculty, researchers, startups and industry to accelerate long-term research and technology translation.

Zeiss opens Innovation Hub at IIT-M Research Park; 1st outside Germany

Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, in a major move that takes the chip giant deeper into the software and open-source side of artificial intelligence. But the deal did not begin with Nvidia knocking on Hugging Face’s door.&nbsp;Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue told CNBC that his company approached Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang first. He said the discussions moved quickly and, just weeks later, the companies had agreed on a deal. Delangue said Hugging Face had reached a “turning point” and needed more resources, scale and visibility.&nbsp;<h2>Why Nvidia wants Hugging Face</h2>Hugging Face has become one of the biggest platforms for developers working with open-source AI models. Its platform lets researchers and developers share, discover and work with AI models, datasets and tools. Nvidia has already worked with Hugging Face, including integrating its DGX Cloud infrastructure with the platform to give developers access to AI supercomputing.&nbsp;The acquisition therefore gives Nvidia something that its GPUs alone cannot provide: a much deeper connection with the developers building AI models and applications. Nvidia said Hugging Face will remain an open platform for the wider AI ecosystem. Huang said the companies will work to scale its platform, strengthen its infrastructure and expand access to AI for developers and institutions worldwide.&nbsp;<h2>Nvidia is going far beyond chips</h2>The $12.9 billion deal shows how Nvidia’s ambitions are expanding. The company became the central hardware supplier behind the generative AI boom, but Huang has increasingly positioned Nvidia as a full AI computing platform rather than simply a chipmaker. Nvidia’s latest results show the scale of that business. It reported $96.2 billion in quarterly revenue, with data-centre revenue reaching $89 billion.&nbsp;Buying Hugging Face takes Nvidia further up the AI stack, closer to the models, developers and software that turn computing power into useful AI products.&nbsp;<h2>A major acquisition for Nvidia</h2>The Hugging Face purchase would rank among Nvidia’s largest acquisitions. The company’s strategy has increasingly involved partnerships and investments across the AI ecosystem, including model developers and infrastructure companies. For Hugging Face, meanwhile, Delangue said Nvidia was a “perfect home” for the company and its open-source community. The deal comes at an important moment for open AI models, as developers increasingly look beyond a small group of closed AI labs. Nvidia now wants to be part of that shift not just by supplying the chips, but by owning a major part of the platform where the next generation of AI developers builds.

Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion after Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue approached Jensen Huang about a deal. The acquisition gives Nvidia a major open-source AI platform and expands its business beyond chips.

Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, in a major move that takes the chip giant deeper into the software and open-source side of artificial intelligence. But the deal did not begin with Nvidia knocking on Hugging Face’s door. Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue told CNBC that his company approached Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang first. He said the discussions moved quickly and, just weeks later, the companies had agreed on a deal. Delangue said Hugging Face had reached a “turning point” and needed more resources, scale and visibility. Why Nvidia wants Hugging Face Hugging Face has become one of the biggest platforms for developers working with open-source AI models. Its platform lets researchers and developers share, discover and work with AI models, datasets and tools. Nvidia has already worked with Hugging Face, including integrating its DGX Cloud infrastructure with the platform to give developers access to AI supercomputing. The acquisition therefore gives Nvidia something that its GPUs alone cannot provide: a much deeper connection with the developers building AI models and applications. Nvidia said Hugging Face will remain an open platform for the wider AI ecosystem. Huang said the companies will work to scale its platform, strengthen its infrastructure and expand access to AI for developers and institutions worldwide. Nvidia is going far beyond chips The $12.9 billion deal shows how Nvidia’s ambitions are expanding. The company became the central hardware supplier behind the generative AI boom, but Huang has increasingly positioned Nvidia as a full AI computing platform rather than simply a chipmaker. Nvidia’s latest results show the scale of that business. It reported $96.2 billion in quarterly revenue, with data-centre revenue reaching $89 billion. Buying Hugging Face takes Nvidia further up the AI stack, closer to the models, developers and software that turn computing power into useful AI products. A major acquisition for Nvidia The Hugging Face purchase would rank among Nvidia’s largest acquisitions. The company’s strategy has increasingly involved partnerships and investments across the AI ecosystem, including model developers and infrastructure companies. For Hugging Face, meanwhile, Delangue said Nvidia was a “perfect home” for the company and its open-source community. The deal comes at an important moment for open AI models, as developers increasingly look beyond a small group of closed AI labs. Nvidia now wants to be part of that shift not just by supplying the chips, but by owning a major part of the platform where the next generation of AI developers builds.

Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion after Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue approached Jensen Huang about a deal. The acquisition gives Nvidia a major open-source AI platform and expands its business beyond chips.

Jensen Huang’s Nvidia makes a huge open-source AI bet with Hugging Face deal

There was a time when people used to treat money with caution, with the idea of saving first, spending carefully and avoiding unnecessary debt. But that approach has now reshaped after the advent of AI, which makes managing money feel less like a chore and more like a game in the form of "financial entertainment". Currently, everything is quick, as we can shop on EMI, utilise credit, invest, buy insurance or receive financial advice on the phone. Therefore, buying anything within budget doesn't require thinking twice, as money decisions based on investment awareness help utilise savings conveniently, without considering priorities, security, temptation, and consequences. At the moment, India is moving from basic financial literacy to narrative-driven financial entertainment after the entry of AI has reshaped how young people interact with money in terms of investment and budgeting. Even a new generation of AI-powered market-intelligence tools also helps make technical analysis more accessible to India’s multilingual retail-investor base. These types of platforms allow users to ask questions about stocks, technical indicators and market trends in multiple Indian languages and receive explanations linked to market charts. To understand India’s financial markets with a stock chart has always been challenging. This includes candlesticks, moving averages, oscillators and technical indicators, which were often accompanied by unfamiliar English terminology, leaving many users dependent on simplified tips rather than understanding how a conclusion was reached. To provide this facility and make the audience more entertained while knowing or learning about investing, an AI market-intelligence platform, Kwala Intel, has been launched in India with a focus on markets, allowing users to ask questions about technical indicators of stocks and market trends in multiple Indian languages as well as receive detailed market charts. To turn financial awareness into financial entertainment, casual video games are also engaged for consumers in a financial education experience that helps increase financial knowledge and confidence in financial actions and real-world behaviour change.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/from-rote-learning-to-chat-native-learning-how-ai-is-changing-way-students-prepare-for-competitive-exams-1788091762847">From rote learning to chat-native learning: How AI is changing way students prepare for competitive exam</a>s<h3>AI can sharpen financial decisions</h3>Financial experts have also indicated that financial conversations today are often either too technical or too focused on returns, missing the person behind the decision. Traditionally, a savings-driven economy where caution ruled- save first, spend carefully, avoid debt- but India now finds itself in a world of instant EMIs, one-tap credit, and financial opinions delivered within minutes on a phone screen. They have also noted that after the entry of artificial intelligence in this sector, it can sharpen financial decision-making without replacing it entirely. 1. Why do you believe India needs a dedicated financial entertainment property at this point in its economic journey?&nbsp;MahekTomer, Creator, India’s Future Investors: I feel India’s relationship with money has moved much faster than the way we talk about money. Financial conversations are everywhere today, but they are often either too technical or too focused on what to buy, where to invest or how much someone can earn. What interests me more is the person behind the decision. How do we behave when money is limited, time is running out, and there is pressure to choose? That question became an important starting point for India’s Future Investors. I believe money deserves a place in mainstream entertainment because it is already part of everyone’s life.&nbsp;2. India has traditionally been a savings-driven economy. What has changed in the way Indians think about money that makes financial entertainment relevant today?&nbsp;MahekTomer: I grew up seeing money treated with a certain caution: save first, spend carefully and avoid unnecessary debt. That instinct still exists, but the world around it has completely changed. Today, everything is immediate. You can shop on EMI, access credit, invest, buy insurance or hear someone’s financial opinion within minutes on your phone. So people are making far more money decisions, much faster than before. For me, that is the real change. Access to financial products has become incredibly easy; developing the judgement to use that access responsibly still takes time. That gap is where better financial conversations are needed.&nbsp;3. Can entertainment play a meaningful role in improving financial awareness and changing how people approach money?&nbsp;MahekTomer: Absolutely, because sometimes experiencing a question is more powerful than being taught the answer. Suppose you have ₹50,000 saved and something you really want suddenly becomes available at half price, but buying it would mean using half your savings. What would you do? There isn’t enough information yet to declare one answer right or wrong—and that’s the point. You start thinking about priorities, security, temptation and consequences. This is what excites me about financial entertainment and what we are exploring through India’s Future Investors. Don’t just explain money to people. Give them a situation and let them discover how they think about it.&nbsp;4. As AI becomes increasingly capable of analysing data and making recommendations, what role do human judgement and emotional intelligence continue to play in financial decision-making?&nbsp;MahekTomer: AI can calculate faster than us, process enormous amounts of information and probably identify patterns we would miss. But money decisions are not made by numbers alone; they are made by people who have to live with the consequences. An answer can make perfect mathematical sense and still not be right for someone’s life. Family responsibilities, fear, ambition, security and the ability to sleep peacefully after taking a risk cannot always be reduced to a calculation. I see AI as an extraordinary tool for better information. But information can support judgement; it cannot take responsibility for the decision. That part remains human.&nbsp;5. Can AI make people better investors, or does over-reliance on technology create new risks?&nbsp;MahekTomer: I think AI can help us ask better questions and understand information faster. The risk begins when we stop asking questions altogether. A confident answer on a screen can easily feel like the correct answer, particularly to someone who does not yet understand the assumptions or risks behind it. That worries me more than AI itself. We shouldn’t outsource our judgement simply because technology makes it convenient. In fact, I think financial literacy in the AI age needs one additional skill: knowing when to question the machine. Use AI to become better informed, certainly—but don’t allow convenience to replace curiosity, judgement or responsibility. Similarly, Dr Ashish Chandra, CEO &amp; Founder - GFF AI, stated that AI can dramatically improve financial decision-making by processing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and testing scenarios at a speed no individual can match. However, he added that finance is not purely a mathematical problem. He noted that human judgement remains critical as investment decisions are shaped by uncertainty, changing context, personal objectives and, importantly, emotion. "AI may tell an investor what the data suggests; emotional intelligence helps determine whether that recommendation is appropriate for the individual. During periods of market euphoria or panic, understanding fear, greed, risk tolerance and behavioural biases can be as important as analysing fundamentals. Used well, AI can certainly make people better investors. It can democratise sophisticated research, improve financial literacy, personalise insights and help investors challenge their own assumptions. The danger is treating AI as an oracle rather than a decision-support system. Models can inherit biases, misinterpret unusual market conditions or generate recommendations with unjustified confidence. The strongest model for the future is therefore not AI replacing human judgement, but AI augmenting it: machines providing analytical intelligence, while humans retain accountability, context, ethics and the final investment decision," he said. &nbsp;

India is moving from basic financial literacy to narrative-driven financial entertainment after the entry of AI has reshaped how young people interact with money in terms of investment and budgeting.

