The June quarter earnings season, which began with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on July 9, is set to gather pace this week. Corporate earnings are expected to grow around 10%, marking the strongest expansion in four quarters. On July 15 alone, 43 companies are scheduled to report their June quarter results, according to the BSE earnings calendar.

Key companies reporting earnings later in the day include Groww, Jana Small Finance Bank, HDB Financial Services, HDFC Asset Management Company, HDFC Life Insurance Company, Himadri Specialty Chemical, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, MRPL, Reliance Infrastructure, Network18, Union Bank of India, Angel One, Container Corporation of India, Emmvee Photovoltaic Power and GTPL Hathaway.

The earnings season gathers further momentum this week, with around 143 companies set to announce their June quarter results. On July 16, key earnings will come from Jio Financial Services, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, ITC Hotels, Newgen Software, Polycab India, South Indian Bank, BHEL, 360 One, CEAT and DB Corp, among others. Results across IT, financial services, FMCG and manufacturing will be closely watched for cues on corporate earnings, domestic demand and sectoral outlooks.

July 17: Notable earnings announcements will come from Reliance Industries, RBL Bank, Federal Bank, Tata Technologies Havells India, JSW Steel, Oberoi Realty, and Poonawalla Fincorp. Covering conglomerates, steel, and banking, these results are expected to provide insights into diversified sectoral growth.

Also read:Radhika Gupta has 17% of her portfolio abroad. Here’s how much she wants Indians to invest globally

July 18: The week closes with key banking names including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, YES Bank, Axis Bank, Can Fin Homes, and Indo Cotspin. Investors will focus on loan growth, asset quality, and capital adequacy as these banks release their Q2 FY26 numbers.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Gates to be deployed at hotspots across England

New ticket barriers are set to be installed at train stations across England as part of a crackdown on fare dodging, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.

A £33.4 million investment will fund taller gates designed to prevent passengers from vaulting over them, alongside additional standard waist-high barriers.

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group estimates that at least £350 million to £400 million in annual fare revenue is lost to fraud and ticketless travel every year.

The new barriers will be rolled out at “fare dodger hotspots”, according to the DfT.

The following operators have been allocated funding to install barriers at:.

– Avanti West Coast: Liverpool Lime Street and Stafford.

– East Midlands Railway: Market Harborough.

– Greater Anglia: Hertford East, Manningtree, Rayleigh, Ware and Witham.

– Thameslink Southern Great Northern: Elephant and Castle, Gipsy Hill, Royston, Stevenage and Worthing.

– TransPennine Express: Manchester Piccadilly.

– West Midlands Trains: Nuneaton, Tamworth, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill.

Rail minister Lord Hendy said: “Fare evasion is not a victimless crime – it undermines confidence in the railway and means passengers lose out on millions in revenue which should be invested to improve services for everyone.

“By stopping fare dodgers before they reach the platform, we’re protecting taxpayer cash, supporting investment in the network and ensuring the railway works better for the millions of passengers who do the right thing every day by paying their way.”

The installation of the new barriers is set to commence in the first half of next year, with the full rollout anticipated to be complete by mid-2028.

Thailand’s political stability and ambitious reform agenda—spanning digital transformation, sustainability, workforce development, and regulatory modernization—position it as a compelling investment destination. For American businesses, success depends on execution: translating policy commitments into transparent regulations, skilled talent, and tangible economic outcomes.

Key Points

• Thailand’s political stability and ambitious policy agenda—spanning digital transformation, regulatory modernization, and sustainability—position it as a credible regional hub, offering American businesses a reliable partner amid global volatility and shifting supply chains.

• Execution will determine success; regulatory transparency, digital governance, human capital development, and clear sustainability frameworks are critical to attracting high-quality U.S. investment and maintaining regional competitiveness.

• Structural challenges including household debt, income inequality, and SME support require deeper reforms, while stronger U.S.-Thailand trade alignment can unlock greater bilateral economic engagement if policy intent translates into tangible outcomes.

Thailand’s Stability as a Foundation for Growth

Thailand enters its next phase of development with a critical asset: stability. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s policy agenda signals continuity amid global volatility, offering reassurance to investors seeking predictability. The government’s commitments to digital transformation, regulatory modernization, human capital development, and sustainability align well with global economic trends. Thailand’s ambition to become a regional hub in advanced manufacturing and digital services is credible, but execution will ultimately determine success. For the American business community, Thailand remains a cornerstone of ASEAN strategy, uniquely positioned to capture high-quality investment as firms pursue “friend-shoring” opportunities.

