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Fed chief Warsh faces hard choice on inflation after bond market’s ‘red flag’

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Fed chief Warsh faces hard choice on inflation after bond market's 'red flag'
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh‘s emphatic declarations on Wednesday that inflation would be brought down without signaling a readiness to raise interest rates triggered a sharp selloff in bonds that may force a hard choice: defying President Donald Trump’s desire for easier monetary policy or battling a growing cadre of fellow U.S. central bankers determined to tighten it.

Complicating matters was Warsh’s hint that he may try to switch up the Fed’s yardstick for successfully containing inflation, for years defined as a 2% year-over-year rise in the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index. “That’s our number, we’re sticking with it,” Warsh said in a press conference after the end of a two-day policy meeting, before adding, “Who ‌knows, come after next January, ⁠what we might ⁠say about strategy. I suspect the task forces might have something to add.”

Warsh handpicked 15 outside experts in May to deliver recommendations by the end of 2026 on the Fed’s conduct of monetary policy, including its inflation framework. Warsh said on Wednesday he will check in with them in the next couple of weeks and may share any thoughts that are “ready for prime time” at the Fed’s global central bankers’ conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Past Fed chiefs have used that late-August meeting to prefigure what the central bank may do at its meetings in September. Warsh has so far stuck to his promise to provide no guidance on the Fed’s likely rate path. The combination of Warsh’s repeated assertions of the need to tame inflation with no action to move it toward the 2% target and a hint that the goalposts themselves may change helped send 30-year Treasury yields above 5.2% on Wednesday, a 19-year high. They extended their rise on Thursday.

“That’s almost seen in that building as the markets voting ‘no ⁠confidence’ on ‌the Fed and the Fed’s willingness and capacity to bring inflation down,” said Nathan Sheets, the global chief economist at Citigroup. “He highlighted a problem and gave no strategy for solving it other than, ‘I’m a hawk, trust me,’ and the markets wanted more than that,” said Sheets, who worked at the Fed for 18 years. “I think part of it is ⁠if you lean too far into future hikes, then he’s disappointing the White House. And it is a balancing act between Warsh the hawk, which he is, and trying to stay on sides relative to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.” Sheets said Warsh will need to make a choice by September.

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THE BREWING STORM

Warsh’s colleagues are already calling for action. Three of the Fed’s 12 voting policymakers dissented on Wednesday against the decision to leave the central bank’s benchmark interest rate on hold in the 3.50%-3.75% range. On Friday they and any others at the table are free to have their say, and analysts expect a deluge of commentary, given what Sheets called the “absolute red flag” of rising long-term bond rates. “While Warsh may try to constrain the Fed’s official communications and substitute ‘talk’ for action while waiting for ‘task forces’ to return a verdict, the regional Fed presidents, and perhaps members of the Board (of Governors), are willing to discuss their views in the open and will be doing so over the next few days and weeks,” said Thierry Wizman, global FX & rates strategist at Macquarie Group. “We ‌expect them to do a lot of damage control, and to highlight how they, if not Warsh, are ready to tighten policy.” Before the Fed’s meeting this week, some policymakers including two of those who dissented on Wednesday – Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack – had signaled their discomfort with leaving rates unchanged despite rising inflation. Others who voted with Warsh on Wednesday to keep rates on hold, including ⁠Fed Governors Christopher Waller and Lisa Cook, have said they too may call for rate hikes if they don’t see improvement in inflation soon. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Thursday that PCE inflation eased in June to 3.7% from 4.1% in May, and underlying core inflation rose 3.3% last month after advancing 3.4% in May. The slight improvement had been widely anticipated after the release of other inflation data earlier this month, and policymakers have said they are worried about renewed upward price pressures due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and surging investment in technology related to artificial intelligence. Business spending on equipment increased at a 15.2% pace in the second quarter, the BEA said in a separate report on Thursday, marking a second straight quarter of double-digit growth. Trump so far has refrained from attacking Warsh for not delivering lower rates, blaming the new Fed chief’s fellow board members instead. “Board members have put Warsh on notice they intend to push for a hike in September if inflation does not meaningfully ease over the summer,” Tim Duy, chief U.S. economist at SGH Macro Advisors, wrote in a note. “If Warsh is indeed a dove in hawk’s clothing, he will not have as much support on the board to hold rates steady again in the face of persistently high inflation.”