There was a time when people used to treat money with caution, with the idea of saving first, spending carefully and avoiding unnecessary debt. But that approach has now reshaped after the advent of AI, which makes managing money feel less like a chore and more like a game in the form of "financial entertainment". Currently, everything is quick, as we can shop on EMI, utilise credit, invest, buy insurance or receive financial advice on the phone. Therefore, buying anything within budget doesn't require thinking twice, as money decisions based on investment awareness help utilise savings conveniently, without considering priorities, security, temptation, and consequences. At the moment, India is moving from basic financial literacy to narrative-driven financial entertainment after the entry of AI has reshaped how young people interact with money in terms of investment and budgeting. Even a new generation of AI-powered market-intelligence tools also helps make technical analysis more accessible to India’s multilingual retail-investor base. These types of platforms allow users to ask questions about stocks, technical indicators and market trends in multiple Indian languages and receive explanations linked to market charts. To understand India’s financial markets with a stock chart has always been challenging. This includes candlesticks, moving averages, oscillators and technical indicators, which were often accompanied by unfamiliar English terminology, leaving many users dependent on simplified tips rather than understanding how a conclusion was reached. To provide this facility and make the audience more entertained while knowing or learning about investing, an AI market-intelligence platform, Kwala Intel, has been launched in India with a focus on markets, allowing users to ask questions about technical indicators of stocks and market trends in multiple Indian languages as well as receive detailed market charts. To turn financial awareness into financial entertainment, casual video games are also engaged for consumers in a financial education experience that helps increase financial knowledge and confidence in financial actions and real-world behaviour change. Also read: From rote learning to chat-native learning: How AI is changing way students prepare for competitive exams AI can sharpen financial decisions Financial experts have also indicated that financial conversations today are often either too technical or too focused on returns, missing the person behind the decision. Traditionally, a savings-driven economy where caution ruled- save first, spend carefully, avoid debt- but India now finds itself in a world of instant EMIs, one-tap credit, and financial opinions delivered within minutes on a phone screen. They have also noted that after the entry of artificial intelligence in this sector, it can sharpen financial decision-making without replacing it entirely. 1. Why do you believe India needs a dedicated financial entertainment property at this point in its economic journey? MahekTomer, Creator, India’s Future Investors: I feel India’s relationship with money has moved much faster than the way we talk about money. Financial conversations are everywhere today, but they are often either too technical or too focused on what to buy, where to invest or how much someone can earn. What interests me more is the person behind the decision. How do we behave when money is limited, time is running out, and there is pressure to choose? That question became an important starting point for India’s Future Investors. I believe money deserves a place in mainstream entertainment because it is already part of everyone’s life. 2. India has traditionally been a savings-driven economy. What has changed in the way Indians think about money that makes financial entertainment relevant today? MahekTomer: I grew up seeing money treated with a certain caution: save first, spend carefully and avoid unnecessary debt. That instinct still exists, but the world around it has completely changed. Today, everything is immediate. You can shop on EMI, access credit, invest, buy insurance or hear someone’s financial opinion within minutes on your phone. So people are making far more money decisions, much faster than before. For me, that is the real change. Access to financial products has become incredibly easy; developing the judgement to use that access responsibly still takes time. That gap is where better financial conversations are needed. 3. Can entertainment play a meaningful role in improving financial awareness and changing how people approach money? MahekTomer: Absolutely, because sometimes experiencing a question is more powerful than being taught the answer. Suppose you have ₹50,000 saved and something you really want suddenly becomes available at half price, but buying it would mean using half your savings. What would you do? There isn’t enough information yet to declare one answer right or wrong—and that’s the point. You start thinking about priorities, security, temptation and consequences. This is what excites me about financial entertainment and what we are exploring through India’s Future Investors. Don’t just explain money to people. Give them a situation and let them discover how they think about it. 4. As AI becomes increasingly capable of analysing data and making recommendations, what role do human judgement and emotional intelligence continue to play in financial decision-making? MahekTomer: AI can calculate faster than us, process enormous amounts of information and probably identify patterns we would miss. But money decisions are not made by numbers alone; they are made by people who have to live with the consequences. An answer can make perfect mathematical sense and still not be right for someone’s life. Family responsibilities, fear, ambition, security and the ability to sleep peacefully after taking a risk cannot always be reduced to a calculation. I see AI as an extraordinary tool for better information. But information can support judgement; it cannot take responsibility for the decision. That part remains human. 5. Can AI make people better investors, or does over-reliance on technology create new risks? MahekTomer: I think AI can help us ask better questions and understand information faster. The risk begins when we stop asking questions altogether. A confident answer on a screen can easily feel like the correct answer, particularly to someone who does not yet understand the assumptions or risks behind it. That worries me more than AI itself. We shouldn’t outsource our judgement simply because technology makes it convenient. In fact, I think financial literacy in the AI age needs one additional skill: knowing when to question the machine. Use AI to become better informed, certainly—but don’t allow convenience to replace curiosity, judgement or responsibility. Similarly, Dr Ashish Chandra, CEO & Founder - GFF AI, stated that AI can dramatically improve financial decision-making by processing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and testing scenarios at a speed no individual can match. However, he added that finance is not purely a mathematical problem. He noted that human judgement remains critical as investment decisions are shaped by uncertainty, changing context, personal objectives and, importantly, emotion. "AI may tell an investor what the data suggests; emotional intelligence helps determine whether that recommendation is appropriate for the individual. During periods of market euphoria or panic, understanding fear, greed, risk tolerance and behavioural biases can be as important as analysing fundamentals. Used well, AI can certainly make people better investors. It can democratise sophisticated research, improve financial literacy, personalise insights and help investors challenge their own assumptions. The danger is treating AI as an oracle rather than a decision-support system. Models can inherit biases, misinterpret unusual market conditions or generate recommendations with unjustified confidence. The strongest model for the future is therefore not AI replacing human judgement, but AI augmenting it: machines providing analytical intelligence, while humans retain accountability, context, ethics and the final investment decision," he said.

India is moving from basic financial literacy to narrative-driven financial entertainment after the entry of AI has reshaped how young people interact with money in terms of investment and budgeting.

From financial awareness to financial entertainment: How India's money mindset is changing in the age of AI

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has reportedly offered American investors access to the country's vast mineral wealth as it seeks closer ties with Washington. The Taliban has also reportedly urged the US to lift sanctions and release billions of dollars in frozen Afghan assets as part of efforts to improve economic and diplomatic relations.As per the Financial Times report, the overture comes five years after the Taliban returned to power following the withdrawal of US-led Nato forces from Afghanistan and the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government. US President Donald Trump had previously described the withdrawal and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government as "the most embarrassing thing in the history of our country".Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/schizophrenia-hallucinations-delusions-iran-slams-trump-advises-him-to-consult-psychologists-after-us-prez-calls-hormuz-us-terrotory-1787926399000">‘Schizophrenia, hallucinations, delusions’: Iran slams Trump, advises him to consult psychologists after US prez calls Hormuz ‘US terrotory’</a>According to the Financial Times, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Afghanistan was "absolutely" open to US investment in sectors including mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade. "Relations between Afghanistan and the United States should not be assessed through the lens of the past 20 years of war, but rather on the basis of future co-operation," the FT quoted Muttaqi as saying during an interview at his office in Kabul.<h2>Taliban's $1 trillion mineral wealth</h2>Afghanistan is estimated to have at least $1 trillion worth of mineral resources, according to geological surveys conducted by the US and the former Western-backed Afghan government.The country's mineral deposits include copper, iron ore, niobium, cobalt, gold and lithium. Much of this wealth remains undeveloped after decades of conflict.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/weapons-equipment-technical-and-tactical-iran-says-it-has-new-surprises-ready-if-another-war-breaks-out-1787911559031">‘Weapons, equipment, technical and tactical’: Iran says it has new ‘surprises’ ready if another war breaks out</a>Since taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban has sought to attract foreign investment and develop its natural resources. The group has announced more than $7 billion in mining investments since 2021 involving countries including China and Iran, the FT reported.

The Taliban government is offering US investors access to Afghanistan’s $1 trillion mineral reserves, urging Washington to lift sanctions, unfreeze assets, and establish new economic ties.

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has reportedly offered American investors access to the country's vast mineral wealth as it seeks closer ties with Washington. The Taliban has also reportedly urged the US to lift sanctions and release billions of dollars in frozen Afghan assets as part of efforts to improve economic and diplomatic relations. As per the Financial Times report, the overture comes five years after the Taliban returned to power following the withdrawal of US-led Nato forces from Afghanistan and the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government. US President Donald Trump had previously described the withdrawal and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government as "the most embarrassing thing in the history of our country". Also read: ‘Schizophrenia, hallucinations, delusions’: Iran slams Trump, advises him to consult psychologists after US prez calls Hormuz ‘US terrotory’ According to the Financial Times, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Afghanistan was "absolutely" open to US investment in sectors including mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade. "Relations between Afghanistan and the United States should not be assessed through the lens of the past 20 years of war, but rather on the basis of future co-operation," the FT quoted Muttaqi as saying during an interview at his office in Kabul. Taliban's $1 trillion mineral wealth Afghanistan is estimated to have at least $1 trillion worth of mineral resources, according to geological surveys conducted by the US and the former Western-backed Afghan government. The country's mineral deposits include copper, iron ore, niobium, cobalt, gold and lithium. Much of this wealth remains undeveloped after decades of conflict. Also read: ‘Weapons, equipment, technical and tactical’: Iran says it has new ‘surprises’ ready if another war breaks out Since taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban has sought to attract foreign investment and develop its natural resources. The group has announced more than $7 billion in mining investments since 2021 involving countries including China and Iran, the FT reported.

The Taliban government is offering US investors access to Afghanistan’s $1 trillion mineral reserves, urging Washington to lift sanctions, unfreeze assets, and establish new economic ties.

Taliban woos US investors with $1 trillion mineral wealth, seeks sanctions relief: Report

A new generation of AI-powered market-intelligence tools is attempting to make technical analysis more accessible to India’s multilingual retail-investor base. Kwala Intel, an AI market-intelligence platform focused on Indian markets, allows users to ask questions about stocks, technical indicators and market trends in multiple Indian languages and receive explanations linked to market charts. For millions of retail participants entering India’s financial markets, understanding a stock chart can be almost as challenging as understanding the market itself. Candlesticks, moving averages, oscillators and technical indicators are often accompanied by unfamiliar English terminology, leaving many users dependent on simplified tips rather than understanding how a conclusion was reached.<h2> The Need for Better Retail-Market Education</h2> The development comes against a backdrop of rapidly changing retail participation in Indian markets. SEBI studies have repeatedly highlighted the difficulties faced by individual traders in the futures and options segment, including high rates of losses among retail participants. The numbers have reinforced a broader debate around financial education and the risks of participating in increasingly complex financial products without sufficient understanding. For multilingual users, that gap has an additional dimension. Access to information is not necessarily the same as access to information in a language and format that feels intuitive. That challenge becomes more significant in a country where investors consume financial content in multiple languages. While stock exchanges and much of the financial ecosystem operate primarily in English, many retail users prefer to learn, research and discuss markets in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and other Indian languages. Artificial intelligence is now beginning to address both sides of this problem — the complexity of market data and the language barrier.<h2>Making Technical Analysis Easier to Understand</h2>Technical analysis uses a relatively defined set of concepts to study price movements, momentum and market behaviour. Indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Bollinger Bands and Fibonacci retracements are widely used by market participants. The difficulty for newer users is often not the concept itself, but understanding what the indicator is showing and how it relates to the price chart. For example, an RSI reading may indicate that recent price movements have become unusually strong in one direction. MACD can be used to study changes in momentum, while Bollinger Bands help users examine price movement and volatility around a moving average. Support and resistance levels can provide context around areas where buying or selling activity has historically appeared. AI-powered interfaces are changing that interaction by allowing users to ask questions directly rather than having to search for every individual concept.<h2>Asking the Chart in Your Own Language</h2>Kwala Intel is an example of this emerging approach. The AI-powered market-intelligence platform is designed around a conversational interface through which users can explore stocks, market data and technical-analysis concepts across multiple Indian languages. Instead of navigating several research screens, users can ask questions in a more natural format. A user could ask what the important support and resistance levels are for a stock, whether momentum appears to be strengthening or weakening, or what a particular technical indicator is showing. &nbsp;The platform combines the conversational response with visual market information, allowing users to connect an explanation with the underlying chart rather than receiving only a textbook definition. For example, a user asking about RSI does not necessarily need to remember the indicator’s formula first. The interaction can begin with a simple question and move toward an explanation of what the indicator is showing on the relevant chart. This approach could be particularly relevant for users who are more comfortable communicating in Indian languages.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kwala Intel supports interactions across languages including Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil and Telugu. The founder says its objective is not to eliminate the need for financial knowledge, but to make that knowledge easier to access and understand. &nbsp;<h2>Beyond Indicators: A Broader Market-Research Companion</h2> The use case also extends beyond individual technical indicators. Users can explore company information, understand quarterly results, learn about options and ask broader questions about how different parts of the financial market work. This creates a different model of financial research. Instead of treating market information as a collection of separate screens, reports and terminology, a conversational AI interface allows users to move from one question to the next. That can be useful outside market hours as well. Investors often review charts after the trading session, try to understand a failed setup, examine company results or prepare questions for the following day. A conversational research platform can provide a continuous environment for that learning process.<h2>A More Conversational Future for Financial Research</h2>The emergence of platforms such as Kwala Intel reflects a wider shift in how consumers interact with information. Search engines once required users to know the right keywords. Conversational AI allows users to describe what they want to understand in ordinary language. Applied to financial markets, that shift could make technical concepts more approachable for a wider section of India’s retail-investor population. Website: KwalaIntel.com&nbsp;

Kwala Intel is using AI to make stock-market research and technical analysis easier in Indian languages. The platform lets users ask questions about stocks, charts and indicators in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and other languages, helping simplify market insights for retail investors.

