Indian equity markets continue to reflect a mix of strong sectoral growth and emerging near-term risks, particularly around input costs, competition, and valuations. In a conversation with ET Now, market expert Sandip Sabharwal maintained a broadly constructive long-term stance but emphasised the importance of selectivity in the current environment.

On the auto sector, including names like Maruti Suzuki, Sabharwal remained positive over the long term but flagged short-term pressure from rising costs.

“Long term I am bullish and we hold M&M, Maruti and Bajaj Auto, but near-term issues remain due to input costs, especially steel.” He added that while valuations are not stretched, cost pressures and sentiment around fuel prices could weigh on demand in the near term. “Fuel price changes may not matter long term, but they impact sentiment. Near-term concerns are there,” he said.

Turning to small finance banks and NBFCs, Sabharwal adopted a more cautious tone, pointing to aggressive guidance and potential stress in lending pockets. “Guidance does not look conservative; it appears aggressive given possible stress pockets.” He stressed that in financials, asset quality is more important than headline profitability. “Profits matter less; asset quality is what drives long-term wealth creation.” He also indicated a preference for more conservative lenders in a potentially slowing economic environment.

On market structure, Sabharwal highlighted a shift in opportunity towards midcaps following a recent correction.

“Midcaps saw a sharp correction since September 2024. This creates stock-picking opportunities.” He suggested that investors should avoid broad-based bets and instead focus on selective opportunities in mid and smallcap segments. “It is better to cherry-pick midcaps and selective smallcaps now.”
On sectoral themes, he preferred consumer durables as a play on seasonal demand rather than Coal India. “ACs, fans and cooler companies should do well this summer.” While acknowledging Coal India’s valuation comfort, he remained unconvinced on its medium-term appeal. “It is not expensive, but I am not a big fan of Coal India.”In the quick commerce space, Sabharwal flagged rising competitive intensity as a key concern for players like Eternal and Swiggy. “Amazon entering quick commerce could cap upside for these stocks.” He noted that profitability remains under pressure and increasing competition could limit near-term upside. “Upside looks capped for now given competition and cost pressures.”

On Sun Pharma’s recent acquisition, Sabharwal said the initial market reaction has been positive, but cautioned that large deals in the pharma sector typically take time to integrate. “The deal looks like a good strategic fit.” However, he added, “Large pharma acquisitions are rarely easy; integration takes time.” He also pointed out that the acquisition price is on the higher side, suggesting investors should adopt a wait-and-watch approach.

Overall, Sabharwal’s view suggests a market environment where macro and sectoral tailwinds remain supportive, but returns are increasingly likely to be driven by disciplined stock selection rather than broad-based rallies.

Retirement doesn’t have to mean the end of earning income. For many parents, it’s actually the perfect time to explore small business opportunities that are less stressful, more flexible, and personally fulfilling. After years of working hard and raising a family, retirement opens the door to turning hobbies, skills, and life experience into something profitable.

Whether your goal is to supplement your pension, stay mentally active, or simply enjoy a meaningful routine, starting a small business can be one of the best decisions you make. In this article, we’ll explore practical and realistic business ideas that parents can start during retirement.

Why Start a Business During Retirement?

Before diving into the ideas, it’s important to understand why many retirees choose to start a business:

• Extra Income: Helps cover daily expenses or unexpected costs.
• Flexibility: You control your schedule and workload.
• Purpose: Staying productive can improve mental and emotional health.
• Legacy: You can build something to pass on to your children.

The key is to choose a business that matches your energy level, interests, and financial capacity.

If you love cooking, this is one of the most practical businesses you can start. Many parents already have years of experience preparing meals, making this a natural transition.

You can sell:

• Home-cooked meals
• Baked goods
• Snacks or local delicacies

Start small by selling to neighbors, friends, or through social media. This business requires minimal investment and can be done right from your kitchen.

A small neighborhood store is a classic retirement business. It’s simple to manage and provides steady daily income.

Advantages include:

• Consistent demand
• Easy to operate
• Community interaction

You can expand over time by adding mobile load, bills payment services, or even frozen goods.

