Shares of infrastructure development company HG Infra Engineering jumped over 8% to Rs 551.95 on the BSE on Wednesday, after the company received a letter of intent from REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Ltd.

In a regulatory filing on the BSE released on Tuesday, the company informed that it has received the letter of intent for the construction of 220/132/33 kV AIS Substation in Ranipur (Mau), and for 220/132/33kV AIS Substation in Chunar (Mirzapur), with their associated lines through a tariff-based competitive bidding process in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The company had announced in May that it had been declared as a qualified bidder by the REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd to build, own, operate and transfer the above-mentioned substations, and had secured the order with transmission charges worth Rs 45 crore per year for a period of 18 months.

HG Infra Engineering Q1 results

The company had reported a 77.5% year-on-year decline in its Q1 profit after tax to Rs 28.3 crore, from Rs 125.5 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Revenue from operations in the June quarter slipped 46.9% to Rs 907.2 crore, from Rs 1,709.2 crore in the same quarter last year.
The company’s EBITDA for this quarter stood at Rs 77 crore, down 67.3% from Rs 235.7 crore in the June quarter of FY26.

HG Infra Engineering Share Price

Shares of HG Infra Engineering have delivered over 2% gains in the last three months. However, the shares of the company have declined over 9% in the year so far. In the long term, HG Infra Engineering shares have delivered over 18% returns in the last three years, and 35% in the last five years.

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UK inflation rose to 2.9 per cent in the year to July, up from 2.6 per cent the previous month, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday, after a 13 per cent increase in the energy price cap pushed up household bills.

The rise was in line with analysts’ expectations and took the consumer prices index (CPI) to its highest rate since March, according to figures published by the ONS. It follows a fall in inflation to 2.6 per cent in June.

The Ofgem price cap rose to £1,862 in July. It was the first time the cap had taken into account the rise in global oil and gas prices caused by the war with Iran, which is now close to entering its seventh month.

Mike Hardie, deputy director for prices at the ONS, said: “Inflation rose in July, driven by a sharp increase in gas prices following this month’s change to the energy price cap. This was the largest rise in gas prices for almost four years.

“Other upward pressures included furniture prices falling by less than usual for this time of year, and also a smaller fall for clothing prices due to reduced discounting.”

Food inflation fell to 1.3 per cent in July from 1.7 per cent the previous month, its lowest rate in almost five years. Services inflation, which is closely monitored by the Bank of England, edged down to 3.4 per cent from 3.6 per cent, while core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy costs, was unchanged at 2.6 per cent.

The Bank is required to keep inflation at 2 per cent over the medium term. Interest rates have been held at 3.75 per cent since December, but investors think there is a chance of a rise before the end of the year, especially if there are further flare-ups in the Iran war.

Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK, said the data would not be “cause [for] significant concern for the Bank of England, with domestic price pressures still moderating and inflation broadly in line with its latest projections”.

John Healey, the chancellor, said the conflict in the Gulf “continues to impact prices here at home, but Britain’s economy is resilient”. He said he and prime minister Andy Burnham had given families “breathing space” by removing VAT from electricity bills, a measure that takes effect in October and lasts six months.

Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, said: “This will be a worry for families across the country. Labour’s tax rises and business bashing have driven the cost of living higher and higher, yet Andy Burnham refuses to rule out yet more tax hikes at the budget.”

Robert Jenrick, Reform’s Treasury spokesman, said: “Andy Burnham talks a big game but so far all his policies are doing is exploding people’s bills. The only way to cut the cost of living is to stop wasting money on foreign aid and benefits and spend it on working people instead.”

The July inflation figure, as measured by the retail price index (RPI), is typically used to set the annual increase in rail fares, although the previous chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced in the November 2025 budget that fares would remain frozen until March 2027.