A new generation of AI-powered market-intelligence tools is attempting to make technical analysis more accessible to India’s multilingual retail-investor base. Kwala Intel, an AI market-intelligence platform focused on Indian markets, allows users to ask questions about stocks, technical indicators and market trends in multiple Indian languages and receive explanations linked to market charts. For millions of retail participants entering India’s financial markets, understanding a stock chart can be almost as challenging as understanding the market itself. Candlesticks, moving averages, oscillators and technical indicators are often accompanied by unfamiliar English terminology, leaving many users dependent on simplified tips rather than understanding how a conclusion was reached. The Need for Better Retail-Market Education The development comes against a backdrop of rapidly changing retail participation in Indian markets. SEBI studies have repeatedly highlighted the difficulties faced by individual traders in the futures and options segment, including high rates of losses among retail participants. The numbers have reinforced a broader debate around financial education and the risks of participating in increasingly complex financial products without sufficient understanding. For multilingual users, that gap has an additional dimension. Access to information is not necessarily the same as access to information in a language and format that feels intuitive. That challenge becomes more significant in a country where investors consume financial content in multiple languages. While stock exchanges and much of the financial ecosystem operate primarily in English, many retail users prefer to learn, research and discuss markets in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and other Indian languages. Artificial intelligence is now beginning to address both sides of this problem — the complexity of market data and the language barrier. Making Technical Analysis Easier to Understand Technical analysis uses a relatively defined set of concepts to study price movements, momentum and market behaviour. Indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Bollinger Bands and Fibonacci retracements are widely used by market participants. The difficulty for newer users is often not the concept itself, but understanding what the indicator is showing and how it relates to the price chart. For example, an RSI reading may indicate that recent price movements have become unusually strong in one direction. MACD can be used to study changes in momentum, while Bollinger Bands help users examine price movement and volatility around a moving average. Support and resistance levels can provide context around areas where buying or selling activity has historically appeared. AI-powered interfaces are changing that interaction by allowing users to ask questions directly rather than having to search for every individual concept. Asking the Chart in Your Own Language Kwala Intel is an example of this emerging approach. The AI-powered market-intelligence platform is designed around a conversational interface through which users can explore stocks, market data and technical-analysis concepts across multiple Indian languages. Instead of navigating several research screens, users can ask questions in a more natural format. A user could ask what the important support and resistance levels are for a stock, whether momentum appears to be strengthening or weakening, or what a particular technical indicator is showing. The platform combines the conversational response with visual market information, allowing users to connect an explanation with the underlying chart rather than receiving only a textbook definition. For example, a user asking about RSI does not necessarily need to remember the indicator’s formula first. The interaction can begin with a simple question and move toward an explanation of what the indicator is showing on the relevant chart. This approach could be particularly relevant for users who are more comfortable communicating in Indian languages. Kwala Intel supports interactions across languages including Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil and Telugu. The founder says its objective is not to eliminate the need for financial knowledge, but to make that knowledge easier to access and understand. Beyond Indicators: A Broader Market-Research Companion The use case also extends beyond individual technical indicators. Users can explore company information, understand quarterly results, learn about options and ask broader questions about how different parts of the financial market work. This creates a different model of financial research. Instead of treating market information as a collection of separate screens, reports and terminology, a conversational AI interface allows users to move from one question to the next. That can be useful outside market hours as well. Investors often review charts after the trading session, try to understand a failed setup, examine company results or prepare questions for the following day. A conversational research platform can provide a continuous environment for that learning process. A More Conversational Future for Financial Research The emergence of platforms such as Kwala Intel reflects a wider shift in how consumers interact with information. Search engines once required users to know the right keywords. Conversational AI allows users to describe what they want to understand in ordinary language. Applied to financial markets, that shift could make technical concepts more approachable for a wider section of India’s retail-investor population. Website: KwalaIntel.com

Kwala Intel is using AI to make stock-market research and technical analysis easier in Indian languages. The platform lets users ask questions about stocks, charts and indicators in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and other languages, helping simplify market insights for retail investors.

This Indian AI is making stock charts easier to understand in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and other Indian languages

Eggs, long considered one of India's most affordable sources of protein, are becoming increasingly expensive. Prices have risen by around 35–40% over the past year, with farm-level prices at about Rs 7 per egg and retail prices varying significantly across markets. Recent reports have also highlighted much higher prices on some online delivery platforms. The increase comes at a crucial time for the poultry industry. Egg demand generally strengthens during the winter months, raising concerns that prices could face further upward pressure if feed costs remain high. At the centre of the issue is maize, one of the most important ingredients used in poultry feed.<h2>Why maize matters for egg prices</h2>Maize is a major source of energy in poultry diets. As more maize is diverted towards ethanol production under India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme, poultry producers are facing increased competition for the crop. In simple terms, maize that could have gone into poultry feed is increasingly being used by ethanol producers. That does not mean ethanol production is solely responsible for the egg-price increase. However, the additional demand has tightened the balance between supply and competing uses of maize, contributing to higher feed costs. Recent industry reports have specifically linked rising maize prices with increasing poultry-feed costs.<h2>How much maize is going towards ethanol?</h2>Government data illustrates how dramatically the use of maize for ethanol has expanded. According to a 2025 Lok Sabha reply by Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, 125.75 lakh metric tonnes of maize were utilised for ethanol production during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024–25. Maize-based distilleries had been allocated around 477.8 crore litres of ethanol during the same supply year.&nbsp;The increase has been particularly sharp. Maize use for ethanol rose from around 8.3 lakh tonnes to 125.75 lakh tonnes in two years, representing an increase of more than 15 times. An allocation of roughly 125.78 lakh tonnes has also been cited for ESY 2025–26, although actual utilisation can differ from the allocation. This expansion has changed the dynamics of India's ethanol market, with maize emerging as a major feedstock as grain-based ethanol production expands.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-pm-modi-tells-sco-dismantle-terrorism-s-entire-ecosystem-1788243680906">Indian PM Modi tells SCO: Dismantle terrorism’s ‘entire ecosystem’</a><h2>How does expensive maize translate into expensive eggs?</h2>The chain is relatively straightforward: Higher ethanol demand → greater maize demand → higher maize prices → higher poultry-feed costs → higher egg-production costs → pressure on egg prices. Maize is not the only factor involved, but it is an important one. When feed becomes more expensive, poultry farmers have to absorb some of the increase or pass it through the supply chain. If production costs rise while consumer demand remains strong, retail egg prices can move higher. This is why the current egg-price increase has attracted attention beyond the poultry industry.<h2>Winter demand could put further pressure on prices</h2>Seasonality is another important factor. Egg consumption generally increases during the colder months as household demand strengthens and hotels, restaurants and other institutional buyers require more supplies. If maize and other feed costs remain elevated when winter demand increases, poultry farmers could face additional cost pressure. That creates the possibility that egg prices may remain elevated or rise further during the coming months. Recent industry reports have also warned of increased pressure as winter approaches.<h3>What does the egg-price surge mean for consumers?</h3>For consumers, the immediate impact is straightforward: one of India's most accessible sources of high-quality protein is becoming more expensive. The concern is particularly significant for households that rely on eggs as an affordable alternative to more expensive protein sources. If maize prices remain high and winter demand strengthens, egg prices could remain under pressure. At the same time, India's growing maize production could eventually help ease the supply-demand imbalance if output expands quickly enough to meet demand from ethanol, poultry, starch and other industries.&nbsp;The central issue is therefore not simply that India is producing too little maize. India is producing more maize, but it is also finding more uses for every tonne of it. That competition between food, feed and fuel is at the heart of the latest egg-price shock.

Egg prices in India have surged nearly 40% as maize diversion for ethanol raises poultry feed costs. Here’s why eggs may get costlier this winter

Eggs, long considered one of India's most affordable sources of protein, are becoming increasingly expensive. Prices have risen by around 35–40% over the past year, with farm-level prices at about Rs 7 per egg and retail prices varying significantly across markets. Recent reports have also highlighted much higher prices on some online delivery platforms. The increase comes at a crucial time for the poultry industry. Egg demand generally strengthens during the winter months, raising concerns that prices could face further upward pressure if feed costs remain high. At the centre of the issue is maize, one of the most important ingredients used in poultry feed. Why maize matters for egg prices Maize is a major source of energy in poultry diets. As more maize is diverted towards ethanol production under India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme, poultry producers are facing increased competition for the crop. In simple terms, maize that could have gone into poultry feed is increasingly being used by ethanol producers. That does not mean ethanol production is solely responsible for the egg-price increase. However, the additional demand has tightened the balance between supply and competing uses of maize, contributing to higher feed costs. Recent industry reports have specifically linked rising maize prices with increasing poultry-feed costs. How much maize is going towards ethanol? Government data illustrates how dramatically the use of maize for ethanol has expanded. According to a 2025 Lok Sabha reply by Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, 125.75 lakh metric tonnes of maize were utilised for ethanol production during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024–25. Maize-based distilleries had been allocated around 477.8 crore litres of ethanol during the same supply year. The increase has been particularly sharp. Maize use for ethanol rose from around 8.3 lakh tonnes to 125.75 lakh tonnes in two years, representing an increase of more than 15 times. An allocation of roughly 125.78 lakh tonnes has also been cited for ESY 2025–26, although actual utilisation can differ from the allocation. This expansion has changed the dynamics of India's ethanol market, with maize emerging as a major feedstock as grain-based ethanol production expands. Also Read: Indian PM Modi tells SCO: Dismantle terrorism’s ‘entire ecosystem’ How does expensive maize translate into expensive eggs? The chain is relatively straightforward: Higher ethanol demand → greater maize demand → higher maize prices → higher poultry-feed costs → higher egg-production costs → pressure on egg prices. Maize is not the only factor involved, but it is an important one. When feed becomes more expensive, poultry farmers have to absorb some of the increase or pass it through the supply chain. If production costs rise while consumer demand remains strong, retail egg prices can move higher. This is why the current egg-price increase has attracted attention beyond the poultry industry. Winter demand could put further pressure on prices Seasonality is another important factor. Egg consumption generally increases during the colder months as household demand strengthens and hotels, restaurants and other institutional buyers require more supplies. If maize and other feed costs remain elevated when winter demand increases, poultry farmers could face additional cost pressure. That creates the possibility that egg prices may remain elevated or rise further during the coming months. Recent industry reports have also warned of increased pressure as winter approaches. What does the egg-price surge mean for consumers? For consumers, the immediate impact is straightforward: one of India's most accessible sources of high-quality protein is becoming more expensive. The concern is particularly significant for households that rely on eggs as an affordable alternative to more expensive protein sources. If maize prices remain high and winter demand strengthens, egg prices could remain under pressure. At the same time, India's growing maize production could eventually help ease the supply-demand imbalance if output expands quickly enough to meet demand from ethanol, poultry, starch and other industries. The central issue is therefore not simply that India is producing too little maize. India is producing more maize, but it is also finding more uses for every tonne of it. That competition between food, feed and fuel is at the heart of the latest egg-price shock.