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Bandhan Small Cap among 4 small caps that delivered over 20% CAGR since their respective inception

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The Economic Times

The top four small-cap mutual funds have delivered over 20% CAGR since their inception. Here’s a detailed look at their AUM, inception dates, and performance. (Source: MF Screener)

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Vedanta and 4 other stocks with lowest price-to-earnings ratio. Check details

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The Economic Times

Are you searching for the least expensive stocks? Here are the top 5 stocks that have the lowest price-to-earnings ratio, as reported by ETWealth. (Data as of July 23, 2026)

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IRB Infrastructure Q1 FY27 slides: profit surges 51% on InvIT growth

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IRB Infrastructure Q1 FY27 slides: profit surges 51% on InvIT growth


IRB Infrastructure Q1 FY27 slides: profit surges 51% on InvIT growth

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Looking for top-performing equity mutual funds? Here are the best performers across categories in the last 1 year

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The Economic Times

Returns from mutual fund schemes over the past year show a wide gap between the best- and worst-performing funds across categories, underscoring the importance of scheme selection for investors. Here are the top performers across categories against their benchmark and category average, as reported by ET Bureau.

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Maharashtra-based SME stock plunges 20% as MD gets shot, director taken in police custody

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Maharashtra-based SME stock plunges 20% as MD gets shot, director taken in police custody
Maharashtra-based manufacturer GSM Foils on Friday announced that its Managing Director Mohansingh Parmar has been injured in a firing incident and police took one of its whole time directors in custody.

In an exchange filing, GSM Foils said the firing incident took place in the Naikpada area in Vasai-Virar, located near Mumbai. After getting injured in the incident, the company said that Parmar received prompt medical attention and is presently under proper medical care. His health condition was reported to be stable and improving.

Sagar Bhanushali, a whole time director of the company, was then taken into police custody in relation to the ongoing investigation into the firing case. The company said it is extending full cooperation to the investing authorities.

The senior management team has taken the necessary steps to ensure continuity of the company’s operations. At present, the company’s manufacturing facilities at Vasai and Ahmedabad, Plant continue to function normally,’ it added.

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Also read | Peter Lynch does not like the AI trade; here’s why he says ‘Know what you own’

GSM Foils share price

GSM Foils shares crashed 20% to close at Rs 192 apiece on NSE. Notably, the exchange filing came in the post market hours of Friday.


GSM Foils manufactures blister foils and aluminium pharma foils for the pharma industry. The sharp fall in the share price came prior to that as media reports around the incident surfaced.

US stock market losses behind murder plot?

Bhanushali plotted the attack to evade repaying Parmar Rs 32 crore and gain complete control over the company, Times of India reported. According to police officials cited by the report, Bhanusali suffered massive financial losses during a sharp selloff in the US stock market, leaving him burdened with debts running into crores.
The report quoted investigators as saying that Bhanusali had persuaded Parmar to purchase his stake in the company and took nearly Rs 32 crore. Instead of repaying the said amount, he allegedly conspired to kill Parmar, thinking this death would wipe out the liability and enable him to take complete control of the company.The attack took place on July 24 at the company’s premises when two motorcycle-borne hitmen opened fire at the 46-year old Parmar, who was hit in the shoulder by the first bullet.

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

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Realty company Assetz to take confidential route for IPO

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Realty company Assetz to take confidential route for IPO
MUMBAI: Assetz, a Bengaluru-based real estate developer, is expected to confidentially file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for a Rs 1,200 crore initial public offering (IPO) in the coming days, according to people familiar with the development.

The proposed IPO is likely to be a combination of a fresh equity issuance and an offer for sale (OFS) by existing shareholders.

JM Financial, BofA Securities India and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors are the book-running lead managers to the issue.

Email queries to the company and the bankers went unanswered.

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In the confidential IPO filing route, issuers are allowed to keep their initial draft prospectus confidential from the public domain until the regulatory review process reaches an advanced stage.


J.P. Morgan, Aditya Birla Capital, Motilal Oswal Alternates and HDFC Ltd have been investors in projects of Assetz, founded by Ben Salmon and Rajpal Singh Chaudhary in 2006.
Bengaluru’s residential property market has remained one of the strongest in the country, driven by sustained demand from technology professionals, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), startups and a steadily expanding white-collar workforce. Robust employment generation, rising incomes and continued infrastructure development have supported healthy home sales despite higher property prices.Developers have remained focused on premium housing and large integrated townships, while the city’s deep end-user demand and improving connectivity have encouraged continued land acquisitions, new project launches and institutional investments.

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Coveo Solutions Inc. (CVO:CA) Q1 2027 Earnings Call Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Operator

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Coveo First Quarter Fiscal 2027 Financial Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] This call is being recorded on Thursday, July 30, 2026. I would like to turn the conference over to Adhir Kadve. Please go ahead.

