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ETMarkets Smart Talk | Bonds aren’t boring: Where Devang Shah sees the best fixed-income opportunities

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ETMarkets Smart Talk | Bonds aren’t boring: Where Devang Shah sees the best fixed-income opportunities
With the RBI keeping the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% and maintaining a neutral stance, investors may be wondering whether the best of the bond rally is already behind them.

Devang Shah, Head of Fixed Income at Axis AMC, believes the fixed-income opportunity remains attractive, but the strategy now needs to shift from aggressive duration bets to quality and carry.

He favours the 3-5 year segment, particularly high-quality corporate bonds and select state development loans (SDLs), while maintaining a neutral stance on long-duration government securities.
Shah also believes investors should focus on current risk-reward rather than trying to time interest-rate moves, making fixed income more than just a defensive asset class in the current market environment. Edited Excerpts –

Q) What is your take on the MPC policy meeting outcome? Do you see interest rates going higher or lower in the near term?

A) The MPC’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% and maintain a neutral stance was broadly in line with expectations. The RBI appears comfortable with India’s macroeconomic environment, supported by resilient growth, contained core inflation, healthy liquidity conditions and improved external sector stability.

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At the same time, the RBI remains watchful of risks from geopolitics, crude oil prices and global monetary policy developments.
Our view is that while the rate hiking cycle may not be over, it is likely to be shallow. We do not expect more than 75 basis points of additional rate hikes over the rate hike cycle.

Q) With the RBI repo rate at 5.25%, are we still in an environment where investors can lock in attractive yields, or has the best part of the rate cycle already passed?

A) We believe the fixed-income opportunity remains attractive, although selectivity has become increasingly important.

While the strong rally seen in bonds earlier has moderated, high-quality corporate bonds in the 3-5 year segment continue to offer a favourable risk-reward balance supported by attractive carry, ample liquidity and limited certificate of deposit issuance.

The opportunity today is less about taking aggressive duration calls and more about earning attractive carry from carefully selected high-quality fixed-income assets.

Q) Is it better to lock in a 7% yield on a high-quality bond today or wait for potentially higher yields if inflation or oil prices push rates up?

A) Our research suggests that investors should focus on current risk-reward rather than trying to precisely time future rate movements.

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While crude oil remains the most important external risk for India and higher oil prices could create upward pressure on inflation and bond yields, our base case is that oil sustaining above US$100 per barrel is unlikely.

We expect additional $70-80 billion in FCNR (B) which is expected to improve banking liquidity. Given the uncertainty around timing, high-quality corporate bonds in the 3-5-year segment currently offer attractive carry and a relatively balanced risk-reward profile.

Therefore, remaining invested and focusing on quality carry opportunities appears more prudent than waiting entirely on the sidelines for potentially higher yields.

Q) If you had ₹1 crore to deploy in fixed income today with a three-year horizon, how would you construct the portfolio?

A) Based on the views Based on our current market view, we would favour the 3-5 year segment of the curve, particularly high-quality corporate bonds and select SDLs, where favourable carry, ample liquidity and limited CD issuance create an attractive risk-reward balance.

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We maintain a neutral stance on government securities, as potential support from foreign inflows could aid demand, but factors such as supply pressures, fiscal risks and the absence of meaningful OMO support may limit the scope for a sustained rally in long-duration government bonds.

Overall, for a three-year investor, the focus should be on quality carry opportunities and selective positioning, rather than taking aggressive duration bets. As our research highlights, the appropriate strategy is to stay invested, stay selective and focus on quality opportunities in the intermediate part of the curve.

Investors can broadly be segmented into three categories: those seeking a parking solution and who can consider Money Market Funds; those with an investment horizon of over one year can possibly look at Arbitrage Funds; and investors with a two-year-plus horizon can consider Income Plus Arbitrage Funds or Short-to-Medium Duration Funds.

Q) How should investors divide their fixed-income allocation between government bonds, AAA corporate bonds, credit opportunities and money-market instruments?

A) Our current preference remains for the 3-5 year segment of the curve, particularly high-quality corporate bonds, where the combination of attractive carry, ample liquidity and favourable demand-supply dynamics offers a compelling risk-reward balance. We maintain a neutral stance on government securities.

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While factors such as FCNR could provide support, the absence of significant OMO purchases, potential fiscal pressures and supply dynamics could limit the scope for a meaningful rally in long-duration government bonds.