Egg prices have jumped nearly 40% as maize demand from ethanol pushes up poultry feed costs, with winter demand threatening further price rises

Will eggs get more expensive this winter? Ethanol push puts maize supply under pressure

India’s retail traders in the equity derivatives (F&amp;O) segment have been accruing losses over the years. As per SEBI report published on August 20, 2026, individual traders in India’s equity derivatives (F&amp;O) segment have lost approximately Rs 3.85 lakh crore over the last five financial years.&nbsp;The F&amp;O segment traders grew from 42.7 lakh in FY22 to 1.06 crore in FY25 and so did loss figures.&nbsp;In FY26, SEBI’s measures cut the active base by 18%, but still 87.7% of those who remained lost money. The average loss was Rs 1.17 lakh.&nbsp;<h2>If retail traders are losing, who is booking profits?</h2>&nbsp;Only about 1% of all individual traders managed profits exceeding Rs 1 lakh across the three-year period. The top 3.5% of loss-making traders — roughly 4 lakh people — lost around Rs 28 lakh each over FY22–FY24 on an average.In FY26, options accounted for roughly 92% of aggregate losses. Options trading—a purely technical instrument—is being treated like a lottery ticket.On the other hand, proprietary traders reportedly generated over Rs 44,000 crore in gross profit, and FPIs around Rs 14,000 crore—with a large share linked to algorithmic trading.The inference is clear: markets reward better information, technology and speed. An average retail trader did not stand a chance.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Kwala Intel: Helping the retail trader</h2>&nbsp;Against this backdrop, Kwala Intel has launched what it describes as an AI-powered market intelligence platform designed to help retail traders interpret charts and technical indicators.&nbsp;The company says its platform is aimed at helping individual traders bridge the information and decision-making gap and is priced at less than Rs 4 a day.&nbsp;Kwala Intel’s AI-powered market intelligence platform studies live market feeds, performs full technical analysis, and explains what the chart may be signalling.&nbsp;The platform automatically identifies:&nbsp;•&nbsp; Fibonacci retracements and extensions — key levels marked in real time•&nbsp; RSI, MACD, moving averages and momentum confirmation•&nbsp; Support and resistance zones as they form•&nbsp; Chart patterns — flags, wedges, breakouts and breakdowns•&nbsp; Volume and price-action signals revealing larger market participation&nbsp;Retail investors can ask it what the chart is saying and get an answer based on live data and technical indicators.&nbsp;<h2>Why was Kwala Intel founded?&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;The founder of Kwala Intel has been himself a trader who knows what retail traders face in reality and are never sure when to hold or when to exit.There are several tips platforms that recommend a buy, target and stop-loss, but nothing more.SEBI’s data proves that nine out of ten traders lose, year after year.“Earlier, people invested for the long term. Today everyone wants quick money. We understand that. But quick money without intelligence is just gambling. What traders need is a live, intelligent companion that explains what support is forming and what the chart is saying. That is why we built Kwala Intel,” said the founder.&nbsp;Kwala Intel’s platform costs less than Rs 4 a day—cheaper than a cup of roadside tea, and cheaper than the brokerage on many bad trades. The average losing F&amp;O trader lost Rs 1.17 lakh in FY26 alone. Kwala Intel costs less in an entire year than what the average trader loses in a single morning.&nbsp;<h2>The bigger picture</h2>&nbsp;SEBI’s five-year data tells a clear story, as even after participation fell, 87.7% of those who remained kept losing. The real problem remains decision quality, risk management, information gaps and behaviour—an intelligence gap.Kwala Intel was built to close this very gap. India’s retail trading revolution brought crores of new participants into the market. Now, for the first time, there is a platform built to make sure they don’t have to trade blind.&nbsp;Disclaimer: Trading in equity derivatives involves substantial risk. SEBI data cited pertains to individual traders in the equity F&amp;O segment. Readers should exercise independent judgment before making investment decisions.

Kwala Intel’s AI-powered market intelligence platform studies live market feeds, performs full technical analysis, and explains what the chart may be signalling. The platform is aimed at helping individual traders bridge the information and decision-making gap.

India’s retail traders in the equity derivatives (F&O) segment have been accruing losses over the years. As per SEBI report published on August 20, 2026, individual traders in India’s equity derivatives (F&O) segment have lost approximately Rs 3.85 lakh crore over the last five financial years. The F&O segment traders grew from 42.7 lakh in FY22 to 1.06 crore in FY25 and so did loss figures. In FY26, SEBI’s measures cut the active base by 18%, but still 87.7% of those who remained lost money. The average loss was Rs 1.17 lakh. If retail traders are losing, who is booking profits? Only about 1% of all individual traders managed profits exceeding Rs 1 lakh across the three-year period. The top 3.5% of loss-making traders — roughly 4 lakh people — lost around Rs 28 lakh each over FY22–FY24 on an average. In FY26, options accounted for roughly 92% of aggregate losses. Options trading—a purely technical instrument—is being treated like a lottery ticket. On the other hand, proprietary traders reportedly generated over Rs 44,000 crore in gross profit, and FPIs around Rs 14,000 crore—with a large share linked to algorithmic trading. The inference is clear: markets reward better information, technology and speed. An average retail trader did not stand a chance. Kwala Intel: Helping the retail trader Against this backdrop, Kwala Intel has launched what it describes as an AI-powered market intelligence platform designed to help retail traders interpret charts and technical indicators. The company says its platform is aimed at helping individual traders bridge the information and decision-making gap and is priced at less than Rs 4 a day. Kwala Intel’s AI-powered market intelligence platform studies live market feeds, performs full technical analysis, and explains what the chart may be signalling. The platform automatically identifies: • Fibonacci retracements and extensions — key levels marked in real time • RSI, MACD, moving averages and momentum confirmation • Support and resistance zones as they form • Chart patterns — flags, wedges, breakouts and breakdowns • Volume and price-action signals revealing larger market participation Retail investors can ask it what the chart is saying and get an answer based on live data and technical indicators. Why was Kwala Intel founded? The founder of Kwala Intel has been himself a trader who knows what retail traders face in reality and are never sure when to hold or when to exit. There are several tips platforms that recommend a buy, target and stop-loss, but nothing more. SEBI’s data proves that nine out of ten traders lose, year after year. “Earlier, people invested for the long term. Today everyone wants quick money. We understand that. But quick money without intelligence is just gambling. What traders need is a live, intelligent companion that explains what support is forming and what the chart is saying. That is why we built Kwala Intel,” said the founder. Kwala Intel’s platform costs less than Rs 4 a day—cheaper than a cup of roadside tea, and cheaper than the brokerage on many bad trades. The average losing F&O trader lost Rs 1.17 lakh in FY26 alone. Kwala Intel costs less in an entire year than what the average trader loses in a single morning. The bigger picture SEBI’s five-year data tells a clear story, as even after participation fell, 87.7% of those who remained kept losing. The real problem remains decision quality, risk management, information gaps and behaviour—an intelligence gap. Kwala Intel was built to close this very gap. India’s retail trading revolution brought crores of new participants into the market. Now, for the first time, there is a platform built to make sure they don’t have to trade blind. Disclaimer: Trading in equity derivatives involves substantial risk. SEBI data cited pertains to individual traders in the equity F&O segment. Readers should exercise independent judgment before making investment decisions.

Kwala Intel’s AI-powered market intelligence platform studies live market feeds, performs full technical analysis, and explains what the chart may be signalling. The platform is aimed at helping individual traders bridge the information and decision-making gap.

India gets its first AI-powered platform for retail traders, will help them end their losing streak

Defying the uncertainty in global trade, high energy prices and geopolitical tensions, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rose to 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of financial year 2027 (FY27), beating all estimates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the growth as “exemplary”.&nbsp;As per government data released on Monday, the GDP growth in the April-June quarter was higher than 7 per cent estimated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), showing resilience despite a challenging global environment.&nbsp;The GDP growth in the April-June quarter was lower than the preceding one, which came in at 8.6 per cent, but was higher than the 6.9 per cent of the same quarter last financial year.&nbsp;&nbsp;The stronger-than-expected growth is even more significant as it comes despite various pressures like geopolitical tensions, elevated energy prices and uncertainty over global trade.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/islam-superior-to-all-other-religions-says-karnataka-minister-basavaraj-rayareddy-bjp-demands-apology-1788123594820">‘Islam superior to all other religions,’ says Karnataka minister Basavaraj Rayareddy; BJP demands apology</a>&nbsp;<h2>High domestic demand a key support for economic activity</h2>&nbsp;High domestic demand remained a key support for economic activity, while government capital expenditure, manufacturing, construction and exports also contributed to growth.The June-quarter performance follows a 7.8% growth in the January-March quarter of FY26.&nbsp;&nbsp;Manufacturing and construction were among the areas supporting the economy during the quarter. Stronger industrial activity towards the end of the quarter also provided support to overall growth.The figures highlight the importance of India’s domestic economy amid global tensions, tariff wars and geopolitical realignments, as a relatively large domestic consumer market helped cushion the economy from the weakness in global demand and trade.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pak-based-terrorist-handlers-isi-using-porn-sites-and-encrypted-apps-to-communicate-with-recruits-in-j-k-1788115668072">Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&amp;K</a>&nbsp;The data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reveals that sectors including financial, real estate, IT and professional services boosted India’s growth in the first quarter of FY27.&nbsp;<h2>‘Doomsayers doomed, India bloomed’</h2>&nbsp;Hailing the GDP growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India’s exemplary GDP growth of 7.8% during Q1 of FY 2026-27 is a herculean feat.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Doomsayers were doomed and India bloomed...yet again!”, he further wrote in a post on X.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India’s exemplary GDP growth of 7.8% during Q1 of FY 2026-27 is a herculean feat. The collective strength of our people ensured India delivered such growth despite oil price shocks and supply chain issues in the midst of global uncertainties. Doomsayers were doomed and India…&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2094384211960721459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had claimed in June that a massive “economic tsunami” is coming.&nbsp;&nbsp;Addressing an event at the Congress headquarters, Rahul Gandhi said, “A massive economic tsunami is coming, prices are rising and this is just the beginning. India will witness an economic crisis you have never seen before. This is happening, and no one can stop this.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-nepal-floods-himachal-identifies-67-vulnerable-glacial-lakes-plans-early-warning-systems-for-4-high-risk-ones-1788107314977">After Nepal floods, Himachal identifies 67 vulnerable glacial lakes, plans early warning systems for 4 high-risk ones</a>&nbsp;Real GDP, or GDP at Constant Prices, in Q1 was estimated at Rs 81.36 lakh crore, as against Rs 75.46 lakh crore in the same quarter last year, bringing the growth rate to 7.8 per cent.&nbsp;Nominal GDP, which represents the value of goods and services without accounting for inflation, witnessed a growth of 10.3 per cent in Q1 FY27, against a growth of 8.1 per cent during the same period in the last financial year.&nbsp;Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman credited India’s growth to the “hard work” of Indians.“The credit for this strong performance goes to the people of India and their hard work. Reforms undertaken by the NDA Government, together with an agile management of the economy, are bearing results,” she wrote in a post on X.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Estimated growth of real GDP in Q1 of FY 2026–27 is 7.8%. Nominal GDP in Q1 of FY 2026–27 is estimated to have grown by 10.3%, while Real GVA has recorded growth of 8.2%. The credit for this strong performance goes to the people of India and their hard work. Reforms undertaken…&mdash; Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) <a href="https://x.com/nsitharaman/status/2094379212958277636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

She further said that the NDA government was “committed to further expanding economic opportunities for all our citizens.”

