CNBC-TV18's daily newsletter for Wednesday, August 19, examines why Chinese bonds are performing better than other government bonds, the ₹550-crore Gaja Capital IPO, the Nasdaq's Tuesday meltdown, US President Donald Trump's three-day pause on Canada tariffs, the debate over an AI bubble, rising yields and more. The edition also tracks India's government capex, a new piped natural gas incentive scheme, and the UAE's suspension of trade with Iran.

Data and events to watch

• United Kingdom inflation data
• United Kingdom core input and output data
• Indonesia interest rate decision for August
• Euro area current account data
• Euro area retail inflation data

China bonds buck global selloff on policy divide with peers

A relentless drop in China's long-end yields is driving an aggressive flattening of the curve, laying bare a stark macro rift with global markets, where long-dated rates have climbed to multi-year peaks. Yields on 30-year Chinese government bonds have extended their declines, underscoring how expectations around policy support and growth conditions can diverge sharply across major economies even when bond markets elsewhere are under pressure.

Gaja Capital IPO: ₹550-crore issue opens today

The ₹550-crore initial public offering (IPO) of Gaja Alternative Asset Management, which operates under the Gaja Capital brand, opens for subscription on Wednesday, August 19. The three-day bidding process will close on August 21, and brokerages have issued their recommendations on the issue.

L&T Technology Services shares in focus after $75-million deal

Shares of L&T Technology Services were in focus on Wednesday, August 19, after the company said it had secured an agreement with a leading global technology enterprise for digital engineering services worth over $75 million. The contract forms part of a five-year agreement, adding to the kind of order-flow disclosures investors often watch for visibility into revenue over time.

Nasdaq 100 sheds over 500 points as chip stocks lead Wall Street sell-off

The Nasdaq 100, which counts a heavy concentration of chipmaking companies among its constituents, shed more than 500 points, or 1.7%, on Tuesday as chip stocks led a broad Wall Street sell-off. The Dow Jones outperformed its peers but still ended with losses of 120 points, having shed another 270 points on Monday. The S&P 500 fell 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite closed down 1.3%, keeping attention on whether the recent weakness in large-cap technology broadens beyond semiconductors.

Trump pauses 50% Canada tariffs for three days, says trade deal reached

US President Donald Trump paused new 50% tariffs on nearly $20 billion worth of Canadian imports for three days after announcing that Washington and Ottawa had reached a trade agreement, subject to the completion of paperwork. The short pause leaves the announcement in a holding pattern until the formal steps are completed.

Bitcoin is overdue for moves of 30% or more, Fundstrat says

Bitcoin could be poised for a move of around 30% or more over the next two months, with volatility in the world's largest cryptocurrency sitting near historic lows, according to Fundstrat. The firm added that Bitcoin is showing its most encouraging signs yet of establishing a long-term bottom after months of weakness.

How India's government capex is holding firm despite fiscal pressures

Fiscal stress from the war in West Asia has not squeezed the Government of India's capital expenditure (capex) in the first three months of the current financial year. The Union government's total capex rose 24% between April and June 2026 to more than ₹3.07 lakh crore, even as the fiscal deficit widened to a similar amount over the same period. That makes the spending trend a useful marker for readers tracking whether public investment remains a priority even as broader fiscal balances come under pressure.

PVR founder Ajay Bijli makes music debut with three-song EP 'On Another Note…'

Ajay Bijli, founder of PVR and managing director of PVR INOX, has made his debut as an independent music artist with a three-song EP titled "On Another Note...". The EP was released on August 18 and is distributed by Warner Music India.

UAE suspends trade with Iran after Tehran fires ballistic missiles towards Gulf state

The United Arab Emirates halted all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, after Tehran fired two ballistic missiles towards the Gulf state in an attack that marked Iran's first known strike on the UAE since May.

Extreme rain alert for southeast Uttar Pradesh; Delhi set for a wet Wednesday

Southeast Uttar Pradesh faces the risk of extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday, August 19, while Delhi is likely to receive several spells of rain through the day, according to the India Meteorological Department.

India's new PNG incentive scheme from September 1

The government has approved an incentive scheme to accelerate the expansion of domestic piped natural gas (PNG) connections, with the scheme set to take effect from September 1, 2026. It will incentivise city gas distribution (CGD) companies, adding another policy lever to the push for wider household gas access.

Source: CNBC-TV18