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 Rupee opens 7 paise up at 87.00 against the dollarThe rupee opened 7 paise up on August 21 at 87.00 against the US dollar after ending the previous session at 87.07.read more :- Rupee strengthened by 10 paise against the dollar and closed at 87.07.

The Indian rupee on wednesday higher 10 paise to close at 87.07 per dollar, while it opened at 87.17 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 213.45 points or 0.26 percent at 81,857.84, and the Nifty was up 69.90 points or 0.28 percent at 25,050.55. About 2210 shares advanced, 1685 shares declined, and 155 shares unchanged.read more :-  India's current account deficit to double in FY26 Q2: ICRA

India's current account deficit to double in Q2 FY26 amid rising imports: ICRA.According to the Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA), India's current account deficit (CAD) is projected to double to $13-15 billion in the second quarter (Q2) of FY26, up from an estimated $6-8 billion in Q1 FY26.Meanwhile, ICRA in its August 2025 report said India's current account deficit is likely to remain stable at 0.6 per cent of GDP in FY26, in line with FY25, although risks remain due to tariff-related developments.ICRA's estimate comes after India's merchandise exports recorded a 7.3 per cent annual growth in July 2025 to $37.2 billion, following a marginal 1.7 per cent growth in Q1 (Q1) of FY26. In contrast, merchandise imports witnessed a broader and relatively sharper growth of 8.6 per cent in July 2025, reaching $64.6 billion.However, India's exports to the US grew in double digits for the seventh consecutive month in July 2025, taking the country's share to nearly 22 per cent from 19 per cent a year ago. The report further said that given the uncertainty over possible storage and duties in some categories, growth is likely to remain slow in the near term.According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India's merchandise trade includes export of ready-made garments of all types of textiles, engineering goods, petroleum products, electronic goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and a wide range of other items.read more :- Textile mills welcome withdrawal of import duty on cotton.

Textile mills welcomed the removal of import dutyTextile mills across the country, and mainly those in the southern States, have welcomed the Union government’s decision to withdraw the 11 % import duty on cotton till September 30.The duty came into effect on February 2, 2021 when India produced 350 lakh bales of cotton annually as against the local demand of 335 lakh bales. The production now is 294 lakh bales as against the demand of 318 lakh bales.According to the Southern India Mills’ Association, the government exempted all varieties of cotton from import duty from April 14, 2022 to September 30, 2022, later extending the exemption until October 31, 2022. This relief supported the industry in capitalising the pent-up demand in the post-COVID period, enabling it to achieve a business size of $ 172 billion, including $ 45 billion in exports.Since domestic production of Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton stood at five lakh bales compared with the annual requirement of 20 lakh bales, the government exempted ELS cotton from import duty with effect from February 20, 2024. The industry has been urging the government to remove the import duty ideally, or at least during the off-season (April 1 to September 30) for all varieties of cotton.S.K. Sundararaman, chairman of the Association, said the duty exemption will throw opportunities to increase exports. Though direct exporters can take advantage of Advance Authorisation Scheme and import duty free cotton, the predominantly MSME and fragmented nature of the industry requires imported cotton to cater to the nominated business and also meet the long-term contracts in the domestic and export marketsDuty exemption during off-season till 2030 is essential as the Mission for Cotton Productivity with the budget outlay of ₹5,900 crores will take five to seven years to reach self sufficiency in cotton, he added.The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) chairman Rakesh Mehra said India’s textile sector is dominated by cotton and the cotton value chain contributes to around 80% of total textile exports. India aims to more than double textile and apparel exports to $100 billion by 2030.The duty exemption also covers cotton in transit, as the taxable event for determining the rate of duty is the date of filing of the Bill of Entry, after the goods have entered the Indian port. In cases where the Bill of Entry has been filed in advance (as permitted by Customs for faster clearance prior to the arrival of goods), the same can be withdrawn and re-filed afresh at the earliest, that is, before the Out-of-Charge Order is issued for the imported cotton, he said.read more :- Rupee open Declines 21 Paise to 87.17 per Dollar

 Rupee opens 21 paise down at 87.17 against dollar as Asian currencies slipThe rupee opened at 87.17 against the US dollar after ending the previous session at 86.96, its biggest daily gain in a month as it regained the 86 level.read more :- INR Gains 29 Paise, Closes at 86.96 per Dollar

