Orban’s flirtations with Moscow and Beijing are an irritant, but they could be far worse. Geography matters in security calculations, and it’s wiser to have Hungary inside the tent than out. But EU and NATO shouldn't be afraid to punish Hungary when it crosses red lines
In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: China's Maldives move a revenge against India, interim budget must focus on capex, fintechs day of reckoning is nigh, Indian start-ups and their funding saga, and more
Investors are often more active around Budget time. This generally increases the overall volatility during budget periods even though there is no significant impact on the Nifty 50 Index
A Congress-Left alliance functioning as a strong third front may work in favour of TMC. In 2019, it was the drift of Left voters to the BJP that had enabled the saffron party’s strong performance
US industrial policy is too expensive and China-sceptic to become a global standard
This year, everyone loves Japan and hates China. But don’t construct a long-short trade either way. Macro funds work well when there are clear trends, such as the unstoppable dollar rally in 2022. As the Bank of Japan and President Xi Jinping keep markets in the dark, one can be caught out by either side
You need to use a reusable plastic bag 52 times before its environmental impact drops below that of a disposable one, rising to 20,000 times for organic cotton. A better solution would be to give people the option of using bags with the lowest single-use climate impact — and then charge a discouragingly high price for all carry bags, so that they get reused as much as possible
Tesla needs a cheaper EV — indeed, the industry does. Much of the blame for slowing growth in EV sales in the US in general can be put down to a product lineup skewed toward expensive, often heavyweight models
Despite being primarily ceremonial, Macron visit highlights the growing camaraderie between India and France amid rising uncertainty in global geopolitics
Turkey, India, Russia and China are four nations where the elites are marrying development with tradition in projects of national revival
China’s mainly to blame for the weak steel prices that are hurting profitability
Robust rebound in demand and sharp drop in input prices lifted operating margins of cement firms in the past few quarters
In all cases, long term investment without switches has outperformed the case where the investor switched to bonds near stock market peaks
The recent tough times in the start-up ecosystem also tested the capability of several founders, many of whom were found wanting
One explanation for Muizzu’s ballistic streak since his return to Male after a five-day visit to Beijing could be a pro-India dispensation winning polls in Bhutan, which could frustrate Chinese designs on Doklam, and two Chinese-built international airports in Nepal slipping into the red following denial of flying rights over India
Whether a new deal works out or if Zee’s legal and governance issues take the company down, is anyone’s guess. But it’s the best hope for its investors and for consumers
Many fintechs are struggling to bring down costs and, in the absence of fresh capital infusion, some of them may even have to shut shop. This consolidation is not yet evident but is likely to play out during 2024
For fiscal consolidation, the government will need to reduce its capital expenditure at a time when private capex is just starting to improve. Curbing capex poses a risk to growth and the interim budget must indicate a balance
A strong push to domestic sales of its two-wheelers coupled with cost management saw its performance tick all the right boxes
Positive management commentary on margins and business restructuring drawing to a close could lead to an improved outlook
More than 90% of all companies are family companies and a third of companies in S&P 500 index have a family element. Yet thanks to a combination of demographics and changing social mores, many family firms now face the ultimate threat to their survival: a shortage of heirs. The best family firms are not just engines of progress and innovation, but are repositories of public trust
The Bengal chief minister needs Congress to keep BJP in check. There are signs of Muslims dumping regional parties and gravitating towards Congress, as had happened in Karnataka and Telangana. TMC losing Muslim votes in Bengal will end up benefiting BJP in the Lok Sabha polls
While the fall in euro usage and corresponding jump in dollar dominance may have been overdone last year, any correction is likely to be modest until the geopolitical air clears. Some of the loss of status and relevance for the euro will be permanent
In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Indian oil and gas firms must pay attention to geopolitical risks, a look at past market behaviour on Interim Budget day, export edge gives impetus to local manufacturing, Sony needs to introspect on its ZEEL merger deal, and more
The crucial response must be to reduce fragilities, manage shocks, plan for risks and understand the fundamental drivers
