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Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Customer data from Bank of Baroda leaked online

​Customer data from state-run Bank of Baroda, ‌along with internal documents, has been leaked on ​the dark web, according to ⁠a source familiar with the matter and a cybersecurity researcher. The lender said in a statement on ‌Monday that it had started a forensic investigation and was working with ‌relevant authorities after initial containment measures were ‌implemented. The ⁠breach involved a compromised employee email ⁠account, which resulted in “unauthorised access to certain data”, the Mumbai-based bank said. “The bank’s core banking systems were not accessed ​and continue to remain ‌secure,” it added. The leaked data includes customer details, identification documents, loan papers and internal audit records, said cybersecurity researcher Srikanth L, ‌founder of Cashless Consumer. The Reserve Bank of India and India’s cybersecurity regulator ⁠CERT-In did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The leak comes amid growing concerns ‌over cybersecurity risks facing large companies and financial institutions that store vast amounts of customer and business data. The data appeared on a dark web site on Saturday night and was advertised as a cache containing more ‌than 700 gigabytes of information, based on metadata analysis ​of the site, Srikanth said. In June, a cyberattack on Apple supplier Tata Electronics led ⁠to component design and specification documents linked ⁠to Apple and Tesla being leaked on the dark web. Earlier this month, ransomware ‌group World Leaks posted files on the dark web related to India’s largest ​nuclear plant. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Customer data from Bank of Baroda leaked online
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Tamil Nadu tops road accidents, Uttar Pradesh remains deadliest State

Tamil Nadu continued to report the highest number of road accidents in the country in 2025, while Uttar Pradesh remained the deadliest State in terms of road accident fatalities, highlighting the contrasting road safety challenges faced by the two States, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Tamil Nadu recorded 71,387 road accidents and 18,505 fatalities in 2025, compared with 49,671 accidents and 27,550 fatalities in Uttar Pradesh. While Tamil Nadu witnessed nearly 22,000 more accidents than Uttar Pradesh, the latter reported over 9,000 more deaths, indicating that crashes in Uttar Pradesh are far more likely to turn fatal. The data also show that the gap between accidents and fatalities is much wider in Tamil Nadu than in Uttar Pradesh. In 2025, Tamil Nadu recorded 3.86 accidents for every road fatality, compared with 1.80 accidents per fatality in Uttar Pradesh. Bal Malkit Singh, Advisor and former President of the All India Motor Transport Congress, said the figures reflect two distinct road safety challenges. Tamil Nadu’s high accident volume coupled with a lower fatality ratio suggests relatively better road infrastructure, trauma care and emergency response, even though behavioural issues continue to result in a large number of crashes. Uttar Pradesh, on the other hand, appears to face a higher severity of crashes, which could indicate high-speed highway collisions, inadequate road engineering and gaps in emergency medical response. “Tamil Nadu’s data point to a high-volume, relatively low-impact crash environment. With 3.86 accidents for every fatality, a larger proportion of reported crashes are survivable. This suggests that while driving behaviour and traffic density contribute to frequent accidents, the State’s road infrastructure, median protection, lighting and post-crash emergency response are comparatively better at preventing those crashes from turning fatal,” Singh said. Tamil Nadu’s priority should be to reduce the sheer volume of crashes through better traffic management, stricter enforcement against speeding and lane indiscipline, and sustained behavioural change campaigns. Uttar Pradesh needs to strengthen highway engineering, improve enforcement on high-speed corridors and significantly upgrade trauma care and emergency medical response to improve survival during the “golden hour,” he said. A researcher who works on road safety attributed Tamil Nadu’s high accident numbers largely to driving behaviour and the sheer volume of vehicles on its roads. He said comprehensive reporting of all crashes, including those involving minor injuries, is essential for understanding local conditions and planning targeted interventions. Better crash reporting in Tamil Nadu, he added, has enabled authorities to undertake more evidence-based road safety measures. Nationally, road accidents increased from 4.61 lakh in 2022 to 5.14 lakh in 2025, an increase of 52,897 accidents or 11.5 per cent. Road accident fatalities rose from 1.68 lakh to 1.83 lakh, an increase of 14,632 deaths or 8.7 per cent, indicating that road safety continues to be a major public policy challenge. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Tamil Nadu tops road accidents, Uttar Pradesh remains deadliest State
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