The stronger-than-expected GDP growth is even more significant as it comes despite various pressures like geopolitical tensions, elevated energy prices and uncertainty over global trade. High domestic demand remained a key support for economic activity.

Defying the uncertainty in global trade, high energy prices and geopolitical tensions, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rose to 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of financial year 2027 (FY27), beating all estimates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the growth as “exemplary”. As per government data released on Monday, the GDP growth in the April-June quarter was higher than 7 per cent estimated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), showing resilience despite a challenging global environment. The GDP growth in the April-June quarter was lower than the preceding one, which came in at 8.6 per cent, but was higher than the 6.9 per cent of the same quarter last financial year. The stronger-than-expected growth is even more significant as it comes despite various pressures like geopolitical tensions, elevated energy prices and uncertainty over global trade. Also Read: ‘Islam superior to all other religions,’ says Karnataka minister Basavaraj Rayareddy; BJP demands apology High domestic demand a key support for economic activity High domestic demand remained a key support for economic activity, while government capital expenditure, manufacturing, construction and exports also contributed to growth. The June-quarter performance follows a 7.8% growth in the January-March quarter of FY26. Manufacturing and construction were among the areas supporting the economy during the quarter. Stronger industrial activity towards the end of the quarter also provided support to overall growth. The figures highlight the importance of India’s domestic economy amid global tensions, tariff wars and geopolitical realignments, as a relatively large domestic consumer market helped cushion the economy from the weakness in global demand and trade. Also Read: Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&K The data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reveals that sectors including financial, real estate, IT and professional services boosted India’s growth in the first quarter of FY27. ‘Doomsayers doomed, India bloomed’ Hailing the GDP growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India’s exemplary GDP growth of 7.8% during Q1 of FY 2026-27 is a herculean feat.” “Doomsayers were doomed and India bloomed...yet again!”, he further wrote in a post on X.

The stronger-than-expected GDP growth is even more significant as it comes despite various pressures like geopolitical tensions, elevated energy prices and uncertainty over global trade. High domestic demand remained a key support for economic activity.

‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions

The office of Dr. Subhash Chandra has issued a detailed statement on the settlement order in his personal insolvency proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), saying that social media reactions over the past three days have created a “wrong perception” of the matter.&nbsp;Dr. Chandra’s office said the statement intends to explain the financial position of the personal guarantor and the repayment plan prepared during the insolvency proceedings.&nbsp;According to the statement, the total amount disbursed by the lenders listed in the proceedings was approximately Rs 4,808 crore. Borrowers had repaid Rs 3,803 crore, leaving an outstanding balance of about Rs 998 crore. However, claims filed against the personal guarantor amounted to Rs 5,311 crore.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nclt-case-dr-subhash-chandra-denies-reports-of-rs-22-000-crore-loan-urges-media-to-correct-facts-1787841820299">NCLT case: Dr Subhash Chandra denies reports of Rs 22,000-crore loan, urges media to correct facts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I have seen &amp; observed social media posts since past 3 days on the issue. Some of the posts also included hashtags like <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PaiseVapasKaro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PaiseVapasKaro</a>.There has been a wrong perception &amp; understanding about the matter. Hence,I am giving a detailed account of the entire matter. <a href="https://t.co/UbL5xXFq6L">pic.twitter.com/UbL5xXFq6L</a>&mdash; Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) <a href="https://x.com/subhashchandra/status/2094048435175608384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the statement, Dr Chandra signed personal guarantees aggregating ₹22,000 crore. Of these, guarantees worth around ₹4,800 crore were signed when funds were borrowed by the respective entities. The remaining guarantees, it said, were signed after defaults had occurred.The statement emphasised that the underlying loans were taken by various companies and not by Dr Chandra in his personal capacity and it presented a lender-wise account of the claims submitted in the personal insolvency proceedings initiated by Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the figures shared by Dr Chandra’s office, lenders covered in the statement had collectively disbursed ₹4,808 crore to the borrowing entities. Of this, the borrowers had repaid ₹3,803 crore, leaving a balance of ₹998 crore.However, claims totalling ₹5,311 crore were filed against Dr Chandra as the personal guarantor. Following the settlement or payment of claims amounting to ₹1,049 crore, the remaining claims stood at ₹4,262 crore, the statement said.

&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr Chandra maintained that the difference between the amount described as payable and the claims submitted by lenders would need to be reconciled between the lenders and the respective borrowing entities.He further said he had discussed the matter with the borrowers and had received assurances that the remaining ₹4,262 crore would be settled after reconciliation with the lenders.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nclt-case-dr-subhash-chandra-says-claims-not-true-and-inaccurately-represent-facts-over-reports-of-rs-22-000-crore-loan-1787913325091">NCLT case: Dr Subhash Chandra says 'claims not true and inaccurately represent facts' over reports of 'Rs 22,000 crore loan'</a>&nbsp;Dr Chandra’s office added that the borrowing entities had also raised money from foreign funds, domestic funds, non-banking financial companies and corporates. It claimed that most of these borrowings had either been settled or were in the process of being settled.Dr Chandra urged lenders to engage directly with the borrowing entities, reconcile the outstanding accounts and recover the amounts due from them&nbsp;The statement came after posts circulated online, some carrying hashtags such as #PaiseVapasKaro and #PaisaWapasKaro.&nbsp;The statement added that other borrowings from foreign funds, domestic funds, NBFCs and corporates were also being settled or were backed by adequate assets.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Essel Group Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra (<a href="https://x.com/subhashchandra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@subhashchandra</a>) announces an Instagram Live on Monday, August 31, from 9 am onwards, where he will directly address the recent NCLT proceedings and his personal insolvency case<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SubhashChandraLive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SubhashChandraLive</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Askmeanything?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Askmeanything</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AskMeDirectly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AskMeDirectly</a>… <a href="https://t.co/5k3IgtuW00">pic.twitter.com/5k3IgtuW00</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2093966232399782332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Dr. Chandra also announced an Instagram Live on Monday, August 31, from 9 am onwards, where he will directly address the recent NCLT proceedings and his personal insolvency case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The statement said that the difference between the amount described as payable and the claims submitted by lenders would need to be reconciled. Dr Chandra discussed with the borrowers and received assurances that the remaining ₹4,262 crore would be settled after reconciliation with lenders.

The office of Dr. Subhash Chandra has issued a detailed statement on the settlement order in his personal insolvency proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), saying that social media reactions over the past three days have created a “wrong perception” of the matter. Dr. Chandra’s office said the statement intends to explain the financial position of the personal guarantor and the repayment plan prepared during the insolvency proceedings. According to the statement, the total amount disbursed by the lenders listed in the proceedings was approximately Rs 4,808 crore. Borrowers had repaid Rs 3,803 crore, leaving an outstanding balance of about Rs 998 crore. However, claims filed against the personal guarantor amounted to Rs 5,311 crore. Also Read: NCLT case: Dr Subhash Chandra denies reports of Rs 22,000-crore loan, urges media to correct facts

The statement said that the difference between the amount described as payable and the claims submitted by lenders would need to be reconciled. Dr Chandra discussed with the borrowers and received assurances that the remaining ₹4,262 crore would be settled after reconciliation with lenders.

Borrowers will settle ₹4,262 crore after reconciliation: Dr Subhash Chandra

Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Friday (Aug 28) said that the oil agreement announced by US President Donald Trump could generate more than $209 billion in taxes for Venezuela. This comes as Caracas prepares to open 17 strategic oil fields to private operators, particularly US companies.Rodriguez described the arrangement as a major step towards reviving Venezuela's battered energy industry after years of underinvestment, mismanagement, and sanctions.In a statement shared on Telegram, Rodriguez said the agreement would bring more than $100 billion in investment into the country's oil sector. "The agreement will allow for a significant increase in oil production with the participation of private operators," Rodriguez said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-venezuela-oil-deal-65-billion-barrels-us-control-1787964008355">Trump claims 'biggest oil deal in world history' with Venezuela, says US will control majority of 65 billion barrels</a><h2>17 oil fields, 65 billion barrels</h2>According to Rodriguez, the plan covers 17 strategic fields with a proven potential of 65 billion barrels of oil. She said the investments would go towards recovering and modernising Venezuela's hydrocarbons industry and rebuilding strategic infrastructure."This initiative is the result of the strengthening of relations between Venezuela and the United States, and it will facilitate a significant flow of investment aimed at the recovery and reconstruction of strategic infrastructure for the development of our hydrocarbons industry," she said.Rodriguez noted that the project was expected to generate more than $209 billion in taxes for the Venezuelan state. She also linked the deal to broader economic and energy objectives, saying it could support Venezuela's economic growth while contributing to "the energy security of our hemisphere" and greater balance in international markets.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-canada-trade-war-trump-orders-lake-ontario-renamed-lake-america-canada-hits-back-1787878478524">US-Canada trade war: Canada hits back as Trump orders Lake Ontario renamed 'Lake America'</a><h2>Trump seeks more Venezuelan oil</h2>Trump announced the agreement on Friday, saying the United States would secure majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves through a partnership with private companies.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the arrangement as a win for both countries and said it could draw nearly $100 billion in private investment into Venezuela.Rubio also argued that increased Venezuelan production could help bring down gasoline prices in the United States.<h2>Venezuela seeks to revive oil output</h2>Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, but its production remains well below its potential. The country currently produces around 1.25 million barrels of crude a day.The proposed agreements are expected to be signed next week and would grant new exploration and production rights to several companies, with American firms expected to play a major role.

Venezuela has revealed what it stands to gain from the oil deal with the US. As Caracas prepares to open 17 strategic fields to private operators, the government says the deal could unlock a huge tax windfall.

Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Friday (Aug 28) said that the oil agreement announced by US President Donald Trump could generate more than $209 billion in taxes for Venezuela. This comes as Caracas prepares to open 17 strategic oil fields to private operators, particularly US companies. Rodriguez described the arrangement as a major step towards reviving Venezuela's battered energy industry after years of underinvestment, mismanagement, and sanctions. In a statement shared on Telegram, Rodriguez said the agreement would bring more than $100 billion in investment into the country's oil sector. "The agreement will allow for a significant increase in oil production with the participation of private operators," Rodriguez said. Also read | Trump claims 'biggest oil deal in world history' with Venezuela, says US will control majority of 65 billion barrels 17 oil fields, 65 billion barrels According to Rodriguez, the plan covers 17 strategic fields with a proven potential of 65 billion barrels of oil. She said the investments would go towards recovering and modernising Venezuela's hydrocarbons industry and rebuilding strategic infrastructure. "This initiative is the result of the strengthening of relations between Venezuela and the United States, and it will facilitate a significant flow of investment aimed at the recovery and reconstruction of strategic infrastructure for the development of our hydrocarbons industry," she said. Rodriguez noted that the project was expected to generate more than $209 billion in taxes for the Venezuelan state. She also linked the deal to broader economic and energy objectives, saying it could support Venezuela's economic growth while contributing to "the energy security of our hemisphere" and greater balance in international markets. Also read | US-Canada trade war: Canada hits back as Trump orders Lake Ontario renamed 'Lake America' Trump seeks more Venezuelan oil Trump announced the agreement on Friday, saying the United States would secure majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves through a partnership with private companies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the arrangement as a win for both countries and said it could draw nearly $100 billion in private investment into Venezuela. Rubio also argued that increased Venezuelan production could help bring down gasoline prices in the United States. Venezuela seeks to revive oil output Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, but its production remains well below its potential. The country currently produces around 1.25 million barrels of crude a day. The proposed agreements are expected to be signed next week and would grant new exploration and production rights to several companies, with American firms expected to play a major role.