The Indian rupee on tuesday higher 29 paise to close at 86.96 per dollar, while it opened at 87.25 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 370.64 points or 0.46 percent at 81,644.39, and the Nifty was up 103.70 points or 0.42 percent at 24,980.65. About 2505 shares advanced, 1375 shares declined, and 159 shares unchanged.read more :- Brazil cotton sales pick up; ICAC sees higher 2025/26 output 

Brazil cotton sales jump; ICAC forecasts production growth in 2025/26Insights:▪️Brazil's cotton market saw higher liquidity in mid-August as prices eased to May levels, boosting domestic sales.▪️The CEPEA/ESALQ Index fell 2.9 per cent to BRL 4.0140/lb by Aug 15.▪️Harvest progress lagged, with 33.56 per cent complete by Aug 7, below averages.▪️Globally, ICAC projects 2025/26 output at 25.91m tons, up 1.55 per cent, with consumption at 25.56m tons, slightly below supply.Liquidity in Brazil’s domestic cotton market increased in mid-August, with more trades of term contracts as both buyers and sellers sought to close deals. Prices eased slightly due to lower export parity, returning to levels last seen in May 2024, making domestic sales more attractive, according to Centre for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA).The CEPEA/ESALQ Index (payment in 8 days) dropped 2.9 per cent between July 31 and August 15, closing at BRL 4.0140 per pound on August 15.According to Abrapa, 33.56 per cent of Brazil’s 2024/25 cotton crop had been harvested by August 7. In Mato Grosso, the country’s top producer, the harvest reached 27 per cent, while in Bahia it stood at 40.56 per cent, CEPEA said in its latest fortnightly report on the Brazilian cotton market.Conab data showed 29.7 per cent of the national crop was harvested by August 2, lagging behind 36.7 per cent a year earlier and the five-year average of 46.1 per cent. In Mato Grosso, 20.9 per cent was harvested, well below the 31.8 per cent recorded last year and the 41.4 per cent five-year average.Globally, the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) projects cotton acreage in 2025/26 at 31.3 million hectares, with average yields of 827 kilos per hectare. World production is expected to reach 25.912 million tons, a 1.55 per cent increase from the previous season.Consumption is estimated at 25.564 million tons, 0.26 per cent higher than in 2024/25, though still 1.34 per cent lower than global supply.read more :- India removes duty on cotton imports from US

India blinks, removes duty on cotton imports in trade thaw with US.New Delhi: In a move seen as breaking the ice in strained trade relations with the US, the Indian government late on Monday removed the customs duty and agriculture cess on cotton imports, a step that industry observers believe could ease tensions and create fresh room for engagement.Through a notification issued by the ministry of finance, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said all imports under heading 5201—covering raw cotton—will be exempt from duties between 19 August and 30 September. The decision is expected to directly benefit American exporters, who have been pressing for easier market access in India after Washington increased tariffs on Indian products earlier this year.The development comes after months of back-and-forth between the two sides, with India holding its ground on sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy in bilateral trade talks. By offering temporary relief on cotton, New Delhi appears to be signaling flexibility without compromising on its core red lines.The US team of negotiators, who were scheduled to visit New Delhi for the sixth round of talks on 25 August, has cancelled its visit, and no fresh date has been announced.Notably, the 25% reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports imposed by US President Donald Trump took effect on 7 August may double to 50% on 27 August when the additional tariffs linked to New Delhi’s oil trade with Russia come into force.Before the latest exemption, cotton imports into India attracted a combined duty of around 11%.“It is a calibrated gesture that addresses US concerns while safeguarding domestic sensitivities,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a think tank. Srivastava added that the short exemption window allows the government to retain leverage in ongoing negotiations.The move is also being read against the backdrop of India’s own supply needs. Cotton availability in the domestic market has been tight, with industry bodies repeatedly flagging the risk of higher yarn prices and downstream cost pressures in textiles. By permitting duty-free imports, the government aims to cool raw material prices ahead of the festival season, when demand for garments typically spikes.For the US, the exemption is significant. With China slapping extra duties on American cotton, India has emerged as a promising alternative market. Industry leaders said the duty removal could help bridge some of the recent mistrust. “Cotton was a sticking point in the discussions. This move can inject goodwill into the dialogue and perhaps pave the way for broader tariff concessions in textiles,” said an executive with a leading apparel exporters’ association.“CITI (Confederation of Indian Textile Industry) has long been requesting that the import duty on cotton be removed to help domestic cotton prices align with international prices. We therefore greatly welcome this measure taken by the authorities, even though the relief is only available temporarily,” said CITI secretary general Chandrima Chatterjee.According to the Cotton Association of India, imports surged to 2.71 million bales in FY25, compared with 1.52 million bales in FY24 and 1.46 million bales in FY23. Each bale is equivalent to 170kg.India’s cotton output dropped from about 33.7 million bales in 2022-23 to 32.5 million bales in FY24 and an estimated 30.7 million bales in FY25, according to agriculture ministry data. (The cotton production year runs from October through September.)According to the US department of agriculture, China is the world’s largest producer of cotton, with its 32 million bales in 2024/2025, accounting for 26% of global production. India stood second with its 25 million bales, accounting for 21% of global cotton production.read more :- INR Opens Stronger by 10 Paise at 87.25

