Category: Finance

  • How to Calculate Your Car Loan EMI: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Calculate Your Car Loan EMI: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

    Buying a car is a major financial decision for most households. While you may start by dreaming about a particular model or variant, the real choice often comes down to how comfortably you can repay the loan each month. A car loan allows you to spread the purchase cost over a fixed tenure, but your monthly repayment must fit your income, expenses, and long-term financial plans.

    This is where a car loan EMI calculator becomes invaluable. It helps you estimate your monthly instalment before you apply for a car loan. By entering the loan amount, repayment tenure, and interest rate, you can instantly check whether the EMI is manageable and compare different repayment options with clarity.

    Lenders like Bajaj Finance offer high-value new car loans with flexible repayment tenures and simple eligibility criteria. Before applying, you can use a car loan EMI calculator to compare repayment options and choose a plan that suits your income and expenses.

    What is a car loan EMI calculator?

    A car loan EMI calculator is an online tool that estimates your monthly instalment based on three key inputs:

    • Loan amount
    • Repayment tenure
    • Interest rate

    Once you enter these values, the calculator shows your estimated EMI. Some calculators also display the total interest payable and the total repayment amount. This tool saves time and removes guesswork — you can test different loan amounts, tenures, and interest rates within seconds.

    Why calculate your car loan EMI before applying?

    Calculating your EMI in advance helps you borrow within a comfortable range. A car is a long-term purchase, and the EMI should align with your monthly cash flow. Benefits include:

    • Understanding your monthly repayment amount
    • Comparing different loan tenures
    • Seeing how interest rate changes affect your EMI
    • Deciding the loan amount you can manage
    • Planning your down payment, if required
    • Avoiding financial strain

    For example, a longer tenure may lower your monthly EMI but increase total interest paid. A shorter tenure may raise the EMI but reduce the total repayment cost. The calculator helps you compare these trade-offs clearly.

    How does a car loan EMI calculator work?

    The calculator uses the loan amount, tenure, and interest rate to estimate your monthly instalment. Here is what each input means:

    • Loan amount: The amount you want to borrow for the car purchase.
    • Tenure: The repayment period over which you will repay the loan.
    • Interest rate: The rate charged by the lender on the loan amount.

    The calculator applies the standard EMI formula and shows your estimated monthly instalment.

    Step-by-step guide to calculating your car loan EMI

    Step 1: Enter the loan amount

    Start by entering the loan amount you want to borrow. This depends on the estimated on-road price of the car and how much you plan to pay upfront. The on-road price may include:

    • Ex-showroom price
    • Registration charges
    • Road tax
    • Insurance
    • Local charges
    • Accessories (if selected)
    • Other applicable costs

    The final on-road price may vary by city, variant, registration type, insurance plan, and other charges.

    Step 2: Select the repayment tenure

    Choose the repayment period. Tenure affects your EMI in two ways:

    • A longer tenure can reduce your monthly EMI.
    • A shorter tenure can reduce your total interest outgo.

    The right tenure balances a manageable EMI with a reasonable total cost.

    Step 3: Enter the interest rate

    Enter the applicable interest rate. Even a small change in the rate can significantly affect the total amount you pay over the loan tenure. Compare different EMI values before finalising your plan.

    Step 4: Review the EMI result

    Once you enter the three values, the calculator shows your estimated EMI. Review it carefully and ask yourself:

    • Can I pay this EMI every month?
    • Will I still have enough for regular expenses?
    • Can I manage fuel, insurance, service, and maintenance costs?
    • Does the tenure increase the total interest too much?
    • Should I increase the down payment to reduce the EMI?

    This step helps you choose a repayment plan that fits your income and lifestyle.

    What factors affect your car loan EMI?

    Your EMI is mainly affected by three factors:

    • Loan amount: A higher loan amount usually means a higher EMI.
    • Interest rate: A higher rate increases the EMI and total interest paid.
    • Tenure: A longer tenure lowers the EMI but may increase the total repayment cost.

    Other factors such as your CIBIL score, income, employment type, existing EMIs, and lender policy can also influence your loan terms.

