There s "no tension" with Powell, Trump said after the Thursday tour - which featured the two men publicly trading barbs over the cost of a project that the president s allies have used to blast the Fed chair s leadership.

Governor Malhotra praised US Fed Chair Jerome Powell s efforts to uphold the central bank s independence amidst political pressure. Malhotra highlighted Powell s commitment to this principle, noting the widespread support he received from global finance leaders at a recent international gathering. This endorsement underscores the importance of central bank autonomy in maintaining economic stability.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record highs, fueled by optimism for a U.S.-EU trade deal and strong earnings from companies like Deckers Outdoor. Intel s disappointing forecast led to a stock decline, while investors await the Federal Reserve s decision on interest rates amid trade concerns.

U.S. stock market faces a potentially volatile week with a looming tariff deadline, a Federal Reserve meeting, and key earnings reports from major companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. Despite recent record highs and low volatility, concerns remain about high valuations and the possible return of meme stock trading. Investors are also awaiting the U.S.

Hopes rise for a US-EU trade agreement before the tariff deadline. Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump are expected to meet. A deal might include tariffs on EU goods, steel, and aluminum. Optimism about trade tensions has boosted US stocks. A US-Japan trade deal was struck earlier. US and China officials plan to meet next week to discuss trade.

President Donald Trump met Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The meeting happened on Thursday. Trump thinks Powell may lower interest rates. Trump criticized the cost of renovating Fed buildings. Earlier, Trump called Powell a numbskull. However, Trump said he does not plan to fire Powell. The meeting was described as a good one by Trump.

Meme stock trading is now normal in US markets. Opendoor, Krispy Kreme, and GoPro saw big surges. Warnings about speculation are ignored. Crypto is going mainstream with big firms involved. Retail investors are using options more. Short-dated options trading is at a record high. Meme stock enthusiasm shows retail investors are here to stay.

NSDL s upcoming IPO is set to generate substantial wealth for early institutional investors like SBI and IDBI Bank, potentially yielding returns as high as 39,900%. Driven partly by regulatory mandates requiring shareholding dilution, the IPO allows these shareholders to capitalize on their long-term investments.

Amidst market volatility and FII outflows, Kotak Securities Shrikant Chouhan advises a bottom-up, value-driven investment approach. He notes retail investor enthusiasm driving IPOs, while smart money targets hospitals, digital-first firms, and capital market-linked businesses. Chouhan emphasizes caution in small and midcap stock selection, prioritizing corporate governance and business model analysis.

Indian markets face pressure from global corrections and FPI selling. Earnings are disappointing, and valuations are high. Pharma sector rallied despite potential US tariffs. Promoters offloaded shares, but retail investors provided support. Auto sector faces challenges from weak demand and potential tariff impacts. The India-UK FTA may benefit some sectors, but implementation details are awaited.