Adhir Kadve
Head of Investor Relations

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Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us. With me to discuss Coveo’s first quarter fiscal 2027 results are Laurent Simoneau, Coveo’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Louis Têtu, Coveo’s Executive Chairman, and Karine Hamel, Coveo’s Chief Financial Officer. A reminder that some remarks made today will be forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including those regarding our planned objectives, expected performance, and our outlook for the second fiscal quarter and full year fiscal 2027. These are forward-looking statements given as of July 30, 2026, and while we believe any statements we make are reasonable, they are based on current expectations and assumptions which are subject to risks and uncertainties.

Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied. Coveo disclaims any intent or obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Further information on factors that could affect the company’s financial results is included in the filings we make with Canadian Securities Regulators, including the Risk Factors section of the company’s

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The Tech Tide Turns | Seeking Alpha

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Dow Jones And U.S. Index Outlook: Major Rotation Flows And Drops

Abstract Financial Data Visualization with Digital Stock Market Graphs

AlexSecret/iStock via Getty Images

Technology rallied 5.24% on Thursday for its best day since April 9, 2025, when the sector surged 14.15% after the Tariff Tantrum. Tech had fallen 5.41% over the prior four trading days, and the rebound recovered more than 90% of that decline. By comparison, the

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Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Kip Meintzer
Head of Global Investor Relations

Greetings, and welcome to the Check Point Software’s 2026 Second Quarter Financial Results Video Conference. I’m Kip E. Meintzer, Global Head of Investor Relations. And joining me today are Chief Executive Officer, Nadav Zafrir; and our Chief Financial Officer, Roei Golan.

Before we begin, I’d like to remind everyone that this conference is being recorded and will be available for replay on our website at checkpoint.com. [Operator Instructions] During the presentation, Check Point’s representatives may make forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements can relate to future events or future financial and/or operating performance. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made only as of the date hereof, Check Point Software undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements except where required by law.

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In our press release, which has been posted on our website, we present GAAP and non-GAAP results, along with the reconciliation of such results, as well as

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Amazon soars as cloud revenue surge allays fears over ballooning AI bets

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Amazon soars as cloud revenue surge allays fears over ballooning AI bets
Amazon shares surged nearly 14% on Friday after the tech giant’s solid cloud sales growth reinforced investor confidence in its massive AI bets and quashed any concerns about the company trailing its Big Tech rivals in the AI race.

The e-commerce and cloud titan posted its strongest cloud growth in over four years, indicating a fresh wave of demand that justifies its 10% increase in planned capital spending ‌for 2026 to $220 ⁠billion.

Amazon’s results ⁠come as a resounding sign to Wall Street that some of Big Tech’s AI investments are already generating measurable returns.

If gains hold, the stock could add more than $340 billion in market value on the back of a 37% jump in second-quarter cloud revenue. Earlier this week, Microsoft surged more than 15% after its cloud unit beat estimates with a 43% revenue jump.

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However, there’s a growing divide in investors’ tolerance for the ever-increasing AI spend by Big Tech, set to exceed $730 billion this year.


“The ⁠market is ‌no longer questioning whether AI demand is real. The new dividing line is whether unprecedented spending is producing visible, near-term revenue and margin expansion,” said Bill Birmingham, managing ⁠director at REX Financial.
“The market penalizes spending when monetization is delayed, indirect or difficult to measure.” Meta and Google-parent Alphabet both slumped 7%, despite strong growth in revenues, after the companies raised their capital spending forecasts while free cash flows cratered.

“Amazon is earning the right to keep spending. Where others are asking investors to trust that the payoff will come, Amazon showed it this quarter,” said Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com.

“As long as AWS keeps accelerating and margins hold, the market looks willing to fund the build-out, even with ‌free cash flow in the red.”

Amazon’s free cash flow swung sharply negative in the quarter, with the company burning $7.6 billion on a trailing 12-month basis, versus $18.2 billion in positive free cash flow a year earlier.

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Still, ⁠CEO Andy Jassy reassured investors that Amazon is only pouring money into serving demand that already exists. He said a majority of available Amazon cloud capacity for 2027 and some capacity for 2028 had already been reserved by customers.

Chris Ballard, managing partner at Check Capital, said Amazon’s approach to spending was “methodical and responsible.”

“This level of capital deployment is all very new, so Amazon showing immediate results is a really good sign.”

At least 15 brokerages raised their price targets on the stock following results.

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Amazon trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.67, compared with Microsoft’s 22.94 and Alphabet’s 19.35.

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