Money-market instruments continue to play an important role given the comfortable liquidity environment and can provide flexibility amid evolving market conditions.

Overall, the emphasis should be on quality, selectivity and appropriate duration positioning, rather than stretching for yield. As highlighted in our outlook, the fixed-income opportunity remains attractive, but investors should focus on quality carry opportunities and stay selective in their portfolio construction.

Q) Do you think that a bond fund makes more sense than buying individual bonds, and when does direct bond ownership have an advantage?

A) For most investors, the mutual fund route to fixed income can make more sense as it offers liquidity, diversification, and access to well-researched investment opportunities that may be difficult to evaluate individually. It also reinforces a disciplined asset allocation approach, which is especially important in volatile fixed income markets.

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Q) What is the biggest misconception about bonds in India today—that they are boring, low-return investments?

A) One misconception is that bonds are simply low-return investments that offer little opportunity beyond income generation. The current environment demonstrates that fixed income can offer attractive risk-adjusted opportunities when markets are stable.

The focus today is not merely on earning income but on identifying quality carry opportunities and managing risks emanating from inflation, crude oil prices, global yields and monetary policy.

In our view, the appropriate strategy is to stay invested, stay selective and focus on quality opportunities, particularly in the 3-5 year segment of the curve.

Source: Bloomberg/ RBI/ Axis MF Internal Research as on 13th August, 2026

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Note: The sectors mentioned above are used to explain the concept and is for illustration purpose only and should not be used for development or implementation of any investment strategy. It should not be construed as investment advice to any party. Past performance may or may not be sustained in future.

Disclaimer: This document represents the views of Axis Asset Management Co. Ltd. and must not be taken as the basis for an investment decision. Neither Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Mutual Fund Trustee Limited nor Axis Asset Management Company Limited, its Directors or associates shall be liable for any damages including lost revenue or lost profits that may arise from the use of the information contained herein. No representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information and opinions contained herein. The material is prepared for general communication and should not be treated as research report. The data used in this material is obtained by Axis AMC from the sources which it considers reliable. The above should not be construed as an investment advise. Axis MF/AMC is not guaranteeing any returns on any investments.

While utmost care has been exercised while preparing this document, Axis AMC does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the information and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use of this information. Investors are requested to consult their financial, tax and other advisors before taking any investment decision(s). The AMC reserves the right to make modifications and alterations to this statement as may be required from time to time.

Axis Bank Ltd. is not liable or responsible for any loss or shortfall resulting from the operation of the scheme.

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Mutual Fund Investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

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Canadian Commodity Plays Or American AI Stocks?

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Canadian Commodity Plays Or American AI Stocks?

Canadian Commodity Plays Or American AI Stocks?

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Concurrent Gainers: 13 smallcap stocks that gained for 5 days in a row

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The Economic Times

Despite a 0.60% Sensex decline, 13 BSE SmallCap stocks gained across all five sessions. Prabha Energy led with 39%, followed by Welspun Corp, Wakefit Innovations, Welspun Living and others.

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(VIDEO) Tornado Tears Roofs From Two Dover, Delaware Motels, Prompting State of Emergency and Evacuations Now

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Father Leaves 7-Year-Old Son Alone on Mount Fuji for Hours,

DOVER, Del. — A confirmed tornado tore through Dover, Delaware, on Thursday evening, ripping roofs from two motels along North DuPont Highway and downing trees and power lines across the city, prompting Dover’s mayor to declare a local state of emergency as officials worked to assess the damage.

The tornado struck around 6:18 p.m., according to a report from a trained storm spotter cited by the National Weather Service, who observed a rain-wrapped tornado on the ground with flying debris near East Division Street close to William Henry Middle School. The state of emergency took effect at 6:20 p.m. and remained active while authorities worked to secure damaged buildings and clear affected roads.

The worst damage occurred along North DuPont Highway near Route 13, where the storm tore into the Days Inn and Super Lodge motels, ripping off sections of their roofs. Both properties were evacuated safely, and no serious injuries were reported anywhere in Dover, according to local authorities.

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Guests staying at the two motels described terrifying moments as the storm intensified. Kuimonie Goins, of Greensboro, North Carolina, said she was staying at the Days Inn with her family when conditions rapidly deteriorated. “When it started raining, we started seeing like pieces of buildings flying, and then we started to see the tornado form, and then we ran in the bathroom because we were scared,” Goins said. Jiana Hall, of Dover, who was also staying at the hotel, said she immediately moved her children to safety once the danger became apparent. “We immediately grabbed the kids and ran in the bathroom,” Hall said, recalling how she tried to reassure the children while the family waited out the storm. “Everything gonna be OK. Praying,” she recalled telling them.