MINISO Expands Its IP-Driven Retail Concept with the Opening of Macau's First MINISO LAND

MACAU , July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 18, 2026, Macau's first MINISO LAND officially opened at Shoppes at Venetian, marking the debut of MINISO's highest-tier store format in the market. The new store, the brand's largest in Macau, brings together an enhanced product offering and immersive IP experience, serving as a vibrant one-stop destination for both shopping and entertainment. Located at the iconic retail destination Shoppes at Venetian, MINISO LAND Macau benefits from the mall's diverse retail offering and flow of international visitors. The opening enables the brand to reach a broader mix of local consumers and international travelers, offering a new destination where visitors can discover products, engage with their favorite IPs and enjoy immersive experiences. Spanning over 400m² on the third floor of Shoppes at Venetian, the new MINISO LAND features more than 1,200 SKUs across a wide range of categories, including collectibles and blind boxes, plush toys, stationery and lifestyle products, offering consumers a one-stop destination for IP-inspired shopping and experiences. Bringing together more than 30 beloved IP collections, MINISO LAND Macau creates an immersive destination where fans can discover their favorite characters through themed displays, exclusive collections and interactive experiences. As a key destination for the brand's latest IP collaborations and product launches in Macau, the store offers consumers early access to fresh collections and exclusive experiences. Current highlights include the YOYO and Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 Collection, the YOYO Tilted Head Series S2, and the Monchhichi Fun Coffee Farm Series—one of the most anticipated IP launches among local consumers—with more exciting IP launches to come. As one of MINISO's signature IP theme park-style store formats, MINISO LAND Macau features bold colors, large-scale themed installations and immersive product displays that bring together retail, entertainment and IP experiences. Dedicated YOYO-themed displays and interactive photo spots create opportunities for consumers to engage with MINISO's growing portfolio of proprietary characters. Complementing these are dedicated zones featuring globally beloved franchises, including Disney, Harry Potter, Sanrio, Pokémon, One Piece, Crayon Shinchan and Chiikawa, creating a vibrant destination for fans of all ages. The launch of Macau's first MINISO LAND represents the latest step in MINISO's efforts to expand its immersive IP-driven retail concept globally. As a key tourism hub connecting the Greater Bay Area with international markets, Macau's diverse mix of families, young consumers and international visitors makes it an ideal location for the brand's immersive retail offering. To celebrate the opening, MINISO LAND hosted a series of special activities throughout the day, including fan interactions with an influencer with over one million followers serving as one-day store manager, massive themed IP experiences, and limited-edition opening giveaways. An opening ceremony marked the official debut of the store, drawing enthusiastic crowds of local consumers and tourists eager to explore Macau's first MINISO LAND and its newest IP collections. The opening of Macau's first MINISO LAND marks another milestone in MINISO's ongoing exploration of innovative retail formats. By bringing its signature IP theme park-style experience to more markets, MINISO continues to create engaging spaces where consumers can discover products, connect with beloved characters and enjoy memorable experiences. MINISO Group is a global lifestyle brand offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand. “This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindubusinessline was involved in the publication of this release.” Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

MINISO Expands Its IP-Driven Retail Concept with the Opening of Macau's First MINISO LAND
North America
Yahoo Finance

Nasdaq, S&P 500, Dow Futures Rise As Iran Pause Eases Oil Fears Ahead Of Big Tech Earnings, Fed Meeting: ORCL, NVDA, VG, DEL In Focus

