Business

Consumer prices in the Philippines rose 7.2% in September from a year earlier, up from 6.1% in August and above every forecast in a poll of economists. Rice was 20.3% dearer and transport 14.6%. The central bank next meets on 22 October.

AMRO, the economic watchdog for Southeast Asia, China, Japan and South Korea, kept its regional growth forecast at 4.1% for 2026 and raised 2027 to 4.1%, while warning that the same AI boom lifting exports could cause financial stress if it reverses.

G7 leaders have agreed to release 100 million barrels of crude and diesel from emergency reserves over four months, with diesel front-loaded in the first 20 days. Brent fell 1.48% to $100.80 after the announcement.

The US 10-year Treasury yield touched 5.34% on Thursday, its highest level since 2002. Borrowing costs in Britain, France and Japan are also at multi-decade highs.

Gross GST collections rose 14.7% to ₹2,03,521 crore in September 2026, the third straight month above ₹2 lakh crore. Import-linked collections grew 25.9%, far faster than domestic collections at 10.1%.

China's official manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1 in September, ending two months of contraction, and services also returned to growth. A private survey hit a five-month high, but input prices jumped and hiring stayed weak.

Essar Group's US arm Mesabi Metallics will build a $15 billion steel mill in Iowa, announced by President Trump as the largest in US history. It will use ore from a new Minnesota mine, create about 1,750 permanent jobs and start production in 2030.

Profits at China's major industrial firms rose 15.7% in January-August to 5.27 trillion yuan, but August growth slowed to 4.2%. Electronics profits more than doubled on AI demand and drove 62% of the gain, while utilities and consumer sectors lagged.

The Supreme Court declined to stay the 0.4% MDR on merchant UPI payments above Rs 2,000, due from October 15, but issued notices to the Centre, RBI and NPCI and asked them to explain the legal basis for the charge.

Sebi's board on September 24 approved new Portfolio Managers Regulations, a Rs 25 lakh route for PMS clients into mutual funds, a formula-based settlement framework and a common advertisement code that allows celebrity brand endorsements.

Mumbai, September 26, 2026: Indian equities ended Friday’s session modestly higher, but the rebound...

The US and China extended their trade truce by two months to January 10, 2027, giving negotiators more time to pursue a broader economic agreement.