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Key Reform Priorities to Unlock Investment Potential

Regulatory transparency, digital leadership, and workforce development are central to Thailand’s competitiveness. Omnibus reforms and bureaucratic streamlining must translate into faster approvals and a level playing field to retain mobile capital. The digital transformation agenda—including Smart Digital Systems and data governance frameworks—presents significant opportunities for U.S. technology firms, provided innovation-friendly regulations are enacted. Equally critical, human capital investment through education reform and upskilling remains the most decisive factor for long-term foreign investment. Public-private partnerships can accelerate progress, ensuring Thai talent remains globally competitive and aligned with industry demands.

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Challenges, Trade Ties, and the Path Forward

Structural challenges and external opportunities must both be addressed strategically. High household debt, income inequality, and SME support require deep structural reforms beyond short-term relief programs. Simultaneously, Thailand’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 and its emerging carbon credit market open doors for U.S. investment in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure. Strengthening U.S.-Thailand trade and investment frameworks—through better alignment on standards and trade facilitation—can elevate bilateral engagement. Thailand possesses a rare convergence of political stability, strategic location, and industrial capability. Turning policy vision into tangible outcomes will define whether it becomes Southeast Asia’s premier investment destination.

Source : From Stability to Competitiveness: Turning Thailand’s Policy Momentum into Investment Reality

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Shares of Patanjali Foods crashed 20% to hit a fresh 52-week low on Wednesday, with the stock nearly halving in value from the high hit in July last year.

The stock fell to a 52-week low of Rs 328.20 on the NSE, prompting the company to issue a clarification. Patanjali Foods said there were no material events, information or developments requiring disclosure that could explain the sharp price movement.

“The company continues to remain focused on its growth path and is carrying on its business operations in the ordinary course, while pursuing its business objective,” the company said in its clarification to stock exchanges.

Patanjali Foods shares later made some recovery, trading around 16% lower at Rs 345 apiece, as seen at around 1 pm. The stock has fallen nearly 19% in one month and 37% in 2026 so far.

Technical view on Patanjali Foods

Patanjali Foods shares declined 20% today, confirming a major consolidation breakdown on the daily chart, said Sudeep Shah, Head of Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities. He noted that the breakdown was accompanied by a sharp surge in volumes, lending credibility to the bearish move.

“The RSI, which had been moving sideways, has also broken down, indicating strengthening bearish momentum. The DI lines have widened, with DI- positioned well above DI+ on the ADX indicator, highlighting strong seller dominance. Additionally, the stock is trading significantly below the lower Bollinger Band, reflecting heightened selling pressure,” he added.

On the downside, Shah sees the Rs 330–325 zone as the next key support. A decisive breach below this level could accelerate the decline towards Rs 310 in the short term. On the upside, the Rs 380–385 zone is likely to act as the immediate resistance, according to the analyst.

Patanjali Foods earnings snapshot

Patanjali Foods in May reported a 46% year-on-year (YoY) jump in net profit for the January-March quarter of FY26, aided by strong growth across its edible oils and FMCG businesses. However, higher raw material and packaging costs weighed on profitability. The company’s profit after tax rose to Rs 524 crore in the quarter ended March 2026 from about Rs 359 crore a year earlier.
Also read | Patanjali Foods Q4 Results: Profit jumps 46% to Rs 524 crore despite margin pressureRevenue from operations increased 17% year-on-year (YoY) and 6% sequentially to Rs 11,217 crore during the quarter. Despite the strong top-line performance, margins remained under pressure due to rising input costs.

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

OpenAI’s long-anticipated push into consumer hardware is set to begin with a mobile, screen-free smart speaker designed to function as a humanlike AI companion in the home, according to people familiar with the matter cited in a Bloomberg report published Tuesday.

The device, still under development, is intended to serve as a new type of home computer built specifically for the artificial intelligence era, rather than a conventional smart speaker competing directly with existing products from companies such as Amazon or Google. According to the report, the sources requested anonymity because the project has not been formally announced by the company.

Core Functions and Capabilities

The speaker is expected to control smart-home appliances, play media, answer questions and respond to messages, while tapping into the broader range of capabilities offered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform. Unlike stationary smart speakers currently on the market, the device is designed to be portable, featuring a rechargeable battery that would allow users to carry it from room to room without needing a constant power connection.

