In today’s competitive market, customers do not judge a product only by what is inside. They also notice how it is presented, how it feels in their hands, and how professionally it arrives.

Premium product presentation has become a powerful part of brand trust because packaging is often the first physical connection between a customer and a business.

When a product is packed with care, structure, and visual appeal, it sends a clear message: this brand values quality. Research and industry trends show that packaging design, material choice, and unboxing experience can influence how customers perceive a product and whether they feel confident buying from the same brand again. McKinsey’s 2025 packaging research also highlights that customer preferences around packaging are becoming more detailed, with sustainability, material choice, and regional expectations playing an important role in brand perception.

Why First Impressions Matter in Product Packaging

A customer’s first impression starts before they use the product. The box, finish, printing, texture, structure, and opening experience all help shape their opinion. If the packaging looks weak, damaged, or poorly designed, customers may question the value of the product inside. On the other hand, strong and attractive packaging can instantly make the product feel more reliable, premium, and worth the price.

This is especially important for industries such as cosmetics, candles, jewelry, electronics, fashion accessories, gift items, and luxury retail products. In these markets, customers expect more than basic protection. They want a complete experience that makes the purchase feel special.

Premium packaging helps create that emotional connection. It shows professionalism, attention to detail, and brand consistency. These small details can make customers feel more confident that they have purchased from a trusted brand.

Premium Packaging Builds Perceived Value

Product presentation directly affects perceived value. Even if two products are similar in quality, the one with better packaging can feel more expensive and trustworthy. Clean printing, strong structure, luxury finishing, and a well-planned layout help customers believe the product is worth more.

This is where Custom Rigid Boxes can support premium brand positioning. Their strong structure, smooth finish, and high-end appearance make them suitable for brands that want to present their products with confidence. Rigid packaging does not just protect the item; it gives the product a luxury feel from the moment the customer sees it.

Premium finishes such as soft-touch lamination, embossing, debossing, foil stamping, magnetic closure, inserts, and spot UV can also improve the customer’s experience. These features make the packaging feel more refined and memorable, which helps customers associate the brand with quality.

Trust Comes from Consistency

Customers trust brands that look consistent and professional. If your website, product images, social media, and packaging all follow the same brand style, customers feel that the business is organized and reliable. Consistent colors, logo placement, typography, and packaging quality create a stronger brand identity.

For example, a skincare brand using soft colors, clean fonts, and elegant packaging will appear more trustworthy when every product follows the same style. A luxury gift brand can build a stronger identity by using premium boxes, matching inserts, branded tissue paper, and clear product presentation.

Consistency also reduces doubt. When customers receive a product that looks exactly as professional as it appeared online, they feel satisfied and secure. This improves the chance of repeat purchases and positive reviews.

Better Unboxing Creates Better Customer Experience

Unboxing is now a major part of the customer journey. Many customers share product experiences on social media, and packaging plays a big role in whether that experience feels worth sharing. Studies and industry discussions show that attractive packaging, layered opening, personalization, and premium materials can improve product perception and emotional engagement.

A strong unboxing experience can include:

• A neat outer box
• Secure inner packaging
• Branded inserts
• Thank-you cards
• Product information cards
• Smooth opening structure
• Premium finishing details

These elements make the customer feel valued. When a brand puts effort into presentation, customers often assume the same level of care has gone into the product itself.

Packaging Protects the Product and the Brand Image

Trust is not only about beauty. Protection is also important. If a customer receives a damaged product, their trust in the brand can drop immediately. Premium packaging helps reduce this risk by keeping the product stable, secure, and properly supported during storage, shipping, and delivery.

For fragile, luxury, or high-value products, inserts and strong box structures are very helpful. Foam inserts, cardboard inserts, paperboard dividers, or molded trays can keep products in place and prevent movement inside the box. This gives the customer a cleaner presentation and a safer delivery experience.

A well-protected product creates confidence. It shows the brand understands customer expectations and takes responsibility for delivering a complete, professional experience.

Premium Presentation Supports Brand Loyalty

Customer trust is built through repeated positive experiences. If the first order arrives beautifully packed, safely delivered, and professionally presented, customers are more likely to remember the brand. When they reorder and receive the same level of quality, trust becomes stronger.

This trust can lead to:

• Repeat purchases
• Better customer reviews
• More referrals
• Stronger brand recognition
• Higher perceived product value
• Improved customer loyalty

Premium packaging can also help small and growing brands compete with larger brands. A professional presentation makes the business look more established, even if it is new in the market.

