Crypto doesn’t deserve a tax exemption
If the incoming Trump administration wants to reduce capital gains taxes, then it should lower them across the board
Shaktikanta Das: A left-field Governor’s rollercoaster tenure
Both his entry and exit as RBI Governor were unexpected. He managed RBI leadership rather well against all odds, supported ably by the RBI staff. His tenure would be remembered for the way RBI handled the pandemic, with his sense of calm providing comfort to both the central bank and financial markets
French President Emmanuel Macron takes a step back, to go two steps forward
French President Emmanuel Macron's calculated decisions, including appointing a conservative prime minister and proposing a budget with spending cuts, aim to strengthen his centrist party and block the rise of the far-right National Rally, while also asserting EU influence
Michelin Camso buyout to drive Ceat’s earnings prospects
Deal valuation looks reasonable given global brand access, access to two manufacturing units and also when seen in comparison to OHT leader Balakrishna Industries which trades at 6.2 times EV/sales
Can the US monetise Bitcoin as a currency?
A legal currency must have three attributes, does Bitcoin fit the bill is the question we must seek answers to
Chart of the Day: India's contract pharma research market to outpace global growth
The higher growth rate will help India gain market share in global pharma outsourcing spends.
Why the 50 bps CRR cut may not move the needle
If banks don’t respond to the CRR cut by passing on the excess liquidity to the borrowers through cheaper loans, the ball will be back in the RBI’s court to offer a growth stimulus post the disappointing Q2 numbers.
A booming securitisation market would be put to the test soon
Bundling loans together and selling them has become a popular source of funding for banks amid deposit growth slowdown
Shaktikanta Das era ends at Mint Road — RBI governor for all seasons
Das’s six years in office saw him steering monetary policy through a pandemic bringing the world down to its knees, a banking crisis roiling the world's largest economy, two major wars and raging inflation.
Syria: Liberation or perdition?
Unless extraordinary effort is made into transition of power, power-sharing, handling of various interest groups within and outside, and dealing with jihadist elements firmly, the possibility of Syria descending into an unchartered territory of chaos is very real-- and very troublesome for the region
M&A in India: The Case for an Integrated Code
Valuation is a cornerstone of every M&A transaction, influencing deal structure, pricing, and stakeholder decision-making. However, the current regulatory framework governing valuation is fractured.
Delivery Diaries: Broths or ice creams — the winter food ordering conundrum
Traditional wisdom doesn’t always explain consumers food ordering patterns in winters. There is a surge in soup and dessert orders, with rasam and gajar halwa being popular choices, while ice cream sales defy traditional wisdom, witnessing a 61% increase from November to December.
Europeans need to learn some lessons about power — and fast
The world has changed, but the EU’s worldview hasn’t changed with it
Chart of the Day| EV Batteries: Powering the future
The emerging EV battery industry in India presents significant opportunities, potentially creating over 300,000 jobs and generating $5 billion in value by 2030 while reducing import dependence
Why has Godrej Consumer's Q3 results warning spooked FMCG investors?
The entire FMCG pack has been stung by Godrej Consumer's update, on how rising palm oil prices and unseasonal weather could hurt its business in Q3, amid slow demand
India should focus on internationalisation of rupee not de-dollarisation
Sanghnomics: India is strengthening the internationalisation of the rupee, with 22 countries opening Vostro accounts to trade in Indian currency. The RBI suggests promoting trade invoicing in INR to reduce the current account deficit and foreign exchange reserves
Book Review | The Rocky Road to Prosperity
Prosenjit Datta’s book is a rare find in these lamentably polarised times—it is an impartial analysis that weighs the pros and cons carefully and hopes that policy makers have the good sense to make our dream of becoming a developed economy come true in our lifetimes
VCs will chase startups that help make money move in 2025
Venture capitalists have thrown their wallets towards Indian startups engaged in money flow in 2024
LG India IPO: Best in class profit margins, but lags in cash conversion
The return on capital employed ratio improved significantly in FY24
Are Indian businesses getting smaller?
The share of employment in non-farm establishments employing 5 workers or less has gone up in the past five years. Around three-quarters of workers in the non-agricultural sector are employed in businesses having 9 workers or less
What Elon Musk doesn’t get about military technology
Technology matters amongst military weapons only when they enjoy decisive edge over the existing weapons through a generational advantage. We, therefore, need to water down the enthusiasm over drones being a superior or transformative military technology to fighter jets. Drones, at best, will co-exist with other new generation weapons
The Eastern Window: Nepal-China deal poses strategic challenge to India
Nepal’s PM Oli has signed an agreement allowing China to build connectivity infrastructure under the BRI scheme. This could pose a strategic challenge for India while Nepal risks getting into a debt trap
India shouldn’t let bilateral ties with Bangladesh become hostage to domestic politics
BJP in West Bengal is hunting for an issue to undermine the Mamata Banerjee government after successive electoral setbacks. The party has latched on to the goings-on in Bangladesh to call for a boycott of the country’s citizens. This is self-defeating as Bangladeshis, among other things, bring in significant business to India’s healthcare industry, particularly in Kolkata. India’s strategic interests need to be insulated from the ebb and flow domestic political campaigns
Cautious approach to monetary policy in the backdrop of uncertainties
RBI is counting on a winter disinflation in perishables. But with risks to inflation lurking, MPC's guidance is best described as non-committal. For now, it restricted itself to boosting credit supply through a cut in cash reserve ratio
CRR cut is the first step to monetary easing
Half-a-percentage point reduction in cash reserve ratio will influence bond yields. The average repo rate over the last decade has been 6-6.5 percent. A new cycle could begin with cuts of 25-75 basis points, subject to the inflation trajectory