 Indian rupee opens 10 paise stronger at 87.25/USD tracking GST reformsThe Indian rupee opened 10 paise higher at 87.25 against the US dollar on August 19 as compared to 87.35 against the greenback at previous close.read more :- Rupee higher 13 Paisa Against Dollar, Closes at 87.35

The Indian rupee ended 13 paisa higher on monday at 87.35 to the dollar, while it opened at 87.48 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 676.09 points or 0.84 percent at 81,273.75, and the Nifty was up 251.20 points or 1.02 percent at 24,882.50. About 2446 shares advanced, 1555 shares declined, and 160 shares unchanged.read more :- Monsoon becomes active again, heavy rain alert in 12 states!

Monsoon is active again in the country! Alert of heavy rain in these 12 states, know the weather of your city.The effect of monsoon in the country has changed to a great extent now. Rain is still there in the hilly areas and concerns have increased in many states about incidents like floods and cloudburst. At the same time, rain has started decreasing in the plains, but light or intense rains are continuing in some states. Especially in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, the fear of cloudburst is haunting the people.Effect of monsoon in hilly areasIn recent days, the speed of monsoon has remained high in hilly areas like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Heavy rainfall, alluvial flow and dangerous natural events like cloudburst at many places have increased the concerns of the local people. Recent incidents are forcing people to be alert.Decrease in rain in plainsOn the other hand, monsoon has started weakening in the plains. The rain has gradually reduced, due to which the heat and humidity in the weather is increasing. Especially in many areas of western and eastern UP, strong sunlight during the day and sticky heat at night are being felt more. This change has become uncomfortable for the people, but the lack of heavy rainfall has brought relief and reduced the situation of waterlogging.Current condition of DelhiToday, i.e. 18 August, the Meteorological Department has not issued any serious warning in Delhi. Overall, the possibility of rain is said to be less. However, there is also a possibility of sudden change in the weather in the late evening. The water level of Yamuna river was high due to continuous rain in the last few days.Uttar Pradesh: Humidity, heat and a little apprehensionThe possibility of torrential rain in Uttar Pradesh seems far away at the moment. According to the Meteorological Department, there is no possibility of heavy rain anywhere in the next 72 hours.On August 18, some districts of western states and some parts of eastern UP may receive light drizzle or thundershowers, but it will be extremely limited.On August 19 and 20 also, light to moderate rain is expected at some places from western to eastern UP.Meanwhile, heat and humidity are bothering people more, especially due to the heat of the day and humidity at night, there is very little relief.Weather changed in Bihar, heavy rain warningThe weather is going to deteriorate again in Bihar on August 18. The Meteorological Department, Patna has issued a warning of heavy rain for West Champaran, East Champaran, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj and Purnia districts. During this time, lightning has also been feared. People have been instructed to be especially vigilant so that any untoward incident can be avoided.Yellow alert and vigilance in UttarakhandThe Meteorological Center of Uttarakhand has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain at some places in Pauri, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Nainital districts. Other districts may also receive heavy rain with thunder, lightning and heavy spells. Dehradun will remain partly cloudy today and light to moderate rain may occur. There is a possibility of heavy rain at some places on Tuesday as well.Revival of monsoon in RajasthanMonsoon has become active again in Rajasthan. Due to less rain here for a few days, there was strong sunlight, heat and uncomfortable conditions for the people. But changes in weather systems are indicating that rain is expected in many parts of Rajasthan in the coming days, due to which there is a possibility of relief.Chance of rain in South IndiaAccording to the information of the India Meteorological Department, on August 18, extremely heavy rain is likely at isolated places in coastal Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam and southern interior Karnataka. Also, very heavy rainfall may occur at many places in Kerala and Mahe during the period 18-20 August. Due to this, both the people and the administration there are alert.read more :- Rajasthan: BT cotton sown in 1.8 lakh hectares in Hanumangarh, 61 thousand hectares more than last year