Flexible Packaging Options Improve Customer Convenience

Modern brands also need packaging that supports storage, shipping, and customer convenience. This is one reason Custom Collapsible Rigid Boxes are becoming a smart option for premium brands. They offer a luxury look while being easier to store and ship compared to fully assembled rigid boxes.

Collapsible rigid packaging is useful for brands that want premium presentation but also need practical packaging solutions. It can reduce storage space, support bulk orders, and still provide an elegant unboxing experience when assembled properly.

This balance of beauty and practicality helps brands maintain a premium image while improving operational efficiency.

Sustainable Presentation Also Builds Trust

Many customers now pay attention to packaging materials and environmental responsibility. Shorr’s 2025 report found that many US consumers consider sustainable packaging when making purchase decisions, and McKinsey’s packaging research also shows that sustainability expectations vary by market and material type.

Brands can build trust by choosing recyclable materials, reducing unnecessary packaging, using paper-based options, and communicating packaging choices clearly. However, sustainability claims should always be honest and specific. Customers trust brands more when they avoid exaggerated claims and use transparent wording.

Premium does not always mean excessive. A clean, minimal, well-structured box can look luxurious while still being responsible and practical.

Final Thoughts

Premium product presentation is more than decoration. It is a trust-building tool that affects customer perception, product value, brand identity, and the overall buying experience. From the first look to the final unboxing moment, packaging tells customers what kind of brand they are dealing with.

A well-designed package shows care, quality, and professionalism. It protects the product, improves presentation, supports brand loyalty, and helps customers feel confident in their purchase. For brands that want to stand out in a competitive market, investing in premium packaging is not just about appearance. It is about building stronger and longer-lasting customer trust.

TUCSON, Ariz. — More than six months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson home, a neighbor says FBI agents were recently seen searching the desert brush behind the property, even as tension between federal and local investigators over how the case has been handled continues to surface publicly.

The neighbor, who lives just a few houses away, told Fox News Digital she spotted agents combing the scrubland behind Guthrie’s home in late July, just days before the disappearance reached its six-month mark on Aug. 1. She said she recognized several of the faces from earlier searches conducted in connection with the case. A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said no task force investigators had recently returned to the area, leaving an unresolved discrepancy between the two accounts.

Weather May Have Reshaped the Search Area

Retired Pima County Sheriff’s Department lieutenant and former SWAT commander Bob Krygier offered a possible explanation for renewed activity near Guthrie’s property, pointing to Tucson’s monsoon season as a factor that could have physically altered the landscape behind her home. “About a month ago, monsoon season started here in Tucson, and a lot of water has come down – a lot of water at once, and it pushes things,” Krygier told Fox News Digital. “So it’s moved the environment. Rocks have been pushed away.”

Krygier said floodwaters in the area can rise as high as 12 feet, generating enough force to sweep away vehicles, trees and even people. “All that water, it’s rushing fast, and it’s taken not only the people, but it’s taken cars, it’s taken trees, branches, rocks, all of this stuff, and basically turned into a big blender,” he said.

Beyond the possibility of weather-altered terrain, Krygier suggested investigators may simply be returning to previously searched ground with fresh eyes now that the case has passed the six-month mark, or responding to new tips pointing toward a specific location. “There’s a couple of different reasons that go through my mind first is going to be they got some leads, they got some new tips that are viable, and they’re out there looking for something specific or in an area specific to that, because I’m certain that they’ve searched those areas already,” he said.

A Public Rift Between the FBI and Local Investigators

Beyond the renewed search activity, the case has also been marked by an increasingly public disagreement between the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department over how the investigation has been managed. In May, Sheriff Chris Nanos said he had stopped speaking directly with the Guthrie family, saying the FBI had taken over those communications. FBI Director Kash Patel later said his agency had been “kept out of the investigation” for four days at one point, a claim Nanos disputed directly, calling it “factually inaccurate.”

A source speaking to RadarOnline offered a blunt assessment of the friction between the two agencies. “Instead of advancing the case, Pima County and the FBI are playing the blame game. That is unacceptable when a kidnapper remains at large,” the source said, adding, “The question on everyone’s mind is simple: Why hasn’t the FBI taken a more active role in the investigation? The reputation of law enforcement is at stake.”

Sheriff Insists the Case Remains Active

Despite the friction and the lack of a named suspect more than six months into the investigation, Nanos has continued to push back against any suggestion that the case has stalled. Speaking last month, he said his department is “working hard every day with all our partners” and reiterated that the investigation “is not cold.” Nanos has separately said investigators continue reviewing what he described as tens of thousands of hours of surveillance video as part of the ongoing effort to identify leads.

