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Reliance Industries AGM: Reliance Industries continues to lead across every key growth parameter -- revenues, profitability, exports, market value, investments, contribution to the exchequer and societal impact, RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani said in his address at the group's keenly-watched 48th annual general meeting on August 29.At the AGM, Ambani made a host of significant announcements in areas covering AI, Reliance Jio's much-awaited IPO and new partnerships with global behemoths Google and Meta.Also, a number of new launches -- of devices as well as services -- were announced at the event.The global economy today is navigating through an era of great uncertainty, Ambani said. The world is realising that conflict produces no winners, and when nations cooperate, trade flows freely, he added. While uncertainty surrounds us, humanity still stands at the threshold of a golden age in the 21st century, Ambani further said.This has become possible because of the convergence of three powerful technological transformations; breakthroughs in clean energy are unlocking a future of abundance, sustainability, and security, raising hopes for overcoming the climate crisis, he added.In his address, Ambani pointed out that in just one generation, Reliance has transformed itself from a Fortune 1000 company to a Fortune 40 global powerhouse, creating over $200 billion in value – all within India. The company, he said, has done this by staying true to the First Principles: 1. What is good for India is good for Reliance; 2. Build businesses of the future; 3. Build them world-class, and at mega scale – the largest and most competitive globally, with the highest standards of governance; 4. Invest in world-class talent and cutting-edge technologies.Ambani said that he envisaged the O2C business achieving substantial growth and delivering stable returns as geopolitical tensions subside. He forecast rapid, innovation-driven growth in the materials business of the group. RIL is well-positioned to produce high-value green fuels and chemicals, which India and the world will need, Ambani affirmed.Our New and Clean Energy business is being built with a singular purpose: to make India self-sufficient in energy, and to resolve India's energy trilemma of security, affordability, and sustainability through world-scale giga manufacturing, through round-the-clock renewable electricity, and through green fuels and chemicals at global scale.2025 Reliance AGM Key Takeaways: Ambani's economy takeDespite geopolitical uncertainty, one truth is clear that India is on the rise, Ambani observed. "India is on the rise, and India's rise is unstoppable today, India already ranks among the world's top four global economics under the determined leadership of Modi," he said."The right set of reforms, advanced manufacturing capabilities and a national priority on deep debt, our economy can grow at 10% -- this will mean that the per capita income of Indians would rise four to five times within the next two decades," Ambani noted."More importantly, India need not have any modern model, we have the ability and the responsibility to create an India first model of development. This model will use to bring prosperity and security to India, improve the quality of life of each and every Indian, and protect the environment," the RIL chief said.He said that this model will also harmonise technology with democracy, economy with culture, spirituality with science, and national aspirations with friendship across all nations."This is the collective dream of nearly 1.5 billion Indians to build a nation that leads to the world, prosperity and compassion," Ambani said.RIL's big AI bet: 2025 Reliance AGM Key TakeawaysIn a major move, Ambani announced the setting up for Reliance Intelligence -- an entity that'll house India's next-generation AI infra.Reliance Intelligence, a wholly-owned subsidiary, will be aimed at accelerating India’s artificial intelligence capabilities and establishing the country as a global hub for AI innovation.The company is developing artificial intelligence as its new growth engine, Mukesh Ambani said. AI can now be called the Kam dhenu ---the divine wish-fulfilling cow of our lives, he added.The possibilities created by these new technologies are staggering, Ambani said, adding that the global GDP today is at $110 trillion has the potential to reach $500 trillion within the next 25 to 30 years.Reliance is transforming its operating model to become a deep tech entity in advanced manufacturing, he said. The company is attracting and empowering talented young leaders who will drive the next wave of value creation with innovations, he added.Jio juggernaut rolls on: 2025 Reliance AGM Key TakeawaysIn his address, Ambani said that Reliance Jio, the company's telecom arm, has crossed 500 million customers and is now aiming for an IPO by the first half of 2026. "I am sure that it will be a very attractive opportunity for all investors," Ambani said.Reliance Jio IPO could be the largest ever IPO in India's history. According to earlier reports, the size of Jio Infocomm IPO could be around Rs 52,000 crore. If RIL launches Jio IPO to raise Rs 52,200 crore, it would be the biggest ever in India and surpass Hyundai India’s Rs 28,000 crore IPO by a huge margin.According to a new plan, Jio will now expand operations outside India with our own tech. Jio seeks to digitise every Indian business and enterprise and simple, scalable platforms, it was announced."AI Everywhere, Everyone", is the motto for Jio, and the path ahead for the company is even brighter; Akash