18, Jun 2026
Gold and Silver Prices Decline as Fed Hawkish Stance and Easing Global Tensions Weigh on Bullion
New Delhi, June 18: Gold and silver prices declined in global and domestic markets as a stronger US Federal Reserve outlook and easing geopolitical tensions reduced demand for safe-haven assets.
Market sentiment remained under pressure after signals from the US Federal Reserve suggested a continued hawkish stance on interest rates, supporting the US dollar and putting downward pressure on precious metals. A stronger dollar typically makes gold and silver more expensive for buyers using other currencies, leading to reduced demand in international markets.
At the same time, easing geopolitical tensions in key global regions have reduced risk aversion among investors, further weakening demand for traditional safe-haven assets such as bullion. As a result, trading activity in gold and silver remained subdued.
Analysts said that expectations of tighter monetary policy in the United States, along with improving global risk sentiment, have together contributed to the recent weakness in precious metal prices. Investors are also repositioning their portfolios in response to changing macroeconomic conditions.
Despite the short-term decline, experts noted that gold and silver continue to hold long-term relevance as hedge assets against inflation, currency volatility, and broader financial market uncertainty.
Market participants are now closely watching upcoming US economic data releases and further commentary from the Federal Reserve for clearer signals on interest rate direction, which is expected to influence bullion price trends in the coming sessions.
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- By Neel Achary
18, Jun 2026
Industrial Ethernet in eight of ten new nodes – Fieldbus decline accelerates according to HMS Networks’ annual analysis
Halmstad, Sweden, June 18: HMS Networks has released its annual analysis of the industrial network market, marking twelve consecutive years of tracking how factories and machine builders connect their automation systems. The 2026 study shows that the long-running shift from traditional fieldbus technologies to Industrial Ethernet has continued through another full year, with Industrial Ethernet now accounting for 79% of newly installed nodes worldwide, up from 76% in 2025 and just 34% when HMS first began publishing these figures in 2015.
Industrial Ethernet reaches 79% of new installations
The 2026 analysis shows that Industrial Ethernet now accounts for 79% of new nodes, up from 76% in 2025. The three leading Ethernet protocols continued to consolidate their position, together representing roughly three-quarters of the wired protocol market.
Within Industrial Ethernet:
- PROFINET strengthens its lead at 30% (up from 27%)
- EtherNet/IP follows at 25% (up from 23%)
- EtherCAT continues a strong trajectory at 20% (up from 17%)
- Modbus TCP holds steady at 5%
- CC-Link IE remains stable at 3%
- POWERLINK declines to 1% (from 3%)
- Other Ethernet protocols account for the remaining 2% as market consolidation around the major networks continues
Fieldbus technologies now represent 14% of new nodes, down from 17% in 2025. PROFIBUS & PROFINET International’s own published figures showed PROFIBUS new-node installations dropping from 1.1 million in 2024 to 1.0 million in 2025, a 9% decline corroborated by HMS
Networks’ internal data and by HMS’s industry survey.
Within Fieldbus:
- PROFIBUS remains the largest fieldbus but drops to 4% (from 5%)
- Modbus RTU holds steady at 3%, reflecting its continued role as the universal low-cost serial protocol
- CC-Link, DeviceNet and CAN/CANopen each remain in the 1–2% range with modest further decline
- Other Fieldbus protocols collectively account for 2%, down from 4%, as the long tail of legacy networks fades
Wireless technologies continue to connect 7% of new node installations, unchanged from 2025. Wireless retains its established role as a complement to wired industrial networks, particularly valuable for mobile equipment such as AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots), retrofitted machinery, and IIoT sensors in hard-to-reach locations.
Regional insights
Europe: PROFINET and EtherCAT continue to lead, with strong activity around APL (Advanced Physical Layer) for process automation and SPE (Single Pair Ethernet) for sensor-level connectivity. PROFIBUS decline is most visible in Europe, where the install base is largest and the migration to PROFINET most advanced.
North America: EtherNet/IP remains the dominant protocol, particularly in automotive and discrete manufacturing. Adoption of IO-Link, APL and SPE is gaining clear momentum, supported by interest in OT cybersecurity ahead of the regulatory landscape taking shape around CRA and IEC 62443.