What Happened to Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her Catalina Foothills home near Tucson on Feb. 1, though investigators believe she was actually taken the night before. Authorities have released doorbell camera footage showing a masked suspect tampering with the camera outside her home around the time of the disappearance, and DNA evidence has been sent to the FBI’s laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for testing. No suspects have been publicly named as the investigation continues.

A Case Marked by Competing Theories

In the months since Guthrie’s disappearance, the investigation has generated a steady stream of competing theories and reports, including allegations that early investigative missteps may have led authorities to overlook blood evidence at the scene, according to separate reporting on the case. Investigators have also released a pair of purported ransom notes, hoping the public might help identify the distinctive linguistic style of whoever authored them, though the notes’ authenticity and connection to Guthrie’s actual disappearance have not been independently confirmed by law enforcement.

A Family Still Searching for Answers

Savannah Guthrie has remained a visible and consistent presence throughout the search for her mother, repeatedly appealing to the public for information and helping build a combined reward pool that has grown to more than $1.2 million, none of which has been claimed. Her continued advocacy has kept the case in the national spotlight even as the investigation itself has struggled to produce a publicly named suspect or a clear breakthrough.

How to Help

Anyone with information related to Guthrie’s disappearance is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can also submit information to the local Crime Stoppers affiliate at 520-88-CRIME.

With the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department continuing to offer differing accounts of both the current search activity and the broader coordination between the two agencies, the underlying investigation remains difficult to fully track from the outside. Whether this summer’s monsoon rains ultimately uncover new evidence, or the renewed search near Guthrie’s home reflects a fresh lead rather than a reexamination of previously covered ground, remains an open question as the case moves further past its six-month mark without a named suspect or a clear public resolution in sight.

This article was written by

BLACKPINK marked its 10th anniversary on Aug. 8, capping a decade in which the South Korean quartet, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa, transformed from a rookie girl group under YG Entertainment into one of the most commercially successful and record-breaking acts in modern pop music history. Here is a look back at 10 of the group’s most significant achievements since debuting in August 2016.

1. Becoming the First K-Pop Girl Group to Perform at Coachella

In 2019, just three years after their debut, BLACKPINK became the first K-pop girl group to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the most closely watched stages in the American music industry. The appearance marked a significant breakthrough in establishing the group’s presence within the broader Western pop landscape and set the stage for the group’s rapid international expansion in the years that followed.

2. Making “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” the First K-Pop Group Video to Reach 1 Billion YouTube Views

Released in June 2018, “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” became the first music video by a K-pop group to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube, reaching the milestone in a little over a year. The song also became the most-viewed music video by a K-pop group at the time, with more than 620 million views, and later helped BLACKPINK become the first female K-pop group certified by the Recording Industry Association of America when the track achieved RIAA gold certification.

3. Setting a String of “Biggest 24-Hour Debut” Records on YouTube

BLACKPINK repeatedly broke its own records for the largest music video debut in a 24-hour window. “Kill This Love” set a new mark in 2019 with 56.7 million views in its first day. “How You Like That” surpassed that in 2020 with 86.3 million views, becoming the most-viewed YouTube video within 24 hours at the time. The group broke the record again in 2022 with “Pink Venom,” which drew more than 90 million views on its first day, the lead single from their sophomore album “Born Pink.”

4. Becoming the First K-Pop Group to Reach 20 Million YouTube Subscribers

BLACKPINK’s YouTube channel became the first K-pop group channel to reach 20 million subscribers, a milestone reached during the group’s rapid international rise around 2019. The channel has continued growing in the years since, with BLACKPINK eventually becoming the most-followed music act on YouTube overall, surpassing 94.5 million followers.

5. Delivering the Highest-Grossing Concert Tour in Girl Group History

The group’s second world tour, “Born Pink,” expanded to 66 shows across 34 cities worldwide, drawing approximately 2.11 million fans and generating roughly $330 million in revenue, making it the highest-grossing concert tour by a girl group in music history. The scale of the tour underscored BLACKPINK’s transformation from a rising K-pop act into one of the biggest live touring draws in global pop music.

6. Becoming the First K-Pop Female Artists to Headline Wembley Stadium

As part of their third world tour, “Deadline,” which marked BLACKPINK’s first all-stadium tour, the group became the first K-pop female artists to perform at London’s Wembley Stadium. The same tour saw BLACKPINK double its previous Paris audience, drawing 110,000 fans to France’s Stade de France, a sharp increase from their appearance in the same city two years earlier.