Ambani said. Jio air fiber is now the largest fixed wireless provider in the world, adding over 1 million homes per month, and more than 40 millions Indians have placed their trust on Jio AIcloud, he informed.Mukesh's money-making machine: 2025 Reliance AGM Key TakeawaysIn FY25, Reliance delivered record consolidated revenue of Rs 10,71,174 crore ($125.3 billion), becoming India's first-ever company to cross $125 billion in annual revenues.The company's EBITDA stood at Rs 1,83,422 crore ($21.5 billion) and net profit grew to Rs 81,309 crore ($9.5 billion). Reliance's exports were Rs 2,83,719 crore ($33.2 billion), contributing 7.6% of India's total merchandise exports. The company invested cumulatively Rs 5.6 lakh crore ($65.5 billion) over the last three years.RIL remains the single largest contributor to the national exchequer, contributing Rs 2,10,269 crore ($24.6 billion) in FY-25, Ambani said. In the last six years, Reliance's contribution to national exchequer has crossed Rs 10 lakh crore ($117.0 billion).2025 Reliance AGM Key Takeaways: RIL's Job generation scorecardAt a time when the dynamics of employment are undergoing a shift towards flexibility, driven mainly by AI and automation, Reliance has adopted modern engagement formats that combine opportunities for upskilling, entrepreneurial drive, job satisfaction and higher earning potential, Ambani said.The company's conventional and non-conventional workforce has grown to nearly 6.8 lakh people, it was announced, with Ambani saying that he sees this growing to more than 10 lakh people over the next few years."It gives me immense satisfaction to say that we rank among the most admired employers and largest job creators in India," Ambani said.2025 Reliance AGM Key Takeaways: Big partnerships announcedAmbani announced a deep AI partnership with Google, highlighting the integration of Reliance’s infrastructure expertise with Google Cloud’s AI technologies. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, addressed the AGM.Reliance also unveiled a joint venture with Meta, aimed at bringing enterprise-ready open-source AI to Indian businesses. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, also made an address.Ambani described the Meta partnership as a game-changer for Indian enterprises, noting it would enable sovereign hosting and governance within India, lower inference costs, and accelerate AI adoption across sectors of national importance.New energy business: 2025 Reliance AGM Key TakeawaysNew Energy business will be a major driver of growth for many decades, with the potential to become as big as the company's Oil-to-Chemicals business within the next 5-7 years, Ambani said."In scale, ambition, and impact, it will surpass everything Reliance has done so far. It will create unprecedented, perpetual value for both India and Reliance," Ambani said.A host of key announcements were also made on the group's new energy initiatives.The electrolyser giga factory will be operational by end-2026, with the ability to scale up to 3 GW per year. It will enable cost-competitive green hydrogen production at global scale, backed by exclusive global technology partnerships, and strengthened by our in-house capabilities.In Kutch, Gujarat, the company is developing one of the world’s largest single-site solar projects spanning 5,50,000 acres of arid land – three times the size of Singapore."At peak, we will deploy 55 MW of solar modules and 150 MWh of battery containers every day. This will be among the fastest installations globally. This single site could meet nearly 10% of India’s electricity needs within the next decade," Anant Ambani said at Reliance AGM.Under “Urja Daatas” – Energy Producers, the company is building 55 CBG plants with an annual capacity of 0.5 million tonne. The target is to scale up to 500+ CBG plants by 2030. At Jamnagar, the company has set up the world’s largest Bioenergy Technology and R&D Centre, it was announced.RIL AGM: New devices and other launchesAt the AGM, the launch of Jio's high-performance personal computers, capable of transforming TV or any other screen, into a full-feature, AI-ready system, was announced.The device enables users to access advanced computing services without purchasing a traditional desktop or laptop. By connecting a keyboard to a Jio Set-Top Box, customers can turn their television or monitor into a personal computer that runs directly from Jio’s cloud servers.This model allows flexibility to scale storage and computing power remotely, eliminating the need for hardware upgrades.The service is expected to be built on Jio’s telecom base of over 500 million subscribers and its investments in 5G networks.One of the marquee launches is Riya, a voice-enabled search assistant for JioHotstar. "Riya understands you. Just say what you want across years, seasons, and episodes, and Riya will curate it for you. No more scrolling, no more searching,” Ambani said.Riya also brings multilingual AI experiences to users. “For the first time, you will be able to enjoy sports in your favorite Indian language without losing the magic of the original platform. Your favorite stars won’t just appear, they will speak in your language, in their own voice, with perfect lip sync on screen,” it was announced.Also unveiled was Jio Frames, a new smart wearable device, expanding RIL's digital ecosystem under Jio.JioFrames is an AI-powered wearable platform and ecosystem, made for India. With support for multiple Indian languages at launch, customer can simply speak to Jio's multilingual AI voice-assistant. It is a hands-free, AI-powered companion designed for the way India lives, works and plays.

