Budget 2024: Competing fiscal choices may see capex allocations taper in FY2025
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
China’s surprise rate inaction is a missed opportunity
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
Budget Snapshot | Indirect taxes push up India’s tax to GDP ratio
India’s tax to GDP ratio has risen above its pre-pandemic levels and even over a decade ago
India’s stock and bond markets are turning into an inexorable force
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%
Why the VIX is not the best indicator for a savvy trader
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?
The cat-and-mouse game derailing India's projects in Bangladesh
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
Can India’s bonds best their 2023 show?
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.
Will the consecration of the Ram Mandir shrink the opposition space further?
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?
Has the war risk over Taiwan abated post its election?
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
Budget 2024: Striking a balance between growth and fiscal prospects
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
Azerbaijan has a mighty job ahead for COP29
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
Africa’s year of elections faces a pernicious enemy
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
Budget 2024: What agriculture needs
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
Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Buying the consumption story
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
Wall Street banks are trying not to upset China on listings
Bankers say language of IPO risk factors in prospectuses of Chinese companies has been toned down
Indigo Pilot Assault: People can be reasonable, the weather cannot
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
Tata Consumer: Cooking up a storm
The company’s appetite for big acquisitions has been finally whetted by buying out Capital Foods and Organic India for a combined amount of Rs 7000 crore
Davos 2024: Make people the centrepiece of conversations on AI
Steering the narrative at the World Economic Forum towards how artificial intelligence can benefit average citizens will ensure that the tech is more widely embraced as a force for good
Budget Snapshot | Corporate India benefits from falling tax rates
The overall corporate tax to PBT has gone down as companies availed of the new tax regimes. But the larger companies still have an edge over the smaller ones
Supply Chains: Canals aren’t even the world's biggest shipping chokepoints
Five thousand miles from the canals of Suez and Panama lie even more important shipping lanes, chokepoints that could cripple global trade should any disaster befall them
Want to avoid fake news? Step away from Google
When researchers exposed volunteers to a mix of fake and real news stories, they found people became more prone to being fooled by fake stories after being asked to do an internet search
Amid slowdown and headcount cuts, IT firm investors look to AI with hope
It will take a long time to get a greenhorn who can only write code to train and work on artificial intelligence solutions. Hence the break in campus recruitment
A big capital goods revival? Not according to the IIP
The IIP data show there has been a slight decrease in capital goods production compared to five years ago
What does the index of industrial production say about consumption?
The IIP data show that while the production of consumer non-durables has been sluggish, the numbers on the domestic production of consumer durables are downright alarming
Of Pepsodent & Portfolios: The habit loop in equity investing
Habits influence not only on our daily routines, but also extend to other activities, including the decision-making process for investments. The current market dynamics reinforce the habit loop, and a transformation in this pattern is foreseeable only when the rewards derived from the habit become unfavourable — i.e., we see negative returns
