BUSINESS
Hamas opens another geopolitical front in the Middle East
So far, much of the talk in the markets has been about the effect the conflict will have on oil prices. Far more important is the resurrection of the Middle East as an arena of conflict and the threat of the conflagration spreading
BUSINESS
Moneycontrol Pro Weekender: Das Bond Slayer
The markets didn't expect the OMO announcement -- hence, the panic. If the transmission of the policy rate is to be completed, lending rates need to go up
BUSINESS
Why the Centre may continue with the free foodgrain scheme even after December
Why -- when growth is stronger this fiscal year than in 2019-20 -- is demand for work under the rural employment guarantee scheme higher this year?
BUSINESS
Even before the festive season, PMI shows India’s economy is booming
The signal from the PMI data to the MPC is of very strong growth with muted inflationary pressures, which will reinforce the widely expected decision to keep the status quo on the policy rate
BUSINESS
Just before MPC meet, manufacturing PMI shows higher selling price inflation
Greater labour costs, upbeat business confidence and buoyant demand facilitated a sharper increase in factory gate charges
BUSINESS
On the eve of Fed meet, OECD forecasts Fed Funds rate to remain at current levels till July next year
The OECD’s latest economic outlook report forecasts lower growth for the world next year. Growth in India is expected to slow from 6.3 percent in 2023-24 to 6 percent in 2024-25
BUSINESS
Are households borrowing more to fund consumption?
Households’ net financial savings as a percentage of GDP fell to a 47-year low in 2022-23. But the stock of household financial liabilities, as a percentage of the stock of household financial assets, is still lower than what it was back in March 2019, before the pandemic
BUSINESS
Global investors ditch China, flee to Japan and the US
Behold what the mighty Xi Jinping hath wrought. No fund manager now expects a stronger Chinese economy in the next 12 months, compared to a massive 78 percent in February this year. Optimism about economic growth in China among investors is lower than what it was back in September 2022, before the country came out of the lockdown
BUSINESS
Sound and fury in vegetable prices
Vegetables are the stars of the Great Indian Inflation Circus. In August, month-on-month prices fell dramatically for tomatoes, parwal, green chillies, lady’s finger, beans, lemons, while they rose for onions and garlic, among others
BUSINESS
Which manufacturing industries are seeing high growth, which ones are shrinking?
As many as 14 out of 23 manufacturing industry groups have grown in the past one year, according to Index of Industrial Production data
BUSINESS
India gets a thumbs up from rich countries, but China does better in Global South
Pew Research surveys show that while India is viewed far more favourably than China in the rich nations—the US, UK, France, Germany and the like —the developing countries have a more favourable attitude towards China. In South Africa, for example, only 28 percent have a favourable view of India, while 49 percent like China
INDIA
PM Modi's interview signals India ready to take on larger global role
The prime minister’s interview with Moneycontrol lays bare his thinking not just on India’s current G20 presidency, but also his vision of India and what our nation has to offer the world.
BUSINESS
PMI numbers show strong GDP growth will continue in current quarter too
The PMI data also show high inflation in the services sector
BUSINESS
The curious case of exports, imports in June quarter GDP data
Why was the year-on-year growth in exports at constant prices much lower than at current prices while import growth at constant prices was much higher than that at current prices?
BUSINESS
Bank credit growth has slowed, but there’s no reason to worry
While growth in bank credit outstanding has slowed this year compared to 2022, it’s still well above growth during the pre-pandemic initial months of FY20 and FY19
BUSINESS
How has the Indian economy's structure changed in the last decade?
While share of agriculture in the economy has shrunk, that hasn’t led to an increase of share for manufacturing. The big beneficiary has been the ‘financial services, real estate and professional services’ sector
BUSINESS
High demand for MGNREGA work: What does it signal about job growth?
The number of households demanding work under the rural employment guarantee scheme is higher than in 2022 and even in pre-pandemic 2019
BUSINESS
Moneycontrol Pro Weekender | Don’t worry, be happy
No doubt there are challenges on the horizon, but the Indian economy on a relative basis is shining
BUSINESS
Key questions -- and answers -- to make sense of Q1 GDP data
The Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of real GDP between June 2019 and June 2023 is 3.2 percent
BUSINESS
Which sector will drive Q1 GDP growth? RBI data on corporate results provide clues
The RBI data show a clear demarcation between the manufacturing and services sectors. While aggregate operating profits fell 0.9 percent year-on-year for manufacturing firms, they increased by 37.3 percent for services firms
BUSINESS
ECB president quotes Kierkegaard at Jackson Hole to warn of policy risks
Christine Lagarde said in the medium-term a combination of higher investment needs and greater supply constraints is likely to lead to stronger price pressures
BUSINESS
Moneycontrol Pro Weekender: The times they are a-changin’
The Global South, at the receiving end of the tender mercies of Western civilisation for centuries, has finally stood up
BUSINESS
Lower flash PMIs pull down US bond yields, spark stock market rally
The flash PMI survey for August shows that the service sector-led acceleration of growth in the advanced Western economies has faded
BUSINESS
UBS Global Wealth Report poses tough questions on inclusive growth claims
In 2022, the share of the richest 1 percent was 40.4 percent of the nation’s wealth, while the richest tenth of the population owned 72.5 percent. In contrast, the share of the poorer half of the Indian populace was a measly 2.9 percent
