SEBI halves short-sell collateral as NSE files $3bn IPO

India’s securities regulator plans to nearly double the number of shares eligible for the securities lending and borrowing mechanism and lower collateral requirements. The move should broaden short‑selling capacity, improve price discovery and deepen cash‑equity markets.

India's National Stock Exchange is set to start formal marketing next week for a $3 billion offer‑for‑sale, eyeing a September IPO. Around 20 banks, including Morgan Stanley and HSBC, will run roadshows globally, making it one of the country's biggest public offerings.

ITC has launched a premium, sugar‑free Coconut Cola under its B Natural brand, entering India's carbonated soft‑drink market at a Rs 60 price point. By targeting health‑conscious, higher‑spending consumers, ITC sidesteps the price war that Reliance sparked, forcing Coke and Pepsi to confront a new premium challenge.

China’s residential price index dropped to 85.13 in Q1 2026, erasing inflation‑adjusted gains accumulated since 2005. The slump, now 35 months long, is cutting about two percentage points from GDP growth and slashing local‑government land‑sale revenue, with knock‑on effects on global cement and steel demand.

Bloomberg Economics says the Iran conflict and an AI‑driven inflation risk will keep global borrowing costs up to half a percentage point higher through 2028. That means pricier mortgages and loans for consumers and firms, and a tighter monetary stance for the Fed and ECB beyond original forecasts.

Targeted cash transfers to women in Maharashtra and Odisha boosted beneficiaries' bank balances by up to 84% and spending by 46%, while also raising savings and reducing outlays for relatives. The study shows female‑focused schemes generate stronger household financial spillovers than gender‑neutral ones, underscoring the power of digital payments in India.

By early July, acreage for rice, pulses and oilseeds is down 13‑40% year‑on‑year, while sugarcane is the only crop expanding. The shortfall risks lower harvests, higher food inflation and a bigger import bill, especially as monsoon forecasts remain below normal.

Indian firms raised Rs 2.53 lakh crore via commercial papers in June, the strongest level since July 2021. Tight pricing, seasonal working‑capital needs and a wave of debt refinancing pushed issuers away from costlier bank loans toward cheaper short‑term market funding, bolstered by RBI’s liquidity inflows.

Gold loans now make up 31% of India's securitisation volume, displacing vehicle loans for the first time in Q1 FY27. The shift reflects NBFCs’ reliance on securitisation to fund rising gold loan demand, while public banks back these assets for their low loss history and risk‑weight benefits.

Lenders reviewing Vi's ₹35,000‑crore debt raise are asking the company to lower its cash‑flow projections and to provide a corporate guarantee from an Aditya Birla Group peer. The guarantee is seen as a backstop before banks commit to one of the telecom sector’s biggest loans, critical for Vi’s ₹45,000‑crore capex plan.

Private banks grew deposits 14.3% YoY in Q1, outpacing public sector banks' 10.7% rise, while PSBs posted faster loan growth (16.4% vs 15.9%). The deposit‑loan mismatch raises funding sustainability worries for state‑run lenders, underscoring a structural shift toward private banks' healthier balance sheets.

RBI‑licensed NBFCs are legally offering unsecured personal loans at annualised rates up to 600%, with board‑approved policies calling such rates 'reasonable'. The lack of an RBI cap lets them reap massive revenue jumps, some reporting revenue growth of 500‑4,800% year‑on‑year, while borrowers face predatory costs.

Saudi Aramco slashes Arab Light price for Asia by $11/barrel, the biggest cut in 26 years, to boost demand amid flood of supply. The discount, to $1.50 below the Asian benchmark, follows the easing of Hormuz tensions and OPEC's modest output hike, signaling tougher competition for refiners.