7. Breaking the First-Week Sales Record for a Female K-Pop Act With “Deadline”

The group’s most recent album, “Deadline,” released in early 2026, moved 1.77 million copies in its opening week, setting a new all-time first-week sales record for a female K-pop artist. The album swept South Korea’s Circle Chart with a triple crown and topped iTunes Top Albums charts in nearly 40 countries, while also becoming the group’s fifth entry on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

8. Landing a Record-Breaking 10th Entry on the Billboard Hot 100

The comeback single “Jump,” which preceded the “Deadline” album, earned BLACKPINK a record-breaking 10th entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, extending the group’s already substantial presence on one of the most closely watched music charts in the United States and reinforcing the group’s sustained commercial relevance nearly a decade into its career.

9. Becoming the First K-Pop Girl Group to Perform at Major Domestic Stadium Venues

Beyond their international milestones, BLACKPINK also broke new ground domestically in South Korea, becoming the first K-pop girl group to perform at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome in 2023. The group had earlier held its first solo concert at the KSPO Dome in 2018, just two years after debuting, another early marker of the group’s rapid ascent within the South Korean music industry.

10. Building Successful Individual Careers Alongside Group Success

Beyond their achievements as a group, all four BLACKPINK members have built substantial individual careers, releasing solo music, signing major fashion ambassadorships and, in some cases, launching independent entertainment ventures. Jennie founded her own agency, Odd Atelier, Rosé signed with The Black Label, and Lisa established her own independent venture, while all four have continued high-profile brand partnerships that have extended BLACKPINK’s cultural influence well beyond the group’s own music releases.

A Decade That Reshaped Global Pop Music

Taken together, these milestones reflect a decade in which BLACKPINK helped fundamentally reshape how K-pop groups, and particularly girl groups, are perceived and marketed on the global stage. The group’s achievements at festivals like Coachella, stadiums like Wembley, and streaming platforms like YouTube collectively demonstrated that K-pop acts could command the same commercial scale and cultural relevance as any major Western pop act, a shift that has since opened doors for numerous other Korean acts pursuing similar international ambitions.

A Milestone Marked With Both Celebration and Controversy

BLACKPINK’s 10th anniversary itself arrived amid some tension this week, after fans initially criticized the limited scale of the group’s official anniversary celebrations, a small, lottery-based meet-and-greet in Seoul announced just two days before the milestone date. Following backlash, the group’s label confirmed all four members would attend the event together, and both Jennie and Jisoo issued personal apologies to fans over the confusion surrounding the celebration’s planning.

With a decade of record-breaking achievements now behind them, and speculation continuing to build over whether the group might finally earn its first Grammy nomination as a unit, BLACKPINK’s next chapter is likely to be closely watched by fans and the broader music industry alike, particularly as all four members continue balancing their individual solo careers alongside the group’s periodic returns to the global stage.

India’s margin trading facility (MTF) book has grown roughly five-fold, from around Rs 25,000 crore in FY23 to over Rs 1.3 lakh crore today. Read in isolation, that number invites comparisons to the leverage-driven volatility seen overseas. Read in context, it is better understood as evidence of deepening cash-market participation, supported by a regulatory framework built specifically to avoid the structural risks that produced Kospi-style volatility.

The surge in retail participation, reflected in 13.1 crore investors (NSE) and over 23.16 crore demat accounts, has transformed India’s equity landscape. In such an environment, the growing popularity of MTF is hardly surprising, offering investors a capital-efficient route to build equity positions.

Moreover, sustained gains in Indian equities over the past few years have enabled investors to use MTF to increase exposure to high-conviction stocks and capitalise on market opportunities.

Unlike other markets, which have been facing significant volatility, the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi) decision to put stringent conditions such as 100% upfront collection of futures margins and option premiums, along with peak-margin regulations, has largely eliminated the availability of unchecked leverage.

In addition, the increase in index derivatives contract sizes to Rs 15-20 lakh has raised capital requirements and created higher entry barriers for retail participants, thereby preventing the occurrence of any Kospi-style market volatility.

South Korean Experience

The contrast with South Korea‘s experience is particularly instructive. The volatility surrounding Kospi-linked single-stock leveraged ETFs was not merely a consequence of leverage, but of how that leverage was structured.
A handful of stocks – an electronic giant and a semiconductor-focused company – accounted for more than half of the benchmark index, concentrating risk in a narrow segment of the market. Leveraged ETFs tied to these stocks were required to rebalance their positions daily to maintain target exposure, creating a mechanical feedback loop.During the recent market rout in South Korea, fund managers were forced to sell underlying shares near the close, amplifying downward price moves, triggering margin calls, and contributing to trading halts. The episode eventually prompted regulators to curb the launch of new leveraged products and tighten retail participation norms.

