Long-term dilemmas await Asia caught in US-China tariff rivalry
India has diplomatic edge but cannot escape the threat from the US-China rivalry
Start-up Street | Seed stage funding bounces back
The year 2025 started with a sectoral recalibration in fund flows to start-ups
India’s military options are subject to the larger political message being sent
Terror will not get a free pass and India has used it first card, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. Military options remain on the table but require careful consideration. They can’t be viewed through the prism of emotion. Moreover, the nature of military response will be influenced by the larger political message that India wants to convey
Bluff and Bloodshed: Unmasking General Munir's Kashmir gamble
The Pahalgam massacre bears a chilling resemblance to the Hamas attack on unarmed civilians. It’s a desperate attempt to lure India into a trap. Pakistan anticipates an Indian retaliatory strike. Such a response would be a strategic trap, playing directly into Munir’s hands. India must project strength without succumbing to full-scale war
How Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s ally earlier, tilted towards India
Pahalgam terror attacks happened when PM Modi was on a state visit to Saudi Arabia. Following the attack, the Kingdom immediately offered India assistance. It encapsulated the extent of change in its approach, characterised by zero tolerance for terrorism and a deepening of counter-terrorism co-operation with countries such as India
How to think about returns in a bear market
Adjusting for four factors can lower your headline returns. Get used to feeling deflated
Are the steel dumping duties too little, too late?
While the main cause was excess steel because of China’s weak economy, the duties are landing at a time when the world economy is in a state of flux
Pahalgam terror attack leaves Kashmiris in a bind, loans to repay and a tourist season blown away
Those who took loans or sold personal assets like jewellery and land to invest in the industry now face dire uncertainty. Hoteliers, Shikara riders, and vendors, once symbols of economic stability, may grapple with dwindling visitors and mounting debts as the violence shatters the narrative of normalcy promoted by the government
How a falling market and tighter regulations impacted brokers
A falling market and SEBI’s regulatory clampdown have hit brokerages hard, slashing both client counts and profitability. But are we seeing green shoots of recovery?
China’s façade of neutrality in Russia-Ukraine conflict
There may not be a cogent justification for Chinese soldier-volunteers to fight against Ukraine, but China would not send them without a long-term strategy. It must be part of a calibrated strategy that is yet to emerge in public domain
IMF report reveals which countries are most and least affected by Trump’s tariffs
How do you forecast global economic growth when unpredictability is the only constant? The IMF’s answer in its newest World Economic Outlook is to present not one, but multiple growth scenarios, shaped by the evolving US-China tariff tensions and other global headwinds
Chart of the Day | RBI's LCR overhaul aims to fortify banks in a digital era
Malhotra’s RBI is betting that a year-long transition and a 6% LCR boost will smooth the path. Whether banks—and the economy—can walk this tightrope without stumbling remains to be seen
Is the Gold Rush here to stay?
Trend reversals in gold prices are not uncommon but only when the myriad uncertainties are behind, and that is anybody’s guess
Data Story: The incredible rise of Indian fintechs
India’s BFSI sector has been a beacon of returns even during dark times
India’s make-or-break moment to ignite a manufacturing revolution
The Centre must adopt bold, decisive reforms to transform manufacturing nodes into dynamic hubs and realise their full economic potential. In this article, five actionable steps are mentioned that the Central government could take to capitalise on this opportunity
Donald Trump needs Jay Powell
And he probably knows it
Chart of the Day | Profitable IPOs take centre stage globally
Mere returns on listing do not suffice to appease investors
China digs in to insulate CCP from fallout of Trump tariffs
Roughly 20 percent of the Chinese workforce—around 180 million people—is estimated to be engaged in export-oriented jobs. A significant loss of employment, particularly when the economy is already under significant strain, could result in social instability
Urban Dreams, Distant Realities: The smart cities mission and India’s top-down urban failures
India’s urban schemes faltered due to top-down approaches, sidelining local governments. Empowering municipalities with funds, authority, and planning capacity is crucial for inclusive, sustainable, and locally responsive urban development
The trilemma of achieving carbon market harmony in India
Carbon markets are complex but need both enforced compliance and voluntary efforts
Why diversified infra firms are on better ground than their highway counterparts
Few companies have met their FY2025 order book guidance, given the slack in government tendering activity, particularly in roads
RBI’s accounting policies lack transparency, burdening taxpayers
RBI has taken an overly conservative approach to risk management and lacks transparency in how it implements its policies. It withholds surpluses belonging to the government, instead allocating to its own reserves. This compels the government to borrow more from the market
Why RBI wants better monetary transmission in the banking system
The RBI is probably playing a patient waiting game and for the right reasons
How much capital does a full time trader need?
The answer will surprise you but pay close attention to the methodology as well
Regulatory clarification on bonus shares provide a template to boost capital inflows
Recognising the need for capital inflows into India, this might be the ripe time for the Government to partially relax the PN3 restrictions by permitting Indian companies to undertake bonus and rights issue of shares to existing investors from land bordering countries, without requiring a prior government approval