The device’s communication abilities will rely on GPT-Live, a more advanced version of ChatGPT’s Voice Mode that OpenAI rolled out earlier this month. According to the report, GPT-Live is designed to behave more like a human conversational partner, capable of listening and speaking simultaneously, adapting naturally during conversations and processing information more quickly than previous voice technology from the company.

The speaker will also include a camera and additional sensors intended to help it understand a user’s surroundings and broader context, giving it capabilities that extend beyond what typical smart speakers currently offer on the market.

Designed to Feel Like a Companion, Not Just a Gadget

According to people familiar with OpenAI’s plans, the company envisions the device becoming increasingly personalized and proactive over time as it develops a deeper understanding of its owner. The goal, the report said, is for the device to anticipate a user’s needs, surface relevant information without being asked, and function as something akin to a personal expert embedded within the home.

OpenAI reportedly wants the product to feel less like a traditional piece of consumer electronics and more like a companion, effectively serving as a physical embodiment of ChatGPT itself. Internally, the report said, OpenAI describes the device not simply as a speaker, but as the first of an entirely new category: a computer purpose-built for artificial intelligence, intended to help busy users become more productive throughout their day.

A High-Stakes Move Into Consumer Devices

The hardware push represents a critical next step for OpenAI, which remains one of the world’s leading developers of AI models and is reportedly positioning itself for an initial public offering in the coming months. Entering the consumer device market would place OpenAI in more direct competition with major technology companies including Apple, Amazon and Google, all of which have established footholds in smart-home and voice-assistant hardware.

OpenAI’s hardware ambitions trace back to a $6.5 billion acquisition of io Products last year, a startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom, is reportedly assisting with development of OpenAI’s broader hardware lineup, alongside former Apple executives Tang Tan, Evans Hankey and Paul Meade, all of whom are said to be involved in the project.

According to the Bloomberg report, OpenAI is currently developing roughly five hardware products in total, with the screenless speaker positioned to be the first to reach the market. The company is aiming to formally unveil the device later this year, with a broader consumer launch targeted for 2027, though the timeline could shift depending on how development and ongoing legal matters unfold.

Apple Lawsuit Looms Over the Project

The device’s development comes amid heightened legal tension between OpenAI and Apple. Apple sued OpenAI last week, accusing the company of misusing trade secrets in the development of its consumer hardware efforts. Despite the lawsuit, people familiar with OpenAI’s plans said the company believes its screenless speaker design differs substantially from anything currently offered by Apple, and that the product is unlikely to raise legitimate trade-secret concerns.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who authored the original report, wrote on social media that Apple currently has “nothing like” OpenAI’s device on the market today.

An OpenAI spokesperson declined to comment on the report when contacted.

Market Reaction

News of OpenAI’s hardware plans had an immediate effect on shares of at least one existing smart-speaker manufacturer. Shares of Sonos Inc. tumbled more than 10% in late trading following the report before paring some of those losses, reflecting investor concern about a well-funded new competitor entering the smart-speaker category. Apple shares dipped slightly, falling less than 1% to an intraday low, while shares of Amazon and Google’s parent company Alphabet saw more modest movement.

A New Chapter in OpenAI’s Product Strategy

The screenless speaker marks OpenAI’s most concrete step yet toward becoming a hardware company in addition to its established role as an AI software and model developer. If successful, the device could reshape how consumers interact with AI assistants in everyday settings, shifting some of that interaction away from smartphones and computer screens and into a dedicated, physical companion device designed specifically around conversational AI.

Whether the product ultimately succeeds in differentiating itself from established smart-speaker competitors, and whether it can navigate the ongoing legal dispute with Apple, will likely shape how OpenAI’s broader hardware ambitions unfold in the years ahead as the company continues expanding beyond its origins as a pure AI research and software organization.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., stopped short Wednesday of announcing he would run for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s seat.

Norman gave an interview on Wednesday on FOX Business’ “Mornings with Maria,” saying “he is interested in the job.”

“The reason I’m interested? The Senate is standing in the way of passing President Trump’s agenda. They just are. It starts off with the SAVE Act, making sure Americans who are Americans vote in elections,” Norman said.

Multiple times throughout the interview, Norman said he would be in favor of getting rid of the filibuster, the Senate procedure that effectively requires 60 votes to advance most legislation.

“We’ve got to do whatever it takes to make sure that we have safe elections, make sure our borders are secure, and move forward on it,” Norman said. “I think it’s going to take blowing up the filibuster, which the Democrats will do if they get back into power.”