Asia: PROFINET and EtherCAT both continue to grow in the Chinese market. CC-Link IE, the first industrial protocol with TSN mechanism, maintains a strong regional foothold.
HMS Networks’ perspective
“Twelve years of data tell a remarkably consistent story. The migration from fieldbus to Industrial Ethernet is now in its later stages, but the more interesting question is what happens next. When nearly everything is Ethernet, the conversation shifts from ‘which protocol?’ to ‘what is running on top of it?’, functional safety, cybersecurity, TSN, OPC UA, Single Pair Ethernet, IT/OT convergence. That is where the complexity, and the differentiation, will increasingly sit,” says Magnus Jansson, Director of Product Marketing, at HMS Networks.
“The 2026 numbers also reinforce something we have been seeing in our industry survey: cybersecurity is now cited by nearly half of respondents as a top integration challenge, and 93% expect OT cybersecurity to change substantially over the next five years. The protocols matter, but the layers above them increasingly define how factories actually operate.” Magnus continues.
Beyond the protocols: a wider lens on industrial networking
To complement the long-running annual market shares analysis, HMS Networks publishes the State of Industrial Networking, an extended companion report that examines the broader dimensions shaping industrial communication: cybersecurity, leading industry voices from across the world, regional or industry-specific dynamics and much more.
The extended report draws on the Future of Industrial Networks survey, an externally panelled study now in its second annual edition. The 2026 cycle captured responses from industrial designers and users across all major regions and industries, with the 2027 edition opening for participation in June this year. As individual protocol-level shifts grow smaller year on year, the broader picture captured in the extended report will increasingly carry the conversation about where industrial networking is heading.
About the study
The HMS Networks analysis is based on a combination of market insights, internal data, and input from key stakeholders in the industrial automation industry. The study focuses on newly installed nodes in factory automation worldwide, each node being a device or machine connected to an industrial control network. This is the twelfth consecutive year HMS Networks has published this annual analysis.
18, Jun 2026
Trupeer AI Strengthens Global Growth Ambitions with Appointment of Former UiPath CEO Raghu Subramanian
June 18:
Raghu joins from a
At Trupeer, he will lead the
Shivali Goyal, CEO and Co-
Founder, Trupeer AI, said, “Raghu has spent decades helping organisations adopt and scale transformative technologies and brings deep experience in building enterprises globally. Having seen first-hand the challenges enterprises face in organisational knowledge and agentic AI enablement, Raghu immediately resonated with our vision and the momentum Trupeer has built globally. His expertise will help us strengthen our commercial capabilities, deepen partnerships, and unlock the next phase of growth at Trupeer.” Raghu Subramanian, President
and Chief Business Officer, said, “EnterprisesTrupeer AI, have long struggled to get real value from AI, and the reason is fragmented context. The knowledge that makes AI useful sits trapped in people’ s heads and scattered across tools. In the agentic AI era, where agents are only as good as the context they run on, that gap becomes the difference between AI that works and doesn’t. This is the gap Trupeer was built to close. I look forward to partnering with enterprises and organisations across the globe to build the context layer that makes enterprise knowledge structured, accessible, and actionable, and AI genuinely useful.”
As enterprises move from AI
18, Jun 2026
MRF Achieves FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, Reinforcing its Global Motorsport and Sustainability Commitment
Chennai, India | June 18: MRF Limited has been awarded the prestigious Three-Star level of the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme, marking a significant milestone in the company’s sustainability journey and its continuing presence in global motorsport.
The certification, awarded recently, follows an audit conducted under the FIA Environmental Accreditation framework. The FIA audit recognised MRF’s structured approach to environmental management, continual improvement and responsible manufacturing practices across its motorsport tyre operations.
Commenting on the achievement, Mr Arun Mammen, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, MRF Limited, said: “MRF’s global motorsport journey is powered by performance and responsibility. This FIA Three-Star accreditation reinforces our commitment to sustainable innovation, environmental stewardship and continuous improvement across our operations worldwide today.”
