Day: August 13, 2026

Power ministry asks states to accelerate smart meter installation

South Korean shares surged, with the Kospi rising 3.73% to a three-week high, led by chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. Gains followed overnight strength in US AI stocks and reports of Temasek investments. Foreign investors bought $778.5 million of equities, while the won strengthened 0.38% against the dollar.

Japanese equities gained on Thursday, with the Topix hitting a record high and extending its seven-session winning streak. The Nikkei rose 1.6%, led by semiconductor stocks tracking US peers. Strong corporate earnings outlooks also supported sentiment, while financial stocks advanced. Investors remained encouraged by improved profit forecasts across Topix companies.

A parliamentary committee is increasingly scrutinizing whether the surge in oil and gas investments actually translates to higher domestic output. With a notable rise in capital expenditure, projections indicate a decline in crude oil production. The committee demands a comprehensive report detailing potential production benefits stemming from reforms, stressing the urgency of establishing clear performance…

US federal budget deficit hit a record $432 billion in July, taking the fiscal 2026 shortfall to $1.799 trillion in the first 10 months. Higher government spending and weaker tariff revenues have intensified pressure on the US fiscal position, with two months remaining in the fiscal year.

NEET-PG 2026 aspirants received incorrect SMS alerts regarding their allotted examination cities. A technical glitch caused the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences to send wrong messages. The board has since issued corrected SMSes and emails to affected candidates. Aspirants are advised to verify their exam city details on the official NBEMS applicant portal….

US refiners Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 and Valero Energy reported combined second-quarter profits of $12.6 billion, benefiting from supply disruptions and higher refining margins. The trio returned $6.3 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends, more than double last year. Refining stocks also rallied sharply, while strong margins supported expectations of further payouts.

Parliament panel suggests broadening of renewable energy strategy beyond overwhelming focus on solar power

Use medical tourists’ money to treat poor Indians: Panel

In the first quarter of FY27, Hindustan Aeronautics showcased a robust 15% rise in net profit, prompting brokerages to adjust their target prices for HAL shares. Notably, Nomura retained its buy rating while upping its target to Rs 6,314. Meanwhile, Motilal Oswal also revised its target to Rs 5,800, attributing this to the impressive quarterly…