Randall Butler, a longtime resident of the Superlodge, said he had no warning the storm would strike his home directly. “I didn’t think it was going to hit here. I thought I was going to come home and get some sleep,” Butler said. He was forced to find alternative housing following the damage to the property. “It’s unbelievable. Thank God I wasn’t there,” Butler said.

Dover Police Department spokesperson Lt. Mark Hoffman described the scale of the destruction and the fact that no one was seriously hurt as remarkable given the severity of the damage. “Honestly, it’s a miracle. I don’t know how we made it out of this without anybody being injured,” Hoffman said. He also detailed the dangerous conditions facing utility crews working to restore power in the aftermath of the storm. “As you can see there’s power lines down, significant damage to poles. We have a roof structure hanging over power lines, so it’s creating a dangerous situation for our power crews,” Hoffman said.

Dover Police identified the Division Street and Lockerman Street corridor, along with portions of North DuPont Highway, as the hardest-hit areas of the city. In a social media post, the department urged residents to stay off the roads given the scale of the disruption. “We are also dealing with significant power outages and numerous intersections where traffic signals are not functioning, creating extremely dangerous travel conditions. WE NEED EVERYONE TO STAY HOME AND GET OFF THE ROADS,” police said.

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Resident Julian O’Neill described the unsettling experience of the storm passing through, particularly the sound it produced as it moved through the area. “I never experienced anything like it,” O’Neill said. “The craziest part was the sound of it. It was like a whistling sound, almost like a train sound. The rain was so bad and the wind was so bad, you couldn’t really see it. All you could see was the trees bending down like crazy.”

Beyond the two motels, the tornado caused structural damage at a Kraft Foods facility in the area, according to a second trained storm spotter cited by the National Weather Service. Damage was also reported at the Dover Little League complex on Electric Avenue, where fencing and poles were knocked down and a fallen tree struck the facility’s scoreboard. Numerous additional trees and large branches blocked roadways throughout other parts of the city, compounding the disruption to local travel.

DART, Delaware’s public transit authority, dispatched vehicles to help relocate residents displaced from the Superlodge, according to Delaware Public Media. The National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey, office, which covers the Dover area, indicated it would send officials to conduct a formal survey of the damage in the coming days to determine the tornado’s strength and confirm the exact path it took through the city. As of this report, no official Enhanced Fujita Scale rating had been assigned to the Dover tornado, and the damage path had not yet been formally surveyed.

Thursday’s severe weather extended beyond Dover itself, part of a broader storm system that swept across the mid-Atlantic region. The same system tore the roof off a school building in central Pennsylvania and brought torrential downpours to the Philadelphia suburbs and the Jersey Shore, according to regional coverage of the storm. A separate funnel cloud was also spotted in Egg Harbor Township in South Jersey during the same system. In Pennsylvania, preliminary storm reports documented severe structural damage in the Columbia area, including collapsed walls, a collapsed shed, and shingles torn from multiple roofs, with the National Weather Service’s State College office scheduling its own damage survey for Eastern York County and Columbia beginning at 8 a.m. Friday.

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Dover’s storm system triggered two separate tornado warnings for Kent County on Thursday night, reflecting the sustained and evolving nature of the severe weather threat as it moved through the region. As cleanup efforts continued into Friday, city officials, utility crews and displaced residents faced the task of assessing both the structural damage to the two motels and the broader disruption to power and roadways across Dover, even as police continued urging onlookers to stay away from the affected areas to allow emergency crews room to work safely.

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Strategy Sits on $1.4 Billion Bitcoin Profit as Stock Surges 10% Following 22% Crypto Rally

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Bitcoin

Strategy Inc., the company formerly known as MicroStrategy, has swung back into a substantial unrealized profit on its massive Bitcoin holdings, as a sharp multi-day rally in the cryptocurrency pushed the company’s common stock up 10% in Friday pre-market trading to $120, its highest level in two months.

