Author: Neel Achary

Indian Equity Markets Open Flat Amid Middle East Tensions, Softer Crude Prices

July 21: Indian equity markets began Tuesday’s trading session on a subdued note, with benchmark indices opening largely flat as investors weighed persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East against the positive impact of declining crude oil prices. The cautious start reflected a balanced market sentiment, with participants closely tracking global developments while assessing their potential implications for economic growth, inflation, and corporate earnings.

Market activity remained range-bound during the opening hours, as buying interest in select sectors was offset by profit-booking in others. Investors largely refrained from taking aggressive positions, preferring to await greater clarity on the evolving geopolitical landscape and its possible impact on international financial markets.

The recent moderation in crude oil prices offered a measure of support to domestic equities. As one of the world’s largest importers of crude oil, India typically benefits from lower energy prices, which help reduce import costs, ease inflationary pressures, improve the current account balance, and create a more favourable environment for economic growth. Softer oil prices also provide relief to sectors that are heavily dependent on fuel and transportation costs, contributing to improved business sentiment.

Despite this positive development, concerns surrounding the Middle East continued to influence investor behaviour. Ongoing uncertainty in the region has heightened caution across global financial markets, with investors remaining attentive to any developments that could disrupt energy supplies, affect commodity prices, or increase market volatility. Such geopolitical risks often encourage investors to adopt a defensive investment strategy until greater stability emerges.

Domestic investors also remained focused on broader macroeconomic indicators, including inflation trends, corporate earnings, foreign institutional investment flows, and expectations surrounding monetary policy. These factors are expected to play a significant role in shaping market direction in the coming weeks alongside international developments.

Analysts believe that while short-term market movements may remain influenced by global events, India’s underlying economic fundamentals continue to provide resilience. Strong domestic consumption, sustained infrastructure spending, healthy corporate balance sheets, and ongoing policy reforms are expected to support long-term growth prospects.

Going forward, market participants are likely to monitor geopolitical developments, movements in global crude oil prices, and key economic data releases for further cues. Until greater certainty emerges, Indian equity markets may continue to witness cautious trading, with investors maintaining a balanced approach while navigating an evolving global environment.

Attero Achieves ISO-Verified Life Cycle Assessment for Recycled Metals

New Delhi, July 21: Attero, India’s largest critical minerals firm and the world’s most technologically advanced urban miner, has successfully completed an independently verified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in accordance with ISO 14040:2021 and ISO 14044:2021 standards, establishing scientifically validated environmental performance data for metals recovered through its e-waste and lithium-ion battery recycling operations. 

The milestone enables Attero to provide customers with product-specific, independently verified environmental data for recycled metals, allowing them to accurately measure and compare the environmental benefits of urban mining against conventional virgin mining. At a time when global industries are facing increasing pressure to improve supply-chain sustainability, strengthen ESG reporting, and reduce Scope 3 emissions, access to credible environmental data is becoming an essential component of procurement and sourcing decisions. 

Life Cycle Assessment is globally recognised as the most comprehensive methodology for evaluating a product’s environmental footprint. Using internationally accepted scientific methodologies, Attero‘s assessment quantifies the environmental impacts associated with recovered metals including aluminium, copper, iron, zinc, tin, silver and gold across a broad range of environmental indicators such as carbon footprints, resource depletion, acidification, eutrophication, ecotoxicity, human toxicity and fossil resource consumption as compared to the virgin mined metals. 

“The circular economy requires more than recycling; it requires measurable proof of environmental impact. This independently verified Life Cycle Assessment allows us to provide customers with scientifically validated environmental data for the metals we recover, enabling informed sourcing decisions and stronger sustainability reporting. As industries worldwide seek to reduce their environmental footprint and secure responsible sources of critical materials, verified environmental performance will become increasingly important alongside quality, purity and traceability. This milestone reinforces the role of urban mining as a scalable and sustainable source of critical minerals for the global economy,” said Mr. Nitin Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, Attero. 

The assessment enables transparent, like-for-like comparison between metals recovered through urban mining and those produced through conventional mining. Rather than relying on industry averages or generic sustainability claims, customers can now access independently verified environmental performance data that helps quantify the environmental advantages of choosing recycled materials over virgin alternatives. 

The verified data can support a wide range of sustainability and compliance requirements, including ESG disclosures, Scope 3 emissions accounting, green procurement programmes, product environmental declarations and broader environmental reporting obligations. As regulatory frameworks and investor expectations continue to evolve, the ability to demonstrate measurable environmental performance is becoming a key differentiator across global supply chains. 

Attero has built its leadership in critical minerals recovery through sustained investments in technology and innovation. The company holds 50+ global patents and has developed proprietary processes for extracting valuable metals and critical materials from complex waste streams. Its advanced recycling technologies deliver industry-leading 98% recovery efficiency and purity levels above 99.9% while creating a domestic source of strategic materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, copper, gold and silver, reducing dependence on conventional mining and imported resources. 