With the rise of e-commerce, parents can now run a business without leaving home. Online selling is perfect for retirees who want flexibility.

Popular items to sell include:

• Clothing and accessories
• Household items
• Health products

Platforms like Facebook Marketplace or online shopping apps make it easy to connect with customers.

4. Rental Business

If you have extra space or assets, renting them out can provide passive income.

Examples:

• Room or apartment rental
• Vehicle rental
• Event equipment rental (chairs, tents, etc.)

This type of business requires less daily effort once set up properly.

5. Gardening and Plant Selling

For parents who enjoy gardening, this can be both relaxing and profitable.

You can sell:

• Ornamental plants
• Herbs and vegetables
• Landscaping services

With the growing interest in home gardening, this business has strong potential.

Laundry services are always in demand, especially in busy communities.

You can start with:

• Wash-and-dry services
• Ironing services
• Pickup and delivery options

This business can be scaled gradually depending on your capacity.

7. Tutoring or Coaching

Parents with professional or academic experience can share their knowledge through tutoring.

Opportunities include:

• Academic tutoring (Math, English, etc.)
• Music lessons
• Life skills coaching

This is a low-cost business that allows you to make a meaningful impact.

8. Handicrafts and DIY Products

If you enjoy creating things, you can turn your hobby into a source of income.

Examples:

• Handmade bags
• Decorations
• Personalized gifts

These can be sold online or at local markets.

9. Small Farming or Livestock

If you have access to land, small-scale farming can be a rewarding retirement business.

You can raise:

Or grow crops such as vegetables and fruits. This can also reduce your household expenses while generating income.

10. Boarding House or Bed-and-Breakfast

If you have extra rooms, converting them into a rental space is a great long-term business.

This is ideal for areas near:

• Schools
• Offices
• Tourist spots

It provides steady monthly income and can be managed with minimal effort.

Tips for Choosing the Right Retirement Business

Not all businesses are suitable for everyone. Here are some important tips:

• Start Small: Avoid large investments at the beginning.
• Choose What You Enjoy: Passion makes the work easier.
• Consider Your Health: Pick a business that matches your physical ability.
• Manage Time Wisely: Retirement should still feel relaxed.
• Involve Family: This can strengthen relationships and share responsibilities.

Retirement is not the end of productivity—it’s a new beginning. For many parents, starting a small business provides financial security, personal fulfillment, and a renewed sense of purpose.

The best business is not necessarily the biggest or most profitable one, but the one that fits your lifestyle and brings you joy. Whether it’s cooking, selling, teaching, or growing plants, there are countless opportunities waiting to be explored.

Take the first step, start small, and enjoy the journey. After all, retirement should not just be about resting—it should also be about living fully and meaningfully.

Disclaimer: Before starting any business, it is recommended to check local regulations, permits, and requirements in your area to ensure compliance with the law.

NEW YORK — The New York Times Connections puzzle for Tuesday, April 28, 2026 — Game No. 1,052 — challenged players with clever word groupings that blended everyday actions, polite requests and clever wordplay, delivering a satisfying solve for many while stumping others until the final attempts.

The 16 words presented were: APPEAL, BID, CALL, REQUEST, DRY, FOLD, SORT, WASH, CHECK, COUPON, MATCH, STAMP, DIAL, FLOWER, SCREEN, TAN. Players needed to sort them into four thematic groups of four, with difficulty increasing from yellow (easiest) to purple (hardest).

Yellow Category (Easiest): Entreaty APPEAL, BID, CALL, REQUEST This straightforward group captured synonyms for making a polite or formal plea. Many solvers identified it quickly as words associated with asking or soliciting something.

Green Category: Laundry Day Verbs DRY, FOLD, SORT, WASH A highly relatable household theme, these verbs describe the typical steps in doing laundry. This category proved accessible for players familiar with domestic routines, often solved early in the game.

Blue Category: Things That Come in “Books” CHECK, COUPON, MATCH, STAMP This trickier group referred to items commonly found in bound collections: checkbooks, coupon books, matchbooks and stamp books. The quotation marks around “books” provided the crucial hint that helped distinguish it from other possibilities.