U.S. stock futures moved higher in overnight trading on Sunday after the United States and Iran paused military strikes over the weekend, sending oil prices sharply lower. Investors also turned their attention to a busy week ahead, with earnings from four “Magnificent Seven” companies and the Federal Reserve’s July policy meeting expected to drive market sentiment. U.S. stock markets ended mixed on Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite declining 0.64% at close, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.05% and 0.46% higher, respectively. All three major indexes clocked declines as the conflict between the U.S. and Iran increased oil prices and dragged markets lower. The Nasdaq led the declines, falling more than 2% last week, while the S&P 500 and Dow indexes fell about 0.61% and 0.38%, respectively. While the Nasdaq and S&P 500 declined for a second consecutive week, the Dow notched a third streak of declines. Investors will be watching capital spending plans closely as concerns over heavy AI spending resurfaced after Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOG, GOOGL) results last week, stoking concerns about whether the increasing spending can translate into meaningful growth. The earnings updates could also set the tone for semiconductor stocks, which have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the AI investment boom. For context, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) and the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) have gained two out of four weeks this quarter. Meanwhile, oil prices are on the decline overnight following a week of steep climbs, with Brent crude prices topping $100 a barrel last week. Over the weekend, Iran has reportedly said it will pause its own ​attacks against the U.S. as long as the American military does the same. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told the media on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to pause U.S. strikes on Iran to provide additional time for diplomatic efforts. Brett Erickson, managing principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, however, warned on X that “Trump in no way is indicating that he’s close to accepting reality and agreeing to a deal that is realistic AND seeing it through. There is a huge difference between ‘not recklessly escalating’ and ‘making the necessary concessions to end the war’.” Meanwhile, on the economic front, personal consumption expenditures price index for June, and second-quarter gross domestic product growth are expected from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Additionally, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to meet later this week to decide on its July policy. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the probability of a rate hike in the session is at 36.3%, up from 12.8% a week ago. Oracle Corp. (ORCL): Shares of the hyperscaler jumped onto the retail radar amid reports that Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) is in conversation to provide a roughly $250 billion backstop for OpenAI as part of a massive data-center project. Oracle has a major AI infrastructure partnership with OpenAI.

Nasdaq, S&P 500, Dow Futures Rise As Iran Pause Eases Oil Fears Ahead Of Big Tech Earnings, Fed Meeting: ORCL, NVDA, VG, DEL In Focus
Europe
BBC Business

Shein swings to $99m loss as Trump tariffs hit sales

Image source, In Pictures via Getty ImagesByPeter HoskinsBusiness reporterPublished1 hour agoShein says it swung to a quarterly loss as its sales slowed after US President Donald Trump removed an import duty exemption on small packages. It also comes as uncertainty remains over the tit-for-tat US-China tariffs wars, which is currently paused. The fast-fashion giant, which has its headquarters in Singapore but was founded in China, said it lost $99m (£74.1m) in the first three months of the year, compared with a net income of $395m a year earlier. The announcement is part of the firm's preparations ahead of its stock market debut in Hong Kong, although the filing did not give any details on the size, timetable or pricing of the planned initial public offering (IPO). "In response to the increased duties and taxes, we are pursuing a wide range of options, including increasing our prices in the US market to offset a portion of the increased costs," Shein said in the filing. The company also said the Iran war had hit demand, increased costs and caused delays of deliveries in some markets. The first-quarter figures also partly reflected a paper loss of $328m due to an accounting change for special investor shares. The shares can be turned into ordinary stock later, and their value can change before a listing. The filing showed that in the year to the end of March 2026 Shein had 281 million active customers - a rise of more than 16% on a year earlier - who placed a total of more than one billion orders. On 10 July, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) gave Shein approval for a Hong Kong share sale after failed attempts to list in New York and London. The figures show the impact of a Trump-signed executive order to end a global tariff exemption that had been used by US shoppers of low-cost goods. That order, which came into effect on 29 August 2025, broadened an earlier presidential action which specifically targeted cheap products from China and Hong Kong to cover the rest of the world. The so-called de minimis exemption had allowed goods valued at $800 or less to enter the US without paying any tariffs. US consumers relied on the exemption to buy cheap goods from online commerce sites like Shein and Temu.

