Top Stories | S&P upgrades India’s credit rating, markets rebound, J&K cloudburst, & more
India hits a major milestone as S&P upgrades its sovereign credit rating to ‘BBB’, the first since 2007 and a level not seen in 35 years, boosting investor confidence ahead of Independence Day. Trade talks with the US continue amid geopolitical tensions, while India-China relations show signs of thawing, raising questions on the future operational freedom for Chinese firms.
Markets recover from a six-week slump, led by pharma and IT gains, even as over 15 stocks have lost 15–30% in 2025. Nifty50 CEO pay falls 10%, impacted by IT pay cuts and new index entrants, while JSW Cement debuts at a 4% premium on the bourses.
Tragedy strikes J&K as a cloudburst in Kishtwar kills nearly 40, with PM Modi assuring full support. In governance news, the Supreme Court directs EC to disclose 65 lakh deleted voters in Bihar and reserves orders on pleas regarding stray dog relocation in Delhi-NCR.
Catch all the details and more in Thursday’s newsletter:
S&P lifts India’s rating to ‘BBB’, first upgrade since 2007
India’s sovereign credit rating is back at ‘BBB’, a milestone not seen since September 1990, after S&P Global Ratings upgraded it from ‘BBB-’ with a stable outlook on Thursday, August 14, 2025. The move comes nearly two decades after the last upgrade and a day before India’s 79th Independence Day.
S&P’s decision marks the first time in 35 years that India has regained the ‘BBB’ level, the third-lowest investment grade and a notch above the minimum investment grade of ‘BBB-’.
India steps up US trade talks amid geopolitical tensions, eyes October FTA with EFTA Bloc
The Commerce Ministry said it remains “fully engaged” with the United States in ongoing trade negotiations, with talks unfolding at ministerial, diplomatic, negotiator, and corporate levels. A key sticking point — Washington’s secondary tariff decision — will hinge on geopolitical developments in the run-up to August 27.
India-China ties thaw, but will Chinese Cos will be allowed to operate with more freedom with India?
Trump floats meeting with Putin and Zelenskiy if initial Alaska talks go well
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that if his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin goes well, he would like to have a quick second meeting with Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and himself.
Nifty, Sensex snap six-week losing streak on pharma, IT boost
The stock market snapped a six-week losing streak on Friday, lifted by gains in pharmaceutical, information technology and select financial stocks, even as midcaps lagged.
The NSE Nifty 50 index rose 1% for the week, recouping last week’s losses, while the S&P BSE Sensex also gained 1%. The Nifty Bank index advanced 0.6%. All sectoral indices except fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) posted weekly gains, with pharma leading the pack. Nearly 40 Nifty constituents closed higher for the week, led by Apollo Hospitals, Eternal Heart Care, and Cipla.
Over 15 stocks crash 15–30% in 2025, struggle to recover lost ground
CEO pay in Nifty50 slips 10% as Wipro, Tech Mahindra cuts, new entrants drag average
The average remuneration of Nifty50 company chiefs fell 10.3% to ₹25.1 crore in FY25, dragged down by sharp pay cuts at IT firms Wipro and Tech Mahindra. The inclusion of Eternal and Bharat Electronics in the benchmark index also weighed on the numbers, pulling aggregate CEO pay down to ₹1,254 crore. Eternal replaced BPCL in the Nifty50, while Bharat Electronics took the slot vacated by Divi’s Laboratories — whose chief remains the highest-paid in India’s pharma sector. Eternal’s Deepinder Goyal joined Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani in drawing no salary for FY25, further lowering the index’s average pay.
JSW Cement IPO Listing: Shares debut with 4% premium; what should investors do
Shares of JSW Cement, part of the diversified JSW Group, made a moderate debut on the bourses on Thursday, August 14, after the company’s initial public offering (IPO) was subscribed 7.77 times during the three-day bidding process.
The stock listed at ₹153.50 on the NSE, a premium of 4.42% over the issue price of ₹147. Similarly, the stock started trading at ₹153 on the BSE, a premium of 4%.
Kishtwar cloudburst: Nearly 40 killed, 120 rescued in J&K, PM Modi assures all possible assistance
At least 40 people died and 120 others were rescued after a massive cloudburst triggered flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday, August 14.
The cloudburst struck J&K’s remote village Chasoti on the route of Machail Mata Yatra, between 12 noon and 1 pm, when a large number of people had gathered. The 8.5 kilometre trek to the 9,500-feet-high shrine begins from Chositi.
Also Watch: IMD issues red alert for Delhi-NCR
Bihar SIR: SC directs EC to disclose identity of 65 lakh deleted voters by Aug 19; poll body agrees
The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 14) directed the Election Commission (EC) to disclose identity of 65 lakh deleted voters from electoral roll by August 19. The court asked for a compliance report by August 22.
The apex court told the poll body, “We are seeking more transparency. The EC can put the entire data set on website, details of people who are dead or removed on account of registration in another state. Can you not have a system where voters are not made to run behind political party leaders and citizens’ right should not be at the mercy of Block Level Officer.”
Supreme Court reserves orders on pleas seeking stay of directions for rounding up stray dogs in Delhi-NCR
The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 14) reserved orders on pleas by NGOs seeking stay of directions for rounding up stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. A new three-judge bench was hearing the suo motu case after widespread protests across the country following a top court verdict on relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR.
The Bench comprised Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria.
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