Likely regulatory intervention helped the Indian rupee gain 15 paise to close at 95.81 against the US dollar on Friday, bouncing back from the intra-day low of 95.94 and the previous close of 95.96, while the benchmark bond yield rose to 7.14%, the highest level seen in the past four months.

Market participants said large public sector banks were seen selling dollars at the behest of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a market with thin volume, helping the local currency recover from the near the 96 level despite global crude price hovering near $105 a barrel and raising the risk of imported inflation.

The RBI was active in the market even before the opening of the day’s trade, boosting the rupee to a stronger opening of 95.90 per dollar, traders said.

During the day, the RBI used dollar-rupee sell-buy swaps to absorb rupee liquidity from the inter-bank system, two people said.

Exporters also sold dollars while the one-year forward premium increased to 3.5%, a level not seen since the last week of May.

“RBI deputy governor Poonam Gupta’s remark that the rupee was overcorrected, making a case for appreciation, should stabilise the rupee,” the treasury head of a private bank said on condition of anonymity. “At least the pace of depreciation should moderate.”
The rupee had been weakening for the past couple of days due to these concerns and high dollar demand from importers, who were mopping up the US currency ahead of a likely bank strike to secure month-end payments.”The rupee remains under pressure from external financing requirements, changing capital flows and a higher global cost of capital,” said Siddharth Chaudhary, head- fixed income at Bajaj Asset Management.

“In this environment, a significant decline in domestic interest rates could work against currency stability. This may reduce the room for monetary accommodation and require real yields to remain higher than domestic inflation conditions alone would otherwise suggest,” he said.

The benchmark 10-year bond yield hit 7.14% earlier in the day before the auction, its highest intraday level since May 20, before easing a tad. The yield closed at 7.11% on Thursday.

This is in line with the global yield tightening. The US 10-year treasury yield rose above 5.20%, its highest since 2007. Japan’s 10-year yield rose to 3.115%, a level last seen in August 1996, while

Germany’s 10-year yield, a benchmark for the euro zone, hit a 17-year high of 3.5798%, Reuters reported.

This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of INMD, NVO either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Three young professionals in running for 2026 ProCon Leicestershire property and construction awards

Three young professionals have made the final of the Rising Star of the Year category in the 2026 ProCon Leicestershire property and construction awards.

All three are under 30 years old and work for member companies of ProCon Leicestershire. The Rising Star category is sponsored by Galliford Try and is one of seven in this year’s 23rd ProCon Leicestershire Awards.

The Rising Star of the Year finalists are:

Cory Staton, HSSP Architects

Cory’s positive attitude, the consistently high standard of his work and the contribution he makes to the team are exceptional. He has fully embraced HSSP’s multi sector dynamic to the benefit of himself and the practice.

His leadership and project management skills have flourished. He has developed his technical knowledge and sought increasing responsibility from senior colleagues which has been entrusted to him.

With an ability to manage multiple live projects simultaneously, he prioritises workloads, communicates effectively with clients and consultants, and actively solves problems.

George Pain, Gateley RJA

Throughout his apprenticeship, George has consistently achieved strong academic results while simultaneously delivering value to clients and colleagues.

Despite being early in his career, George has already established himself as a trusted and highly capable Quantity Surveyor, taking a leading role on several significant client accounts and projects.

His ability to understand client objectives and provide practical, commercially focused advice has enabled him to build strong relationships and gain the trust of clients and colleagues.

Nathan Bill, MEC Consulting Group

For an individual still in the early stages of his career, Nathan has demonstrated exceptional progression. His promotion to Associate Director reflects both his technical capabilities and the trust placed in him to lead and grow regional teams.

What sets Nathan apart is his ability to think beyond his job title. He is always willing to help others and has built a nurturing, collaborative culture for his team. For clients, he exercises good judgement, is insightful, engaging and committed to achieving the best results.

His technical insight has proven invaluable on many projects, with multiple clients confirming they view Nathan as an extension of their team, rather than a consultant.

Jon Marston, Managing Director at award sponsor Galliford Try Building East Midlands & Anglia, said: “Galliford Try are incredibly proud to sponsor this year’s Rising Star Award.

“The final shortlist showcases some exceptional candidates and is testament to the depth and strength of the young professionals contributing to our industry in Leicester and Leicestershire. With people at the heart of our business, it is an honour to support this Award and celebrate the talent in the region.”