According to CoinDesk, Strategy owns 840,447 bitcoins, acquired at an average purchase price of $75,385 per coin. With bitcoin trading near $77,000 Friday, the company now holds an unrealized gain of roughly $1.4 billion, or 2.4%, marking its first return to profitability on its bitcoin treasury in months. Bitcoin has surged nearly 22% over five consecutive days of gains, a rally that Benzinga described as a 20% jump specifically over the trailing 72 hours, pushing the cryptocurrency’s price up from a low of $58,000 in July, when Strategy’s unrealized loss had reached approximately $13 billion, equivalent to 20.4% of the company’s total bitcoin cost basis at the time.

Strategy had spent much of 2026 underwater on its bitcoin holdings as the cryptocurrency fell roughly 54% from its October all-time high of $126,000, according to CoinDesk. That extended stretch of paper losses had weighed heavily on the company’s stock and financial reporting, given that Strategy’s business model has increasingly transformed the company into what one analyst characterized as less a traditional software business and more a leveraged bitcoin holding vehicle wrapped in a public company structure.

During the period when bitcoin traded in the low to mid-$60,000s, Strategy sold approximately 6,916 bitcoins, according to CoinDesk, while simultaneously building up its U.S. dollar cash reserve to $4.8 billion. According to CryptoTimes, that dollar reserve is intended to provide roughly 2.8 years of coverage for the company’s dividend payments and other financial obligations, reflecting a more measured, risk-managed posture compared with Strategy’s earlier years of continuous, aggressive bitcoin accumulation under Executive Chairman Michael Saylor.

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In the week ending Aug. 16, Strategy reported no new bitcoin purchases or sales, according to CryptoTimes, keeping its holdings steady at 840,447 BTC. Instead, the company raised approximately $333.7 million through sales of common stock during that period, directing the proceeds toward preferred stock dividends, preferred share buybacks and further contributions to its cash reserve.

Strategy’s underlying financial results have continued to reflect the volatility inherent in its bitcoin-heavy balance sheet. According to Timothy Sykes’ market coverage, the company reported a massive GAAP net loss driven by roughly $8.3 billion in unrealized bitcoin losses recorded earlier in the reporting period, even as its core enterprise analytics software business remained essentially flat, with second-quarter revenue of $122.4 million landing just under the $122.9 million analysts had expected. That divergence between GAAP accounting losses tied to bitcoin’s price swings and the company’s comparatively stable software revenue has become a defining characteristic of how analysts now evaluate the stock.

Management has continued actively reshaping the company’s balance sheet alongside the bitcoin rally. According to Timothy Sykes, Strategy has cut its convertible debt by 18%, lifted its U.S. dollar reserves to $3.75 billion in one recent snapshot, and has been repurchasing shares of its STRC Series A preferred stock below par value, while signaling support for the preferred shares within a targeted $99 to $100 trading range. The company has also repurchased approximately 288,930 common shares for roughly $25 million, according to a separate Timothy Sykes report, part of broader efforts to reinforce investor confidence in the stock alongside its ongoing 12% dividend commitment.

Despite the recent volatility and multiple price-target reductions from analysts, Wall Street sentiment toward Strategy has remained largely positive. According to Timothy Sykes, firms including Clear Street, Benchmark and B. Riley have all cut their price targets on the stock in recent weeks but maintained buy ratings, with a consensus price target sitting near $258.50, well above the stock’s current trading levels.

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Strategy’s stock has shown a consistent pattern of tracking bitcoin’s price movements closely, a dynamic that has led some analysts to describe the company’s shares as carrying an unusually high sensitivity, or “beta,” to bitcoin’s underlying price. According to TS2.Tech, Strategy’s stock recently demonstrated a bitcoin beta exceeding 2.6 times, meaning the shares have moved more than 2.6 times as much, in percentage terms, as bitcoin itself during certain trading sessions, reflecting the leveraged nature of the company’s business model built around its massive cryptocurrency holdings.

Regulatory developments have also factored into recent trading in Strategy shares. According to Yahoo Finance, a proposed rule change affecting non-operating companies with large treasury asset holdings, a category that includes Strategy given its substantial bitcoin reserves, could potentially force investment funds tracking certain MSCI benchmarks to sell their MSTR shares if the change is finalized. A final decision on that proposed rule change is expected by October, with any resulting changes planned to take effect in November 2026, according to the same report, representing an ongoing source of uncertainty for the stock independent of bitcoin’s own price movements.

Michael Saylor, Strategy’s executive chairman, has continued to publicly reaffirm the company’s long-term commitment to its bitcoin-centered strategy. According to TS2.Tech, Saylor stated the firm “remains committed to Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset,” even as the company has more recently balanced that stance with a more measured approach to active bitcoin trading, including periodic sales aimed at funding dividends, debt reduction and share repurchases rather than pursuing continuous, uninterrupted accumulation.