    How Bajaj Finance New Car Loan fits into EMI planning

    The Bajaj Finance New Car Loan supports buyers who want structured repayment. It offers:

    • Funding from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 crore
    • Financing of up to 100%* of the car’s road price
    • Tenure options from 12 months to 96 months
    • Minimal documentation
    • Simple eligibility criteria

    Use the new car loan EMI calculator on the Bajaj Finance website before applying to estimate your monthly instalment and interest payable. Approval, loan amount, rate, and tenure are subject to eligibility and terms.

    A car loan EMI calculator helps you plan your car purchase with confidence. It shows the estimated monthly EMI, helps you compare tenure options, and gives you a clearer view of the total borrowing cost. Before applying for a car loan, enter the loan amount, select the repayment tenure, add the interest rate, and review the estimated EMI carefully.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a car loan EMI calculator?

    An online tool that estimates your monthly EMI based on loan amount, repayment tenure, and interest rate.

    Is the EMI shown by the calculator final?

    No, it is an estimate. The final EMI depends on the approved loan amount, applicable interest rate, tenure, charges, and lender assessment.

    Can a longer tenure reduce my car loan EMI?

    Yes, a longer tenure can reduce your monthly EMI. However, it may increase the total interest paid over the loan period. Always compare EMI comfort with total repayment cost.

    What details do I need to use a car loan EMI calculator?

    You need three details: loan amount, repayment tenure, and interest rate.

    Can I use the calculator before choosing a car?

    Yes, you can use it before choosing a car to compare budgets, variants, down payment options, and loan tenures.

    *Terms and conditions apply.

  • Dow Hits Record High as Apple Slump Drags NASDAQ Lower; Micron Earnings Boost Semiconductors

    Dow Hits Record High as Apple Slump Drags NASDAQ Lower; Micron Earnings Boost Semiconductors

    The US stock market showed a sharp divergence on Thursday as investors rotated away from large-cap technology stocks. Apple led the decline, falling nearly 5% after announcing price increases on several MacBook and iPad models, which dragged the NASDAQ Composite into negative territory. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 598 points (1.1%) to a record close, supported by gains in financial, healthcare, and industrial shares.

    The S&P 500 managed a modest 0.4% gain, reflecting broader market resilience outside the tech sector. Apple’s price hikes—attributed to rising memory and storage chip costs driven by AI data-center demand—raised concerns about margin pressure across the technology industry. Alphabet, Meta Platforms, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Microsoft also declined, while SpaceX shares fell about 1%.

    Micron Technology provided a bright spot, reporting fiscal third-quarter earnings above expectations and issuing a strong outlook. The memory-chip maker’s shares initially jumped over 15% before paring gains, briefly pushing its market value above $1.4 trillion. Qualcomm also gained after raising its long-term revenue forecast for non-smartphone businesses to $40 billion by fiscal 2029. Other semiconductor stocks such as Sandisk, Western Digital, KLA, and Applied Materials advanced, but these gains were insufficient to offset the losses among the largest tech names.

    The Dow’s record performance was fueled by strong moves in Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, and Caterpillar. Additionally, Alphabet is set to join the Dow Jones Industrial Average on June 29, replacing Verizon Communications. This sector rotation indicates investors are not fleeing equities but rather reallocating capital based on earnings, product costs, and valuations.

    On the macroeconomic front, May’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index rose 0.4% month-over-month, slightly below the expected 0.5%. Annual headline inflation reached 4.1%, matching forecasts and marking its highest level in over three years. Core PCE increased 0.3% monthly and 3.4% annually, both in line with estimates. Consumer spending grew, and first-quarter GDP was revised up to an annualized 2.1%. Treasury yields edged lower, with the 10-year yield falling to about 4.37%.

    Brian Jacobsen of Annex Wealth Management noted that the worst of inflation and consumer angst may be behind us, but cautioned that inflation expectations depend on gasoline prices trending lower. The data keeps questions about future Federal Reserve policy open.

  • Dalal Street Closed for Muharram: Key Support and Resistance Levels for Sensex, Nifty, and Bank Nifty Ahead of June 29 Trading

    Dalal Street Closed for Muharram: Key Support and Resistance Levels for Sensex, Nifty, and Bank Nifty Ahead of June 29 Trading

    The Indian stock markets are closed today in observance of Muharram, with no trading on the BSE and NSE across equity, equity derivatives, securities lending and borrowing (SLB), currency derivatives, and interest rate derivatives segments. The commodities markets will remain closed for the morning session (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) but will operate as usual for the evening session (5:00 PM to 11:30 PM / 11:55 PM).

