Japanese benchmark ends modestly higher
The Nikkei average rose 0.33 percent to 39,821.28 while the broader Topix index ended up 0.41 percent at 2,828.16. The yen's weakness lifted automakers, with Honda Motor and Toyota rising 3.4 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively.
Yoshinoya Holdings surged 6.5 percent after the beef bowl chain reported a 9 percent rise in quarterly net profit.
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Business Standard
5 minutes ago
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Rupee closes near one-month low; ends 5 paise lower at 86.42/$
Indian Rupee closed near a one-month level on Wednesday, even as trade deals signed by the US gained pace ahead of the deadline. The domestic currency closed 5 paise lower at 86.42 against the dollar on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg. The rupee has witnessed nearly 0.94 per cent depreciation in the current calendar year. In the previous session, the rupee briefly recovered to 86.22 before slipping to a one-month low of 86.41 against the greenback. Rupee traded flat in a narrow range, with marginal movement against the dollar, Jateen Trivedi, VP research analyst - commodity and currency at LKP Securities, noted. The dollar index also remained steady around 97.40 as markets awaited further cues, he said. "Domestic capital markets gained, while Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's recent speech kept the dollar range-bound. Attention now shifts to next week's U.S. interest rate decision, which will be a key directional trigger. Rupee is expected to trade within a range of 85.80–86.70," Trivedi said. On the tariffs front, the US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal, imposing a 15 per cent tariff on Japanese exports to the US. The Trump administration had also reached an agreement with the Philippines setting a 19 per cent tariff on their exports. Equity and currency markets in the Asia region rose after the deal announcement. Meanwhile, the dollar index, a measure of the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was up 0.1 per cent higher at 97.39. Exporters are advised to hold off on booking, with a stop-loss at 86.25, as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) continue to sell, analysts said. FPIs sold equities for the second straight day, worth ₹3,548.92 crore, taking the total outflows in July to ₹5826 crore. Importers, meanwhile, may consider buying on dips for near-term cash requirements, Anil Kumar Bhansali, head of treasury and executive director at Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said. "The currency is expected to trade within a narrow range today as markets await the Reserve Bank of India's sell/buy swap data for May, which will offer insight into short positions, along with the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) data for June 2025," Bhansali said.
NDTV
35 minutes ago
- NDTV
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Rivaling Toyota Rumion Gets Price Hike; Check Details
Toyota Kirloskar Motor has changed the prices of its most affordable MPV in the Indian market. This comes in the form of an upward revision in the prices of Rumion. The hike has been implemented on all variants of MPV, and it now comes at a starting price of Rs 10.66 lakh (ex-showroom). This translates to a uniform hike of Rs 12,500 on the MPV. Meanwhile, the most expensive variant now comes at Rs 13.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The Toyota Rumion is a rebranded version of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and is part of a range of models that the two manufacturers share, such as the Baleno-Glanza, Fronx-Taisor, and Hyryder-Vitara, among others. While Maruti Suzuki offers numerous variants of the Ertiga, Toyota provides three variants of the Rumion - S, G, and V. Also Read: Renault Triber Facelift Launched In India At Rs 6.29 Lakh; Gets ADAS Even though the Toyota Rumion is built on the same chassis as the Ertiga, it features various unique design characteristics that differentiate it visually from the popular MPV. It boasts an updated front grille with a mesh design, which replaces the original projector headlights flanking it. Both the front and rear bumpers have been reworked, and the vehicle also includes newly designed alloy wheels. Additionally, the Rumion is offered in India as a seven-seater model. Inside, the Toyota Rumion showcases a dual-tone black and beige dashboard adorned with faux wood accents. It comes equipped with a range of comfort-oriented features such as cruise control, automatic climate control, and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Toyota Rumion is fueled by a 1.5-litre petrol engine that delivers 102 hp and 138 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with either a five-speed manual or an automatic torque converter transmission that drives the front wheels. Additionally, there is a CNG variant that produces 87 hp and 121 Nm of torque, available with a manual transmission. This family-friendly MPV offers a fuel efficiency of 20.5km/l, which is comparable to its Maruti Suzuki equivalent. On the other hand, the CNG version, equipped with a factory-installed kit, achieves an impressive mileage of 26.11km/kg.
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Business Standard
35 minutes ago
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Japan bets on ultrathin solar panels to drive next phase of clean energy
At Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan is showcasing a breakthrough in solar technology — not inside a pavilion, but on the curved roof of a 250-metre bus terminal. Covered in over 250 ultrathin perovskite solar panels, the installation reflects Tokyo's push to lead the next phase of solar power innovation, reduce reliance on Chinese imports, and create new use cases for urban solar deployment, according to a report by Nikkei. Takayuki Taenaka, an official at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), said the new technology offers multiple gains. 'It's like killing three birds with one stone,' he said. What are perovskite solar panels? Named after their crystal structure, perovskite panels are composed of chemical compounds layered just millimetres thick. These flexible, film-like panels can match the power efficiency of conventional polysilicon panels while being 20 times thinner and 10 times lighter. Their flexibility allows installation on surfaces unsuitable for rigid panels, such as windows, walls, or rooftops unable to support heavy loads. This makes them ideal for densely populated, infrastructure-heavy nations like Japan. Urban deployment amid limited flat land Japan already leads major economies in installed solar capacity per square kilometre of flat land. However, its mountainous geography limits room for large-scale solar farms. Tokyo now aims to generate up to 29 per cent of its electricity from solar energy by FY40—up from under 10 per cent today—by deploying perovskite panels across urban surfaces. Installing these panels on walls, glass windows, and other vertical spaces could turn cityscapes into decentralised solar farms. Commercial rollout to begin in FY27 Though perovskite solar technology was discovered only in 2009, it is rapidly advancing. Sekisui Chemical, which developed the panels for Expo 2025, plans to begin commercial shipments by the end of this fiscal year. Full-scale production is slated for FY27. Futoshi Kamiwaki, president of Sekisui Solarfilm—a subsidiary created to scale the product—said perovskite panels have the potential to surpass conventional solar cells in energy efficiency. Rising efficiency draws more players Conventional silicon solar cells typically reach 20 per cent efficiency. Sekisui's perovskite panels have achieved 15 per cent in the field. But under lab conditions, the technology has reached nearly 30 per cent, according to Kamiwaki. This promise has attracted more than a dozen players, including industry heavyweights like Panasonic and Kaneka, who are exploring integration of perovskite cells into window glass and other building materials. Targeting 20 GW from next-gen solar by 2040 This wave of innovation is expected to support Japan's goal of generating 20 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from next-generation solar technologies—including perovskite panels—by 2040. This output would be equivalent to the power generated by approximately 20 nuclear power plants, significantly advancing the country's energy independence and sustainability targets.