Technical indicators have also pointed toward continued near-term strength in the stock following Friday’s rally. According to Benzinga, Strategy shares extended a three-day breakout that finally cleared resistance near $105 after four separate failed attempts to break through that level since July, with the stock’s relative strength index climbing sharply to 61.84 and a bullish divergence flagged earlier in July now playing out in the stock’s price action. The 100-day exponential moving average, sitting at $122.16, was identified as an immediate technical test for the stock at Friday’s premarket trading levels.

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With bitcoin’s five-day rally having erased months of accumulated paper losses on Strategy’s balance sheet, investors are likely to continue closely monitoring both the cryptocurrency’s ability to sustain its recent gains and Strategy’s upcoming weekly disclosure filings, which have become a closely watched indicator of the company’s ongoing bitcoin trading activity and broader capital allocation strategy heading into the remainder of 2026.

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Reform UK infighting complicates Farage’s push to prepare party to govern

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Reform UK infighting complicates Farage’s push to prepare party to govern

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Sugar stocks rally! How Balrampur Chini, Triveni Engineering, Shree Renuka Sugars, other stocks performed this week?

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The Economic Times

Sugar stocks surged on strong pre-festival demand, with Balrampur Chini, Bajaj Hindusthan, Uttam Sugar and others hitting 52-week highs. Gains moderated after duty-free raw sugar imports were announced, though several stocks still delivered strong weekly and year-to-date returns.

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General Dynamics (GD): Why Q2 Results And Market-Cap Weighted Multiples Trigger An Upgrade

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General Dynamics (GD): Why Q2 Results And Market-Cap Weighted Multiples Trigger An Upgrade

This article was written by

Equity Research Analyst specializing in high-conviction valuations within the Defense, Aerospace, and Technology sectors. My investment philosophy is centered on a disciplined GARP (Growth at a Reasonable Price) framework, utilizing rigorous 5-year DCF modeling and sensitivity analysis to identify structural mispricings.With a deep technical interest in military technology and operational efficiency (inspired by the precision of Formula 1), I focus on companies with ‘fortress’ balance sheets and sustainable moats. My goal is to deliver data-driven, actionable insights that strip away market noise to reveal fundamental truth. Currently providing institutional-grade financial models and deep-dive research for value-oriented investors seeking long-term capital appreciation.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. 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.

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Why Is Bitcoin Suddenly Surging? Treasury Buybacks, Short Liquidations and ETF Inflows Fuel the Rally

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Bitcoin has surged nearly 22% over the past five trading days, climbing above $77,000 and reaching its highest level since early June, in a rally traders and analysts attribute to a combination of shifting U.S. monetary policy signals, favorable regulatory developments, and a wave of forced selling that fueled its own momentum.

According to Yahoo Finance, bitcoin was up roughly 7.32% Friday, extending an advance that has seen its price climb about 18% over the preceding 48 hours to more than $77,600. The cryptocurrency had not traded above the $70,000 level since late May prior to this latest push, according to Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.

The single most frequently cited catalyst behind the rally is a decision by the U.S. Treasury Department to significantly expand its buybacks of long-dated government debt. According to CCN, the Treasury doubled its planned long-term bond buybacks from $2 billion to at least $4 billion per operation, a move that pushed the 30-year Treasury yield down sharply, from 5.337% to around 5.20%, and sent the U.S. dollar index to a three-month low.

Bernstein strategist Gautam Chhugani identified that move as the primary driver behind bitcoin’s turnaround. “The strong trigger in bitcoin was driven by Treasury’s move to buyback bonds at the longer end of the yield curve,” Chhugani wrote in a note. He connected the policy shift to a broader historical pattern in how bitcoin tends to respond to changes in market liquidity. “We are not macro experts, but we do know bitcoin historically has had a positive reaction to liquidity expansion,” Chhugani wrote.

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That connection between the Treasury’s buyback decision and bitcoin’s rally has also drawn commentary from other market participants pushing back on alternative explanations for the move. James Lavish, co-managing partner of Bitcoin Opportunity Fund, argued in a post on the social platform X that the rally has been misread by some commentators who instead credited a separate White House meeting between President Donald Trump and crypto industry executives as the primary spark. “Bitcoin is surging because the Treasury has signaled it will do whatever it takes to keep long end yields from flying up, up and away,” Lavish wrote, according to Forbes.

