The latest Market Talks covering Energy and Utilities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

1538 ET – Oil futures pull back after three straight sessions of gains, with a tentative ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon suggesting possible support for U.S.-Iran talks. “The problem is that Iran-backed Hezbollah is not part of the agreement,” Arlan Suderman of StoneX says in a note. Recent data show some ships getting through the Strait of Hormuz, he notes. “The increased passages does not come close to erasing the energy deficit, but it does help for the time being. Nor do we see production being restored in the region.” WTI settles down 3.1% at $93.04 a barrel. Brent falls 2.8% to $95.03.(anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

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Many people believe that starting a business always requires money. While having capital can certainly help, it is not always necessary. In reality, there are many ways to start earning income using only your time, skills, and creativity.

If you are currently struggling financially and need to earn money immediately—even within the same day—there are several simple business ideas you can start right away without spending anything.

The key is to focus on services instead of products. Services rely on effort rather than capital, which means you can start immediately using what you already have.

Here are nine practical business ideas you can try today if you need to earn money quickly without any upfront investment.

1. Offer Errand Services

Many people are simply too busy to complete everyday tasks. This creates an opportunity for you to earn money by offering errand services.

You can help people with tasks such as:

• Buying groceries
• Picking up packages
• Paying bills
• Dropping off documents
• Waiting in line for services

Start by offering your service to neighbors, coworkers, or friends through social media. Even charging a small service fee can quickly add up if you complete multiple errands in a day.

Since this only requires your time and willingness to help, it is one of the easiest ways to earn money immediately.

2. Sell Unused Items Online

One of the fastest ways to earn money within the day is by selling items you already own but no longer use.

Look around your home and identify things such as:

• Clothes you rarely wear
• Old gadgets or accessories
• Books
• Kitchen tools
• Unused decorations

Take clear photos and post them on Facebook Marketplace, community groups, or messaging apps. Price them slightly lower than market value to attract buyers quickly.

Many people manage to sell items within hours, especially if the price is reasonable.

3. Offer Cleaning Services

Cleaning services are always in demand. Many homeowners would gladly pay someone to help clean their house, yard, or garage.

You can offer services such as:

• Basic house cleaning
• Garage organizing
• Yard sweeping
• Dishwashing
• Laundry assistance

Start by posting in local Facebook groups or messaging neighbors. Since this type of service requires effort rather than capital, it is perfect for earning money quickly.

Even a single cleaning job can bring immediate income on the same day.

4. Become a Local Delivery Helper

With the rise of online selling and food deliveries, many small sellers need help delivering items to customers.

If you have a bicycle, motorcycle, or even just the ability to walk short distances, you can offer delivery services for local sellers.

Message online sellers in your area and offer to deliver their orders for a small fee. Some sellers are happy to outsource deliveries because it saves them time and effort.

This can quickly turn into multiple delivery tasks in one day.

5. Offer Basic Tech Help

Not everyone is comfortable with technology. Many people need help with simple tasks like setting up apps, installing software, or fixing small phone or computer issues.

If you have basic tech knowledge, you can offer help such as:

• Installing applications
• Setting up email accounts
• Cleaning phone storage
• Troubleshooting slow devices
• Teaching basic smartphone usage

Even simple tech assistance can be valuable to those who struggle with digital devices.

You can charge a small service fee and finish multiple tasks within the same day.

6. Offer Writing or Typing Services

If you have access to a computer or smartphone and can type quickly, you can offer writing or typing services.

Examples include:

• Typing handwritten notes
• Creating simple documents
• Transcribing audio recordings
• Writing short social media captions

Students, small businesses, and content creators often need quick help with these tasks.

Promote your service on social media or among friends who might need assistance.

7. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

Pet owners sometimes need someone to watch or walk their pets while they are busy or away from home.

You can offer services such as:

• Dog walking
• Pet feeding
• Short-term pet sitting
• Cleaning pet areas

This can be a fun and easy way to earn money while spending time with animals.

Ask neighbors or post in community groups to find pet owners who need help.

8. Offer Simple Tutoring

If you are good at a particular subject, you can offer tutoring services to students who need help.

This could include:

• Basic math tutoring
• English conversation practice
• Homework assistance
• Exam preparation

You do not need to be a professional teacher. Many parents simply want someone patient who can help their children understand lessons better.

Even short tutoring sessions can provide immediate income.

9. Social Media Posting for Small Businesses

Many small businesses want to promote their products online but do not have the time to manage their social media pages.

You can offer simple services such as:

• Posting product photos
• Writing captions
• Replying to basic messages
• Sharing posts in groups

If you already spend time on social media, this can easily become a small service business.

Start by contacting small online sellers and offering affordable help managing their posts.

When money is tight, the most important thing is to focus on action instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity. Many successful entrepreneurs started with nothing but determination and a willingness to work.

The good news is that earning money does not always require large investments. By offering useful services, helping others solve small problems, and using the skills you already have, it is possible to start earning income immediately.

Try one or two of these ideas today and see which works best for you. Sometimes, the simplest opportunities can lead to bigger business ideas in the future.

Remember, every successful business once started with a single small step.

LONDON/MUMBAI: Shares of NRI billionaire Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Resources on Friday plunged 5.59 per cent on the London Stock Exchange amid talk that it may acquire a majority stake in the Indian arm of Cairn Energy.

In the late afternoon session, the scrip was being traded at 20.61 pounds, down by 5.50 per cent on the LSE. Vedanta opened on a positive note, but soon swung into the red.

The broader market was also weak and the benchmark FTSE 100 was trading at 5,248.95, down 0.32 per cent in the late afternoon session.

On the other hand, Cairn Energy Plc climbed 1.41 per cent and was being quoted at 4.59 pounds on the LSE.