Venezuela has revealed what it stands to gain from the oil deal with the US. As Caracas prepares to open 17 strategic fields to private operators, the government says the deal could unlock a huge tax windfall.

$209 billion for Venezuela? Delcy Rodriguez reveals what Caracas stands to gain from Trump's oil deal

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 28) announced that his administration had struck what he described as a massive oil agreement with Venezuela that would give the United States majority control of 65 billion barrels of the country's proven petroleum reserves.Trump called it "the biggest oil deal in world history", while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the arrangement would bring nearly $100 billion in private investment into Venezuela.The Venezuelan government had not immediately confirmed the deal.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-decodes-two-thirds-of-ships-crossing-hormuz-are-now-dark-what-does-that-mean-1787645012571">WION Decodes: Two-thirds of ships crossing Hormuz are now 'dark'. What does that mean?</a><h2>Trump says deal will boost US oil reserves</h2>Announcing the agreement on Truth Social, Trump said the arrangement would more than double US oil reserves. He said Rubio and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had reached the agreement with Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodriguez through a partnership involving private companies."This Transaction will greatly strengthen the already growing relationship between Venezuela and the United States!" Trump wrote.

Rubio said the agreement was another example of Trump's "America First" approach. "For the Venezuelan people, this deal will bring nearly $100 billion in private investment, support thousands of high-paying jobs, and drive the reconstruction of Venezuela's economy," Rubio wrote on X.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-women-problem-white-women-abandoning-republicans-ahead-of-2026-midterms-shows-report-1787906287196">Trump's women problem? White women abandoning Republicans ahead of 2026 midterms, shows report</a>He also said the deal would secure stable reserves and low-cost oil in the Western Hemisphere while helping bring down gasoline prices in the US.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This deal is a huge win for both the American and Venezuelan people. It demonstrates how President Trump&#39;s bold foreign policy is driving America First wins: securing stable reserves and low-cost oil in our Hemisphere and lowering gas prices here at home. For the Venezuelan… <a href="https://t.co/SMSRYGWmVb">https://t.co/SMSRYGWmVb</a>&mdash; Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://x.com/SecRubio/status/2093472965404860812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Deal follows talks over major Venezuelan oil fields</h2>The announcement follows reports that Washington and Caracas had been discussing a much larger arrangement involving Venezuelan oil production.Previously, Axios reported that the two countries were negotiating over a dozen productive oil fields holding around 90 billion barrels of proven reserves, or roughly a third of Venezuela's total proven reserves of 300 billion barrels.Under the reported structure, private companies, including US firms, would receive ownership stakes and develop the fields, with more oil revenue flowing back to Venezuela.Trump's announcement referred to majority control of 65 billion barrels of proven reserves, but the material provided does not explain how that figure relates to the previously reported 90 billion barrels.The deal also comes after the US ousted and captured longtime Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January. His former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, remained as interim leader on condition that she cooperate with Washington.&nbsp;

Donald Trump says the US has secured a massive new oil deal with Venezuela. He has described it as the biggest in history, but what exactly does Washington get, and what does Caracas stand to gain? All details below.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 28) announced that his administration had struck what he described as a massive oil agreement with Venezuela that would give the United States majority control of 65 billion barrels of the country's proven petroleum reserves. Trump called it "the biggest oil deal in world history", while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the arrangement would bring nearly $100 billion in private investment into Venezuela. The Venezuelan government had not immediately confirmed the deal. Also read | WION Decodes: Two-thirds of ships crossing Hormuz are now 'dark'. What does that mean? Trump says deal will boost US oil reserves Announcing the agreement on Truth Social, Trump said the arrangement would more than double US oil reserves. He said Rubio and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had reached the agreement with Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodriguez through a partnership involving private companies. "This Transaction will greatly strengthen the already growing relationship between Venezuela and the United States!" Trump wrote.

Donald Trump says the US has secured a massive new oil deal with Venezuela. He has described it as the biggest in history, but what exactly does Washington get, and what does Caracas stand to gain? All details below.

Trump claims 'biggest oil deal in world history' with Venezuela, says US will control majority of 65 billion barrels

India's foreign exchange reserves rose sharply by $12.42 billion in the week ended August 21, taking the total reserves to $729.33 billion, according to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).&nbsp;The rise was mainly driven by an increase in foreign currency assets, while gold reserves also posted a strong weekly gain.&nbsp;The $12.42 billion weekly increase came primarily from sustained foreign currency inflows. These followed the RBI's measures in June to attract overseas deposits and foreign currency borrowings. The central bank accumulated part of these inflows in its reserves.&nbsp;In rupee terms, India's total foreign exchange reserves stood at Rs 69.81 lakh crore as of August 21.&nbsp;The reserves have increased by $38.22 billion from the end of March 2026 and by $38.61 billion over the past year. This shows a sustained improvement in India's external reserve position.&nbsp;Foreign currency assets (FCAs), the largest component of India's foreign exchange reserves, increased by $9.48 billion during the week to $591.33 billion.&nbsp;On a year-on-year basis, FCAs were higher by $9.08 billion. In rupee terms, FCAs rose by Rs 1.08 lakh crore during the week to Rs 56.60 lakh crore.&nbsp;Gold reserves also contributed significantly to the weekly increase. The value of gold held as part of India's reserves rose by $2.80 billion to $114.22 billion during the week.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/race-to-power/us-midterms-companies-close-to-trump-prepare-for-possible-democratic-takeover-of-house-race-to-power-1787931360846">US midterms: Companies close to Trump prepare for possible Democratic takeover of House | Race to Power</a><h3>Reserves cross previous record</h3>India's previous record forex reserve level of $728.494 billion was reached in the week ended February 27. Geopolitical tensions that followed led to several weeks of decline in reserves as the rupee came under pressure and the RBI intervened in the forex market through dollar sales.&nbsp;The latest increase has pushed India's reserve buffer further above the end-March level, with gains recorded across foreign currency assets, gold, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and the IMF reserve position.&nbsp;RBI data also showed that foreign currency assets rose by Rs 1.08 lakh crore, while gold holdings increased by Rs 30,022 crore during the week ended August 21.

India's foreign exchange reserves surged by $12.42 billion to a record $729.33 billion in the week ended August 21, driven mainly by higher foreign currency assets and gold reserves.

India's foreign exchange reserves rose sharply by $12.42 billion in the week ended August 21, taking the total reserves to $729.33 billion, according to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The rise was mainly driven by an increase in foreign currency assets, while gold reserves also posted a strong weekly gain. The $12.42 billion weekly increase came primarily from sustained foreign currency inflows. These followed the RBI's measures in June to attract overseas deposits and foreign currency borrowings. The central bank accumulated part of these inflows in its reserves. In rupee terms, India's total foreign exchange reserves stood at Rs 69.81 lakh crore as of August 21. The reserves have increased by $38.22 billion from the end of March 2026 and by $38.61 billion over the past year. This shows a sustained improvement in India's external reserve position. Foreign currency assets (FCAs), the largest component of India's foreign exchange reserves, increased by $9.48 billion during the week to $591.33 billion. On a year-on-year basis, FCAs were higher by $9.08 billion. In rupee terms, FCAs rose by Rs 1.08 lakh crore during the week to Rs 56.60 lakh crore. Gold reserves also contributed significantly to the weekly increase. The value of gold held as part of India's reserves rose by $2.80 billion to $114.22 billion during the week. Also Read: US midterms: Companies close to Trump prepare for possible Democratic takeover of House | Race to Power Reserves cross previous record India's previous record forex reserve level of $728.494 billion was reached in the week ended February 27. Geopolitical tensions that followed led to several weeks of decline in reserves as the rupee came under pressure and the RBI intervened in the forex market through dollar sales. The latest increase has pushed India's reserve buffer further above the end-March level, with gains recorded across foreign currency assets, gold, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and the IMF reserve position. RBI data also showed that foreign currency assets rose by Rs 1.08 lakh crore, while gold holdings increased by Rs 30,022 crore during the week ended August 21.

India's foreign exchange reserves surged by $12.42 billion to a record $729.33 billion in the week ended August 21, driven mainly by higher foreign currency assets and gold reserves.

India’s forex reserves touch record high of $729.33 billion, rise $12.42 billion

Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra on Thursday disputed several figures and claims that have appeared in certain media reports over an NCLT loan-settlement order. He said in a statement that several reports suggesting that he had personally borrowed money or had guaranteed loans worth Rs 22,000 crore were incorrect, and urged media outlets to present the facts accurately.&nbsp;Dr Chandra issued an official statement saying that he is issuing a press release in the interest of all stakeholders. “I have to state that certain vested media houses are spreading wrong information about my personal insolvency matter in NCLT. I urge all media platforms to publish the facts and to remove any misinformation that is incorrectly interpreted from the Court order.”&nbsp;Dr Chandra said that he had not borrowed any money from any lender and was involved in the matter only in his capacity as a personal guarantor for borrowing entities associated with the Essel Group. He said that the total claims against him in the personal insolvency proceedings, filed by lenders objecting to the repayment plan, stood at Rs 3,992 crore, not Rs 22,000 crore as suggested in some reports.&nbsp;Besides, Rs 620 crore of the Rs 3,992 crore claims has already been settled, he said, adding that the borrowing entities have offered a further settlement of Rs 1,063 crore to the lenders concerned.&nbsp;Dr Chandra said that the borrowing entities for which he had provided personal guarantees had repaid nearly Rs 43,000 crore against total company dues of around Rs 45,000 crore as of January 24, 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;The borrowing entities have assured that they will settle any remaining amount.&nbsp;He also rejected reports regarding his personal net worth, saying that the market capitalisation of Essel Group companies had been incorrectly treated as his individual wealth.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Certain vested media houses are spreading wrong information about my personal insolvency matter in NCLT,” he said.&nbsp;He said the amounts quoted in reports were taken from documents showing claims filed in the case.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Rs 43,000 crore repaid by borrowing companies</h2>&nbsp;He said the companies for which he had given personal guarantees had total outstanding borrowings of around Rs 45,000 crore as of January 24, 2019.“Out of this, they have returned close to Rs.43000 crores since that day,” Dr Chandra said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr Chandra also referred to his declaration of assets made in Parliament in 2016, when he had declared total assets worth Rs 39.08 crore. He questioned how a bank could have accepted a personal net worth of Rs 45,888 crore in 2017 when his parliamentary declaration a year earlier had shown assets worth Rs 39.08 crore.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dr Subhash Chandra said he had not borrowed money from any lender and was involved in the matter only in his capacity as a personal guarantor for borrowing entities associated with the Essel Group. He said that the total claims against him  stood at Rs 3,992 crore, not Rs 22,000 crore.

Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra on Thursday disputed several figures and claims that have appeared in certain media reports over an NCLT loan-settlement order. He said in a statement that several reports suggesting that he had personally borrowed money or had guaranteed loans worth Rs 22,000 crore were incorrect, and urged media outlets to present the facts accurately. Dr Chandra issued an official statement saying that he is issuing a press release in the interest of all stakeholders. “I have to state that certain vested media houses are spreading wrong information about my personal insolvency matter in NCLT. I urge all media platforms to publish the facts and to remove any misinformation that is incorrectly interpreted from the Court order.” Dr Chandra said that he had not borrowed any money from any lender and was involved in the matter only in his capacity as a personal guarantor for borrowing entities associated with the Essel Group. He said that the total claims against him in the personal insolvency proceedings, filed by lenders objecting to the repayment plan, stood at Rs 3,992 crore, not Rs 22,000 crore as suggested in some reports. Besides, Rs 620 crore of the Rs 3,992 crore claims has already been settled, he said, adding that the borrowing entities have offered a further settlement of Rs 1,063 crore to the lenders concerned. Dr Chandra said that the borrowing entities for which he had provided personal guarantees had repaid nearly Rs 43,000 crore against total company dues of around Rs 45,000 crore as of January 24, 2019. The borrowing entities have assured that they will settle any remaining amount. He also rejected reports regarding his personal net worth, saying that the market capitalisation of Essel Group companies had been incorrectly treated as his individual wealth. “Certain vested media houses are spreading wrong information about my personal insolvency matter in NCLT,” he said. He said the amounts quoted in reports were taken from documents showing claims filed in the case. Rs 43,000 crore repaid by borrowing companies He said the companies for which he had given personal guarantees had total outstanding borrowings of around Rs 45,000 crore as of January 24, 2019. “Out of this, they have returned close to Rs.43000 crores since that day,” Dr Chandra said. Dr Chandra also referred to his declaration of assets made in Parliament in 2016, when he had declared total assets worth Rs 39.08 crore. He questioned how a bank could have accepted a personal net worth of Rs 45,888 crore in 2017 when his parliamentary declaration a year earlier had shown assets worth Rs 39.08 crore.

Dr Subhash Chandra said he had not borrowed money from any lender and was involved in the matter only in his capacity as a personal guarantor for borrowing entities associated with the Essel Group. He said that the total claims against him &nbsp;stood at Rs 3,992 crore, not Rs 22,000 crore.

NCLT case: Dr Subhash Chandra denies reports of Rs 22,000-crore loan, urges media to correct facts

A British-based cryptocurrency executive wanted in the US on wire fraud and market manipulation charges could be extradited to the US to stand trial after losing his legal challenge against being sent there. Manpreet Kohli, a 45-year-old Indian national and former chief executive of cryptocurrency company Saitama, was arrested in London in 2024 after US prosecutors accused him and more than a dozen others of carrying out widespread fraud.Saitama promoted a token on the Ethereum blockchain that at one point reached a market value of $7.5 billion. Prosecutors alleged that Kohli and his co-conspirators publicly claimed to be buying and holding Saitama tokens while privately selling them for millions of dollars in profit. Kohli is alleged to have made around $20 million.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oh-my-god-we-ve-found-other-agents-investigators-discover-not-one-or-two-almost-700-openai-ai-agents-went-rogue-hacked-hugging-face-1787793202974">'OH MY GOD!': Investigators find 688 OpenAI AI agents behind Hugging Face hack</a>The case followed an FBI investigation in which the agency, for the first time, created its own digital token as part of an operation to uncover cryptocurrency-related crime. Kohli challenged his extradition on several grounds, including concerns that US authorities would not have adequate measures in place to prevent him from taking his own life while in custody.However, Judge Samuel Goozee rejected his challenge on August 19 and referred the case to British ministers to decide whether his extradition should proceed. Such decisions are usually considered a formality.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/foreign-espionage-attacks-against-german-companies-surge-to-37-bitkom-report-reveals-1787768951594">Foreign espionage attacks against German companies surge to 37%, report reveals</a>In his ruling, Goozee said there were "clearly appropriate arrangements" in place during Kohli's transfer and within the US prison system to manage his mental health and reduce the risk of suicide to an acceptable level.Kohli remains free on £200,000 ($272,420) bail and can appeal against the ruling.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nepal-floods-157-dead-400-missing-us-india-china-world-bank-mobilise-aid-1787791144479">Nepal floods: 165 dead, 400 missing; US, India, China, World Bank mobilise aid</a>

Former Saitama CEO Manpreet Kohli lost his legal challenge against UK-to-US extradition over alleged $20 million wire fraud and market manipulation charges stemming from an FBI sting operation.



A British-based cryptocurrency executive wanted in the US on wire fraud and market manipulation charges could be extradited to the US to stand trial after losing his legal challenge against being sent there. Manpreet Kohli, a 45-year-old Indian national and former chief executive of cryptocurrency company Saitama, was arrested in London in 2024 after US prosecutors accused him and more than a dozen others of carrying out widespread fraud. Saitama promoted a token on the Ethereum blockchain that at one point reached a market value of $7.5 billion. Prosecutors alleged that Kohli and his co-conspirators publicly claimed to be buying and holding Saitama tokens while privately selling them for millions of dollars in profit. Kohli is alleged to have made around $20 million. Also read: 'OH MY GOD!': Investigators find 688 OpenAI AI agents behind Hugging Face hack The case followed an FBI investigation in which the agency, for the first time, created its own digital token as part of an operation to uncover cryptocurrency-related crime. Kohli challenged his extradition on several grounds, including concerns that US authorities would not have adequate measures in place to prevent him from taking his own life while in custody. However, Judge Samuel Goozee rejected his challenge on August 19 and referred the case to British ministers to decide whether his extradition should proceed. Such decisions are usually considered a formality. Also read: Foreign espionage attacks against German companies surge to 37%, report reveals In his ruling, Goozee said there were "clearly appropriate arrangements" in place during Kohli's transfer and within the US prison system to manage his mental health and reduce the risk of suicide to an acceptable level. Kohli remains free on £200,000 ($272,420) bail and can appeal against the ruling. Also read: Nepal floods: 165 dead, 400 missing; US, India, China, World Bank mobilise aid

Former Saitama CEO Manpreet Kohli lost his legal challenge against UK-to-US extradition over alleged $20 million wire fraud and market manipulation charges stemming from an FBI sting operation.&nbsp;

Crypto CEO faces extradition to US over $ 20mn fraud case. All about it

Iran is facing fresh US sanctions aimed at putting more pressure on its already strained economy. In the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, shopkeepers say the impact is being felt directly through higher exchange rates, rising costs and pressure on everyday livelihoods.But Tehran says it can withstand the pressure, and is counting on major trading partners such as China and Russia to keep doing business with Iran. At the same time, the Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the crisis, disrupting a vital global shipping route.For Iranian consumers, the sanctions story is ultimately about something much closer to home, the cost of living. Shopkeepers in Bandar Abbas say the fall in the value of the Iranian currency and restrictions on trade are making imported goods more expensive and putting pressure on household budgets.Qasem Shoja, a home appliance salesperson, said, "Under any circumstances, sanctions do inflict blows. The rise in the exchange rate affects life and livelihood, but ultimately, we are Iranians, and Iranians know how to bypass sanctions well."The latest US measures were announced on August 24 by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Washington says countries that continue trading with Iran could eventually risk losing access to the dollar-based financial system.But the new measures stopped short of the most severe options, and the US has not given a timeline or named countries that could be targeted.For businesses in Iran, that uncertainty matters. Importers face higher costs, while retailers have to decide how much of that increase can be passed on to customers already dealing with economic pressure.Omid Baghapour Darayaee, a clothing store owner, said, "In the way that we are under pressure, we are 100% distressed. The youth have many grievances against the officials who, really, really in my opinion, they are traitors. Why? Because they truly do not attend to the people's suffering. To me, being a responsible official means that the person should not rest. They should have iron shoes on their feet and be in the middle of the field, alongside the people."Iran, meanwhile, says sanctions will not force it into isolation. Officials have expressed confidence that major trading partners will resist Washington’s pressure, while shopkeepers say Iranians have learned to work around sanctions.And there is another major economic pressure point: the Strait of Hormuz. Most shipping through the Strait has been disrupted during the conflict.Iran and Oman said Tuesday they had discussed a joint temporary navigation corridor and a plan to clear mines from the Strait.Qasem Shoja also said, "The Strait of Hormuz is our home. It must remain closed unless we permit it, unless it is with our cooperation. We are the ones who, throughout these many years, have demonstrated Islamic clemency to the world and they took their oil for free, they took their goods; now they must interact with us."So, while the sanctions are designed as a tool of economic pressure on Tehran, their effects are also being felt by ordinary businesses and consumers, through currency volatility, trade disruptions and the rising cost of goods. And with Hormuz carrying such a large share of global energy shipments, what happens next could extend well beyond Iran’s borders.

For businesses in Iran, that uncertainty matters. Importers face higher costs, while retailers have to decide how much of that increase can be passed on to customers already dealing with economic pressure.

Iran is facing fresh US sanctions aimed at putting more pressure on its already strained economy. In the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, shopkeepers say the impact is being felt directly through higher exchange rates, rising costs and pressure on everyday livelihoods. But Tehran says it can withstand the pressure, and is counting on major trading partners such as China and Russia to keep doing business with Iran. At the same time, the Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the crisis, disrupting a vital global shipping route. For Iranian consumers, the sanctions story is ultimately about something much closer to home, the cost of living. Shopkeepers in Bandar Abbas say the fall in the value of the Iranian currency and restrictions on trade are making imported goods more expensive and putting pressure on household budgets. Qasem Shoja, a home appliance salesperson, said, "Under any circumstances, sanctions do inflict blows. The rise in the exchange rate affects life and livelihood, but ultimately, we are Iranians, and Iranians know how to bypass sanctions well." The latest US measures were announced on August 24 by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Washington says countries that continue trading with Iran could eventually risk losing access to the dollar-based financial system. But the new measures stopped short of the most severe options, and the US has not given a timeline or named countries that could be targeted. For businesses in Iran, that uncertainty matters. Importers face higher costs, while retailers have to decide how much of that increase can be passed on to customers already dealing with economic pressure. Omid Baghapour Darayaee, a clothing store owner, said, "In the way that we are under pressure, we are 100% distressed. The youth have many grievances against the officials who, really, really in my opinion, they are traitors. Why? Because they truly do not attend to the people's suffering. To me, being a responsible official means that the person should not rest. They should have iron shoes on their feet and be in the middle of the field, alongside the people." Iran, meanwhile, says sanctions will not force it into isolation. Officials have expressed confidence that major trading partners will resist Washington’s pressure, while shopkeepers say Iranians have learned to work around sanctions. And there is another major economic pressure point: the Strait of Hormuz. Most shipping through the Strait has been disrupted during the conflict. Iran and Oman said Tuesday they had discussed a joint temporary navigation corridor and a plan to clear mines from the Strait. Qasem Shoja also said, "The Strait of Hormuz is our home. It must remain closed unless we permit it, unless it is with our cooperation. We are the ones who, throughout these many years, have demonstrated Islamic clemency to the world and they took their oil for free, they took their goods; now they must interact with us." So, while the sanctions are designed as a tool of economic pressure on Tehran, their effects are also being felt by ordinary businesses and consumers, through currency volatility, trade disruptions and the rising cost of goods. And with Hormuz carrying such a large share of global energy shipments, what happens next could extend well beyond Iran’s borders.

For businesses in Iran, that uncertainty matters. Importers face higher costs, while retailers have to decide how much of that increase can be passed on to customers already dealing with economic pressure.

