Market Medley

  1. Overview Effective August 1, 2025, the United States has announced a 25% tariff on imports from India—higher than expected and comparable to those imposed on South Korea, though lower than those on China and Bangladesh. The move comes amid broader US efforts to shrink its trade deficit and curb reliance on foreign goods.

 As global economic dynamics evolve, silver is emerging as a compelling investment opportunity, driven by both macroeconomic and sector-specific factors. In 2025, silver has demonstrated strong performance, rallying to approximately $38/oz , marking a 25% year-to-date gain , largely fueled by investment demand and favorable central bank policies.

  I n a striking case of market manipulation, global trading giant Jane Street allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated strategy to profit from the Indian derivatives market, likened by experts to a "rigged IPL match." Through Indian-linked entities, the firm drove up Bank Nifty stock prices on expiry Thursdays—only to later dump them, causing sharp market falls and reaping huge gains from pre-purchased Put Options.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced new guidelines to regulate pre-payment charges on loans, aiming to empower borrowers and enhance transparency in the lending ecosystem. The directions, issued on July 2, 2025, will come into effect from January 1, 2026, and apply to all loans and advances sanctioned or renewed on or after this date. These norms are applicable to Commercial Banks (excluding Payment Banks), Co-operative Banks, NBFCs, and All India Financial Institutions. Under the new rules: For floating rate loans taken by individuals for non-business purposes, no pre-payment charges will be permitted. For floating rate loans taken by individuals and Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) for business purposes, major lenders, including Commercial Banks, Tier 4 Urban Co-operative Banks, NBFC-Upper Layer, and AIFIs, cannot levy pre-payment charges. For loans up to ₹50 lakh, entities like Small Finance Banks, Regional Rural Banks, and NBFC-Middle Layer are also prohib...

 Data from the Reserve Bank of India revealed that reserve money and currency in circulation grew by 4.8% and 7.0% year-on-year, respectively, for the week ending June 20, 2025. This reflects a moderation compared to the 8.6% and 6.2% growth recorded during the same period last year, indicating tighter liquidity conditions in the banking system.