With this recognition, MRF is the only Indian Tyre Company and also joins a select group of global motorsport tyre manufacturers to have achieved the FIA’s highest environmental accreditation.
MRF manufactures motorsport tyres at its manufacturing locations, which are certified to ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System standards. The audit also noted that these manufacturing locations maintain ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification.
The audit further recognised MRF’s SMART environmental objectives across its manufacturing locations, covering areas such as reducing specific power consumption, fuel consumption, water consumption and waste generation. Monitoring and measurement systems were documented across key environmental impact areas, including energy use, waste management, water consumption, biodiversity, air quality, noise, materials and procurement, transport, and Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions.
The FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation is the highest level within the programme and reflects MRF’s continued commitment to integrating sustainability into its motorsport operations while maintaining the performance standards associated with the MRF brand globally.
18, Jun 2026
Jan Aushadhi Kendras Cross 19,200 Mark Nationwide, Expanding Affordable Healthcare Access
New Delhi, June 18: The number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) has increased to over 19,200 across the country, rising sharply from just 84 in 2014, the Government of India said on Wednesday.
The expansion reflects a significant scale-up of the affordable healthcare initiative aimed at improving access to quality generic medicines for citizens at lower costs.
Officials said the Jan Aushadhi scheme is designed to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure by providing medicines at prices significantly lower than branded alternatives while maintaining quality standards approved by regulatory authorities.
The scheme has expanded its reach across urban and rural areas, including remote and underserved regions, ensuring wider availability of essential medicines through dedicated retail outlets.
Health officials noted that the growth in Kendras has contributed to increasing awareness and acceptance of generic medicines among patients, helping to improve affordability in healthcare delivery.
The government reiterated its commitment to further strengthening the network of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to ensure that essential medicines remain accessible and affordable to all sections of society.
18, Jun 2026
FIA President Ben Sulayem says Macau conference can help shape future of motorsport, mobility
Three-day event will welcome over 450 senior FIA delegates from 149 countries
Dubai, UAE, June 18: H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, says the Federation’s Extraordinary General Assembly and Annual Conference in Macau next week has an important part to play in guiding the future of motorsport and mobility.
Hosted in partnership with the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC) and Galaxy Entertainment Group, and held at the Galaxy International Convention Centre, the three-day event starting on Tuesday will welcome over 450 senior FIA delegates across mobility and motorsport from 149 countries.
It offers opportunities for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, to address key initiatives in regional sporting growth, road safety, sustainable mobility, and innovation in transport.
Macau is an iconic location for motorsport fans, playing host to the Macau Grand Prix at the Guia Circuit since 1954. Now, the event welcomes competitors across four FIA categories and is notorious for its demanding course, combining fast straights and tight corners.
Speaking ahead of his return to Macau, H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “This conference provides a valuable opportunity to bring together our community and help shape the future of global motorsport and mobility. As we continue to grow participation, advance innovation and improve road safety worldwide, these discussions are more important than ever.
“I am delighted to be returning to Macau, a truly iconic location for motorsport fans and a fitting location for the FIA to host one of the most important weeks of our calendar. My thanks to our hosts, the AAMC, Chairman Chong Coc Veng, and President Roberto Carlos Osorio.”
Chong Coc Veng, Chairman of the AAMC, said: “We are honoured to welcome the FIA and our fellow Members from across the world back to Macau. The Annual Conference provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made together over the past year and shape the priorities that will drive our Federation forward. We look forward to welcoming delegates for what promises to be a productive few days.”
The conference will be attended by representatives from the 245 FIA Member Clubs who represent motorsport and mobility at a global scale. This structure forms the backbone of the federation’s governance and operations, with each full Member Club holding voting rights across the FIA’s elections and regulatory decisions.
Clubs are grouped into two primary categories, with some serving in both roles. Mobility Clubs provide mobility services and represent the interest of road users, with a focus on road safety, travel and tourism, consumer rights, and sustainable mobility.
National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) govern and develop motorsport at a national level, are responsible for sporting events, issuing licenses, and engagement across regulations.
