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FESTIVE DEMAND AND ROBUST LIQUIDITY TO SUSTAIN INDIA’S GROWTH PROSPECTS – DUN & BRADSTREET

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MUMBAI, India, Oct. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Dun & Bradstreet, a global leader in business decisioning data and analytics, has released its Economy Observer report for October 2024. Economy Observer is a monthly report that shares an in-depth analysis on key macroeconomic developments in India and provides a monthly forecast of key economic indicators, providing insight into the expected direction of the Indian economy. 

Key Economic Forecast:

Real Economy: The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) contracted by 0.14% y/y in August 2024, following growth of 4.7% y/y in July 2024. The mining sector continued its sluggish performance with a sharp contraction of 4.3%, mainly due to monsoon-related seasonality. The electricity sector also witnessed decline, while the manufacturing sector posted a marginal improvement, growing by 1% y/y. Use-based indices reflect weakness, with primary goods and consumer non-durables registering negative growth, and moderation in growth of capital goods and construction/infrastructure sectors. Nonetheless, Dun & Bradstreet expects industrial production to rebound, with IIP growth projected at 4.0% in September 2024. The revival in industrial performance is to be driven by festive demand and growing appetite for capital investment.

Price Scenario: Consumer price inflation surged to a nine-month high of 5.49% in September 2024, whereas wholesale price inflation picked up to 1.84% y/y. The incessant rise of food prices in September, soaring by more than 9%, has been responsible for the rise in both WPI and CPI. In addition, primary articles accelerated by 7%. Dun & Bradstreet expects wholesale inflation to settle at 2.0%, while retail inflation is forecasted to remain above the central bank’s target at 5.3% in October 2024. Food and beverages, which comprises 45.9% of the total CPI, is a major concern due to the erratic monsoon patterns. Moreover, India’s dependence on crude oil amid escalating geopolitical tensions necessitates caution regarding the near-term inflation outlook.

Money & Finance: The softening of short-term yields signals stability in India’s financial markets, reinforcing sufficient liquidity and a smooth growth trajectory. This is further supported by the early redemption of 10-year government bonds, infusing further liquidity in the economy. Dun & Bradstreet expects the yield on 15-91 days Treasury Bills to remain stable at 6.6%, while the 10-year G-Sec yield is projected to hover around 6.8% in October 2024. While long-term yields have seen slight fluctuations due to inflationary pressures, the prospect of rate cuts has diminished. The monetary policy actions in developed markets and uncertain geopolitical events would continue influencing the yield trajectory. Dun & Bradstreet anticipates credit growth to moderate further to 12% in October 2024, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintains a stricter policy stance to preserve asset quality.

External Sector: India’s external sector is facing newer challenges, with Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) inflows tapering off and exports continuing to struggle against build-up in import demands. The monetary stimulus offered by developed markets to support their sluggish growth, combined with looser monetary policies, has caused the recent FPI outflows. This, in turn, has weakened the Indian Rupee (INR) against the US dollar (USD). Dun & Bradstreet forecasts the INR to depreciate further, reaching INR84.1: USD1 by November 2024. Geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and capital market vulnerabilities are expected to keep the currency under pressure in the near term. However, India’s strong appeal as an investment destination remains intact, supported by a favourable investment profile and near-record-high foreign exchange reserves, which provide substantial import cover.

Dr. Arun Singh, Global Chief Economist, Dun & Bradstreet said, “India’s economic outlook shows a mix of resilience and caution. Industrial production fell in August, but a recovery is expected with seasonal changes and increased demand due to festivity. The financial sector remains stable, supported by strong credit and liquidity. However, high food prices and supply issues are keeping inflation above the Reserve Bank’s target, limiting rate cuts. The rupee faces pressure from foreign investment outflows and a strong US dollar, along with geopolitical uncertainties. Despite these challenges, India’s large foreign exchange reserves provide a buffer against external shocks. Overall, the outlook emphasizes domestic strengths while advocating for caution.”

D&B’s Economy Observer Forecast

Variables

Forecast

Latest Period

Previous period

IIP Growth

4.00% Sep-24

-0.14% Aug-24

4.70% July-24

Inflation WPI

2.00% Oct-24

1.84% Sep-24

1.31% Aug-24

CPI (Combined)

5.3% Oct-24

5.49% Sep-24

3.65% Aug-24

Exchange Rate (INR/USD)**

84.1 Nov-24

84.0 Oct-24

83.81 Sep-24

91-day T-Bills*

6.6% Oct-24

6.64% Sep-24

6.64% Aug-24

10-year G-Sec Yield*

6.8% Oct-24

6.83% Sep-24

6.91% Aug-24

Bank Credit

12.0% Oct-24

13.0% Sep-24

13.6% Aug-24

*Weekly Average **Dun and Bradstreet Forecasts

About Dun & Bradstreet:

Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, enables companies around the world to improve their business performance. Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Cloud fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to accelerate revenue, lower cost, mitigate risk and transform their businesses. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity. For more information on Dun & Bradstreet, please visit www.dnb.com.

Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India Private Limited is headquartered in Mumbai and provides clients with data-driven products and technology-driven platforms to help them take faster and more accurate decisions across finance, risk, compliance, information technology and marketing. Working towards Government of India’s vision of creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) by supporting the Make in India initiative, Dun & Bradstreet India has a special focus on helping entrepreneurs enhance their visibility, increase their credibility, expand access to global markets, and identify potential customers & suppliers, while managing risk and opportunity.

India is also the home to Dun & Bradstreet Technology & Corporate Services LLP, which is the Global Capabilities Center (GCC) of Dun & Bradstreet supporting global technology delivery using cutting-edge technology. Located at Hyderabad, the GCC has a highly skilled workforce of over 500 employees, and focuses on enhanced productivity, economies of scale, consistent delivery processes and lower operating expenses.

Visit www.dnb.co.in for more information.

Click here for all Dun & Bradstreet India press releases.

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

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SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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