Indian automaker Tata Motors launched a new commercial vehicle, 9-seater Tata Winger Plus at Rs 20.60 lakh ex-showroom price (New Delhi) on Friday.Along with personal USB charging points, individual AC vents and ample leg space, Winger Plus allows real-time vehicle tracking through Tata Motors’ Fleet Edge.Built on a monocoque chassis, the vehicle offers robust safety and stability, while its car-like ride and handling ensure ease of driving and reduce fatigue for drivers, the company said in a release.“The Winger Plus has been thoughtfully engineered to deliver a premium experience for passengers and a compelling value proposition for fleet operators," Anand S, Vice President and Head – Commercial Passenger Vehicle Business, Tata Motors, said."With its superior ride comfort, best-in-class comfort features, and segment-leading efficiency, it is designed to drive profitability while offering the lowest cost of ownership," he added.Winger Plus features and amenitiesreclining captain seats with adjustable armrestspersonal USB charging pointsindividual AC ventsample leg spacewide cabinlarge luggage compartmentfuel-efficient 2.2L Dicor diesel engine with 100hp of power and 200Nm of torqueequipped with Tata Motors’ Fleet Edge connected vehicle platformTata Motors has a diverse commercial passenger vehicle portfolio ranging from 9-seater to 55-seater vehicles in various configurations across multiple powertrains. The company has a strong network of over 4,500 sales and service touchpoints across India.Tata Motors share price: Shares of Tata Motors were trading at Rs 674.30 per scrip as on 13:13 on BSE on Friday.

Inflows into equity mutual funds rose 81.06% month-on-month, climbing from Rs 23,568 crore in June to Rs 42,673 crore in July. On a year-on-year basis, inflows were up 15.08% from Rs 37,082 crore in July 2024. Notably, they have surged from an outflow of Rs 3,845 crore in July 2020 to an inflow of Rs 42,673 crore in July 2025.Also Read | Trump Tariff Turbulence: Should mutual fund investors rework their investment strategy?Market volatility notwithstanding, equity mutual funds continue to maintain their sheen, with retail investors steadily allocating money into these schemes to build long-term wealth. The net AUM (assets under management) of equity mutual funds surged 335.31% to Rs 33.32 lakh crore in July 2025, up from Rs 7.65 lakh crore in July 2020.“Inflows into equity mutual funds have witnessed a sharp rise in recent years as investors increasingly adopt a long-term perspective, recognizing that short-term market fluctuations are part of the journey toward wealth creation. Historical data shows that markets tend to recover and reward patient investors over time,” said Ashwini Kumar, Senior Vice President and Head–Market Data, ICRA Analytics.Sectoral/thematic funds drew the highest inflows at Rs 9,426.03 crore, as retail investors sought new growth opportunities and avenues to generate alpha. Flexi-cap funds and small-cap funds followed with inflows of Rs 7,654.33 crore and Rs 6,484.43 crore, respectively, reflecting a preference for diversified allocation and higher-return potential.“Despite global uncertainties, domestic investors remain optimistic about India’s economic trajectory. This confidence has translated into sustained inflows into equity MFs, even during periods of high volatility,” Kumar added.Equity mutual funds have consistently outperformed traditional savings avenues like fixed deposits, particularly in the medium to long term. Even during volatile phases, three-year returns have stayed positive, making them attractive to young investors.Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) have emerged as a popular tool to navigate volatility, enabling investors to put in a fixed amount regularly and benefit from rupee cost averaging-- buying more units when prices are low and fewer when they are high. This disciplined approach helps reduce the emotional impact of market swings.“Interestingly, while market returns influence MF inflows, the entry and exit of investors also contribute to volatility. Large-scale redemptions or inflows can amplify price movements, especially in mid- and small-cap segments,” Kumar noted.Also Read | Over 100 equity mutual funds offer market beating returns in 1 year. Should you chase them for investing?“During periods of heightened volatility, retail investors often react emotionally, leading to panic selling or abrupt withdrawals. This behaviour can temporarily depress inflows, but SIPs and long-term investors tend to stay invested, cushioning the impact. The growing popularity of SIPs and improved financial literacy have helped investors navigate volatility more rationally, maintaining steady inflows even during downturns,” Kumar pointed out.123579305Source: MFI360ExplorerMoreover, mutual funds offer a wide range of schemes suited to different risk appetites—from large-cap and balanced funds to sectoral and thematic funds. This flexibility enables investors to diversify their portfolios and manage risk more effectively.