Regulatory developments have provided a second significant tailwind for the rally. Trump met with crypto industry leaders and regulators at the White House on Aug. 19, using the meeting to call on Congress to pass a version of the CLARITY Act, a stalled piece of legislation aimed at establishing clearer boundaries around when digital assets fall under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission versus the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, according to CCN. The bill’s path through the Senate remains difficult, with disagreements over several provisions still unresolved, but the president’s public push gave traders another reason to price in the possibility of a more favorable U.S. regulatory environment for cryptocurrency going forward.

The SEC has moved on a parallel track as well. According to CCN, the regulator proposed new crypto rules on Aug. 18 that include exemptions for certain token offerings and a conditional safe harbor provision that could allow qualifying crypto assets to fall outside traditional securities regulation under specified conditions.

Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget Research, said the CLARITY Act’s fate could have significant implications for the broader market’s trajectory. “If the Clarity Act makes progress, it could boost investor confidence and spark a broader recovery in digital assets,” Lee said, according to The National.

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Beyond the policy-driven catalysts, mechanical forces within the derivatives market have amplified the speed and scale of bitcoin’s advance. According to Crypto.news, more than $1 billion in short positions were forcibly liquidated within a single hour as bitcoin crossed the $69,000 threshold earlier this week, and total short liquidations across the broader crypto market have since exceeded $3 billion, according to Altcoin Buzz. Liquidation occurs when an exchange automatically closes a leveraged trading position after a trader’s collateral becomes insufficient to cover potential losses, and closing a short position typically requires purchasing the underlying asset on the open market, adding further buying pressure at a moment when prices are already climbing. That feedback loop, according to Crypto.news, helps explain why bitcoin moved more than $6,000 within just several hours rather than climbing gradually over a longer period, though the outlet also cautioned that continued gains will likely depend on fresh demand emerging once the wave of forced buying subsides.

Institutional demand has provided additional underlying support for the rally. According to Crypto.news, U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds attracted $517 million in net inflows on Aug. 19 alone, marking their strongest single-day inflow since May. KuCoin’s analysis pointed to steady on-chain accumulation as a further contributing factor, noting that by Aug. 20, nearly 1.2 million bitcoins had been accumulated near the $63,000 cost basis level since July, creating what the platform described as a substantial support zone for the cryptocurrency’s price heading into the current rally.

Despite the strength of the advance, some analysts have cautioned that bitcoin still faces meaningful resistance overhead. According to Crypto.news, analysts have identified the $72,000 region as an important technical resistance area, while KuCoin’s analysis pointed to a concentration of positive options-market gamma clustered around the $70,000 strike price on the derivatives exchange Deribit, a positioning pattern that can influence short-term price behavior as the market approaches that level.

The rally has extended beyond bitcoin itself into the broader cryptocurrency market. According to Altcoin Buzz, Ethereum climbed above $2,000 during the same period, while XRP surged more than 25%, with whales reportedly accumulating roughly 300 million XRP tokens over a 96-hour span amid rising open interest and institutional activity tied to the XRP Ledger.

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Underlying the entire episode is a broader macroeconomic backdrop tied to growing U.S. fiscal deficits. According to Forbes, the federal budget deficit for July reached $432 billion, the largest monthly shortfall since March 2021, a trend that some market commentators have connected to renewed investor interest in scarce assets such as bitcoin and gold as potential hedges against continued government borrowing and currency debasement concerns.

Whether the current rally marks a durable turning point for bitcoin or a shorter-term bounce fueled primarily by forced short covering remains an open question among analysts. As KuCoin’s analysis put it, whether this rally ultimately signals the end of bitcoin’s earlier bear market “remains uncertain,” given that broader macroeconomic risks persist and technical resistance levels above current prices have yet to be decisively cleared.

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KORU Medical Systems Stock Selloff Offers An Opportunity (NASDAQ:KRMD)

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KORU Medical Systems Stock Selloff Offers An Opportunity (NASDAQ:KRMD)

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Shareholders Unite is a retired academic with 30+ years of experience in the financial markets. He looks to find small companies with multi-bagger potential while mitigating risks through a portfolio approach.
He runs SHU Growth Portfolio where he offers wide coverage of several small companies with high growth possibilities. He has a buy and hold approach with tranche purchases of stocks of interest. The service features an illustrative portfolio to incorporate into your portfolio, buy alerts, weekend stock and market updates, and a chat room. Learn more

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of KRMD 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.