Norman has not officially announced a campaign in the upcoming special election that will allow voters to choose the Republican nominee for Graham’s seat.

“There are a lot of hurdles to get over legally, and that’s what will be sorted out,” Norman said.

Graham, who served more than 23 years in the Senate, died on Saturday at his Washington, D.C., home just a day after he returned from a trip to Kyiv. Preliminary findings from the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner indicate that Graham died from an aortic dissection.

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His sister, newly minted Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., was sworn in on Tuesday to serve the remainder of his term, which ends on Jan. 3, 2027. 

The winner of the November general election will be sworn in on that day for a full six-year term. Norman said Darline Graham would do a “great job” in the interim. 

There is less than a month left for prospective candidates to run for the Senate seat. Per South Carolina law, a special Republican primary election will be held on Aug. 11 and candidates can file to run starting on July 21.

If Norman chooses to mount a campaign, it wouldn’t be the first time he ran in a special election. 

He first came to Congress in 2017 after running for the seat vacated by Mick Mulvaney when President Donald Trump appointed him as the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

FTSE 100 housebuilder says current constraints are limiting housing delivery and affordable home construction across the UK

Barratt Redrow has urged Prime Minister-to-be Andy Burnham to slash taxes in order to stimulate housebuilding and eliminate “barriers to home ownership”.

The FTSE 100 housebuilder pressed the government to tackle “the increasing regulatory and tax burdens that are constraining viability” to “unlock higher levels of housing delivery, including affordable housing”.

Burnham has pledged to champion affordable housing and has signalled his backing for a wholesale overhaul of property taxation.

In its latest update to investors on Wednesday, the housebuilder outlined the extent of reform required, warning that urgent action on tax and red tape is needed to “tackle the housing crisis, create jobs and drive economic growth”.

Last week, Barratt Redrow joined forces with property portal Rightmove in a joint appeal to the government, calling for stamp duty to be scrapped for first-time buyers in a bid to breathe life back into the housing market, as reported by City AM.

Rightmove revealed that listings for new developments had fallen to their lowest point since January 2017. According to Zoopla, stamp duty hits first-time buyers in London particularly hard, owing to the capital’s inflated property prices.

While the government currently provides a £300,000 stamp duty relief for first-time buyers, nearly eight in ten first-time movers in London still find themselves liable for the tax, the property portal confirmed. Housebuilders have increasingly turned to Andy Burnham for support in recent weeks.

Last month, FTSE 250 housebuilder Berkeley urged the former Greater Manchester mayor to provide “strong political leadership” on housebuilding.

Berkeley had warned there is “no prospect of material improvement” in conditions for housebuilders “without more decisive intervention” from the government.

Barratt Redrow announced on Wednesday that it intends to allow shareholders to capitalise on the “significant discount” between its share price and net assets.

The housebuilder plans to repurchase £386m worth of shares in the year to July next year, describing it as the “most effective way to create long-term shareholder value”.

The company’s share price has fallen to its lowest point in over a decade in recent weeks, having lost nearly 60 per cent of its value over the past five years. Its shares climbed three per cent to 286p when markets opened on Wednesday.

The firm stated it remains well placed to deliver “attractive” returns for shareholders, despite inflationary pressures stemming from the Iran war, “alongside industry headwinds and subdued consumer demand”.

“This buyback only goes so far in reversing the dismal share price performance, and the recent revival of Middle East hostilities shows that there is still plenty that could go wrong for the sector if inflation returns with a vengeance,” said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG. Barratt Redrow completed 17,667 homes in the twelve months to the end of June, hitting the upper end of its guidance, amongst which 3,774 were affordable homes.

The housebuilder placed the value of its order book for forthcoming developments at £2.8bn, representing a four per cent decline from £2.9bn recorded at the same point last year.

The firm was formed in October 2024 following a merger between Barratt Developments and Redrow, and now has its headquarters in Leicestershire. The newly combined business will deliver £53m in cost savings as a result of its joint operations this year, it confirmed.

Building cost inflation climbed to three per cent in the wake of the outbreak of war in Iran, Barratt Redrow revealed, pushing average cost inflation across the full year to two per cent.

Recent “volatility” in energy prices and supply chains, triggered by renewed tensions between the US and Iran, could drive building cost inflation higher in the year ahead, the housebuilder cautioned.

“However, the extent of any impact remains uncertain and will depend on movements in energy prices, broader market conditions and the pace at which supply chains normalise,” it added.

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