    On the last trading day before the holiday, the Sensex gained 109.25 points, or 0.14%, to close at 77,100.47, while the Nifty 50 rose 34.35 points, or 0.14%, to settle at 24,056. However, both indices gave up most of their intraday gains as investors booked profits late in the session. The rupee strengthened by 25 paise against the US dollar, closing at ₹94.40, compared to the previous close of ₹94.65.

    Sensex Outlook

    Technically, the Sensex formed a bearish candle with a long upper wick, indicating weak momentum after a strong opening. Immediate support is seen at 76,933; a break below this level could invite a deeper correction toward 76,000 in the short term. The 77,500 level will act as a crucial resistance, and a sustained break above this could push the index toward 78,000.

    Nifty 50 Outlook

    The Nifty 50 has immediate support at 23,950 for Monday. Positive weekend global cues and a resolution to the Iran-US situation could help the index hold above 24,000 at the open, targeting 24,200 as the first resistance. However, the monthly expiry of the Sensex on Monday could create cross-index volatility, particularly in the afternoon session, potentially pushing the Nifty below 24,000 temporarily even if broader predictions remain positive.

    Bank Nifty Outlook

    The Bank Nifty closed the week at 58,177.05, following a 1.68% surge on the previous Wednesday’s expiry and subsequent consolidation. Unlike the Sensex, the Bank Nifty has no direct expiry event on Monday. However, the Sensex monthly expiry on June 29, 2026, directly impacts HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, which could create indirect volatility in the Bank Nifty. Support is at 57,900, with an upside target of 58,500 if global cues improve over the weekend.

    All eyes are now on the June 29 trading session as traders reposition after the holiday break.

  • Gold Dips Below $4,000 as Commodity Markets Close for Muharram Morning Session; Silver Nears $56

    Gold Dips Below $4,000 as Commodity Markets Close for Muharram Morning Session; Silver Nears $56

    The commodities market remained closed for the morning session on Friday due to Muharram, operating from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Evening trading resumed as usual from 5:00 pm to 11:30 pm/11:55 pm. Gold and silver prices continued to face downward pressure, extending a fourth consecutive weekly decline amid a stronger US dollar and expectations of higher US interest rates.

    According to the CME FedWatch Tool, traders now anticipate three rate hikes from the US Federal Reserve this year, with a 64% probability of a September increase. The robust dollar and hawkish Fed outlook weighed heavily on bullion, pushing spot gold below the $4,000 mark for the first time since November 2025. Spot gold fell 0.9% to $3,991.49 per ounce, while US gold futures for August delivery lost 1% to $4,007.30.

    Other precious metals also declined: spot silver dropped 3.2% to $56.01 per ounce, platinum lost 2.4% to $1,563.20, and palladium slid 1.6% to $1,165.93. Gold has fallen roughly 29% from its record high of $5,594.82 on January 29.

    Domestic Gold Prices in India

    In the domestic market, 24K gold rose by Rs. 27 to Rs. 1,41,600 per 10 grams, while 22K gold gained Rs. 25 to Rs. 1,29,800. City-wise prices were: Mumbai and Kolkata at Rs. 1,41,600, Delhi at Rs. 1,41,750, and Chennai at Rs. 1,43,340.

    Key Levels to Watch

    “The rapid repricing of the hawkish Fed created a strong bullish momentum in the US dollar, which eventually led to this significant downward drift in gold prices,” said Kelvin Wong, senior market analyst at OANDA. Renisha Chainani, Head of Research at Augmont, noted that the unwinding of yen carry trades, as USDJPY slides to a 40-year low on rising Japanese interest rates, is creating ripple-effect selling across safe-haven assets.

    Chainani explained that gold has broken below its key $4,000 support and dropped toward $3,950. A sustained breakdown could open the path toward $3,600, although oversold conditions leave room for a bottom-fishing or short-covering rally toward $4,100 and $4,165. She added that silver has also broken below the $60 level and slipped to $55.50, with the next support at $50 if bearish momentum continues.

