_Markets open today —
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📊 *ECONOMY & POLICY*
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🔥 *Iran threatens full halt to oil exports*
Tehran says it could stop all crude exports via the Strait of Hormuz if the US “economic war” continues, after Washington announced an “economic D-Day” campaign against Iran.
A genuine Hormuz shutdown would spike Brent sharply — India sources ~20% of its crude through the strait.
📎 _Read: Business Standard_
📉 *India’s July crude import bill jumps 41%*
Volumes rose 13% even as prices stayed volatile through the month on West Asia tensions.
A preview of the pressure a full Hormuz disruption could add to the import bill, CAD and rupee.
📎 _Read: The Hindu Business_
https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/indias-crude-import-bill-surges-41-in-july-amid-west-asia-crisis-volumes-up-13/article71361781.ece
💡 *8.7 crore Indian youth outside education, work or training*
NITI Aayog’s skilling report calls for affordable training and self-employment pathways to absorb them.
A structural drag on consumption demand and the labour-market story investors watch alongside GDP prints.
📎 _Read: NDTV Profit_
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🏢 *COMPANIES*
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📈 *SBI eyes ₹200 lakh crore business by 2030*
Chairman C S Setty says the balance sheet (₹110 lakh cr as of June 2026) could double by the bank’s 75th year if GDP growth holds at 7-8%.
A scale target that ties SBI’s re-rating case directly to India’s growth trajectory.
📎 _Read: Outlook Business_ (substituted — thehindubusinessline.com link you sent is permanently blocked for fetch)
💰 *Vodafone Idea nears SBI loan, with a catch*
SBI has agreed to sanction its share of Vi’s funding after promoter guarantees came through — but won’t disburse until private banks also sign on.
Progress on the ₹35,000cr ask is a real de-risking event for Vi, though the “all lenders or none” condition keeps the timeline uncertain.
📎 _Read: Business Standard_
📉 *TV ad volumes dip 7% in Jan-July 2026*
FMCG still dominates spending, but Google jumped from rank 3,203 to No.10 among advertisers — a notable shift toward digital.
A read-through for broadcast media stocks as ad budgets keep migrating online.
📎 _Read: afaqs! (substituted — thehindubusinessline.com link you sent is permanently blocked for fetch)_
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🌍 *GLOBAL & WORLD*
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🔥 *Putin acknowledges economic hit from Ukraine’s refinery strikes*
Comes as rescue efforts continue after a Russian drone strike on a Ukrainian shopping centre.
The refinery-strike campaign has been a recurring driver of crude volatility this year.
📎 _Read: NDTV Profit_
🤝 *US-Canada trade collapse may hand India an edge*
After US-Canada talks collapsed and Washington slapped 50% tariffs on $20bn of Canadian goods, Ottawa is racing to conclude a CEPA with India by year-end for leverage.
Faster India-Canada trade-deal progress could open new export access — though it’s also a live warning for India’s own US trade talks, one trade expert notes.
📎 _Read: Business Standard_
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_Compiled by InvestoScope · 24 Aug 2026_