HASLINDA: OUR NEXT GUEST IS A FORMER INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE WTO. AMBASSADOR, GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE.IS THIS A POSITIVE FOR INDIA. YES, IT IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIA BECAUSE EVEN IF WE WERE TO ASSUME THAT THE TRADE AGREEMENT, THE INTERIM TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. WERE TO BE SIGNED, THE TARIFFS WOULD HAVE COME DOWN ONLY TO 18%. NOW WITH THIS 15%, WHICH IS KICKING IN TOMORROW, IT WILL BE 15%.I WANTED TO MENTION TWO MORE THINGS IN THIS CONTEXT. ONE IS THE LAWYER WHO HAS PURSU ...

Key TakeawaysSouth Korea’s Ministry of Trade officially confirmed that the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) remains in full effect following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling.A senior aide to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Seoul on Monday to coordinate the "faithful implementation" of a $350 billion investment pledge made by South Korea.The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down "reciprocal" tariffs imposed under emergency powers, voiding a 15% duty on Korean goods, though a n ...

South Korea said a US Supreme Court ruling striking down tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump’s emergency powers would not derail its broader trade agreement with Washington https://t.co/O7AIvrWymQ ...

Trade Agreement Overview - The trade agreement between the US and Indonesia is expected to lower US tariffs and facilitate the purchase of approximately $33 billion in American goods by Indonesia [1][2] - Indonesia will avoid a threatened 32% tariff and instead face a 19% rate for most goods, enhancing trade relations [2][8] Economic Impact on Indonesia - Indonesia will eliminate levies on over 99% of US goods and remove non-tariff barriers, which is anticipated to narrow its $16 billion trade surplus with the US [4][8] - The agreement includes significant imports from the US, such as $15 billion in energy, $13.5 billion in commercial aircraft, and $4.5 billion in agricultural commodities [5] Benefits for the US - The pact aims to expand access to Indonesia's consumer market of over 280 million people, providing American companies with a more level playing field [3][9] - The agreement also addresses critical minerals, allowing US companies to extract them under favorable terms, which aligns with US efforts to reduce supply-chain dependence on China [7] Regulatory and Investment Changes - Indonesia will reform its pre-shipment inspection processes and eliminate tariffs on digital services, facilitating smoother trade [6] - The country has committed to facilitating $10 billion in outbound direct investment to the US, including in engineering, construction, and energy projects [6] Context and Challenges - The agreement comes amid market headwinds for Indonesia, including concerns over governance and credit outlook, which could impact investor confidence [11] - Lower duties may support foreign-exchange inflows as the Indonesian rupiah trades near an all-time low against the dollar [12]

President Trump and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto finalized a trade agreement, ending months of uncertainty with an accord that’s expected to lower US tariffs https://t.co/Fbmc9imHf1 ...

The president praising Tokyo's plan to invest up to 36 billion in US oil, gas and critical mineral projects. This is the first tranche of its massive investment pledged as part of the US trade deal. With more is Bloomberg's Tyler Kendall.Hey, Jon, Good morning. Well, this was a long awaited announcement that officials say will spur a wave of Japanese investment here in the U.S. This round includes three projects, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The first and the one with the most money behind it ...

The US and Taiwan finalized a trade agreement to cut tariffs, boost market access for American products in Asia and channel billions of dollars into US energy and technology projects https://t.co/fqxzKfD54C ...

The White House revised its factsheet on the US-India trade agreement by removing a reference to pulses and changing language around digital services https://t.co/4a5PtICs6b ...

“India and the EU have struck a deal that is substantially more ambitious than previous agreements,” writes Arvind Subramanian. The country “will have fully liberalised its manufacturing sector within seven to ten years” https://t.co/2XGewTt5xC ...

Earnings Reports - A total of 184 firms are scheduled to announce their earnings report for the third quarter (Q3FY26), including notable companies such as Zydus Lifesciences, Aurobindo Pharma, and Pfizer [1] - Other companies expected to declare their Q3 results include Happiest Minds Technologies, Route Mobile, and Kaveri Seed Company [2] State Bank of India (SBI) Performance - SBI reported a net profit of ₹21,028 crore for Q3FY26, marking a 24.5% year-on-year increase, attributed to strong growth in non-interest income and steady net interest income [3][4] - The bank's net interest income grew by 9% annually to ₹45,190 crore, with advances expanding by over 15% year-on-year to ₹46.83 trillion [4] - Non-interest income surged by 66% year-on-year to ₹18,359 crore, primarily driven by higher fee income [4] Net Interest Margin (NIM) - SBI's domestic net interest margin improved by 3 basis points to 3.12% at the end of Q3FY26, compared to 3.09% in the previous quarter and 3.15% in the same period last year [5] - The bank anticipates its NIM to remain above 3% in the future [5] Market Overview - Indian equity benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, are expected to open strongly, supported by positive global cues and optimism surrounding the India–US Interim Trade Agreement [6] - Market sentiment improved following a joint statement from India and the US outlining the framework for the Interim Trade Agreement, which is seen as a precursor to a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement [7] - US President Donald Trump lifted a 25% tariff on Indian goods, enhancing market optimism [8] Asian Market Performance - Early indicators suggest a firm start for domestic equities, with GIFT Nifty trading at 25,938.5, up 241 points or 0.94% [9] - Asian markets are also experiencing gains, particularly in Japan, where the Nikkei 225 surged by 4.5% [9]