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ETMarkets Management Talk | CleanMax’s next growth phase: 1.5 GW capacity addition target, Rs 3,000 crore EBITDA by FY28, says Kuldeep Jain

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ETMarkets Management Talk | CleanMax’s next growth phase: 1.5 GW capacity addition target, Rs 3,000 crore EBITDA by FY28, says Kuldeep Jain
CleanMax is gearing up for its next phase of growth, with the renewable energy player targeting 1.5 GW of capacity additions in FY27 and EBITDA of over ₹3,000 crore by FY28, nearly 2.5 times the ₹1,280 crore reported in FY26.

In an interaction with Kshitij Anand of ETMarkets, CleanMax Founder and Managing Director Kuldeep Jain said the company remains confident of meeting its capacity addition target, backed by a sharp improvement in execution capabilities.

Jain also highlighted data centres, AI infrastructure, and the broader Make in India push as key demand drivers. A recent upgrade to an AA credit rating and a planned Rs 2,500 crore bond issue could provide greater access to capital as the company scales its contracted portfolio. The following are edited excerpts from the chat:

Kshitij Anand: I wanted to get your view on the recent results that have come out. In fact, CleanMax delivered more than 100% year-on-year revenue growth and 70% growth in adjusted EBITDA in Q1. How much of this growth is sustainable, and what should investors expect from the business over the next few years?

Kuldeep Jain: We are delighted with our growth numbers, and we have given guidance that EBITDA in FY27-28, which is next year, will be above Rs 3,000 crore. This compares with FY25-26, which was last year. So, in two years, we will go from Rs 1,280 crore to above Rs 3,000 crore. That is obviously very, very high growth of about 60% year-on-year.

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Kshitij Anand: The reason I ask is that growth appears to be quite strong quarter-on-quarter. Given the long-term nature of your contracts, is the over 100% growth sustainable, or should we expect some normalisation in the coming quarters?

Kuldeep Jain: We do not give a quarter-on-quarter view on growth. Sometimes it is very tough to…

Kshitij Anand: No, no, of course, it is year-on-year…

Kuldeep Jain: …that, but I think over two years, we have given guidance to go from Rs 1,280 crore to about Rs 3,000 crore, which is actually very, very high, nearly two-and-a-half times EBITDA growth in just two years.
So, we see that high growth continuing, but of course, some variability on a quarterly basis can be there. Therefore, we do not actually provide any guidance on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

Kshitij Anand: Let me also get your perspective on the recent projects. So, you commissioned a record 0.5 gigawatt of capacity in Q1, and you are guiding for at least 1.5 gigawatts of additions in FY27. How confident are you about meeting or exceeding this target?

Kuldeep Jain: So, our principle on guidance is that we must be very sure of meeting or beating it. That is the principle we adopt. So, yes, the answer would be that we think we will hit that, and it is good that we have done 500 out of 1,500 megawatts in one quarter. The thing, though, is that our track record gives me comfort in this. So, if you look at last year also, we did about 1,400 megawatts.

So, it is not like we have not done it. If you look at the trailing 12 months as of June 30, we have done about 1,700 megawatts-plus. So, we, as an organisation, are now able to execute at that pace, which is, by the way, a marked step-up from doing 400 to 500 megawatts a year until about two years ago.

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So, we have stepped up. In the last 12 months, we have added 1,700 megawatts. Therefore, I do think we should be able to meet or beat our guidance of 1,500 megawatts of capacity for this year.

Kshitij Anand: The reason I emphasise this is that every year brings new challenges. With some political volatility in 2026, do you foresee any bottlenecks or resistance that could impact growth?

Kuldeep Jain: The inherent nature of projects is that there is no easy project, and the challenges could be around land and permitting. It could be around supply chain.

It could be around execution, final connectivity and operations. So, there is never an easy project, and every project will have some challenge.

And therefore, at my level, I do not think so much about what the challenges are, but whether we, as an organisation, have the ability to deliver 12 to 15 large projects across 10 different states every year.

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And then, every project will be… some may be trending a little ahead of time, some after time. These minor variabilities will happen. They are the nature of project-led growth.

Kshitij Anand: Let us also talk about the new opportunities. Data centres and AI infrastructure now account for 42% of your contracted renewable energy power sales capacity. With this portfolio growing nearly 10 times in just over two years, could this become the single biggest growth engine for CleanMax?

