The US economy is dynamic again, but will it last?
No doubt the post-pandemic boom in new business formation is promising. But it probably won’t transform the economy anytime soon as small biz is vulnerable to recessions. Like working from home, another trend enabled by technology, working for yourself will require a change in culture and norms. And that could take a while
The Keir Starmer era in British politics has already begun
Everywhere you look in Britain today you can see power shifting to Labour. Corporate types from Goldman Sachs and Amazon stalked the halls of the Labour conference in Liverpool but could hardly be bothered with the Conservatives. Civil servants hardly even go through the motion of putting Conservative policies into place
Shows of solidarity with Israel masks a fractured Europe
The EU is the No. 3 world economy, Israel’s largest trading partner and the biggest donor to the Palestinian Authority. It can and should be a player, not just a payer of aid, in the Middle East. At a time when the US is retreating into election mode, EU needs to go against the grain and be more assertive
Tim Harford: Why we can’t quit email, even though we all hate it
Our inboxes contain news that ranges from the trivial to the life-changing, which is why they’re so addictive
Business in the Week Ahead (October 16-20, 2023)
A slew of important US macro data including manufacturing and production data are to be released. All eyes will be glued to the Q2 earnings updates that will continue next week
Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Smart money, foolish money
In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Job creation of the right kind, how Hamas-Israel war affects Indian start-ups, pharma Q2 growth in India slows, common themes as observed across poll-bound states, and more
Copy trading: a road to riches or risk?
Following the portfolio choices of online ‘experts’ can lead to considerable losses
Israel-Hamas War: For the Chinese, Hamas clearly not a terrorist organisation
Chinese government official remarks and state media propaganda don’t make any effort to attack Hamas for its act of terror. This, in turn, is having a knock-on effect on its social media where Israel is singled out by trolls
Hurting from rate hikes? The US Fed looks as if it’s finally done
It took longer to get to the end of the tightening cycle than most expected. History suggests that the gap between the end of a rate-hike cycle and the start of a rate-cut cycle rarely exceeds a year. But as pent-up demand from the pandemic recedes, it’s no longer easy to predict areas of the economy likely to surprise
Hamas-Israel war's global energy impact will depend on whether the conflict theatre widens
Even if there’s a ground invasion by Israel into Gaza and an extended conflict, the impact on energy prices and the resultant OPEC response would depend on the scale and reach that the conflict takes. If it remains localised without affecting major oil producers or transit routes, prices may see limited immediate change, prompting OPEC to maintain current production levels
Hamas' terror also holds a warning for the US
The Hamas terrorists who murdered babies weren’t stamped with pathological hatred at birth. It was an acquired habit, the result of a process of moral dulling and rage sharpening. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is a national leader in implementing sadistic policies to inflict harm on targeted populations. Depravity has an increasingly solid foothold in the US. It is hard to pretend not knowing where it leads
Start-up Street | How does Hamas-Israel war impact Indian start-ups?
Some start-up founders are concerned due to likely delays in technology transfers and business development timelines
More jobs are being created, but are they of the right kind?
Policy needs to focus on growing the share of formal employment and doing more to improve women’s participation in the workforce
Tech cannot replace humans in path to sustainability
Technology has the power to drive positive change on an unprecedented scale. But it cannot replace human ingenuity, political will and international cooperation that are xxx by us
How rising conflict is reshuffling global supply chains
Research by the Bank for International Settlements shows goods are subject to increasingly complex delivery routes
Q2 earnings surprises could lead to sharp stock moves
A lowering of IT sector guidance, a good show from BFSI, auto and oil marketing companies are anticipated events in the earnings season. But be prepared for surprises
What Maruti’s massive capex plan signals
A Rs 1.25 lakh crore investment outlay implies the auto maker is readying itself for the challenging road ahead of it
Chart of the Day | We aren’t there yet when it comes to inflation
This would be the 48th straight month that headline inflation and core inflation are above target. Food inflation was below the target in eight sporadic months during the time.
What's the connection between the UAW strike in the US and India's auto sector?
The strike is not just about wages but also protecting employment in the wake up of an inevitable shift to battery-powered electric vehicles from internal combustion engine vehicles
Pharma Q2 growth in India slows, hopes hinge on US
Growth in the Indian pharma market slowed to 7 percent in Q2 of FY24 from 8.5 percent in Q1
Inflation: How expectations shape realities and vice versa
A one percentage point rise in near-term expectations is associated with about a 0.4 percentage point rise in current inflation. Lagged inflation and other factors together have a bigger impact
Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Contrasting tale of foreign & domestic investors
In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Hyderabad races ahead in luxury housing market, unemployment rates much lower than before COVID, Israel spends far more than its neighbours, sugar export ban worries investors, and more
Israel-Hamas War: No, Palestinians can’t just leave Gaza
Why don’t they just leave? As Israel’s furious retaliation for last weekend’s Hamas attack devastates large swathes of the Gaza strip, killing hundreds and maiming thousands of Palestinians, it is not unreasonable to wonder why the 2.3 million civilians living in the tiny enclave don’t flee to safer ground
Cape Town is making South Africa’s African National Congress look worse and worse
South Africans are legendarily resilient, but the decline under ANC is so bad that even those who are inured to indifferent or hostile governments are exasperated. When people of all backgrounds start to experience decline instead of progress, the electoral fortunes of those in charge start to wane, and this is happening to ANC
Will a ban on sugar exports doom sugar mills?
Investors need to consider a host of factors and sugar exports is just one of them
