Cross Voting: A calculated jolt to demoralise the Opposition
The cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections has exposed how fragile the opposition is
The RSS Uniform: From khaki shorts to brown pants
RSSFACTS: Over the past 90 years several changes were made to the original uniform. It signified the organisation’s intent to change with the times, and adopt dress codes that the younger generation of swayamsevaks felt comfortable wearing
Why gas prices are rising despite a surplus situation
The biggest players in the oil and gas markets (Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia) have a vested interest in pushing prices higher, should one call their bluff?
Tata Motors demerger: JLR in the driver's seat for PV valuations
The demerger's timing is opportune given the easing debt overhang of JLR and news of an IPO by Hyundai on Indian bourses and will offer Indian investors the opportunity to own a pure-play global car company
Elon Musk is right about Sam Altman’s OpenAI hypocrisy
Musk’s lawsuit points out that Altman created a non-profit board at OpenAI that could fire him if he wasn’t trying to benefit humanity anymore. They did. Then Altman returned and removed some of the board members who fired him. That was a good move for OpenAI’s business but a betrayal of its supposedly benevolent goals. The emperor was wearing no clothes, and Elon Musk was right to call him out
Qatar’s gas push has a hidden motive — Murdering coal
By flooding the market, the Middle Eastern country is hoping to make LNG plentiful and cheap enough to stimulate demand. Put simply: Qatar is trying to reassure Asian nations they can count on gas providing the necessary bridge to kill coal without risking either their finances or their energy security
Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Private goods or public, where to draw the line?
In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Japan looks to revive ties with China, small cap stocks and lurking signs of danger, MSeva -- a missed opportunity maybe, banks face credit growth challenge, and more
BJP First Candidate List: Who is more battle ready for 2024 – NDA or INDIA bloc?
On an examination of six parameters including who is the PM face, alliances, announcement of candidates, rallies and other events, campaign themes, vision and key promises, it is the NDA that is far ahead of the INDIA bloc. The latter is clearly struggling to present a cogent national alliance
North-east developments looking ominous, more Tripura-like breakthroughs needed
The new framework for Tripura’s tribals was unveiled just as a host of contentious issues are again coming to a boil in the North-east. The central government must lend a sympathetic ear to the North-east concerns about the continuing Meitei-Kuki violence, implementation of CAA, scrapping of Free Movement Regime and the border fencing plan at the Myanmar border
The radical changes coming to the world’s biggest bond market
America’s regulators say new rules will help maintain the dominance of US Treasuries, but others fear higher costs and lower liquidity
Chart of the Day | The danger inbuilt in small cap stocks
Data on the financial health of stocks show that smaller stocks are indeed doing well on some aspects, but there are enough red flags that should give investors pause for thought
Google App Store Monopoly: Did we miss building MSeva?
Though the MSeva app has attempted to provide an indigenous app store, too few Indian startups have onboarded it. The absence of partnerships with phonemakers has limited the pre-installation of MSeva on devices, hindering its accessibility to users. Additionally, inadequate promotion and poorly designed user interfaces have contributed to its underutilisation
The finance commission should focus on increasing the size of the cake rather than its distribution
In 2011-12 the divisible pool made up 88 per cent of the union government’s tax revenue, but it fell to 77 per cent of the budget for 2024-25
Arizona Republicans want to give citizens licence to shoot migrants
Arizona Republicans produced legislation last week that would legalise shooting and killing trespassers on private land. Essentially, they took an existing law that allows someone to shoot a home invader and extended it outside to the property line — even if the property extends for hundreds of acres
Gaming: Surging costs hit Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo
The time needed to make a high-quality title has ballooned. From three years a decade ago to make a typical AAA game, firms need twice that now. Publishers have been trying out higher price points but gamers don’t like it, and have been trained to learn that prices will quickly plummet when they’re put on sale. Higher budgets are also making companies more risk adverse, reducing the diversity of software — and making many titles seem rather same-y
How ‘Poshan Atlas’ allows Indian policymakers and consumers to revisit their food-nutrition matrix
Sanghnomics: The Poshan Atlas, an interesting compendium by the Deendayal Research Institution which is rooted in Bharatiya wisdom, is based on the choices of ideal food mix to provide optimum nutritional value. It has mapped diverse food choices to the micro level and is likely to play a significant role in the policy framework of the central government in granting food subsidies and promotion of certain food consumption patterns
India counts gains at a WTO ministerial that has no winners
Commerce minister Piyush Goyal is satisfied with the outcome of the Abu Dhabi meeting, where consensus eluded on most of the crucial issues
Musk vs Altman and the OpenAI soap opera
The case may not be significant – but it will throw more light on why what started as a non-profit mission to democratise AI turned into just another profit-seeking business
The Eastern Window: Japan searching for a balance between national security, economic ties with China
Japan is taking steps to cut down its dependence on China for strategic reasons. But it faces resistance from the private sector which is closely intertwined with Chinese companies and regards market-based relationships as an essential part of business. Tokyo is trying to find a balance between market reality and national security. In some ways, India’s situation is similar to that of Japan
Why Suven Pharma’s investors are excited about Cohance Lifesciences
The current vendor diversification drive by big pharma is driving large business opportunities for Indian CDMOs
Africa's Currency Woes: Decline of Nigeria’s naira points to a bigger problem in the continent
The steep currency declines in Africa should force a switch away from imports toward domestic production and exports. But barriers such as high labour costs, expensive power, poor infrastructure and inefficient regulation limit African firms’ competitiveness. The depreciations could end up reducing both imports and domestic consumption and lead to stagflation
Would Putin stop if he wins in Ukraine? Let’s not find out
A debate is underway, particularly in Washington, on whether to pressure Ukraine into a negotiated settlement with Russia or help its continued defence. If Putin has no further ambitions beyond Ukraine, then the interests of Europe and the US might indeed be best served by forcing Kyiv to settle by starving it of the means to fight — as brutal a betrayal as that would be
A Fed held hostage by data is asking for trouble
An excessive focus on the numbers tips the balance of risks toward keeping interest rates too restrictive for too long, unduly increasing the probability of output loss, higher unemployment and financial instability
Policy Hypocrisy: Protecting the sugarcane farmer and consumer, abandoning the sugar industry
The upward revision of the fair and remunerative price (FRP) and state advised price (SAP) remains a favoured governmental strategy despite the additional cost burden for the sugar milling sector. This coupled with export bans and ethanol caps to keep domestic sugar prices low have reduced sugar companies to a losing proposition, forcing them to drop capacity expansion plans
Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Jaw-dropping growth
In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Q3 FY24 GDP data an acceleration or slowdown, small cap stocks on regulatory radar, school education needs radical new approach, this jewellery maker is set to glitter, and more