This achievement further strengthens Attero‘s position at the forefront of the circular economy, where every tonne of recovered metal is supported not only by advanced recycling technology but also by independently verified environmental intelligence. For customers, it brings a new level of transparency, credibility and confidence to sustainable sourcing decisions, while helping accelerate the transition towards more resource-efficient and climate-conscious supply chains. 

Building Safe, Happy Connections: Polycab Expands People-first initiatives at Puri Rath Yatra

Odisha, 21 July: Polycab India Limited, India’s No. 1 wires and cables company, has strengthened its commitment to devotees attending the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra by expanding its community-centric initiatives.

Returning to the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra for the second consecutive year, Polycab is deepening its association with one of India’s largest spiritual gatherings through a range of people–first initiatives designed to enhance the safety, comfort and overall experience of millions of devotees.

Building on last year’s association, Polycab has expanded its initiatives to support devotees throughout their pilgrimage by creating a welcoming arrival experience, enabling connectivity, providing spaces for rest and reinforcing safety. These initiatives are inspired by the company’s purpose of “Building Safe, Happy Connections”—a philosophy that extends beyond products and infrastructure to creating meaningful impact in the communities it serves.

As part of the initiative, Polycab has installed prominent milestone branding and a 3D welcome gate to welcome devotees as they enter Puri. Reinforcing its commitment to safety, the company is supporting lifeguards and volunteers with branded life jackets and watchtowers along the coastline. Understanding the needs and challenges faced by devotees during the pilgrimage, Polycab has also introduced a dedicated Cool Zone, offering a comfortable space for elderly devotees and children to rest and recharge.

Further enhancing convenience for devotees, Polycab has deployed solar-powered mobile charging stations across strategic locations, enabling pilgrims to stay connected with their families throughout their journey. Complementing these initiatives are ambient media installations across Puri that celebrate the spirit of the festival while reinforcing Polycab‘s longstanding commitment to community engagement. 

Shwetal Basu, Senior Vice President – Brand & Marcom, Polycab India Ltd., said, “The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is much more than a festival; it is a powerful expression of faith, community and human connection. At Polycab, our purpose is to build safe, happy connections that empower lives, and we believe that purpose must come alive wherever people gather and communities thrive. Our initiatives this year have been designed to support devotees in simple yet meaningful ways—through safety, comfort and connectivity. As we continue our association with the Rath Yatra, our effort is to contribute positively to the devotee experience and the communities we serve.”

Polycab‘s continued presence at the Rath Yatra reflects the company’s broader philosophy of creating purposeful brand experiences rooted in community service, cultural relevance and innovation. Through initiatives focused on public comfort, safety and connectivity, the company aims to contribute meaningfully to one of India’s most iconic festivals while reinforcing its commitment to building stronger connections with communities across the country.

ALLEN Leads India’s Golden Sweep at International Chemistry Olympiad

Kota, 20^th July: ALLEN Career Institute continues to bring glory to the nation in official International Olympiads. Following the recent success at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), ALLEN Career Institute students have now secured 3 out of 4 Gold Medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). With 4 Gold Medals, India, China, and Vietnam jointly secured Rank-1 among 93 participating countries in the International Olympiad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the students on this achievement.

The 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026 final was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 10 to 19 July. ALLEN classroom students Debadatta Priyadarshi and Harshit Singla, both Class 11 students, and Kabir Chhillar, a Class 12 student, won Gold Medals as members of the Indian team. Kabir Chhillar, who studied at ALLEN Kota, had secured All India Rank-2 in JEE Advanced 2026. Debadatta Priyadarshi is a classroom student of ALLEN Kota for JEE-Advanced preparation.

Congratulating the students and parents on this achievement, ALLEN CEO Nitin Kukreja said that this accomplishment belongs not only to ALLEN but to the entire nation. It is India’s finest performance in this official Olympiad over the last 27 years. It is also the first time that three students from a single institute have won Gold Medals. This achievement further motivates us. We are continuously setting new benchmarks in the field of quality education. So far, ALLEN students have won 191 medals in various official Olympiads, including 93 Gold Medals.

A total of 363 participants from 93 countries took part in the Olympiad. According to the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), India has been participating in this Olympiad for the last 27 years. This year’s result is India’s best-ever performance. It is also the first time in the history of the Chemistry Olympiad that three students from a single institute ALLEN have won Gold Medals.

This official Olympiad is conducted in four stages. The first stage, the National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC), was conducted by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), in which 189 ALLEN students qualified for the second stage. Thereafter, in the second stage, the Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO), conducted by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), 16 ALLEN students qualified for the third stage. The third stage, the Orientation-cum-Selection Camp (OCSC), was then conducted, following which the four-member Indian team was selected to represent the country, with three students from ALLEN. The fourth and final stage, the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad, was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where all four members of the Indian team won Gold Medals, including three from ALLEN.