Indian markets, money, and the economy explained: Sensex and Nifty moves, IPOs, UPI and RBI policy, and pay commission updates, with figures sourced and checked.
The 8th Pay Commission is holding regional consultations through October 2026, with fitment factor proposals ranging from 1.83 to 3.83 still unresolved, affecting 50 lakh employees and 69 lakh pensioners.
Starting October 15, 2026, UPI merchant payments above ₹2,000 will carry a 0.4% MDR capped at ₹300. Consumers and 95% of transactions stay free.
Indian markets rebounded on September 15, with the Nifty IT index surging 5.17% and the Sensex gaining 587 points, ending a five-week, 4.8% correction.
US spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in net inflows for five consecutive trading days through August 21, with BlackRock's IBIT leading, as Bitcoin traded near $76,700.
Nvidia's Q2 FY2026 revenue hit $46.7B, up 56% year-over-year, beating estimates on both revenue and EPS. Data center revenue alone was $41.1B, up 56%.
The RBI held rates steady but raised its FY27 GDP forecast to 6.7% and lowered its inflation outlook to 5.0%, citing stronger-than-expected growth.
Manipal Health Enterprises listed at ₹655 on the BSE, an 11% premium over its ₹590 issue price, valuing India's largest hospital network at ₹86,157 crore.
FPIs poured Rs 20,200 crore into Indian equities in July, ending a four-month selling streak, as the rupee stabilized and sentiment improved.
The Fed kept rates at 3.5%-3.75% on July 29, but three dissenting votes pushed markets to price a 76-82% chance of a September hike. The Dow fell 1,153 points.
Gold hit a record $5,595/oz on January 28, 2026, up over 20% for the year at that point, driven by record central bank buying and record ETF inflows.