Purple Category (Hardest): Sun___ DIAL, FLOWER, SCREEN, TAN The most challenging set completed common phrases or compound words beginning with “sun”: sundial, sunflower, sunscreen and suntan. This category rewarded lateral thinking and familiarity with compound nouns.

Many players reported solving the puzzle in three to five attempts, praising the balance between obvious connections and more obscure ones. Social media lit up with victory grids showing perfect scores or near-misses, with users celebrating the laundry theme as particularly intuitive.

Connections, created by Josh Wardle (the same mind behind Wordle) and acquired by The New York Times, has become a staple of daily digital puzzles since its debut. The game presents 16 words in a 4×4 grid, and solvers must identify the shared themes without explicit clues. Players have four mistakes before the game ends, encouraging careful deduction rather than random guessing.

Tuesday’s puzzle continued April’s trend of mixing practical, everyday language with clever misdirection. The laundry verbs provided an easy entry point, while the “books” and “sun” categories tested players’ ability to think beyond literal meanings. Early hints shared on forums suggested focusing first on action words and then on compound phrases.

For strategy enthusiasts, starting with obvious clusters like household chores often unlocks momentum. On April 28, identifying WASH, DRY, FOLD and SORT accelerated progress for thousands. Those who struggled with the purple category frequently mistook SUN-related words for tech or nature themes before the compound pattern emerged.

The New York Times has expanded its puzzle offerings significantly, with Connections sitting alongside Wordle, Spelling Bee, Strands and the traditional crossword. On April 28, players juggling multiple games found the Connections solution complemented the day’s other challenges, creating a complete morning mental workout.

Community engagement remains strong. Reddit’s r/NYTConnections subreddit featured hundreds of posts discussing Tuesday’s puzzle, with users sharing solve streaks and debating category difficulty. Many noted the puzzle felt slightly easier than Monday’s but still offered satisfying “aha” moments.

Beyond entertainment, Connections serves as a cognitive exercise. Linguists and educators highlight its benefits for pattern recognition, vocabulary expansion and flexible thinking. The game’s shareable results format fosters friendly competition among friends, families and online communities without spoiling the solution for others.

Looking ahead, April 2026 has delivered a varied slate of Connections puzzles, keeping solvers engaged with themes ranging from pop culture to household tasks. Tuesday’s edition stood out for its clean, thematic separation once the connections clicked. For those who missed it, the archive allows replaying past games, though daily freshness remains part of the appeal.

The New York Times continues refining the game based on player feedback while preserving its core charm: no ads, simple interface and universal accessibility. Whether solved perfectly or with a few mistakes, April 28’s puzzle reinforced why millions return daily — the joy of discovery through language.

As the week progresses, expect more inventive groupings. For now, Tuesday’s solution — entreaty pleas, laundry chores, book collections and sun compounds — provided another successful chapter in the Connections phenomenon. Players can look forward to Wednesday’s fresh challenge, continuing the streak of brain-teasing fun that has made the game a modern classic.

Paul Flynn
MD, CEO & Director

Morning, everybody. Thanks very much for dialing in to our March 2026 quarterly production report. I’m joined here today, as usual with Kevin Ball, our CFO, and Ian Humphris, our COO. I’ll go through the highlights as usual, and try and get to the Q&A section, which I’m sure will be the more interesting part of the discussion today. Broadly, look, we’ve had a pretty solid third quarter, which we’re pleased with to be able to round that out in a way which sets us up well for the fourth quarter. Solid, and I’ll go through the New South Wales and Queensland dimensions of that through the highlights section in particular. Look, our safety record continues to be very good. We’re tracking well.

Our TRIFRA at 3.2 certainly is a continuation of the momentum we’ve shown to improving our safety, period on period, so very positive. Managed ROM at 9.5% reflects the seasonal nature of Q3. I’m sure everyone’s come to expect that a little bit now with us, but now being a couple of years into our ownership in Queensland in particular. Export coal sales have been pretty good at 6.8 million tonnes for the second quarter. Met coal prices have improved across both fronts, and we’ll get to that in a little bit more detail, for