On Tuesday, long-term UK government borrowing costs came close to a post-1998 high amid a global bond sell-off. Separate data released earlier this week showed private-sector pay growth had slowed to a six-year low, which analysts said would reduce the likelihood of the Bank needing to act to tame inflation.

Shares of city gas distributors jumped by up to 6% on Wednesday after the government approved an incentive scheme to promote domestic PNG connections, which it called a major initiative to bring clean, safe and affordable piped cooking gas to households across the country.

Mahanagar Gas (MGL) shares jumped nearly 6% to trade at Rs 1,173 apiece on Wednesday morning, while those of Indraprastha Gas (IGL) and Adani Total Gas jumped over 5% each despite an overall muted market sentiment.

New scheme for promotion of domestic PNG connections

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas on Tuesday announced that the scheme, which will take effect from September 1 onwards, is designed to fast-track the expansion of active PNG connections ensuring that more families can start using piped natural gas in their kitchens at the earliest.

Under the scheme, the eligible city gas distribution (CGD) entities will be allocated an additional 200 SCM of domestically-produced, lower-priced (APM) gas for every incremental billed domestic PNG connection achieved during the period, over and above the threshold Level determined for the respective geographical area.

The new scheme will be implemented over two trachea spanning six months, and the additional gas allocation will substitute the costlier LNG that CGD entities currently procure for their CNG segment, thereby lowering their overall gas-sourcing costs, the government said in its press release.

Also read | Government offers cheaper domestic gas to city gas distributors to boost PNG connections

How will city gas distributors benefit?

The Ministry added that the subsequent cost savings are expected to shorten the payback period for capital expenditure incurred on D-PNG connections from around 10 years to approximately 3 years, which in turn would give CGD entities a strong financial incentive to expand household PNG connectivity more rapidly, bringing the benefits of clean, safe and affordable piped cooking gas to a larger number of Indian households in the months ahead.At present, there are 1.74 crore domestic PNG connections across the country, according to the government, which said that the new scheme directly incentivises the city gas distribution (CGD) companies to actively convert unbilled connections into working gas connections, and expand the PNG network to new areas.

In its press release, the government highlighted that PNG offers households a safer, cleaner and more convenient alternative to LPG cylinders and traditional cooking fuels. “This Scheme builds on a series of steps the Government has taken over the past few months to accelerate PNG expansion and make the transition to clean cooking fuel easier for households,” it added.

Also read | Mahanagar Gas eyes 1 million new PNG connections in FY27, capex raised

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

Desks, computers, meetings are not the only features of the modern workplace. With large time commitments at work, there is an increasing interest in designing spaces that are comfortable, focused, relaxing and in turn help people to adopt healthier, more sustainable daily habits. This transition has paved the way for companies and individuals to discover products that promote health and are suitable for the workplace.

One of these new choices are plant-based aromatherapy and tiny micro diffusers. The products are formulated with botanical ingredients and today’s technology to provide a modern solution to personal wellness without tobacco or nicotine.

Bringing Botanical Wellness Into Everyday Life

Botanical wellness is about using plants and their experiences as tools for wellbeing in your life. Perhaps one of the plants that has been gaining traction in this column is mullein, a plant with a long tradition of use in herbal remedies.

In today’s modern times, botanical concepts are being brought into more convenient formats of modern wellness products. A mullein inhaler can be incorporated into an individual’s natural healing regimen, and used in a small volume to try a new way of using botanicals for aromatherapy.

Focusing on the sensory and lifestyle benefits of botanical wellness, and avoiding any claims that a product may diagnose, prevent or treat a medical condition.

The Role of Micro-Diffuser Technology

More and more, technology is becoming an integral part of personal wellness. For those who like to use botanicals without a fuss or prefer to have short and compact devices, adding botanicals to their busy lives may be easier.

Smart micro-diffusers can integrate botanical products with the latest hardware technology, including LED indicators, compact design and easy controls. These features can help integrate a wellness device into a modern world.