Iran feels the heat of fresh sanctions, Tehran says can withstand pressure

The US on Monday (Aug 24) launched the “Operation Economic Outcast” campaign to isolate Iran financially. However, the threatened secondary sanctions on countries and businesses dealing with the Islamic Republic have not yet been imposed. Washington has instead warned third parties to cut Iran-related activity or face sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US would give countries a “cure period” but warned that action could move quickly.Bessent described the campaign as an “economic onslaught” and an “economic D-Day”.&nbsp;<h2>A gradual action plan to put pressure on Iran</h2>The first phase sanctioned more than 60 individuals, entities and vessels and expanded sanctions risk across five sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping. Targets were linked to Iran’s oil revenues, nuclear and missile technology procurement and cyber operations.Bessent warned that no one is above the reach of US sanctions. He also said the administration did not want to “blow up the global financial system”, adding the US was initially giving countries an opportunity to change course. Secondary sanctions could target foreign banks, companies, vessels and other facilitators involved in Iran-related oil, finance, shipping and other restricted activity. The most severe consequence could be exclusion from the US financial system and loss of access to dollar transactions and correspondent banking.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-block-every-source-of-revenue-for-iran-scott-bessent-announces-damaging-new-sanctions-after-warning-of-economic-d-day-for-tehran-1787591064504">'We will block every source of revenue for Iran': Scott Bessent announces new sanctions after warning of ‘economic D-Day’ for Tehran</a><h2>China is the biggest concern for US when it comes to Iran trade</h2>China is the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil. Most Iranian crude exports go to China, particularly independent “teapot” refineries — smaller, privately owned Chinese refineries that operate outside the major state-controlled oil companies and have been important buyers of discounted Iranian crude. The US has already sanctioned several Chinese teapot refineries, shipping companies and vessels involved in Iran’s oil trade. But the latest sanctions did not target major Chinese financial institutions, despite Washington warning that Chinese banks could face consequences.China has resisted unilateral US sanctions and has used yuan settlements, domestic financial channels and opaque shipping networks to maintain Iran trade. Any broader secondary sanctions could therefore hit Chinese refiners, banks, traders and shipping companies.The move could further complicate US-China trade relations. Targeting major Chinese banks would carry much wider financial consequences, which helps explain Washington’s cautious approach so far.<h2>How vulnerable is India to Iran-related US actions?</h2>India has historically had significant economic ties with Iran, but its exposure has fallen sharply since the US reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil. India largely stopped importing Iranian crude after 2019, reducing the risk to its overall economy. India-Iran trade is now much smaller than before 2019, with recent trade largely centred on non-oil goods. India has traditionally run a trade surplus with Iran through exports including rice, tea, pharmaceuticals and other products.The risk to India is therefore lower than to China, particularly because India has diversified its energy supplies and has previously adjusted its Iran trade to comply with US sanctions.However, Indian private companies could still be exposed. The sectors identified by Bessent — shipping, finance, gold, aviation, technology and digital assets — overlap with areas where Indian-linked entities have previously faced US sanctions for Iran-related activity.Indian banks and companies with US-dollar exposure, correspondent banking relationships or significant international operations are likely to be particularly cautious. They may avoid transactions involving designated Iranian banks and entities even without being directly sanctioned.India’s remaining economic interests in Iran, including trade in agricultural and pharmaceutical products and its strategic involvement in Chabahar Port, could therefore face greater US scrutiny.For India, the bigger immediate risk is likely to be individual companies rather than the Indian economy as a whole. New US measures could pressure firms involved in residual Iran-related shipping, finance, technology or other restricted activities.India’s diversified energy sources, reduced oil dependence and strategic partnership with Washington provide some cushion against broader economic disruption.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bessent-repeats-trump-s-economic-d-day-threat-as-iran-warns-us-allies-of-act-of-war-1787539908590">US Treasury Secretary Bessent repeats Trump's 'Economic D-Day' threat as Iran warns US allies of 'act of war'</a><h2>Pakistan is stuck in the middle: Low trade with Iran but high dollar dependency</h2>Pakistan’s trade with Iran is smaller and more informal, covering oil, wheat, rice, livestock and medicines. Cross-border commerce uses barter and local-currency arrangements, limiting exposure to the formal dollar system. Nevertheless, Pakistani banks, traders, transport companies and other facilitators could face secondary-sanctions risks if they handle prohibited Iran-related transactions.Pakistan's vulnerability, however, &nbsp;comes from its dollar shortages, dependence on the IMF and exposure to international financial institutions.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-tougher-iran-sanctions-make-large-scale-war-less-likely-tehran-condemns-economic-terrorism-1787242779961">US says tougher Iran sanctions make large-scale war less likely; Tehran condemns 'economic terrorism'</a><h2>Turkey, Iraq and UAE maintain trade relations with Iran</h2>Turkey and Iraq have significant economic ties with Iran. Iraq has long traded Iranian gas for electricity, while Turkey remains an important importer of Iranian gas. The UAE has been a major hub for Iran-related trade, finance and logistics, although it has recently suspended many financial and economic transactions with Iran. Businesses and financial intermediaries in these countries could face scrutiny if they continue facilitating sanctioned activity.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-warns-nations-giving-any-economic-lifeline-to-iran-1787336156058/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-warns-nations-giving-any-economic-lifeline-to-iran-1787336156058/embed</a><h2>How effective are sanctions? Iran’s trade network extends far beyond its immediate neighbours</h2>Secondary sanctions do not automatically stop all trade. They increase the cost and risk of doing business with Iran, encouraging companies and banks to self-comply or develop alternative payment and shipping channels. The US does not need to sanction an entire country to impose economic pressure. It can target specific banks, companies, vessels and individuals that facilitate Iran-related activity. Those entities could then lose access to US dollars, correspondent banking and the wider US-linked financial system.Enforcement could therefore be selective, with the greatest pressure falling on businesses that still depend heavily on the US financial system.But dealing a blow to Iranian trade is not easy. It has survived decades of sanctions by using shadow fleets, exchange houses, front companies and financial intermediaries across Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, Russia, China and the Gulf. Washington has already identified parts of this network, but Operation Economic Outcast suggests enforcement could widen further.Operation Economic Outcast could become a global economic pressure campaign rather than a measure confined to Iran.&nbsp;Its impact on China, Pakistan and India will depend on how aggressively Washington moves from warnings and diplomacy to actual secondary sanctions in the coming days and weeks.

America's “Operation Economic Outcast” targets Iran’s economic lifelines, with secondary sanctions threatening countries and businesses. China, India and Pakistan could face pressure over Iran trade and finance. How badly could they be hit?

The US on Monday (Aug 24) launched the “Operation Economic Outcast” campaign to isolate Iran financially. However, the threatened secondary sanctions on countries and businesses dealing with the Islamic Republic have not yet been imposed. Washington has instead warned third parties to cut Iran-related activity or face sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US would give countries a “cure period” but warned that action could move quickly. Bessent described the campaign as an “economic onslaught” and an “economic D-Day”. A gradual action plan to put pressure on Iran The first phase sanctioned more than 60 individuals, entities and vessels and expanded sanctions risk across five sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping. Targets were linked to Iran’s oil revenues, nuclear and missile technology procurement and cyber operations. Bessent warned that no one is above the reach of US sanctions. He also said the administration did not want to “blow up the global financial system”, adding the US was initially giving countries an opportunity to change course. Secondary sanctions could target foreign banks, companies, vessels and other facilitators involved in Iran-related oil, finance, shipping and other restricted activity. The most severe consequence could be exclusion from the US financial system and loss of access to dollar transactions and correspondent banking. Also read: 'We will block every source of revenue for Iran': Scott Bessent announces new sanctions after warning of ‘economic D-Day’ for Tehran China is the biggest concern for US when it comes to Iran trade China is the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil. Most Iranian crude exports go to China, particularly independent “teapot” refineries — smaller, privately owned Chinese refineries that operate outside the major state-controlled oil companies and have been important buyers of discounted Iranian crude. The US has already sanctioned several Chinese teapot refineries, shipping companies and vessels involved in Iran’s oil trade. But the latest sanctions did not target major Chinese financial institutions, despite Washington warning that Chinese banks could face consequences. China has resisted unilateral US sanctions and has used yuan settlements, domestic financial channels and opaque shipping networks to maintain Iran trade. Any broader secondary sanctions could therefore hit Chinese refiners, banks, traders and shipping companies. The move could further complicate US-China trade relations. Targeting major Chinese banks would carry much wider financial consequences, which helps explain Washington’s cautious approach so far. How vulnerable is India to Iran-related US actions? India has historically had significant economic ties with Iran, but its exposure has fallen sharply since the US reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil. India largely stopped importing Iranian crude after 2019, reducing the risk to its overall economy. India-Iran trade is now much smaller than before 2019, with recent trade largely centred on non-oil goods. India has traditionally run a trade surplus with Iran through exports including rice, tea, pharmaceuticals and other products. The risk to India is therefore lower than to China, particularly because India has diversified its energy supplies and has previously adjusted its Iran trade to comply with US sanctions. However, Indian private companies could still be exposed. The sectors identified by Bessent — shipping, finance, gold, aviation, technology and digital assets — overlap with areas where Indian-linked entities have previously faced US sanctions for Iran-related activity. Indian banks and companies with US-dollar exposure, correspondent banking relationships or significant international operations are likely to be particularly cautious. They may avoid transactions involving designated Iranian banks and entities even without being directly sanctioned. India’s remaining economic interests in Iran, including trade in agricultural and pharmaceutical products and its strategic involvement in Chabahar Port, could therefore face greater US scrutiny. For India, the bigger immediate risk is likely to be individual companies rather than the Indian economy as a whole. New US measures could pressure firms involved in residual Iran-related shipping, finance, technology or other restricted activities. India’s diversified energy sources, reduced oil dependence and strategic partnership with Washington provide some cushion against broader economic disruption. Also read: US Treasury Secretary Bessent repeats Trump's 'Economic D-Day' threat as Iran warns US allies of 'act of war' Pakistan is stuck in the middle: Low trade with Iran but high dollar dependency Pakistan’s trade with Iran is smaller and more informal, covering oil, wheat, rice, livestock and medicines. Cross-border commerce uses barter and local-currency arrangements, limiting exposure to the formal dollar system. Nevertheless, Pakistani banks, traders, transport companies and other facilitators could face secondary-sanctions risks if they handle prohibited Iran-related transactions. Pakistan's vulnerability, however, comes from its dollar shortages, dependence on the IMF and exposure to international financial institutions. Also read: US says tougher Iran sanctions make large-scale war less likely; Tehran condemns 'economic terrorism' Turkey, Iraq and UAE maintain trade relations with Iran Turkey and Iraq have significant economic ties with Iran. Iraq has long traded Iranian gas for electricity, while Turkey remains an important importer of Iranian gas. The UAE has been a major hub for Iran-related trade, finance and logistics, although it has recently suspended many financial and economic transactions with Iran. Businesses and financial intermediaries in these countries could face scrutiny if they continue facilitating sanctioned activity. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-warns-nations-giving-any-economic-lifeline-to-iran-1787336156058/embed How effective are sanctions? Iran’s trade network extends far beyond its immediate neighbours Secondary sanctions do not automatically stop all trade. They increase the cost and risk of doing business with Iran, encouraging companies and banks to self-comply or develop alternative payment and shipping channels. The US does not need to sanction an entire country to impose economic pressure. It can target specific banks, companies, vessels and individuals that facilitate Iran-related activity. Those entities could then lose access to US dollars, correspondent banking and the wider US-linked financial system. Enforcement could therefore be selective, with the greatest pressure falling on businesses that still depend heavily on the US financial system. But dealing a blow to Iranian trade is not easy. It has survived decades of sanctions by using shadow fleets, exchange houses, front companies and financial intermediaries across Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, Russia, China and the Gulf. Washington has already identified parts of this network, but Operation Economic Outcast suggests enforcement could widen further. Operation Economic Outcast could become a global economic pressure campaign rather than a measure confined to Iran. Its impact on China, Pakistan and India will depend on how aggressively Washington moves from warnings and diplomacy to actual secondary sanctions in the coming days and weeks.

America's “Operation Economic Outcast” targets Iran’s economic lifelines, with secondary sanctions threatening countries and businesses. China, India and Pakistan could face pressure over Iran trade and finance. How badly could they be hit?

'Operation Economic Outcast': How India, China, Pakistan could be hit by US 'Economic D Day' moves against Iran