Core Points - The new H-1B visa regulation imposes a one-time fee of $100,000 for new applications, significantly impacting Indian IT outsourcing giants like Infosys and Wipro, and raising concerns among U.S. tech companies and employees [1][4][12] - The regulation is seen as part of a broader anti-immigration trend and may exacerbate tensions in U.S.-India relations, especially as an Indian delegation visits the U.S. for trade negotiations [4][12][13] - The increase in costs could lead U.S. companies to expand their Global Capability Centers (GCC) in India, countering the intended goal of protecting domestic jobs [4][14][17] Company Impact - Infosys and Wipro are expected to face significant profit reductions due to the new fee, with Infosys alone potentially incurring an additional cost of at least $250 million for the 2024 fiscal year based on its 2,504 initial H-1B approvals [12][13] - The stock prices of Infosys and Wipro fell by 3.4% and 2.1% respectively following the announcement of the new regulation [12] - Major U.S. companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, which heavily rely on H-1B visa holders, have advised their employees to remain in the U.S. to avoid the new fees [9][10] Industry Trends - The H-1B program, established in 1990, has been crucial for U.S. tech companies and IT outsourcing firms, with Indian nationals making up 72.3% of H-1B beneficiaries as of September 2023 [8][12] - The new regulation may push U.S. companies to accelerate local hiring and expand their delivery centers in India, as they seek to mitigate the impact of increased operational costs [14][17] - The Indian IT industry, valued at over $283 billion, derives approximately 57% of its revenue from the U.S., making it particularly vulnerable to changes in U.S. immigration policy [12][13]

Group 1 - Gold futures are currently trading around 841.98 yuan per gram, with a rise of 1.49%, reaching a high of 843.48 yuan and a low of 829.86 yuan, indicating a short-term bullish trend [1] - Key resistance levels for gold futures are identified between 843 yuan and 860 yuan per gram, while important support levels are between 826 yuan and 850 yuan per gram [3] Group 2 - The new H-1B visa fee set by President Trump at $100,000 is expected to negatively impact Indian tech companies' projects in the U.S., affecting their profits [2] - Indian IT services industry, valued at $280 billion, is already facing growth challenges due to geopolitical tensions, and the visa policy changes exacerbate these issues [2] - In the fiscal year ending September 2023, Indian workers constituted 72.3% of all H-1B beneficiaries, highlighting the significant reliance of Indian firms on this visa program [2] - The new regulations may inadvertently increase costs for U.S. companies, potentially accelerating their expansion of Global Capability Centers (GCC) in India, as seen with major firms like Microsoft, Google, and Goldman Sachs [2]

Group 1 - Best Buy plans to increase its workforce at its technology center in India by approximately 40% in the coming months due to the growing talent pool in the country [1] - The company currently employs about 350 staff in its Bangalore technology center, which is expected to grow to between 500 and 550 employees [1] - The global capability centers (GCCs) have evolved from low-cost outsourcing hubs to providing various services including daily operations, finance, and R&D for their parent companies [1] Group 2 - Best Buy is actively recruiting for positions such as AI engineers, software engineers, and product managers in India [1] - The expansion in India aligns with a trend where many multinational companies are increasing their operations in the country, with Costco also planning to open its first GCC there [2] - The domestic GCC market in India is projected to grow to approximately $105 billion by 2030, up from $64.6 billion in the fiscal year 2024 [2]