A well-designed device can seamlessly fit into a professional routine when the time is right for them, and they’re not able to engage in other activities.A well-designed device can fit into a professional routine naturally when the time is right for them, during appropriate breaks, quiet moments, or after-work relaxation time.

Exploring Botanical Mullein Products

Consumers are increasingly interested in plant wellness and are also seeking to know what is in the products, and how they are being used. One contemporary way for mullein lovers to use a botanical lifestyle is through a botanical mullein extract inhaler.

Transparency is important in this category. Consumers need to check ingredient information, manufacturer’s directions and recommendations on how to use a product before using one for the first time. While botanical may sound safe, it is not necessarily safe and can have differing effects on different people.

Personal wellness products should be used responsibly and according to company policy in the workplace.

Supporting a Balanced Workplace Routine

Productivity is not everything when it comes to having an energizing work environment. Taking breaks, staying hydrated, moving throughout the day, stress reduction, and getting sufficient sleep would all contribute to having a better balanced lifestyle.

The use of botanics in aromatherapy can also be added to these practices to give a unique experience of a personal routine. For example, an employee could get away from the computer screen, breathe deeply, stretch, and smell a botanical essence.

This kind of ritual can be used for a nice transition between working times and resting times.

A Strict Zero-Tobacco Approach

Communication is particularly critical for products to be inhaled. Micro-diffusers that use plants should be separated from tobacco and nicotine products.

In a true zero-tobacco setting, the focus remains on botanical aromatherapy, herbal extracts, personal wellness and on the effective technology of micro-diffusers. It does not link botanical wellness products to smoking, tobacco or nicotine.

This distinction can also help consumers to understand that today’s botanical wellness hardware is a different category and should be assessed accordingly to its ingredients, intended use, and manufacturer’s instructions.

Clean Living in the Modern Workplace

Clean living is becoming more of an awareness of good choices in various aspects of daily life. Simple actions can make a difference, from eating well, to making your work area comfortable and setting up a daily relaxation plan.

In aromatherapy, this lifestyle can include plant-based aromatherapy and the use of smart micro-diffusers. What they can be most useful for is helping others bring about intentional pauses rather than giving quick fixes.

It is important to read the ingredients and directions for use in inhaled botanical products before using them. Allergic and sensitive individuals, and those with respiratory health issues, should seek advice from trained health professionals before using such products.

Looking Toward the Future of Workplace Wellness

The mix of botanicals and clever hardware speaks to a trend of personalized wellness tech. With consumers looking for efficient and effective ways to weave plant-based experiences into their daily lives, micro-diffuser products could be more prevalent in today’s wellness world.

In the end, workplace vitality is a result of sustainable habits, healthy boundaries, movement, rest and mindful routines. Responsible and properly presented with accurate and transparent information, botanical aromatherapy can support that effective approach.

Modern wellness products can bring a new, truly zero-tobacco, way to clean living by using natural botanical principles in the context of modern micro-diffuser technology that can be seamlessly integrated into the daily life.

Wayne Pickup
MD, CEO & Director

Good morning, and thank you for joining today’s call on The Lottery Corporation’s FY 2026 Financial Results. I am Wayne Pickup, the company’s MD and CEO, and I am joined by our CFO, Adam Newman. We will walk through the investor presentation lodged with the ASX this morning, then open the line for questions. Since I joined The Lottery Corporation 9 months ago now, you may have heard me say that it operates from a position of strength with a privileged market position and strong fundamentals. But while that is true, we need to position the business for the next chapter of growth to evolve from being a lottery operator to a digitally-led entertainment platform. To achieve that, we have refreshed the strategy and implemented a new operating model. New teams are in place, and we are moving at pace to execute.

We are preserving what has been successful over many, many years, but modernizing it for how Australians want to play and engage today as customers move online and demand more. That creates a clear opportunity, underpinned by a simple vision, to be the place where Australia comes to play. Looking back on the first year, 3 things stand

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