The 2026 ProCon Awards are backed by two corporate sponsors: Salus and Unique Window Systems. The Leicester Mercury’s Business Live is the media partner.

The other six awards are:

• Small Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Fusion 360 Group
• Medium Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Fusion 360 Group
• Small Non-residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Merali Beedle
• Medium Non-residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Knights
• Large Non-residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Procure Partnerships Framework
• Regeneration Project of the Year, sponsored by NJC Surveys and AR Demolition

All the contenders will be in the spotlight at a Finalist Showcase at the 2025 winner Jewry Wall in Leicester from 6pm on Wednesday October 7.

Finalists and winners will be celebrated at a ceremony on November 12 at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium. Details of all the awards finalists are at: procon-leicestershire.co.uk/procon-awards/2026

Companies keen to attend the Finalist Showcase, the ceremony or to enquire about sponsorship opportunities can contact Allyson Jeffrey on 0116 278 1443 or via email: info@procon-leicestershire.co.uk

Consolidation concerns

A packed calendar

There are also simple logistical questions around 30 films released from one company in a year.

With 52 weeks on the calendar, that’s less than 2 weeks between new releases — not accounting for marquee weekends when the industry typically stacks big premieres.

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A merged Paramount-Warner Bros. could easily cannibalize its own ticket sales if major releases are placed too close to one another.

Combine that with growing competition for coveted premium large format screens like Imax and Dolby and the schedule looks even trickier.

At present, the combined slate of Paramount and Warner Bros. for 2027 contains six dates where both studios have a theatrical release planned. There are also pockets on the calendar that have three to five releases stacked up on a weekly basis.

“From a pure strategy standpoint, it’s reasonable to expect release date shifts among the two studios’ planned slates,” Dergarabedian said. “In some cases, it’ll be to avoid overlapping audiences while, in others, it may be to diversify their cadence of box office.”

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For example, the combined company currently has nine horror films slated for 2027 and could look to shift dates to allow these features to have longer playability without competing.

“Hopefully, they put together some great movies and counterprogramming,” Lehman said. “Show us the kids’ movies, show us the horror movies, show us the high-end action movies.”

The fine print

Paramount’s settlement with the state AGs mandates that at least 20 of the films released by the combined company in each of the first two years after closing have a wide release in more than 2,000 theaters. For the following three years, that increases to at least 21 films.

“The agreement very specifically stipulates that it only has to be 20 wide releases, which is nothing,” said industry analyst David Poland.

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Currently, Paramount is on track to have 14 wide releases in 2026 and Warner Bros. is set for 13, for a total of 27 wide releases between them, according to Rentrak data.

“The importance of wide releases cannot be overstated,” Dergarabedian said. “These are the films that generate the biggest theatrical impact, fill auditoriums, drive concession sales and create the kind of cultural conversation that benefits the entire moviegoing ecosystem.”

Then there is the definition of “tentpole.”

Still from Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.”

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Paramount

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fans across Nashville and around the world came together Friday to celebrate the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, marking the city’s inaugural “Dolly Day” with more than 145 events, fundraisers and celebrations honoring the country music icon who died in the city on August 25 at age 80.

The date itself carries a deliberate double meaning tied to Parton’s own career. September 25, written numerically as 9/25, pays homage to “9 to 5,” one of Parton’s signature songs, giving the newly established celebration a date directly connected to her music catalog.

Even as court disputes over Parton’s estate have continued to surface in recent weeks, organizers and participants said Friday’s celebration was intended to center on the enduring, unshakable elements of her legacy: her music, her generosity and the sense of joy she brought to audiences throughout her decades-long career. Rather than a day defined primarily by grief, the celebration has increasingly taken the shape of expanded literacy programming and an international day of giving, reflecting causes Parton championed extensively during her lifetime.

Nashville, which served as Parton’s home base throughout much of her career, has emerged as the epicenter of the celebration, with more than 145 special events, parties and fundraisers taking place across the city, and organizers said more continued to be added in the lead-up to Friday. Local coffee shops and bars introduced special Dolly-themed menu items for the occasion, many featuring her signature shades of pink. More than 30 local music venues planned performances of “9 to 5” timed to 5 p.m., while a downtown fireworks display scheduled for 9:25 p.m. was set to cap the day’s festivities.

