11:11 | Retail investors warm up to IPOs again; oil nears $96 as US-Iran tensions escalate

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India's IPO market is showing signs of life again. After a cautious start to 2026, retail investors are returning to primary markets, with strong recent listings helping revive appetite. Average retail subscription so far this year stands at 22.7 times, broadly in line with levels seen in 2023 and 2025.

Oil markets, meanwhile, are heading for their biggest weekly gain since July as renewed US-Iran hostilities raise fears of prolonged disruption through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent is nearing

$96 a barrel after gaining more than 7% this week, while the rupee is extending its winning streak to five sessions despite the pressure from elevated crude prices.

There is plenty happening across markets and technology. BSE and Angel One have gained after SEBI's latest circular on the Closing Auction Session, while Tata Chemicals is under pressure following reports that Kenya's president has asked its local unit to cease operations. Gold and silver, meanwhile, have eased ahead of key US jobs data.

In technology and space, OpenAI has committed $1 billion towards subsidised cybersecurity tools and support, while ISRO has successfully launched EOS-05, its first Earth observation satellite from geosynchronous orbit.

Beyond India, the European Union has joined the US-led "Operation Economic Outcast" against Iran, Nepal is assessing $2.56 billion in flood damage, and Volkswagen is planning 100,000 job cuts by 2030 in the biggest restructuring in its history.

India's retail investors are warming up to IPOs again and the numbers are showing

After a cautious start to 2026, retail investors have begun warming up to India's IPO market yet again as the recent strong listings is drawing the crowds back to the primary markets.

Retail appetite for IPOs has been fairly steady over the last four years. As of this year so far, the average retail subscription in IPOs has been 22.7x, lower than the previous three years but nearly the same as the average figure seen in 2023 and 2025.

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Oil heads for biggest weekly gain since July as US-Iran hostilities intensify; Brent near $96

Oil prices headed for their biggest weekly gain since July on Friday September 4, as renewed hostilities between the US and Iran raised fears of prolonged disruption to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude edged towards $96 a barrel, having climbed more than 7% over the week, while West Texas Intermediate traded near $92.

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Nepal floods cause $2.56 billion damage as 20,000 homes need rebuilding

Property, housing and infrastructure worth at least 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees ($2.56 billion) were lost in Nepal's catastrophic floods last ‌week, the country's disaster authority chief told Reuters on Friday. In the first four months of early recovery, the estimated cost to build roads and temporary shelters, provide drinking water and restore power would be around $52.6 million.

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EU joins US-led Operation Economic Outcast against Iran, Bessent says

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday, September 3, that the European Union had officially joined Operation Economic Outcast.

"The world is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime: We will not stop until every remaining financial lifeline has been severed," Bessent said on his X account. He expressed his appreciation to the European Union for the decision.

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OpenAI commits $1 billion to cyberdefence effort amid AI safety scrutiny

OpenAI said on Thursday, September 3, it would commit $1 billion in subsidised access to its AI cybersecurity tools, training and technical support for organisations that protect critical services, as concerns grow over increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled cyberattacks.

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'Eye in the sky': ISRO successfully launches EOS-05 Earth observation satellite

ISRO successfully launched EOS-05, an advanced Earth observation satellite and India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit, in the wee hours of Friday (September 4) morning. Launched aboard a GSLV-F17 rocket, the satellite was placed in its intended orbit about 18 minutes after liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

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BSE, Angel One, shares gain up to 7% after latest SEBI circular on CAS

Shares of BSE Ltd., Angel One Ltd., and other capital market linked stocks gained up to 5% on Friday, September 4, after the latest circular by market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with regards to the Closing Auction Session.

Shares of Angel One gained up to 7% on Friday, followed by those of BSE, which gained over 4,5%.

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Gold, silver slip after sharp rebound; US jobs data in focus

Gold and silver prices eased in early trade on Friday (September 4) after staging a sharp recovery in the previous session, as investors turned cautious ahead of key US employment data that could influence expectations around the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy.

On the international front, COMEX gold was down 0.37% at $4,522.90 an ounce.

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Tata Chemicals shares fall after reports suggest Kenya President asks for ceasing operations

Shares of Tata Chemicals Ltd. opened 2% lower on Friday, September 4, after Kenyan President William Ruto reportedly directed Tata Chemicals Magadi to cease operations in the country.

Ruto said Tata has held the contract for around 100 years but has not done enough to develop downstream industries.

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Rupee gains for fifth straight session: Key factors driving the currency’s rise

The Indian rupee opened marginally higher against the US dollar on Friday (September 4), extending its recent gains, as strong foreign currency inflows and a weaker dollar offered support to the domestic currency. However, elevated crude oil prices remain a key risk for the rupee.

The rupee opened at 94.46 against the US dollar.

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Volkswagen plans 100,000 job cuts by 2030 in biggest auto industry restructuring

German car giant Volkswagen said Thursday that management and unions had agreed to cut a total of 100,000 jobs by the end of the decade, the biggest-ever restructuring in the global auto industry. The company said it had approved a plan involving the reduction of around 50,000 jobs, on top of another 50,000 already agreed.

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