India’s MTF Ecosystem Advantages

The key differentiator between India’s MTF ecosystem and other overleveraged products seen in some overseas markets is that its built-in safeguards make it structurally less vulnerable to the feedback-loop risks that have periodically surfaced in South Korea’s and the US leveraged ETF markets.

Unlike centrally managed leveraged ETFs that require daily rebalancing and can trigger programmatic selling during market stress, MTFs in the domestic market operate through decentralised broker-client relationships, with positions monitored and liquidated individually based on margin requirements.

The resilience of India’s market structure stems not only from the nature of MTF itself but also from the extensive safeguards built into the broader trading ecosystem.

Along with the tightened speculative leverage, Sebi has also rationalised weekly options expiries with exchanges permitted to offer such contracts on only one benchmark index, reducing the intensity of speculative expiry-day activity.

Additional margin requirements, including expiry-day surcharges on short options positions and the removal of certain margin offsets, have further limited the possibility of excessive leverage accumulating ahead of contract expiry.

Equally important are the multiple layers of risk monitoring embedded within the market infrastructure. Single-stock derivatives are subject to exchange-monitored Market Wide Position Limits (MWPL), and once open interest approaches prescribed thresholds, fresh positions are restricted to prevent leverage from building to destabilising levels.

At the same time, clearing corporations continuously assess margin requirements in real time using portfolio SPAN risk models, generating immediate alerts when market movements erode collateral buffers.

Together with strict margin requirements, approved-stock eligibility norms and broker-level exposure controls, these measures help ensure that leverage remains transparent, well-collateralised and dispersed, significantly reducing the risk of a disorderly deleveraging cycle.

Ultimately, the significance of India’s expanding MTF book lies not in the amount of leverage it represents, but in the depth, diversification, and resilience of the market it increasingly supports.

(The author Amit Majumdar is Group Chief Strategy Officer, Angel One)

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

Actor John Goodman is once again drawing attention for his dramatic physical transformation, appearing nearly unrecognizable in a new photograph shared this week alongside “Wizards of Waverly Place” actor David DeLuise, more than a decade into a weight loss journey that has now totaled roughly 200 pounds.

DeLuise posted the photo to his personal social media account on Aug. 6, showing the two actors standing side by side, both looking toward the camera with the morning grocery section of a supermarket visible in the background. Goodman appeared noticeably slimmer than in many of his past film and television roles, prompting a wave of surprised reactions from fans online.

A Journey That Began Nearly Two Decades Ago

Goodman’s transformation traces back to 2007, when the actor quit drinking, hired a personal trainer, cut back on sugar and adopted a Mediterranean-style diet as he began working to lose weight in earnest. At his heaviest, Goodman weighed close to 400 pounds, and he has since lost roughly 200 pounds through a combination of consistent exercise and long-term dietary changes rather than any single dramatic intervention.

Speaking to People in 2010 after losing the first 100 pounds, Goodman explained the mindset shift that initially drove him toward changing his lifestyle. “I know it sounds sappy, but it was a waste,” he said, describing his previous habits. “It takes a lot of creative energy to sit on your a– and figure out what you’re going to eat next. … I wanted to live life better.” In a separate interview with ABC News, Goodman offered an even more direct explanation for his decision, saying, “I just got tired, sick and tired of looking at myself.”

A Gradual, Sustainable Approach

Unlike some celebrity weight loss stories built around a single rapid transformation, Goodman has repeatedly emphasized that his approach has been intentionally slow and steady, a strategy he credits with helping him avoid the cycles of weight loss and regain that had characterized earlier attempts. Rather than pursuing aggressive short-term dieting, Goodman has said he focused on sustainable, incremental lifestyle changes, including regular exercise such as walking dogs and boxing, alongside his broader dietary adjustments.

That said, Goodman has been candid about periods when his progress slipped. He has acknowledged that in 2023, he became “lazy and let everything go” at points during the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he neglected his usual exercise and management routines. Despite that setback, he has maintained roughly a 200-pound weight loss over an extended period, according to recent reporting on his health journey.

A Transformation Documented Across Recent Public Appearances

Goodman’s changed appearance has drawn public attention on multiple occasions over the past year. He showed off his transformation at the Los Angeles premiere of “Smurfs” in July 2025, where he voices the character Papa Smurf, appearing in a navy blue suit for photographers on the red carpet. He was also featured prominently at the 2026 South by Southwest Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, where he promoted his film “Chili Finger” alongside co-star Judy Greer, drawing further attention to his physique during red carpet appearances and a public food-truck event tied to the film’s promotion.

