Cube Highways IPO, JSW Steel bets on West Asia rebuild

The infrastructure trust will sell units at Rs 151 to 152 each from July 22 to 24, raising up to ₹5,000 cr as it moves to a listed platform. At the same time, Indo MIM, Lohia Corp and Xtranet Technologies start their own offerings, making this week the most active primary market window in 2026.

JSW Steel says post‑war rebuilding in West Asia will spark fresh steel demand, but warns that cheap surplus from China, Japan and Russia could flood India, threatening domestic margins. The firm backs the warning with a pending anti‑dumping probe, stressing the need to keep imports in check while seizing export opportunities.

India’s EPFO 3.0 reforms will launch a universal contributory pension that bundles formal, gig and unorganised workers under a “Target Retirement Sum” that converts to a pension at age 60. Flexible withdrawals and multi‑source contributions aim to plug the retirement gap for millions of low‑wage earners.

On Aug 18 Vizhinjam International Port will start full export‑import services, turning the transshipment hub into a comprehensive cargo gateway. The move, part of Kerala's 100‑day plan, promises lower freight costs, stronger supply‑chain efficiency and a boost to regional investment and jobs.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah virtually laid the foundation for a ₹700 crore Amul dairy complex at Sankrail, Howrah. The plant will process 30 lakh litres of milk daily, creating jobs for over 125 k milk‑producing farmers, including 30 k women, and signaling the new BJP‑led government’s push for industrial growth in Bengal.

HDFC Bank says FCNR(B) deposits may total only $50‑55 billion, far below the $60‑80 billion originally projected. Tax on interest, tighter West Asian liquidity rules and a client‑onboarding ban in Dubai have throttled non‑resident inflows as the RBI incentive window closes Sept 30. The shortfall could pressure the bank’s leverage‑driven growth plan.

Six private lenders posted 15‑20% corporate loan growth in Q2, with HDFC up 19% and ICICI 18.5%, as firms dodge pricey bond markets. CEOs say the trend will continue for the next two quarters, backed by healthy balance sheets and ample low‑cost foreign‑currency funding.

US firms have inked about $60 billion of deals with Iraq to build pipelines that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to route roughly 14 million barrels a day by 2028. The move cushions global oil supplies against Iranian disruptions and signals Iraq’s pivot toward long‑term U.S. investment in its energy infrastructure.