    Meanwhile, Brent crude futures declined 1.77% to $73.93 a barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 1.86% to $70.58 per barrel.

  • How Intelligent CI/CD and Infrastructure Automation Cut Operational Risk in Financial Services

    How Intelligent CI/CD and Infrastructure Automation Cut Operational Risk in Financial Services

    In financial services, the cost of a failed software release is rarely limited to engineering. A single production issue can disrupt payments, delay transactions, lock out customers, and draw immediate scrutiny from risk and compliance teams. As banks expand across cloud-native systems, digital channels, and modern payments infrastructure, the pace of change has increased sharply. So has the need to make every release path more controlled, predictable, and resilient.

    That pressure is now visible well beyond internal technology teams. Reuters reported in March 2026 that more than 40% of cyber incidents reported to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority in 2025 involved a third party, including outages at Cloudflare and AWS. In Australia, regulators intensified scrutiny of ASX after software-upgrade failures and trade-processing glitches, and Reuters reported that an announcements-platform outage in December 2025 placed about 80 companies into a trading halt after the exchange linked the disruption to a software deployment for a security upgrade. In April 2026, S&P Global downgraded ASX after ASIC found governance and risk-management failures, underscoring how technology execution can now influence not only resilience but institutional credibility.

    Against that backdrop, Amol Agade’s work is best understood not simply as delivery acceleration, but as a response to a broader problem in regulated technology operations: how to increase the pace of change without weakening control. His focus in DevOps, automation, and regulated delivery has been on building release systems that detect risk earlier, reduce avoidable friction, and improve audit readiness before changes ever reach production.

    Over the past decade, his work has centered on modernizing how mission-critical banking platforms are built, tested, provisioned, and released. By embedding predictive checks, policy-based controls, and stronger automation into CI/CD pipelines, he has helped teams move away from fragile, manually coordinated release processes and toward more repeatable, governed systems. In practice, that has meant standardizing how infrastructure is provisioned, how deployment decisions are evaluated, and how operational evidence is captured across engineering workflows.

    The operational gains are most visible before changes reach production. In programs where predictive checks and policy-driven controls were standardized, deployment-related incidents fell by more than two-fifths. Infrastructure preparation that once required days of manual coordination was reduced to less than 30 minutes in standardized environments, while environment-related defects fell materially as provisioning became more consistent. In some systems, automated diagnostics and telemetry-driven analysis also shortened recovery times significantly by identifying likely causes earlier and reducing dependence on ad hoc troubleshooting.

    Security and compliance readiness improved as well. With automated patching, configuration management, and more consistent guardrails built into delivery workflows, compliance performance moved from uneven baseline coverage to a far more dependable level, in some cases improving from roughly two-thirds of target coverage to well above 90 percent. Agade’s contribution has also been organizational: treating automation not merely as a convenience, but as a risk-control strategy. Standard Terraform modules, reusable delivery patterns, and embedded compliance rules created a common language for safer change across engineering teams and adjacent platform partners.

    The broader lesson is becoming harder for financial institutions to ignore. In an environment where regulators are tightening incident-reporting expectations and market operators are being penalized for technology failures, intelligent CI/CD and infrastructure automation are no longer just productivity tools. They are increasingly part of how financial institutions defend trust, reduce operational risk, and deliver change safely at scale. Agade’s work fits into that larger shift: not as a stand-alone success story, but as a practical example of how governed automation is becoming a core discipline in modern banking operations.

  • Indian Stock Markets Closed for Muharram: All Eyes on Wall Street and Fed for Monday’s Direction

    Indian Stock Markets Closed for Muharram: All Eyes on Wall Street and Fed for Monday’s Direction

    India’s stock market remained closed on Friday, June 26, 2026, for the Muharram holiday. Both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) suspended trading in equity, derivatives, and currency segments. With no domestic activity, investors shifted their focus to global markets, particularly the United States, where tonight’s session will likely set the tone for when Indian exchanges reopen on Monday.

    Despite the break, sentiment remains upbeat after a strong performance earlier in the week. Market experts believe traders will closely watch U.S. market movements before the Monday open.