Kuldeep Jain: Data centres are humongous power guzzlers. Every one-gigawatt data centre needs about six gigawatts of renewable capacity to meet 75% to 80% of its requirement, so that is the equation.

And even today, data centres and hyperscalers are already 42% of our contracted business. So, about 2,500 megawatts we have already contracted.

But yes, we do see that as the data centres ramp up and AI data centres start consuming power, they might shift from 42% to a majority of our contracted volumes in the near future.

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Kshitij Anand: Let me also focus on the segment, the C&I customer across technology, digital infrastructure, manufacturing and industrial sectors. Which segments are currently showing the strongest incremental demand for renewable power?

Kuldeep Jain: So, firstly, the demand is ubiquitous and not segment-oriented because all Make in India needs power and benefits from the use of cheaper, greener power.

Cheaper benefits because your cost of production comes down, and greener benefits because if you are part of a global value chain, that helps you on the sales side of your business because you have a more cost-effective and greener product.

And therefore, where we have seen a lot of demand start coming through is in some of the high-end manufacturing, like electronics, semiconductors, auto and auto components being exported, where the manufacturer is tied to a global value chain.

That mix is very potent for us. That said, only about 7.5% of corporate power demand in India is met through these bilateral green sources. So, the penetration of that 7.5% is going to 20%, as forecasted, between 2023 and 2030, driven by the fact that it is cheaper and greener, and everyone is therefore adopting.

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Kshitij Anand: In fact, let me also get your perspective on the debt, which has actually come down to 8.4% from 9.2% in April 2025. How much of this benefit can be passed through to project returns as you scale the portfolio?

Kuldeep Jain: The brilliant thing about renewables is that it is the only business which has a 92% to 94% gross margin. The cost of production is nearly negligible because, incidentally, I mean, I explained it in Hindi, Surya Deva and Vayu Deva are free.

Like the sun, you are not paying for sunshine or for the wind blowing. But the cost is of interest because it is capital-intensive. You borrowed to put up your project, and therefore, the cost is of interest.

Therefore, the achievement, yes, is that our cost of debt has come down. But what is a further positive early indicator is that our credit rating has increased now to the AA bracket, starting June this year, and that gives us a better, improved credit rating and better negotiating power with lenders like banks because now we are an AA-rated borrower. So, that is a positive.

Kshitij Anand: In fact, my next question is also around that. The board has approved a domestic bond issuance to diversify funding and secure long-term fixed-rate financing. How large could this financing be, and what kind of impact could it have on your overall cost of capital, as you rightly put it, given that the rating has also…?

Kuldeep Jain: The board has approved a bond issuance of up to Rs 2,500 crore, and we are targeting to get it done by the end of September, so pretty much soon.

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At an AA credit rating, the real benefit is not just the cost of funds, but tapping into a new source of capital, which is the domestic credit markets, DCM, rather than traditional bank loans.

Because as you grow, tapping into different pools of capital becomes very beneficial and positive, and that is why the first-ever bond issuance has been approved by the board.

But yes, the recent credit upgrade to the AA family was a key ingredient in doing it. Like, domestic bonds cannot really happen if you are at an A rating, but if you are AA, that is where you can start doing it.

Kshitij Anand: And CleanMax, as a company, has grown its contracted portfolio threefold in two years, and the renewable energy market is becoming increasingly competitive. What is the biggest challenge you see in scaling from the current 6-gigawatt portfolio to, let us say, the next 10-gigawatt portfolio?

Kuldeep Jain: So, we see massive growth in both our key customer segments. So, the first segment is Make in India, where only 7.5% of the demand is being met through bilateral renewable contracts like ours.

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That is going to grow a fair bit because it is cheaper and greener, and that has also doubled in the last two years. We see that kind of penetration increase continuing. The second massive booster ingredient to this is the data and AI boom.

We have grown from 250 megawatts to 2,500 megawatts in two years in terms of contracts with data centres and AI. And that industry feels like it is just getting started. The actual operating data centre capacity in India is only 1.5 gigawatts.

The next 10 gigawatts is to come up. If 10 gigawatts of data centres come up, they need 60,000 megawatts of renewables to power them, or to power them up to 75% to 80% of their requirements. And today, we are serving all of them.

So, we will get our fair share of that kind of growth uplift. So, we are very excited about continued fast growth in both of our key customer segments, and therefore, we do not see growth as being a challenge. We are gearing ourselves more to execute on that massive growth.

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(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

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