In India too, Vedanta Group firm Sterlite Industries sank by over 4 per cent to close at Rs 160.70 on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Sterlite was the biggest loser in the Sensex pack today.

In contrast, Cairn Energy Plc’s Indian arm, Cairn India, surged by over 5 per cent to hit its highest-ever level of Rs 358 on the BSE. The scrip ended with a gain of 355.45, up 4.36 per cent.
Vedanta Resources Plc is in talks to acquire a majority 51 per cent stake in Cairn India for about USD 8-8.5 billion (nearly Rs 40,000 crore) and a deal may be announced on Sunday evening or Monday.Scottish explorer Cairn Energy Plc, which holds a 62.37 per cent stake in India-listed Cairn India, is seeking up to a 20 per cent premium for passing on the controlling stake, two persons in-the-know of the development said.

Agarwal “is meeting Cairn Energy Plc Chief Executive Bill Gammell in London today and the deal is likely to be announced as early as Sunday evening or on Monday,” one of them said.

The deal will be contingent on government approval, as Cairn’s three producing oil and gas assets, including the giant Rajasthan fields, and seven exploration blocks either have explicit provisions for seeking prior approval before the transfer of interest or gives pre-emption, or the right of first refusal, on any shares being sold to partners like ONGC.

McDonald’s customers may soon be giving their order to a robot.

The fast food company is testing a new artificial intellience order-taking system at the drive-thru called ArchIQ at five locations across the country right now, according to Restaurant Business Magazine.

The initiative is part of the company’s new brand strategy called McDonald’s Next, which was announced this week.

FOX Business has reached out to McDonald’s for comment.

MCDONALD’S UNVEILS NEW GROWTH STRATEGY TO WIN BACK CUSTOMERS

While introducing McDonald’s NEXT earlier this week, CEO Chris Kempczinski said that customers shouldn’t have to choose between “hospitality or speed.”

McFranchisee, an X account for a McDonald’s franchise, said this week that Google is affiliated with the new project.

“Meet Archy IQ – no, we are not new to AOT. In fact, we have been in this AI field for about 8 years,” McFranchisee wrote on X on Tuesday.

MCDONALD’S AI HIRING CHATBOT EXPOSED DATA OF JOB CANDIDATES

“We sold our in-house model to IBM and moved on as it wasn’t good enough for our needs. As mentioned below, I wanted to hire Google (who uses NVIDIA) to service our AOT 3 years ago and found out today that Google is behind this project. We are currently in 5 test stores, having processed over 1M transactions with about 90% of orders completed without human escalations. Impressive for a new test.”

McFranchisee said that every McDonald’s in the country will get Google Edge Cloud blades installed ahead of the rollout.

“Archy will not only assist drive-thru orders but act as a master brain to help managers run a better restaurant,” it added. “It’s like a personal assistant that alerts you to potential bottlenecks or issues.”

Most of the comments under the X post were negative.

“We all hate the system installed at Wendy’s,” one person wrote. “We hate the kiosks at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell that we are asked to use instead of talking to a person. We will hate this too. Say goodbye to customers.”

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“No one wants this – we like dealing with smiling faces,” another said, to which McFranchisee replied, “We still smile at the cash and present window – this is just at the speaker.”

The new A.I. initiative comes two years after McDonald’s dropped another similar effort.

MUMBAI: Shares of Cairn India Ltd on Friday climbed over 5 per cent to hit a record high of Rs 358 on the BSE amid reports that Vedanta Resources is in talks to buy a majority stake in the subsidiary of UK-based Cairn Energy.

The scrip, which was flat for most of the session, shot up in the final hour of trade on the Bombay Stock Exchange to settle with a net gain of 4.36 per cent at Rs 355.45.

Analysts said the stock zoomed on reports that Vedanta is in talks to buy a 51 per cent stake in Cairn India from its parent firm, Cairn Energy, which holds a 62.4 per cent stake. The deal size is estimated to be between USD 8-8.5 billion.

“The deal is positive for the stock, as even the lower- end of the deal ($8 billion) will value Cairn India at USD 15.7 billion compared to the current market cap of $14.4 billion,” Elara Securities analyst Alok Deshpande said.

“In the short term, we expect the stock to rally towards the deal valuation upon the official announcement, which is expected on August 16, according to media reports,” he added.

Cairn India’s parent company, Cairn Energy Plc, also zoomed nearly 2 per cent on the London Stock Exchange and was being quoted at 4.61 pounds in late afternoon trade.
In contrast, NRI billionaire Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Resources Plc plunged by 5.5 per cent to 20.61 pounds on the LSE.In addition, Sterlite Industries, a Vedanta Group firm, sank by over 4 per cent to close at Rs 160.70 on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Sterlite was the biggest loser in the Sensex pack today.

“If the deal happens, it is obvious that Vedanta is planning to be a long-term investor. In that case, we feel the deal valuation is fair, considering our expectations of a reserve upside from other Rajasthan fields in some time in the future,” Deshpande said.

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The Old Fox of Dalal Street has been on a dream run since the past couple of weeks. On Friday, most stocks that he had been steadily building up positions in figured among key gainers of the day. State Bank of India shares hit a new peak of Rs 2,879.95, before closing at Rs 2,849.40, up 2.35% over the previous close.

SpiceJet hit a 52-week high of Rs 68.45 before closing at Rs 66.05, up 8% over the previous close. Bombay Dyeing hit a 52-week high of Rs 684.85 before closing at Rs 661.55, up 12% over its previous close. Godrej Properties rose 3% to close at Rs 776.40. It remains to be seen, if the Fox will make a quiet exit when the going is good, or hang in there for bigger profits.