Amidst ongoing trade negotiations, President Trump hints at potential 20-25% tariffs on India, while deals with the EU and Japan set precedents. Uncertainty looms over China s trade situation, with possible tariff escalations. Simultaneously, sanctions on Russian oil buyers threaten market disruptions, and the upcoming FOMC meeting faces a complex economic outlook due to tariffs and fluctuating data.

The brokerage observed that domestic hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices in China have climbed 8% over the past month, driven by expectations of production cuts under Beijing’s “anti-involution” policy and a $167 billion stimulus-backed hydropower project.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd is anticipated to reveal a modest performance for the June quarter, with profit after tax expected to slightly decrease. Revenue is projected to experience moderate growth, while volume recovery is underway, profitability faces challenges from promotional activities and deflation in the home care sector.

Nikkei remained stable as investors are cautious. Policy announcements from the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan are expected. Trump s trade deal deadline is also awaited. Airlines underperformed, with ANA Holdings declining after its earnings report. Advantest also experienced a slight dip. Sumitomo Pharma saw a significant surge. Market participants are closely monitoring these events for future direction.

Sri Lotus Developers IPO opened on July 30, witnessing 5% subscription driven by retail and NII investors. The IPO, priced at Rs 140-150, closes on August 1, with grey market premium indicating potential 29% listing gains. Anand Rathi suggests subscribing for the long term, citing strong fundamentals and Mumbai s luxury housing demand.

Peter McGuire discusses the unexpected tariff developments impacting India, noting potential pressure on manufacturers. He also addresses the recent oil price jump, attributing it to news-driven factors and potential secondary sanctions on Russian crude purchases. McGuire anticipates crude oil prices to remain range-bound between $60-$70, forecasting a supply glut towards the end of Q3 or early Q4.

Varun Beverages shares surged following an impressive 5% year-on-year increase in profit after tax, reaching ₹1,325.49 crore for the first quarter of FY26. Despite a slight dip in revenue and domestic sales volume pressures, the company s strong performance was bolstered by margin expansion and operational efficiencies.

The Laxmi India Finance IPO, open for bidding from July 29 to 31, is a book-built offering with a price band of Rs 150–158 per share. The issue includes a fresh equity issuance of 1.04 crore shares aggregating Rs 165.17 crore and an OFS of 56.38 lakh shares valued at Rs 89.09 crore by existing shareholders.