A Health Scare Along the Way

Goodman’s continued public appearances have come despite at least one recent setback tied to his ongoing film work. In March, the actor sustained a hip injury while filming in the United Kingdom for an upcoming project directed by Oscar winner Alejandro González Iñárritu, according to Deadline. Goodman reportedly received medical attention following the injury and was expected to resume shooting the following week, allowing production to continue without significant disruption to the broader project.

Staying Busy Professionally

Beyond his weight loss journey, Goodman has continued to work steadily across film and television. He recently completed the seventh season of “The Conners” in 2025, extending his long-running role on the sitcom, and has remained active with additional projects in the time since. He is set to return to screens later this year in Iñárritu’s new film, “Digger,” which stars Tom Cruise in the title role alongside a cast that includes Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde, Riz Ahmed and Emma D’Arcy.

“Digger” marks Iñárritu’s first English-language film since 2015’s “The Revenant,” and follows a character described in the film’s official logline as “the most powerful man in the world” who embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before a disaster he has unleashed destroys everything. The project, described by its marketing materials as “a comedy of catastrophic proportions,” was shot in the United Kingdom and is scheduled for release on Oct. 2, 2026, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures in partnership with Legendary Entertainment.

A Long and Varied Career

Goodman, now in his seventies, has built one of the more enduring and versatile careers in American film and television, spanning decades of work across comedy, drama and animated voice roles. His continued visibility on red carpets and in high-profile film projects, paired with his ongoing physical transformation, has kept him a frequent subject of media coverage even as he approaches the later stages of a career that began well before many of his current co-stars were born.

With “Digger” set for release in early October and Goodman continuing to make public appearances that highlight his sustained weight loss, fan and media attention toward his transformation is likely to continue building in the weeks ahead of the film’s premiere. For now, the newly shared photo with DeLuise offers the latest visual marker of a health journey Goodman himself has described as driven less by any single dramatic decision than by nearly two decades of consistent, deliberate lifestyle change.

India’s financial stocks are entering a more selective phase, where the strength of a lender’s deposit franchise, underwriting discipline and execution could matter more than whether it is a bank or a non-bank financier.

Preethi R S, fund manager at DSP Mutual Fund, remains constructive on the sector as retail and small-business credit demand stays healthy and corporate lending shows early signs of revival. With about 73% of the DSP Banking & Financial Services Fund invested in lenders, she sees opportunities across private banks, state-owned banks and specialised NBFCs even as the portfolio builds exposure to asset managers, insurers, exchanges and wealth-management companies to capture India’s financialisation.

Edited excerpts from a chat:

Credit growth remains healthy and asset quality broadly benign, but valuations and earnings trajectories vary sharply across lenders. What is your core investment thesis for the BFSI sector over the next two to three years, and what could derail it?

We expect margins to evolve differently across lenders based on evolving asset mix and strength of liability franchise and balance sheet structure amidst a changing interest rate cycle. Rather than taking a uniform view of the sector, we focus on identifying institutions that can sustainably compound earnings through superior execution.

Our outlook remains constructive. Credit demand across retail and SME segments continues to stay healthy, and we are beginning to see early signs of a revival in corporate lending. We expect margins to evolve differently across lenders based on the strength of their liability franchises and the interest-rate environment. Asset quality across the system remains benign, while valuations in several pockets have moderated from their peak levels, creating attractive bottom-up opportunities.

A sharp deterioration in the macro environment could challenge this outlook. Global shocks, weaker employment and wage growth, or rising leverage among households and small businesses could weigh on both credit demand and repayment behaviour. We therefore continue to monitor these risks closely.

Headline asset quality is strong, but concerns remain around microfinance, unsecured consumer loans and certain small-ticket lending segments. Are credit costs close to a cyclical bottom, and where do you see the greatest risk of negative surprises?

We believe the worst of the stress in microfinance and unsecured consumer lending is largely behind us. Bureau data, delinquency trends and company disclosures indicate that portfolio quality has improved meaningfully, while lenders focused on these segments are seeing credit costs normalise.That said, credit cycles are never static. While asset quality across the system remains benign today, consumer cash flows, employment conditions and leverage levels will determine how this cycle evolves. Rather than assume today’s environment will continue indefinitely, we continue to monitor both macro indicators and company-specific underwriting behaviour closely.