    Strong Finish Before the Holiday

    Before today’s closure, Indian indices ended Thursday on a positive note. The BSE Sensex rose approximately 109 points to close near 77,100, while the NSE Nifty 50 advanced to settle around 24,055. The gains were modest but signaled that buyers remain in control of the market, reinforcing investor confidence heading into the holiday break.

    Several sectors contributed to the rally. Banking stocks, particularly private sector banks, remained a major driver due to stable loan growth and healthy balance sheets. The IT sector also gained support from optimistic demand expectations in the United States, a key market for Indian technology firms. Metal companies saw buying interest following a weaker U.S. dollar, which typically boosts commodity prices.

    Key Factors Behind the Rally

    Lower crude oil prices have been a significant tailwind for India, a major oil importer. Cheaper oil reduces inflationary pressures and helps companies save costs, creating a positive ripple effect across the economy. Additionally, the Indian rupee strengthened against the U.S. dollar this week, which helps control imported costs and improves foreign investor sentiment.

    Global sentiment also improved as concerns over Middle East tensions eased, prompting foreign investors to return to emerging markets like India.

    What to Watch on Monday

    When markets reopen on June 29, traders will focus on sectors that drove the recent uptrend. Banking stocks such as HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank may remain in the spotlight. IT companies like Infosys and TCS could react to the performance of U.S. tech stocks overnight. Energy stocks, especially Reliance Industries, may benefit if crude prices stay subdued.

    Technically, analysts suggest that if global conditions remain stable over the weekend, the Nifty 50 could target the 24,300–24,500 zone, while the Sensex may push toward the 78,000 level.

    Wall Street and the Fed in Focus

    With Indian exchanges closed, all attention now shifts to Wall Street. The U.S. market session later today will be crucial for global investors. The biggest question revolves around the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates. Although U.S. inflation has cooled gradually, the central bank remains cautious, and any fresh signals about rate cuts could sway markets.

    Technology stocks—led by Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft—continue to drive U.S. markets. Their performance tonight will likely influence sentiment in Asia and other emerging markets. Additionally, upcoming U.S. economic data will be scrutinized for signs of stability and recession avoidance.

    Market participants will also watch for any sudden shifts in crude oil prices or geopolitical developments that could alter the risk appetite.

    Outlook for Next Week

    Indian equities enter the new week with solid momentum. Analysts believe that if the U.S. market avoids sharp declines, domestic indices could extend their gains. However, surprises from the Federal Reserve, a spike in oil prices, or renewed global tensions could introduce volatility.

    June ends with strong confidence in Indian stocks, and today’s holiday merely provides a brief pause before what could be another decisive week for investors.

  • Dearness Allowance in India 2026: Rates, Formula, Tax Rules, and Salary Impact Explained

    Dearness Allowance in India 2026: Rates, Formula, Tax Rules, and Salary Impact Explained

    What is Dearness Allowance?

    Dearness Allowance (DA) is a cost-of-living allowance paid to central government employees, state government employees, public sector workers, and pensioners. It helps offset the impact of inflation on income by adjusting salaries and pensions in line with rising living costs.

    Latest DA Rate in 2026

    The Union Cabinet has approved a 2% increase in DA, raising it from 58% to 60% of basic pay for central government employees under the 7th Pay Commission. This hike takes effect from January 1, 2026.

    DA Calculation Formula

    DA is linked to the All-India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW). Using a 12-month average, the formula under the 7th Pay Commission is:

    DA% = [(12-month average AICPI-IW × 2.88 − 261.42) ÷ 261.42] × 100

    The latest calculation yielded approximately 60.39%, which was rounded down to 60%. DA is revised twice a year, in January and July.

    Types of Dearness Allowance

    There are two main types:

    • Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA): Applies to workers in public sector undertakings and is revised periodically based on inflation trends.
    • Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA): Covers workers under minimum wage rules, adjusted based on CPI movement and the base index.

    Is DA Taxable?

    Yes, Dearness Allowance is fully taxable under the head “Income from Salary.” It is added to taxable income and appears separately in salary slips and Form 16.

    Impact on Salary and Pensioners

    The increase directly boosts take-home pay for millions of employees and also raises pension payouts for eligible pensioners via Dearness Relief (DR). A basic pay of ₹50,000 with 60% DA adds ₹30,000 to the salary component.

