American Dream vs. Indian Dream: A Comparison

Trump’s New Visa fee Puts India’s Tech Talent in the Crosshairs – and Could Spur Innovation

This report is from this week’s edition of CNBC’s “Inside India” newsletter, which brings you timely, insightful news and market commentary on the emerging powerhouse. Like what you see? You can subscribe here.

The big story

Lately, every move out of Washington seems to send aftershocks straight to New Delhi.

The latest shake-up? A $100,000 one-time fee on new H-1B visa applications, courtesy of U.S. President Donald Trump. It’s a bold move aimed at tightening immigration – and it hits Indian tech talent the hardest.

This comes right after Trump slapped additional 25% tariffs on Indian imports last month for buying oil from Russia, bringing total levies to as much as 50%. Trade and immigration have turned into flashpoints under Trump, and India, once touted as a U.S. partner, is feeling the heat.

Indians make up around 71% of H-1B holders. New delhi said the proposed changes have “humanitarian consequences” for the disruption caused to families.

U.S.businesses are caught in the crossfire too. More than half of approved visas are issued to people engaged in computer-related work,according to Pew Research,which means it’s not just Indian tech talent that will be harder to come by for those firms.

!President Donald Trump takes a question from a reporter before signing executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House on September 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. andrew Harnik | Getty Images

Opportunities in a crisis

Restrictions can backfire and breed resilience.

just look at china. U.S. chip export bans didn’t kill its artificial intelligence ambitions – they fueled advancements in the field. Case in point: China’s DeepSeek model R1 performed better than OpenAI’s GPT-4o, according to third-party tests, but was trained on Nvidia’s less-advanced H800 chips at a fraction of the cost.

Could India’s tech ecosystem follow a similar path if the door to the U.S. starts to close for Indian talent? It is a possibility.

“what this policy will create are incentives for offshore economic activity,” said steven Durlauf, a professor at the University of chicago Harris School of Public Policy. He added that steep H-1B visa fees will discourage U.S. companies from hiring the most talented members of the global labor force.

Governments worldwide are already seizing the prospect to attract skilled workers to their countries.

Outsourcing goes in-house

For India, the new H-1B fee regime is expected to boost interest in global capability centers (GCCs), especially among mid-market U.S. firms facing higher costs and uncertainty in bringing talent onshore, said Aditya Mehta, a business specialist at audit firm RSM US, who specializes in helping U.S. companies set up such centers.

In its simplest form, GCCs are remote offices set up closer to tech talent pools and staffed by international employees, leading to cost savings.Think long-distance outsourcing, but with more control and potentially greater innovation.

H-1B Visa Curbs Could Bring India’s Tech story Full Circle

The recent moves by Washington to tighten rules around H-1B visas – popular among Indian tech professionals – could ironically benefit India’s own tech sector.While initially disruptive, these barriers may accelerate a shift from outsourcing to “insourcing,” bringing jobs and investment back to India.

For decades, India has been a key destination for companies seeking to outsource IT services. This began in the late 90s, evolving from simple jobs outsourcing to the development of robust software service companies and, ultimately, thriving coding hubs.This boom wasn’t just about technology; it fueled the rise of the Indian middle class and spurred growth in urban centers like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune.

However, the landscape is shifting.Increased U.S. H-1B visa fees and stricter regulations are prompting companies to reconsider their reliance on offshore talent.Experts predict this will encourage firms to invest more in establishing operations within India itself, effectively “insourcing” work that was previously outsourced.

“Indian earnings are on track for a reacceleration,” notes Anand Gupta, lead portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors. Sajjid Chinoy, head of Asia economics at JPMorgan, echoes this sentiment, stating that India is likely to benefit in the medium term as visa restrictions historically lead to increased offshoring.

This potential shift represents a full-circle moment for India’s tech story – a move from being a primary outsourcing destination to becoming a hub for insourcing, further solidifying its position as a global technology powerhouse.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5) Trading Hours: A Extensive Guide

MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is a widely-used electronic trading platform, popular for trading Forex, stocks, and futures.Understanding the trading hours for different markets within MT5 is crucial for triumphant trading. This guide provides a detailed overview of MT5 trading hours across major exchanges, ensuring you know when you can access the markets.

Understanding MT5 Trading Sessions

MT5 doesn’t have a single “open” or “close” time. Instead, it provides access to various exchanges, each with its own schedule. These schedules are generally categorized into sessions based on geographical location.Key sessions include:

* Asian Session: Typically runs from 00:00 to 07:00 GMT.
* European Session: Generally operates from 08:00 to 17:00 GMT.
* North American (New York) Session: Usually from 13:00 to 22:00 GMT.
* Sydney Session: Runs from 21:00 to 08:00 GMT (overlaps with the Asian session).

These sessions overlap, creating periods of high liquidity and volatility. Understanding these overlaps is key to identifying potential trading opportunities.

MT5 Trading Hours by Market

Here’s a breakdown of trading hours for key markets accessible through MT5, as of late 2023/early 2024.Note: These hours can be subject to change, particularly around holidays. Always confirm with your broker.

Forex (Foreign Exchange)

The Forex market is decentralized,meaning it doesn’t have a central exchange. Instead, it operates 24/5, with trading possible around the clock, except for weekends. However, liquidity and volatility vary significantly between sessions.

* Major Currency pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, etc.): 24 hours a day, 5 days a week (Monday to Friday). Peak activity occurs during the overlap of the European and North American sessions (13:00 – 17:00 GMT).
* Minor Currency Pairs: Trading hours are similar to major pairs,but liquidity can be lower.
* Asian Session Currencies (USD/JPY, AUD/USD): Most active during the Asian session (00:00 – 07:00 GMT).

Stocks

Stock trading hours on MT5 depend on the specific exchange. Here are some key examples:

* NYSE (New York Stock Exchange): 14:30 to 20:00 GMT (Regular Trading Hours). Pre-market trading: 13:00 to 14:30 GMT. After-hours trading: 20:00 to 22:00 GMT. https://www.nyse.com/markets/hours

* NASDAQ: 14:30 to 20:00 GMT (Regular Trading hours). Pre-market trading: 13:00 to 14:30 GMT. After-hours trading: 20:00 to 22:00 GMT. https://www.nasdaq.com/trading/hours

* London Stock exchange (LSE): 08:00 to 16:30 GMT.https://www.londonstockexchange.com/trading/hours

* Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE): 00:00 to 06:30 GMT.
* Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX): 02:30 to 11:30 GMT.

Futures

Futures trading hours also vary by exchange.

* CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange): Hours vary significantly depending on the specific futures contract. Generally,trading is available from 17:00 to 16:30 GMT the following day,with some contracts offering extended trading hours. https://www.cmegroup.com/trading/hours.html

* ICE (Intercontinental Exchange): Similar to CME, trading hours depend on the specific contract.https://www.ice.com/trading-hours

specific MT5 Platform Details (Example)

the information provided in the original text highlights specific hours for India and Europe:

* India: 08:30-09:30 India time (This likely refers to a specific support or trading window offered by a broker catering to Indian clients).
* Europe: Monday-Friday, 05:00-06:00 CET (Central European Time) – likely a period of increased support or specific market access.

Key Takeaways

* MT5 provides access to a wide range of markets with varying trading hours.
* Forex is the most continuously traded market, operating 24/5.
* Stock and futures trading hours are specific to each exchange.
* Understanding session overlaps is crucial for identifying trading opportunities.
* Always confirm trading hours with your broker, as they can vary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Does MT5 trade 24/7?

A: Not entirely. While the Forex market is largely 24/5, stock and futures markets have specific operating hours.

**Q: How do I find the exact trading