Banks account for about 47% of the DSP Banking & Financial Services Fund, while finance companies, insurance, capital-market businesses and fintech make up a significant portion of the remainder. Is this diversification intended to reduce dependence on the banking and interest-rate cycle?

Although banks account for around 47% of the portfolio, lending, including NBFCs, accounts for approximately 73%. Lending remains the largest profit pool within the financial sector and continues to offer attractive opportunities.

The DSP Banking & Financial Services Fund differentiates itself through its structural allocation to non-lending financials. Today, these businesses account for roughly 25% of the portfolio, compared with around 11% in the benchmark.

Over time, we intend to increase our exposure to high-quality franchises across asset management, exchanges, wealth management, insurance and fintech platforms. These businesses typically operate with asset-light, capital-efficient models and rely less on leverage than traditional lenders. They also stand to benefit from India’s long-term financialisation, making them an important source of portfolio diversification and potential alpha.

ICICI Bank and Axis Bank are the fund’s two largest holdings, while HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank have comparatively smaller weights. What differentiates your conviction across large private banks — deposit growth, return on assets, credit costs, management execution or valuation?

Our positioning across large private banks reflects a relative allocation decision rather than an absolute call on any one institution.

Leading private banks have built strong deposit franchises, healthy balance sheets and disciplined underwriting practices. Asset quality across the segment also remains supportive. We therefore compare expected earnings growth, return ratios, valuations and management execution before deciding where to allocate capital.

We also monitor management transitions closely, particularly when leadership changes coincide with shifts in strategic priorities or execution. Ultimately, we allocate capital where we see the most attractive combination of growth, returns and valuation on a risk-adjusted basis.

The portfolio also owns PSU banks, small finance banks and regional lenders. What must a smaller or state-owned bank demonstrate before it becomes investable, and how do you price governance, liquidity and concentration risks?

Several PSU and smaller banks have significantly improved profitability over the past five years, with return on assets around 1% and return on equity in the mid-teens. The key question is whether these improvements are cyclical or structural.

We look for banks that demonstrate stronger underwriting, articulate a clear growth strategy, invest consistently in technology and distribution, respond quickly to emerging asset-quality issues, and strengthen organisational processes. We also place significant emphasis on management teams that can execute these priorities effectively. The growing presence of experienced leaders from established institutions has strengthened governance and execution across several banks.

We often initiate positions during periods of market pessimism and increase our exposure as the investment thesis plays out.

Cholamandalam Finance, Shriram Finance and Bajaj Finance are among the fund’s major NBFC positions. With banks competing aggressively for retail borrowers, where do NBFCs still possess a structural advantage, and what warning signs would make you reduce exposure?

Banks and NBFCs serve overlapping markets, but they often compete through different strengths.

Many specialised NBFCs have built decades of expertise across niche customer segments, geographies and underwriting models that remain difficult to replicate. Vehicle financiers, for example, have developed deep capabilities in used vehicles and borrower segments where conventional bank underwriting may be less effective. Similarly, diversified consumer lenders continue to benefit from broader product offerings, faster turnaround times and stronger cross-selling capabilities.

We would reassess our exposure if demand weakens across key end-markets such as vehicles, customer leverage rises sharply, liquidity tightens materially, interest rates rise sharply, or underwriting standards and execution begin to deteriorate.

How are you playing the wealth management and capital market growth cycle in your fund? What are your views as far as valuations are concerned in the wealth management and brokerage stocks?

India’s financialisation remains one of our key long-term investment themes. India remains significantly underpenetrated compared with developed markets. Mutual fund assets account for only around 20% of GDP, while non-lending financial businesses make up a much smaller share of the BFSI ecosystem than they do in mature economies. This creates a long runway for businesses such as asset managers, exchanges, wealth managers, insurers and financial platforms.

These businesses typically operate with asset-light, capital-efficient models and complement traditional lenders within the portfolio. As a result, we maintain an overweight allocation to non-lending financials relative to the benchmark.

Valuations remain an important consideration, particularly in wealth management and brokerage businesses where earnings can be cyclical. However, over the long term, businesses that consistently grow earnings, gain market share and expand their addressable markets can continue to generate attractive shareholder returns, even without meaningful valuation expansion.

Blake Lively’s legal battles stemming from her “It Ends With Us” dispute with Justin Baldoni are not yet over, with a Texas court filing this week seeking to force the actress to sit for another deposition, this time in a separate fight over roughly $800,000 in attorneys’ fees involving a crisis public relations consultant who worked with Baldoni’s team.