    FAQs

    1. What is the latest DA rate in India for 2026?

    60% of basic pay, effective January 1, 2026.

    2. How is DA calculated?

    Using the 12-month average AICPI-IW and the formula above.

    3. Is DA taxable?

    Yes, fully taxable.

    4. How does DA affect pensioners?

    Pensioners receive an equivalent raise called Dearness Relief (DR) whenever DA is increased.

  • RBI Upholds NBFC Regulations, Tata Sons Faces Renewed Listing Pressure

    RBI Upholds NBFC Regulations, Tata Sons Faces Renewed Listing Pressure

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided not to ease the regulatory framework for upper-layer non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), keeping Tata Sons under strict listing obligations. This move narrows the conglomerate’s options as it continues to seek approval to surrender its core investment company (CIC) license.

    Why Tata Sons Remains in Focus

    Tata Sons was classified as an upper-layer NBFC in 2022 under the RBI’s scale-based regulatory framework, which mandates a public listing within three years. The company has resisted going public, arguing that its private status better suits the Tata Group’s ownership and governance model. It has also claimed debt-free status after repaying borrowings, but the RBI has yet to approve its request to surrender the CIC license, keeping it under the current regime.

    RBI Rejects Proposed Relaxations

    Industry participants had urged the RBI to raise the asset threshold for upper-layer NBFC classification from Rs. 1 lakh crore to Rs. 2.5 lakh crore, which could have exempted Tata Sons. Instead, the central bank retained the existing benchmark, signaling continued oversight for systemically important shadow lenders. However, government-owned upper-layer NBFCs were exempted from the mandatory listing requirement due to their developmental role—a privilege not extended to private entities like Tata Sons.

    Wider Impact on the Tata Group

    A potential listing of Tata Sons could have broad consequences for the Tata Group and its shareholders, including the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, which holds an 18.4% stake. Regulatory uncertainty has also drawn investor attention to publicly listed Tata Group companies; for example, shares of Tata Chemicals—which holds a small stake in Tata Sons—recently rose on hopes that a public listing could unlock shareholder value.

    What Lies Ahead

    The fate of Tata Sons now depends on the RBI’s decision on its application to relinquish CIC registration. Unless the regulator removes the company from the upper-layer NBFC category, the listing requirement remains in place. The central bank’s latest policy stance has effectively narrowed Tata Sons’ options, keeping the spotlight on one of India’s most closely watched unlisted companies.

  • FTSE 100 Opens Lower as Geopolitical Tensions and Apple Price Hike Weigh on Markets

    FTSE 100 Opens Lower as Geopolitical Tensions and Apple Price Hike Weigh on Markets

    The FTSE 100 opened 27 points lower at 10,503 on Friday, as an Iranian strike on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and a tech selloff in Asia weighed on European markets. Brent crude futures fell 2.25% to $73.51 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate declined 2.38% to $70.20 per barrel.

    Gainers and Losers

    On the upside, Imperial Brands rose 2.35% to £2,830, British American Tobacco advanced 1.94% to £4,789, and Burberry Group gained 1.52% to £1,099.50. Tesco moved higher by 1.34% to £461.10, Sainsbury’s added 1.22% to £314.70, and British Land climbed 1.15% to £422.40.

    On the downside, London Stock Exchange Group declined 1.67% to £7,894, Lion Finance Group slipped 1.09% to £10,880, Computacenter fell 2.40% to £4,146, and Diploma dropped 1.12% to £7,070. Croda International moved lower by 2.30% to £3,102, while Antofagasta eased 1.71% to £3,728.

    Heathrow Forecasts Profit Decline

    Heathrow Airport forecasts a £147 million decline in 2026 adjusted core profit from 2025, citing weaker traffic expectations due to Middle East-related travel uncertainty and higher employment costs. In a bi-annual report to bondholders, Heathrow Airport Limited said passenger volumes for the first five months of 2026 rose 0.7% despite the regional conflict. The airport now expects a traffic range of 80.1 million to 84.5 million, with a base case of 83.6 million, representing a 1.1% year-on-year fall.

