Business News Live: July 22 2026 – Key Takeaways from India and Beyond

Mahindra Group’s chief, Anish Shah, used the AGM of Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services to remind investors that India remains one of the world’s fastest‑growing major economies. He pointed to a cocktail of strong domestic demand, hefty infrastructure spend, improving rural sentiment and a digital push that keeps the engine humming.

Shah also bragged about the company’s recent numbers – asset‑quality metrics nudging better, with the GS3 bucket now at 3.4 %, a 12 % jump in assets under management to roughly ₹1.34 lakh crore, and a solid 27 % rise in consolidated profit. He hinted that AI, digital transformation and financial inclusion will be the next levers for growth.

Across the street, Authum Investment & Infrastructure had a less cheerful moment. The Income Tax Department reportedly conducted search and seizure operations at its corporate office. The firm said it was cooperating fully, but the news sent the stock down about 1.7 % to ₹549.35 on the NSE. For the June quarter, Authum posted a net profit of ₹1,115 crore on revenue of ₹1,448 crore.

Meanwhile, industry sources warned that India’s edible‑oil imports will jump to an average of 1.5 million tonnes a month from July through October. Slower soybean and rapeseed crushing at home is tightening supplies just as the festive season approaches. The extra demand will likely lift imports of palm oil and soyoil, squeezing inventories in Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina and Brazil, and giving a boost to Malaysian palm‑oil and soyoil futures.

On the commodities front, gold kept its momentum, climbing as much as 1.6 % to trade above $4,140 an ounce. The metal’s rally was supported by dip‑buyers who shrugged off the escalating US‑Iran tensions, while silver nudged up toward $60 an ounce. Elevated Treasury yields and the lingering Middle‑East flare‑up left the market on edge, but bullion proved resilient.

Across the globe, the UK saw consumer‑price inflation dip to a 15‑month low of 2.6 % in June – the weakest since March 2025 – thanks largely to cheaper motor fuel and food. Analysts caution the relief could be fleeting if geopolitical pressures drive energy prices higher again.