A number of Nashville-area businesses tied their own contributions directly to causes closely associated with Parton’s philanthropic work. The Grand Ole Opry announced it would donate $5 from each ticket sold for Friday’s shows and tours to Parton’s Imagination Library, the childhood literacy nonprofit she founded that has distributed free books to children around the world. Hattie B’s, the popular Nashville hot chicken chain, said it would donate one book for every qualifying entrée purchased at its Tennessee locations outside the airport. Country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood said they would direct all of Friday’s proceeds from their honky-tonk venue, Friends in Low Places, to the Nashville Public Library and the Imagination Library.

Beyond individual business contributions, a broader philanthropic effort known as the Give Like Dolly campaign, organized by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, drew applications from 555 nonprofit organizations seeking support. Twenty of those organizations were ultimately selected to share donations across four causes connected to Parton’s philanthropic focus: helping children succeed, helping people heal, assisting neighbors in need, and opening doors through music and the arts. Participating organizations include Nashville CARES, Dismas House, Girls Write Nashville, Nashville Children’s Theatre and the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Words & Music education program.

While Nashville has served as the center of Friday’s celebrations, Parton’s influence has continued extending into an international movement in the weeks following her death. In Florida, Virginia and Ohio, local affiliates of the Imagination Library have reported a notable surge in both donations and new registrations since Parton died on August 25. In West Virginia, the literacy nonprofit Read Aloud West Virginia announced it would match donations made to local Imagination Library affiliates throughout the month for any contribution designated “in memory of Dolly.” In London, where a tribute to Parton was projected across the city’s Piccadilly Lights advertising displays in the days following her death, the Imagination Library announced plans to double the number of boroughs the program covers.

Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in Sevier County, Tennessee, as a tribute to her own father, who was unable to read, and the program has since grown into one of the most widely recognized childhood literacy initiatives in the world, mailing free books to registered children from birth until they begin kindergarten across numerous countries.

Friday’s celebration arrives roughly a month after Parton’s death, a period during which tributes to the singer, songwriter and philanthropist have continued to emerge from across the entertainment industry, the philanthropic world and her devoted fan base. The scale of Friday’s Nashville events, spanning music venue performances, charitable fundraising, specialty food and drink offerings and a citywide fireworks finale, reflects the deep and continuing connection between Parton and the city that served as the backdrop for much of her decades-long career.

With Dolly Day now established as an annual date tied directly to Parton’s own music and philanthropic legacy, organizers and participating businesses have signaled the celebration is likely to continue in future years, extending both the charitable fundraising model established through the Give Like Dolly campaign and the broader spirit of joy and generosity that defined Parton’s public persona throughout her lifetime.

Wordle players faced puzzle number 1,924 on Friday, a five-letter word tied to a small patch of woodland that multiple puzzle trackers flagged as noticeably tougher than the rest of the week’s answers, with several outlets warning solvers to expect a harder-than-usual challenge.

For those still working through the puzzle, several hints circulated Friday to help point solvers toward the answer without giving it away outright. The word refers to a small group of trees growing closely together, the kind of small, distinct patch of woodland someone might come across in a rural or wooded area, often used specifically when describing a compact stand of trees rather than a full forest. Structurally, the word contains two vowels and no repeated letters, and begins with the letter C.

SPOILER WARNING: Today’s Wordle answer follows below. Stop reading now if you’d rather solve the puzzle without assistance.

The answer to Wordle #1,924 for September 25 is COPSE, a somewhat less common English word describing a small cluster or thicket of trees, distinct from the more familiar words “forest” or “woods” in referring specifically to a compact, contained group of trees rather than a larger wooded expanse.

Multiple puzzle guides covering Friday’s word explicitly described it as more difficult than the rest of this week’s Wordle answers, a departure from the more common, everyday vocabulary that had defined several of the puzzle’s recent solutions. Because “copse” is a less frequently used word in everyday conversation compared with more common five-letter options, several outlets suggested solvers who were unfamiliar with the term likely needed to lean more heavily on the process of elimination, working through possible letter combinations systematically rather than recognizing the word immediately from the clues alone.