18, Jun 2026
Apple May Hike Product Prices Amid Rising Memory and Storage Costs: Tim Cook
New Delhi, June 18: Apple may increase the prices of its devices in the coming period as global costs of memory and storage components continue to rise, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has indicated.
The company said that persistent cost pressures in semiconductor supply chains are impacting key input materials used across its product range, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other connected devices. Memory and storage chips, which are essential components in modern consumer electronics, have seen notable price increases due to supply constraints and rising global demand.
Apple stated that while it continues to focus on supply chain optimisation, operational efficiency, and long-term vendor partnerships, sustained increases in component prices may eventually be reflected in retail pricing.
Industry experts note that the development highlights broader inflationary pressures within the global electronics manufacturing ecosystem, particularly in segments dependent on advanced chip technologies. The trend could potentially influence pricing strategies across multiple technology companies beyond Apple.
Analysts also suggest that strong demand for high-performance devices, coupled with constrained supply in certain semiconductor categories, is contributing to upward cost pressure across the sector.
The company has not announced any immediate changes to product pricing but acknowledged that adjustments may be considered if current cost trends persist in the global supply chain environment.
18, Jun 2026
Fed Keeps Rates Unchanged, but Split Projections Highlight Uncertainty Over Policy Path
By:- Ajitabh Bharti, Executive Director and Co-founder of CapitalXB
The Federal Reserve held rates steady, but the latest dot plot reveals a more complex internal outlook. With nine members projecting a 25 bps hike and six expecting a 50 bps increase by end-2026, the committee appears notably divided on the policy path ahead. Attention, however, centered on the new Fed Governor. While his decision to refrain from offering personal projections was anticipated, it also represented a key opportunity to reinforce credibility by clearly reaffirming the Fed’s commitment to price stability.Markets were looking for stronger conviction. The immediate reaction in short-term U.S. yields underscores lingering skepticism toward the new leadership.
18, Jun 2026
Government Allocates INR 18,907 Crore for 26,474 km Rural Road Network in FY27
New Delhi, June 18: The Government of India has earmarked ₹18,907 crore for the construction of 26,474 kilometres of rural roads during the financial year 2026–27, aimed at improving connectivity and strengthening rural infrastructure across the country.
Pic Credit: Pexel
The allocation is expected to support continued expansion of all-weather road networks in rural and remote areas, facilitating better access to markets, healthcare, education, and essential public services for rural populations.
Officials said the initiative will play a key role in enhancing last-mile connectivity and supporting inclusive development by linking villages with nearby towns and economic centres. The programme is also expected to generate employment opportunities in construction and allied sectors.
The rural road development programme has been a key focus area of the government’s infrastructure push, with emphasis on improving connectivity, reducing travel time, and boosting economic activity in rural regions.
Experts note that improved rural road infrastructure is likely to have a multiplier effect on agricultural supply chains, rural trade, and overall socio-economic development.
The construction targets for FY27 continue the government’s broader effort to expand and upgrade rural connectivity across states and union territories.
18, Jun 2026
Kharif Sowing in India Crosses 84 Lakh Hectares, Early Monsoon Progress Supports Agriculture
New Delhi, June 18: The total area sown under India’s ongoing kharif season has crossed 84 lakh hectares so far, indicating steady progress in early sowing operations across key agricultural regions of the country.
Pic Credit: Pexel
According to preliminary agricultural data, sowing activity has picked up momentum with the onset of the monsoon season, supporting timely cultivation of major kharif crops. Farmers across several states have begun planting operations, aided by improving rainfall conditions in many regions.
Officials said the early progress in sowing is an important indicator of the overall agricultural outlook for the season, as kharif crops depend heavily on monsoon rainfall patterns and distribution.
The kharif season typically includes major crops such as rice, maize, cotton, pulses, and oilseeds, which form a significant part of India’s agricultural output and rural economy.
Agricultural experts note that consistent rainfall distribution in the coming weeks will be crucial for sustaining sowing momentum and ensuring healthy crop development across different states.
The data reflects initial progress in the current season, with further updates expected as sowing activity continues across the country.