Shein swings to $99m loss as Trump tariffs hit sales
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Coal India’s profit may dip as Iran war lifts mining costs

State-run miner Coal India Ltd.’s first-quarter profit likely declined marginally from a year earlier, led by costlier raw materials, such as explosives and diesel following the Middle East war. Average of estimates point to a profit of ₹8,640 crore ($895 million), about 1 per cent lower than a year earlier, according to analyst views compiled by Bloomberg. Higher expenses may wipe out gains from stronger demand during the quarter. The company said in April that it was absorbing higher costs to avoid a “cascading effect” on the economy. The war resulted in an effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key supply route for energy and commodities to India, causing shortages of fuels such as diesel, natural gas, and cooking gas and leading to a surge in prices. At the start of April, the cost of explosives used for blasting layers of soil sitting over mineral deposits had risen 26 per cent from pre-war levels, while price of diesel, used to fuel mining machinery, had risen by about half since the middle of March, according to Coal India. Operationally, the quarter was marked by sales growth as demand for electricity to run cooling appliances was stronger during summer. While shipments rose nearly 4 per cent from a year earlier, the miner also sold more coal in auctions that fetched a 44 per cent premium over base prices. Peak electricity demand posted new records during the period, pushing utilization at the country’s coal power plants upward and boosting generation by 8 per cent from a year earlier, power ministry data show. Still, the fuel’s contribution in India’s generation during the quarter remained flat at around 70 per cent, while renewables gained more ground with a record 19 per cent share. That kept Coal India’s unsold inventory at elevated levels, forcing the miner to cut output by about 8 per cent during the quarter. Rapid deployment of renewables as well as rising competition from other miners has challenged Coal India’s dominant position in India’s coal market. Even though coal is expected to remain an important part of the country’s energy mix for at least a decade, challenges on the horizon have pushed Coal India to diversify into renewables and mining critical minerals. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Coal India’s profit may dip as Iran war lifts mining costs
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Inflation remains RBI’s foremost priority: Governor Sanjay Malhotra

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra dismissed concerns that the inflows merely represent a recycling of existing deposits, stressing that the RBI has adequate tools to manage any resulting liquidity. | Photo Credit: Umesh Goswami The Reserve Bank of India’s recent measures to attract foreign capital have garnered strong investor response, with banks mobilising nearly $32 billion, largely through FCNR(B) deposits, while government securities have attracted more than $7 billion in foreign inflows since the June policy measures, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra has said. In an interview with businessline, Malhotra dismissed concerns that the inflows merely represent a recycling of existing deposits. He added that the RBI has adequate tools to manage any resulting liquidity. The inflows have strengthened India’s external position amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and volatile global capital flows. Responding to concerns over the RBI bearing the hedging cost of fresh FCNR(B) deposits and offering concessional forex swaps for external commercial borrowings (ECBs) by public sector entities, Malhotra said: “It is not something which should be a matter of concern because we have a foolproof system of insuring ourselves. So, whatever dollars we get, the excess foreign currency is invested in foreign assets. The risk, therefore, is not there.” Pressure on the currency has largely stemmed from geopolitical tensions, dollar strength and broader volatility across emerging markets, Malhotra said. | Photo Credit: Umesh Goswami The Governor said the measures should be viewed in the context of challenging global conditions facing emerging markets and are expected to further strengthen India’s balance of payments and currency stability. Malhotra also sought to reassure markets on the rupee, arguing that recent depreciation does not reflect any weakness in the country’s economic fundamentals. According to him, pressure on the currency has largely stemmed from geopolitical tensions, dollar strength and broader volatility across emerging markets. “We do not target any specific exchange rate or band for the rupee. Our intervention, whenever necessary, is targeted to curb excessive volatility,” he said, adding that the currency is “not overvalued” and could even be considered undervalued in both nominal and real effective exchange rate terms. He pointed to a current account surplus during April-May, robust services exports, resilient remittance inflows, rising merchandise exports and improving foreign direct investment flows as indicators of external sector strength. On forex reserve management, Malhotra said the RBI continues to be guided by the principles of safety, liquidity and returns, while reviewing reserve deployment periodically. Turning to monetary policy, the Governor reiterated that inflation control remains the RBI’s foremost priority even as it remains mindful of growth risks. He said the monetary policy committee (MPC) would continue to adopt a data-dependent approach while navigating the evolving growth-inflation trade-off. “Our primary mandate is inflation and price stability. Therefore, we will do whatever is required first, to keep price stability and then, to see to what extent we can support growth,” he said.

