Chart of the Day | What’s making Dr Copper cheerful?
Shift in the smelting capacity outlook is leading to a bounce in copper prices. The key question is if it will last
Digital Competition Bill: A mixed bag
Given big tech dominance, the Digital Competition Bill was much awaited. But the law should be accompanied by enhancement of capacity at the competition regulators’ ends for optimal regulation of the technology sector. Clearer delineation of the scope and nature of inclusions and exemptions is needed, with a particular focus on extending exemptions to those generating net consumer benefits
The Eastern Window | China deploying robots at scale to tackle product quality, labour shortage issues
The 2023 World Robot Conference revealed that China’s 'robot density' has risen to 392, up from 140 in 2018 and 68 in 2016
SEBI's intervention to address market 'froth' takes it into uncharted territory
Regulatory warnings have the power to make investors doubt their own due diligence behind their investments. While SEBI is justified in warning on small, midcap segments, shouldn’t it wait until it has gathered enough evidence or if it has to then disclose its findings?
Simultaneous polls: Some questions need answers
The current system of individual elections for the centre and state governments may have its flaws but a common system should not lead to undesirable consequences
How WTO is failing the developing countries
Sanghnomics: The WTO Director General pushing the agenda of developed countries draws flak from the Swadeshi Jagran Manch. Continuance of the tariff moratorium on e-products and the lack of strictures by WTO against industrial-scale exploitation of fisheries and ocean resources plays into the hands of developed countries Arun Anand
India has little time to lose as new land routes in Central Asia, Iran spring up as trade links
Central Asian and Eurasian region’s geopolitical might is on the rise but India has to speed up its efforts or else fall behind China in yet another trade relationship exercise
Is the EV policy a bait for Tesla or a bet on realising India’s manufacturing potential?
Import duty relief for electric cars has built-in riders that safeguard domestic players while encouraging global investment
What the 2024 elections and 'Char Sau Paar' mean for India
With the Lok Sabha poll schedule being announced on March 16 and the Model Code of Conduct coming into effect, the stage has been set for a contest, where the primary question is whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s razor sharp focus on 400 seats for the NDA can be achieved. Meeting that goal would set the stage for big-ticket political and economic reforms
The world needs a soundtrack for the climate crisis
Isn’t climate change a science issue? Shouldn’t musicians just shut up and sing? Scientists and their research have been, and will always be, crucial in raising the alarm on fossil fuels and humanity’s damage to the planet. But who’s more influential to the masses: an atmospheric physicist, or a pop star? Musicians are able to reach far more people — and an entirely different demographic — than scientists or politicians
Drug use at work isn’t biohacking. It’s workaholism
Expectations for hours worked should follow the human body’s natural limits. And those who want to improve their creativity and productivity should follow their doctor’s advice — not a drug dealer’s
Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Markets need their Vitamin D too, as disclosures make them stronger
In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: More NBFC's piled in past three years, simultaneous polls may not be an unalloyed good thing, India’s next growth cycle is different, a PSU stock worth its weight in diamond, and more
Aswath Damodaran: ‘Investing is an act of faith’
Tim Harford: Why Swifties, holidaymakers and the hygienic should cheer for surge pricing
At the right price, supply and demand match perfectly, the challenge is merely to find it
India needs to rally behind its edtech startups, beginning with Byju’s
Which side finally has its way in the Byju's dispute is much less important than the founder-investor confrontation quietly changing the discourse about the company’s ability to make a difference in the country’s education arena and in showcasing the nation’s startup prowess
Governments running entertainment OTT: Is it reel or their role?
The Kerala government’s move to set up an OTT platform that will offer entertainment content raises several questions, most important being if the government should get into this business
Japan Carmakers: Speed up consolidation to compete with China’s EVs
China sees an opportunity to dominate, and to counter it, huge investment in technology is needed, from batteries to automated driving systems. The industry transition might leave room for only five major automakers worldwide. The Japanese industry could gravitate into two groups — the Toyota-affiliated firms and everyone else
Eris Lifesciences’ insatiable appetite for growth is driving up its debt
After Biocon Biologics' formulation deal, net debt at the company is estimated to rise from Rs 886 crore to Rs 2,400 crore
The trouble with narratives like Japan is back, China is over
Ideas can come and go, and come again. The mania for Japan may abate if the current bright spot is really another false dawn. Does the current mood exaggerate China’s shortcomings and give enough space to things that it’s doing well? Exports are climbing nicely, and the country is becoming a clean-tech powerhouse. But that's the beauty — and downside — of narratives. They tend to oversimplify complex matters, minimise nuance, and can outlive their usefulness
Indian economy has made it to the launchpad. It still needs a spark
India’s macroeconomic stability is impressive compared to many of its peers. Pandemic spending wasn’t excessive. The fiscal deficit has been steadily shrinking as a proportion of GDP. The rupee has been remarkably stable. And “core” inflation, which excludes food and fuel prices, has eased to 3.3% year-on-year. But it is still government actions that are pushing growth up or down, rather than the choices made by India’s private sector
Panic in mid, small caps shows SEBI’s warning has hit markets hard
Disclosure of stress tests of fund houses allow investors to make informed decisions and show where and how much are fund houses vulnerable in their exposure to mid and small cap stocks
Simultaneous polls are enroute, but they may not be an unalloyed good thing
The benefits of holding simultaneous elections are many but the main argument against is also a strong one
Will a new pharmaceutical marketing code succeed where earlier attempts failed?
The code’s voluntary nature and past experience does not inspire confidence in its implementation. Apart from companies, there is a dire need to regulate the other side of the table as well
Mid and small cap lure frays a bit: What's next for investors?
Stress tests of liquidity in regular market periods may not be an accurate representation of how things progress when there is a sharp or long correction and fear takes over
Five ways India’s next growth cycle is different
By the end of this decade, India’s GDP will clock an average 6.7 percent growth annually. The upturn underway is on a stronger footing and is taking place in an entirely different geopolitical setting than before. The world is moving away from hyper-globalisation to tariff wars and industrial policies that promote domestic production. The post-pandemic focus on resilience rather than efficiency will continue