Strategy guides accompanying Friday’s puzzle recommended starting with strong, letter-diverse opening guesses to maximize the information gathered early, given the word’s relative obscurity compared with typical Wordle solutions. Guides also noted that Friday’s puzzle contained no repeated letters and two vowels, details intended to help narrow down the field of possible answers once solvers had confirmed a few correct letters through their opening guesses.

Wordle, created by software engineer Josh Wardle in 2021 before being acquired by The New York Times, has run as a fixed sequence of daily words since its launch, with puzzle number 1 having been the word “cigar.” The game continues to release a new five-letter target word to players worldwide at midnight local time each day, giving solvers six total guesses to identify the correct word. The game’s familiar color-coded feedback system, green for a letter in the correct position, yellow for a correct letter placed in the wrong spot, and gray for a letter absent from the word entirely, continues to guide players toward the solution with each subsequent attempt.

According to data from The New York Times’ companion analytical tool, Wordlebot, Friday’s puzzle can be evaluated based on both the average number of guesses players needed to solve it and separate luck and skill scores that measure how effectively players narrowed down possible solutions with each guess. Those scores, generated after each day’s puzzle based on aggregated player data, offer solvers a way to compare their own performance against the broader player base for that specific day’s word.

Puzzle number 1,924 followed Thursday’s answer, MESSY, continuing a run of daily words that trackers use to help players identify broader patterns in how frequently the game’s word selection alternates between common, high-frequency vocabulary and more specific or unusual terms like Friday’s answer. Players tracking their personal statistics through Wordle’s built-in results screen, or through Wordlebot itself, can compare how efficiently they solved Friday’s puzzle relative to the broader player base and their own historical performance on similarly difficult words.

For solvers looking for an added challenge, Wordle continues to offer a “Hard Mode” setting, which requires players to reuse any previously revealed correct or partially correct letters in all subsequent guesses, removing the option to test entirely new, unrelated letter combinations once useful information has already been uncovered. That setting can be toggled from the game’s settings menu before starting a new puzzle each day.

With Friday’s word now revealed, players who came up short on the day’s puzzle, particularly given its higher-than-usual difficulty, or those simply looking to extend an active streak, will have a fresh five-letter word and a new set of six guesses to work with when Saturday’s edition of Wordle resets at midnight local time.

By Kirsten Chang

The yield on the 10-year note finished September 25, 2026 at 5.17%, while the 2-year note ended at 4.81%. The chart below overlays the daily performance of several Treasury bonds, starting from the pre-recession equity

UKSE has take an equity stake in Cardiff Canning t osupports its expansion

A Cardiff firm is poised to double output after securing an equity investment from UKSE.

Cardiff Canning has installed a second production line allowing it to make 35 million cans a year for the UK ready to drink (RTD) market, helping drinks brands develop and grow their products.

UKSE, a subsidiary of Tata Steel, is working closely with company to fulfil the business plan which forecasts turnover rising by 50% in 2026. In three years , the prediction is that the workforce will increase by seven to 30 with an emphasis on training and upskilling in a more automated workspace.

To accommodate the £400,000 new canning line, the firm has moved into the adjacent unit at Freemans Park doubling its footprint, gaining valuable storage space and improving efficiency.

Cardiff Canning helps drinks brands, large and small, develop and manufacture through canning, blending, product development and storage.

The family business is optimistic about the future. Its managing director, Paul Miller, said“We are very pleased to be working with UKSE in what we are sure will be a long and fruitful relationship.

“Choosing the right manufacturer is the most important decision a drinks company can make. We have all the facilities and knowledge to help them bring their ideas to market, and we pride ourselves on our hands on approach putting customer relations first,” he said.

UKSE area manager in Wales Michelle Noble said; “The firm has a clear focus and strong ethos with quality and customer relationships at its heart.

“More space and increased automation will enable the firm to move to the next level and draw in new customers. The potential for growth is considerable and our new partnership comes at a crucial stage and I am confident UKSE, with our experience in equity investment, can play a vital role.”

UKSE can make invest equity investments in firms of up to £1m. Ms Noble said “Many businesses in Wales would benefit from a capital injection in the form of equity from a flexible and patient partner, who is there to support rather than control the business. We back management teams to deliver their own business plans and are very happy to discuss how we can support them at any time.

UKSE has been operating in Wales for 50 years.