Inflation remains RBI’s foremost priority: Governor Sanjay Malhotra
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Sensex today | Stock Market Live: Sensex jumps over 580 points, Nifty nears 23,950 on global rally and softer crude

Sensex Today, Nifty 50 | Stock Market Live Updates - Find here all the live updates related to Sensex, Nifty, BSE, NSE, share prices and Indian stock markets for 27th July 2026. Indian equities began the week on a strong note, buoyed by a global market rally and softer crude oil prices following the US and Iran’s decision to pause military strikes. However, analysts expect volatility to remain elevated amid Tuesday’s monthly F&O expiry, persistent FII short positions and lingering geopolitical uncertainty. Benchmark indices opened on a firm note, with the Sensex climbing 584.05 points, or 0.77%, to 76,643.82 at 9.16 a.m. after opening at 76,608.98 against the previous close of 76,059.77. The Nifty 50 advanced 154.75 points, or 0.65%, to 23,922.20. Derivatives data suggest a cautious market, with India VIX rising to 14.03 and the technical setup continuing to favour a sell-on-rise strategy. Analysts see immediate support around the 23,700 level, while a break below 23,650 could trigger further downside. A decisive close above 24,000–24,130 is needed to improve the near-term outlook Investors will closely monitor crude oil prices, developments in the US-Iran conflict, foreign portfolio investor flows and the Q1 FY27 earnings season for direction. Defensive sectors such as FMCG continue to attract institutional buying, while broader mid-cap stocks remain under pressure. * Opening cue: Gift Nifty at around 23,950 indicates a mildly positive start, supported by easing crude oil prices and improved global sentiment following the US-Iran pause in hostilities. * Immediate resistance: 24,000-24,130 remains the key hurdle. A decisive close above this zone could revive bullish momentum and open the way towards 24,250-24,400. * Key support: 23,700 is the immediate support, with stronger support at 23,650. A break below 23,650 could trigger a deeper correction towards 23,515-23,325. * Derivatives view: FIIs continue to hold sizeable index short positions, while elevated India VIX (14.03) and monthly F&O expiry on Tuesday point to heightened volatility. Short covering is yet to emerge. * Market strategy: Analysts continue to favour a sell-on-rise approach until Nifty decisively reclaims the 24,000-24,130 zone. Stock-specific opportunities are likely to dominate amid the Q1 earnings season.

Sensex today | Stock Market Live: Sensex jumps over 580 points, Nifty nears 23,950 on global rally and softer crude
North America
Yahoo Finance

Capital Economics Warns Foreign Buying Boom Could Signal Risks for the S&P 500

Capital Economics believes the recent surge in foreign investment into U.S. equities could be another indication that the current stock market rally is becoming overstretched, pointing to previous periods when similar buying patterns preceded major market downturns. Chief Economic Adviser John Higgins said strong overseas demand for U.S. stocks has historically coincided with powerful advances in the S&P 500 that were later followed by significant corrections. Capital Economics noted that the United States’ long-running current account deficit naturally leads foreign investors to accumulate U.S. financial assets, with the country’s net external liabilities exceeding $21 trillion at the end of the first quarter. However, the firm highlighted a significant change in the composition of those holdings. Around two decades ago, foreign portfolio investment was concentrated primarily in U.S. debt securities. Today, equities account for the majority of those investments. According to Higgins, foreign investors now own more than 21% of the U.S. equity market, compared with just over 6% in 1997. Capital Economics said historical trends suggest that periods of heavy foreign buying have often coincided with stock market rallies that later reversed. The firm stated that “substantial increases in foreigners’ net purchases of US equities have coincided with sizeable rallies in the S&P 500 that have subsequently reversed,” citing the dotcom bubble, the Global Financial Crisis and the 2022 market decline as notable examples. It also observed that the latest increase in overseas purchases alongside the current rally “has been much larger than the increases in foreigners’ net purchases of US equities during the rallies of those earlier episodes.” According to Capital Economics, the current wave of foreign buying has been fuelled largely by enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence. The firm warned that this AI-driven investment trend “is likely to reverse if and when the bubble in AI bursts,” a scenario that could leave U.S. equities underperforming international markets. The firm believes that the currency’s performance in the event of a reversal in AI-related investment “would probably depend heavily on how much, if at all, the Fed eased monetary policy compared to other central banks.”

Capital Economics Warns Foreign Buying Boom Could Signal Risks for the S&P 500