Gold and silver extended their gains as investors sought safe havens amid weakness in the dollar index. Gold October futures prices at MCX touched an intraday high of Rs 1,02,226/10 grams, while the silver September contracts were resilient, hitting their new all-time high in the domestic market today.Silver prices on MCX hit a peak of Rs 1,17,117/kg on Friday.Gold climbed to a 3-week high and silver to a 5-week high in global markets. In India, silver hit a lifetime peak, closing above Rs 1,17,000 for the first time.On Thursday, the precious metals settled on a positive note in the domestic market and on a slightly weaker note globally. Gold October futures contract ended at Rs 1,02,100 per 10 grams with a gain of 0.55% whereas the silver September futures contract settled at Rs 1,17,174 per kilogram, a gain of 0.93%.“The U.S. trade tariff uncertainty and geopolitical tensions are supporting safe-haven buying for precious metals. The U.S. GDP data released on Thursday was better than expected and came up at 3.3% against the expected reading of 3.1%. Jobless claims also dropped to 2,29,000 but market digested the upbeat U.S. data,” said Manoj Kumar Jain of Prithvifinmart Commodity Research.Jain added that gold prices crossed $3,454 and silver prices also crossed $39.10 per troy ounce levels and could show further strength in the upcoming sessions.On Friday, the US Dollar Index, DXY, was hovering near the 97.99 mark, gaining 0.17 or 0.18%.“We expect gold and silver prices to remain volatile in today’s session amid volatility in the dollar index, volatility in the rupee and updates on the Russia-Ukraine peace deal. The yellow metal is expected to trade in the range of $3,434-3,510 per troy ounce and silver is expected to trade in the range of $38.50-39.80 per troy ounce in today’s session,” he added.Echoing the same sentiment, Rahul Kalantri, VP Commodities at Mehta Equities, noted, “Bullion prices continued their upward momentum, with gold and silver advancing in international markets amid safe-haven buying and dollar index profit-taking. Gold touched its highest level in three weeks, while silver reached a five-week peak. Domestically, silver prices posted a historic high, closing above Rs 117,000 for the first time, signalling strong local demand.”How to trade gold?Manoj Kumar Jain suggested the following ranges for gold and silver on MCX:Gold has support at Rs 1,01,750-1,01,400 and resistance at Rs 1,02,550-1,02,800Silver has support at Rs 1,16,500-1,15,800 and resistance at Rs 1,18,000-1,18,850Jain suggests buying silver on dips around Rs 1,16,500-1,16,000 with a stop loss of Rs 1,15,100 for a target of Rs 1,18,000-1,18,800.Further, Rahul Kalantri noted that gold has support at Rs 1,01,740-1,01,540 while resistance is at Rs 1,02,450-1,02,650. Silver has support at Rs 1,16,150-1,15,350 while resistance is at Rs 1,17,750, 1,18,250.Gold rates in physical marketsGold Price today in DelhiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Delhi stand at Rs 57,976/8 grams while pure gold (24 carat) prices stand at Rs 61,816/8 grams.Gold Price today in MumbaiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Mumbai stand at Rs 57,336/8 grams while pure gold (24 carat) prices stand at Rs 61,152/8 grams.Gold Price today in ChennaiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Chennai stand at Rs 56,696/8 grams while pure gold (24 carat) prices stand at Rs 60,480/8 grams.Gold Price today in HyderabadStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Hyderabad stand at Rs 56,984/8 grams while pure gold (24 carat) prices stand at Rs 60,744/8 grams.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)