Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Conflict Threatens Middle East Supply 
Japan Bond Yields Top 3% as Inflation, Fiscal Risks Rise 
Asian Stocks Rise as Bond Yields Ease, Oil Prices Stabilize 
US Tech Giants’ AI Bond Boom Raises Euro Zone Borrowing Risks 
Bessent Urges Japan on Fiscal Discipline, BOJ Rate Hikes 
US Strikes Iran IRGC Targets as Conflict Escalates 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Fighting Fuels Supply Fears 
Asian Currencies Rise as Yen Surges on BOJ Rate Hike Bets 
Gold Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Tensions Lift Inflation Risks 
Gold Prices Slide as Iran Conflict Fuels Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Global Markets Brace for Fed Rate Hike as Oil Tops $91 
Australia GDP Beats Forecast, Boosting RBA Rate Hike Bets 
South Korea Unveils Record $597 Billion 2027 Budget to Boost AI and Chips 
Dollar Hits Two-Week High as Iran Conflict Lifts Oil and Bond Yields 
Australia Trade Surplus Beats Forecasts in July as Exports Fall 
FTSE 100 Falls as US-Iran Conflict Drives Oil Prices Higher 
Add as a preferred source on Google
India’s services sector expanded at a slightly faster pace in August, although weak growth in new business kept activity close to its lowest levels in more than four years, according to a private-sector survey.
The HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, climbed to 54.1 in August from 53.3 in July. The final reading was below the preliminary estimate of 54.5 and slightly under its long-term average.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a figure below that threshold signals contraction.
Despite the improvement in overall activity, demand remained relatively subdued. New business, a key gauge of demand conditions, increased at the second-slowest rate in more than four years. International demand provided only modest support, with new export orders growing at roughly the same pace as in July.
Employment offered a brighter signal for India’s services economy. Companies increased staffing at the fastest pace in 15 months, suggesting businesses remain willing to expand their workforce despite softer demand conditions.
Business sentiment, however, stayed below its historical average for a second consecutive month. Firms remained cautiously optimistic that improving market conditions and stronger demand could support future activity.
India’s broader economic outlook also faces pressure from elevated oil prices and a weaker rupee. A Reuters poll forecast Asia’s third-largest economy will grow 6.7% this fiscal year, slowing from the stronger-than-expected 7.8% expansion recorded in the previous quarter.
Inflationary pressures increased modestly during August. Services companies raised prices charged to customers at the fastest pace since March as they passed higher operating costs on to clients.
Meanwhile, India’s Composite PMI, which tracks both manufacturing and services activity, remained unchanged at 54.3. Faster services growth helped offset weaker manufacturing activity, which slowed to its lowest level in five years.
The latest PMI figures suggest India’s services sector remains firmly in expansion territory, but sluggish new business, subdued confidence and rising costs continue to cloud the near-term outlook.