    Apple to Hike Prices

    Apple announced that memory chip shortages driven by the AI boom have forced the company to raise MacBook and iPad prices by 20% globally. The company stated, “The rapid expansion of AI data centres has created an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage.” Apple shares slid 6.1% on Thursday’s close, trading at $287.4, with volatility spreading to Asian markets.

    Wise Profit Declines

    Money transfer firm Wise reported a profit decline in its latest financial year. The UK fintech’s profit before tax fell 8% to $660 million (£500 million), down from $717.5 million in its first results since downgrading its listing on the London Stock Exchange. This came despite revenue surging to $2.5 billion as customer numbers increased by 21% to 19 million. However, performance was squeezed by rising costs, which rose nearly 40% to $1.9 billion, outpacing revenue growth twice as fast.

    Global Market View

    In the US, stocks remained mixed on Thursday, with a decline in Apple shares dragging on the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which closed down 0.5%. The S&P 500 was nearly flat, while the Dow added 0.1%. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi fell 5.81% to 8,411.21, Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 4.15% to 69,360.88, and Taiwan’s TAIEX dipped 3.64%. India’s Nifty 50 and Sensex were closed on account of Muharram.

    Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance on cryptocurrencies and stocks. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always conduct your own research before making any investments.

  • Alphabet to Replace Verizon in Dow Jones Industrial Average on June 29

    Alphabet to Replace Verizon in Dow Jones Industrial Average on June 29

    Alphabet, the parent company of Google, will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average on June 29, replacing Verizon Communications in the 30-stock benchmark. S&P Dow Jones Indices announced the change on June 23, placing Google’s parent company alongside other major technology groups already in the index.

    The decision comes after a difficult trading session for Alphabet stock. Its shares fell 5% on June 22 as technology stocks weakened and two senior artificial intelligence researchers prepared to join rival firms. The decline put fresh attention on Google’s ability to keep leading AI researchers.

    The change also expands the Dow’s exposure to businesses tied to cloud computing, digital advertising, and AI. It follows the additions of Amazon and NVIDIA in 2024, which moved the benchmark further toward large technology companies.

    Alphabet Replaces Verizon in the Dow

    The index provider said the change will take effect before trading opens on June 29. Alphabet will join under its Class A ticker, GOOGL, while Verizon will leave the index after holding a place since 2004.

    S&P Dow Jones Indices said Alphabet’s market value, share price, and broad business mix made it a “more representative Communication Services constituent.” Its operations cover digital advertising, cloud services, AI, hardware, healthcare technology, autonomous vehicles, and media distribution.

    Price-Weighted Structure Drives the Change

    Unlike the S&P 500, the Dow uses share prices to set each company’s weight. A company with a higher stock price has more influence on the index, regardless of its total market value.

    Verizon accounted for about 0.5% of the Dow with a lower share price. Alphabet’s higher share price will give it a larger role in daily index moves. The index provider will also adjust the Dow divisor to prevent the membership change from creating an artificial move in the benchmark.

    AI Researcher Exits Pressure Alphabet Shares

    Meanwhile, Alphabet shares closed 5% lower on June 22, marking their steepest daily fall since May 2025. The stock had fallen 6% earlier in the session and was on track to erase more than $256 billion in market value.

    John Jumper, a senior Google DeepMind scientist and 2024 Nobel Prize winner, said he would leave for Anthropic. Noam Shazeer, a Google engineering vice president and co-lead of the Gemini models, also said he would join OpenAI. Both departures came within days of each other.

    The moves added to investor concerns over competition for AI researchers. Google has invested heavily in Gemini, cloud infrastructure, and AI tools across Search, YouTube, and other services. Alphabet’s Dow entry therefore arrives as the company gains index recognition while managing changes within its AI leadership.

    Honeywell Keeps its Dow Position

    Additionally, Honeywell International will stay in the Dow after completing the planned spinoff of Honeywell Aerospace on June 29. The remaining parent company will change its name to Honeywell Technologies.

    Honeywell Aerospace will trade as a separate company but will not enter the Dow. The index will keep 30 members after the Alphabet-Verizon swap and Honeywell separation.

    Funds that track the Dow will need to adjust their portfolios before the change takes effect. They will add Alphabet shares and remove Verizon shares to match the updated index. Alphabet will join Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA, and Salesforce among the benchmark’s major technology-related companies.