Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, August 7, 2024. My name is Nelson John. 

Let's get started:

Indian stock market benchmarks—the Sensex and Nifty—extended their losses for the third straight session on Tuesday. The Sensex finally ended the day down 166 points, or 0.21 per cent, while the Nifty 50 closed 63 points or 0.26 per cent lower.

India’s neighbour to the east is facing political turmoil. The recent regime change in Bangladesh is shaking up India’s trade and infrastructure plans. India shares its longest land border with Bangladesh, and with the economic stability of its neighbour wavering, the government needs to be watchful. This instability could push Bangladesh to reduce imports from India, potentially benefiting competitors such as Vietnam and China. Meanwhile, Indian textile companies saw their stocks soar, betting on a business boost as Bangladesh’s global textile reputation takes a hit. The fallout from these tensions includes a potential reshuffle in regional trade dynamics, as India could lose a top trading partner to political chaos. Mint’s Rhik Kundu, Dhirendra Kumar and Suneera Tandon explain how the political instability could affect a wide range of sectors, from textiles and technology to energy.

The emergence of "de-influencers" – individuals who criticise products online – is reshaping brand perceptions and consumer choices. These ‘reverse influencers’ post negative reviews on social media, warning consumers about certain products and in turn hitting companies’ sales. As de-influencers gain traction, companies are increasingly wary of the impact on their reputation and sales. Regulatory bodies are stepping up to ensure that advertising claims are accurate and that negative reviews are fair. Mint’s Pratishtha Bagai and Suneera Tandon write about the rising phenomenon.

The rural Indian job scene is still very much tied to agriculture, although that is changing. Rural youth are setting their sights on more stable, salaried jobs, though these are hard to come by. In a survey of 5,000 rural youth engaged in farming, a huge majority expressed a strong preference for salaried jobs over agriculture. The survey, conducted by the Development Intelligence Unit, Global Development Incubator, and Transforming Rural India, showed that many young people are turned off by the low returns and labour demands of agriculture.

While many older rural women are choosing to run small businesses instead, the younger crowd – especially women – is more keen to snag government jobs. Mint’s Pragya Srivastava looks at the changing landscape of jobs in rural India through data. Click the link in show notes to see the charts and graphs prepared by Pragya and team.

Imagine you work in the tech department of a big IT company and decide to make a little extra cash by trading stocks, only to end up with a one lakh rupee penalty for insider trading. That's the harsh reality of Sudhir Bapusaheb Devkar, an employee at Mindtree who dipped his toes into stock trading without realising the intricate rules around insider trading. This is a tricky area where not knowing the rules can cost you dear. In this piece, Mint Money’s Sashing Ningthoukhongjam explains why you should be extremely cautious before booking a profit on an insider trade.

The looming US presidential elections have sparked a flurry of concern worldwide. Donald Trump, known for his assertive stance on trade, is back in the spotlight as the Republican nominee. His four years as president marked a significant shift in global trade dynamics, particularly with China, disrupting the existing multilateral trading system and sidelining the World Trade Organization. Now with the potential of Trump 2.0, the global community, including India, is bracing for more stringent tariffs and a renewed trade war with China, which could further complicate the already fragile global supply chain. Mint’s N Madhavan takes a deep dive into how a second term for self-acclaimed “tariff man” Trump could be full of surprises for global trade.

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As Bangladesh descends into chaos, India’s trade and security hang in balance

Brands fretting as negative influencers rise, pushed toward credibility

India’s jobs crisis: How dreams of rural youth outpace the labour market

From profit to penalty: The perils of insider trading

‘Tariff man’ Trump can bring a bagful of surprises. Are you ready?

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