The Union Budget 2024, shaped by the imminent elections, presents a constrained yet vital framework for India's immediate economic management. While expansive reforms and broad fiscal strategies are deferred, the potential measures discussed here set a prospective agenda for the next finance minister
The government has set a target to bring down the fiscal deficit to 4.5 percent of GDP by FY26. This will require a reduction in expenditure growth from an 8.8 percent annual rate in the last three years to around 6 percent in the next two years
Ramaswamy’s rigid attempt to appear more “American” than his counterparts was a notable point of failure. In the final reckoning, it was easy for Donald Trump to turn his "Make America Great Again" against the Indian-origin entrepreneur-turned-politician
The recent GDP growth was mostly from increased capital formation, not personal consumption and that is a cause for worry. A reduction in taxes and combating inflation through supply side and fiscal measures is in order, but is there enough fiscal space?
In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: India’s tax up to GDP ratio, VIX is not a great indicator for a traders, has Taiwan abated war risk post election, Bangladesh's cat-and-mouse game with India, and more
Price parity now appears to be arriving. That’s great news for the electric car industry, and for drivers who’ve not been able to afford a battery vehicle. But not so good for EV owners who want to sell their used cars
Practical solutions are needed as legal overreach won’t yield the desired outcomes. Enhancing platform liability, frequent legal reminders and overburdening grievance mechanisms have limitations. Existing legal norms and processes can be refined and enhanced instead of instituting new regulations that may prove cumbersome
US data highlights the challenges facing the Fed in attaining its 2% inflation target
The top 10% of households have at least €725,000 ($793,000) of net assets and control more than half of the country’s wealth. Helping more people share in the benefits of economic prosperity would go a long way toward neutering support for radical political parties and cooling the anger now boiling over in Germany
The government is expected to target a fiscal deficit of 5.3% of GDP and fiscal math calculations suggest that realistically, capex growth may need to be limited to 10 percent in FY2025
In holding a key interest rate on Monday, the central bank missed an opportunity to set a narrative at the start of what's likely to be another tough year. Consumer prices have been flat or declining for months. Authorities appear at a loss to turn the situation around, assuming they want to
India’s tax to GDP ratio has risen above its pre-pandemic levels and even over a decade ago
The annualised return of publicly traded Indian companies was 16 percentage points greater than the MSCI Emerging Market Index. Rupee-denominated government bonds produced a 7% total return (income plus appreciation adjusted in US dollars), beating all the world benchmarks, with returns between 3.5% and 5.9%
The VIX may be a good indicator of what the crowd thinks where the market is headed but crowds can often be wrong. Is there a better trading tool?
For all the talk of Sheikh Hasina being pro-India she has neglected many projects that would have furthered economic cooperation between India and Bangladesh. The lure of China’s easy money has proven too hard to resist
A surprise on the supply of bonds in FY25 is unlikely as the government has assured fiscal prudence. The anticipated demand from foreign investors, though, is tricky and would need some deft moves.
The consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya marks the culmination of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement that led to an enormous expansion of the BJP and swept the party to power. Will it cripple the opposition even further?
The geopolitical risks in the Taiwan Straits seem to have abated for the moment, but the rhetoric on both sides continues, Taiwan's with tacit US support. China has resorted to what might be construed as military actions of late
The scope for reducing revenue expenditure growth may be limited since it is already quite low. The main adjustment will have to be on the side of capital expenditure growth
The fear voiced by many activists is the annual gathering is once again overseen by those with a vested interest in slowing down the transition away from fossil fuels, which was agreed upon last year
Discussions of democratic decline in Africa and elsewhere typically focus on the role of populist or autocratic leaders. However, there is a need to address an even more pernicious enemy of democratic consolidation: popular perceptions — based on experience — that democracy doesn’t solve people’s everyday problems
The themes that can be focussed on in the interim budget include taking out more people out of agriculture towards other gainful employment, preventing soil and water resources and pursuing crop diversification, prioritising horticulture, livestock and fisheries
In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: India Inc benefits from falling tax rates, decoding IIP data on consumption, time to be cautious even as markets touch a new high, Taiwan election a loss of face for China, and more
Bankers say language of IPO risk factors in prospectuses of Chinese companies has been toned down
The passenger who vented his anger on a hapless pilot is way out of line. When the weather is to blame, there is only so much that airlines and their crew can do