Jed Wallace, a crisis communications specialist who worked with Baldoni’s side during the broader legal dispute, filed new documents asking a Texas judge to compel Lively to appear for questioning, according to TMZ. The request comes months after Wallace’s own defamation lawsuit against Lively was dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction, with the fight now centered specifically on Lively’s bid to recover legal fees from Wallace following that dismissal.

What Wallace Is Seeking

According to the new filing, Wallace wants any deposition limited specifically to Lively’s claims for attorneys’ fees and damages, arguing he should be permitted to question what she knew and believed at the time she made statements involving him and his company, Street Relations Inc. Wallace contends that examining whether Lively’s underlying allegations were made with malice could directly affect whether he can be held responsible for her legal bills, a distinct legal question from the substance of the harassment allegations that originally triggered the broader litigation.

Lively’s Team Pushes Back Sharply

Lively’s legal team rejected Wallace’s latest filing in blunt terms in a statement to TMZ. “Jed Wallace already took Ms. Lively’s deposition. His case was dismissed. Ms. Lively won,” her attorneys said, describing the new request as “another desperate, meritless attempt.” Her team further argued that Wallace’s real motivation is concern over potentially being ordered to cover her legal costs, drawing a direct comparison to the outcome of Lively’s separate, larger fee dispute with Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, in New York, where a judge similarly ruled she could pursue reasonable fees following that litigation.

A Case With a Complicated Procedural History

Wallace originally sued Lively in Texas over her allegations, but that lawsuit stalled after a judge ruled the Texas court lacked personal jurisdiction over the actress. Following that dismissal, Lively turned around and sought to recover roughly $800,000 in attorneys’ fees from Wallace, along with additional costs and damages tied to defending against his suit. It is that fee request, rather than the original underlying allegations, that now forms the basis of the current deposition dispute, with Wallace arguing that if Lively is seeking substantial money from him, he should be entitled to question her directly about the claims that led to his own lawsuit in the first place.

A Separate but Related Fight With Baldoni Himself

The Texas dispute with Wallace runs parallel to a considerably larger fee battle Lively has waged directly against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios in New York, stemming from the defamation lawsuit Baldoni originally filed against her, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane. After a judge dismissed that suit, along with a related $250 million claim Baldoni had separately filed against The New York Times, Lively’s attorneys filed a motion seeking approximately $8 million in attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, arguing the underlying lawsuit amounted to retaliatory litigation. In their filing, Lively’s lawyers wrote that the goal of Baldoni’s original suit “was not meant to win in court – its aim was to retaliate against Lively by falsely branding her a liar, intimidating witnesses and the media, and discouraging others from speaking out.”

Baldoni’s legal team has pushed back forcefully against that fee request, calling the roughly $7.5 million in billed attorney hours “stunning” and accusing Lively’s team of inflating the time spent on the case. According to court filings reviewed by Forbes, Baldoni’s lawyers argued the request covered more than 7,000 hours of legal work, which they characterized as roughly 20 times the amount courts have typically found reasonable in comparable defamation cases, and urged the court to deny the request entirely or substantially reduce it.

Baldoni Breaks His Public Silence

Amid the ongoing fee disputes, Baldoni spoke publicly about the litigation for the first time in recent weeks, posting a video alongside his wife, Emily Baldoni, in which he thanked supporters and said he was still “healing” from what he described as a “traumatic” legal fight. Emily Baldoni characterized the couple as victims of “injustice” in the same video, saying they had struggled to understand how the situation unfolded, particularly given that it had been framed publicly as, in her words, “a fight for women.” Baldoni said he had largely remained quiet throughout the litigation because he “didn’t want to add to the noise,” preferring to let the legal process play out.

A Feud With No Clear End in Sight

The underlying dispute between Lively and Baldoni traces back to December 2024, when Lively first filed allegations that Baldoni sexually harassed her during production of “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios responded with a $400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds and Sloane, alleging civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy, along with a separate $250 million libel suit against The New York Times. Both of those countersuits were ultimately dismissed by a federal judge earlier this year, clearing the way for the current phase of the litigation, which now centers largely on which side must cover the substantial legal costs both parties have accumulated throughout the sprawling case.

With the Texas deposition request now pending before a judge and the larger New York fee dispute between Lively and Baldoni still awaiting a final ruling, both matters remain unresolved heading into the fall. Whether Lively is ultimately compelled to sit for additional questioning in the Wallace matter, and how much of her requested $8 million fee award from Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios a judge ultimately approves, are expected to be among the next major developments in a legal saga that has already stretched well beyond its original defamation claims into an extended fight over the financial costs of the litigation itself.

This article was written by

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

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