opinion

Budget Chart Point | The quality of expenditure

Capital expenditure as a percentage of GDP has been stagnant

SAIL: Strike while the iron is hot

The timing is right for selling Sail’s shares to meet the divestment target, but is a piecemeal approach the best way?

Chart of the Day | Wholesale price inflation at 4-month low, but non-food prices spurt

 It’s likely that as the recovery gathers strength, wholesale non-food prices will see higher inflation

Chart of the Day | OECD leading indicator points to stable growth in India

The Composite Leading Indicator shows growth in most major economies is almost back to normal

Tejas deal a big boost for India’s self-reliance and defence preparedness

New Delhi’s decision to opt for an indigenous fighter for the Indian Air Force will make its ‘Make in India’ mantra resonate louder

A Republican Senate would have been a blessing in disguise for Joe Biden-Kamala Harris

‘Socialism’ is a spectre for most in the US and a Republican victory in the Georgia run-offs would have been a palliative against the so-called red scourge

Budget 2021 | Real estate needs a fillip to beat the pandemic blues

The real estate sector needs to be accorded the infrastructure status and be included in the priority lending list of banks, irrespective of the segment

Lack of tiny parts disrupts auto factories worldwide

Strong demand for gaming systems, PCs and other electronics by a world stuck indoors has dried up supplies of semiconductors, forcing carmakers to scramble for the chips

One-time king of steel Lakshmi Mittal hunts for growth in emerging markets

The CEO says his focus is on repaying the faith of investors with an expected reinstatement of dividends and playing a leading role in the transition to low-carbon steelmaking

Budget 2021 | Corporate tax reforms that will enable India Inc to contribute to India’s growth story

While fiscal budgets for developing economies are typically growth driven, this time, it would be experiential to see whether the government considers infusing stability alongside in the economy — a base which could catapult the economic activity and growth 

Budget Chart Point | The disinvestment puzzle

Disinvestment is a target that is mostly missed

Balmer Lawrie divestment will be a tough nut to crack

A number of small businesses in diverse areas make this an unwieldy company to buy

Infosys maintains pre-pandemic lead over TCS, Wipro

Both Infosys and TCS guided for a double digit revenue growth rate in FY22. But Infosys’ growth comes on an estimated 4.5-5 percent revenue expansion in the current fiscal year versus flat revenues at TCS

Interview | Carry trade is going to be a key theme in 2021 for debt funds, says Lakshmi Iyer of Kotak AMC 

We are not going to see aggressive rate cuts, going forward. This is the reason capital gains will most likely play second fiddle to the carry in 2021, says CIO-Debt and Head-Products at Kotak AMC

Outlook for Indian pharma brightens in 2021

Drug sales in India increased 8.5 percent last month taking the growth in December 2020 quarter to 6.4 percent. The recovery will aid December quarter results

Indian sailors at the receiving end of China’s high-handedness

In spite of all the pandemic-related angst and anger against Beijing, the current crisis has not triggered any geopolitical rhetoric for censoring China or redesigning regulating agencies

Legal Matters | Is Supreme Court trespassing beyond its remit?

The Supreme Court has a well-defined role under the Indian Constitution. Its excursions beyond those boundaries have far-reaching, and counter-productive, consequences

Atop the powerful Budget Committee at last, Bernie Sanders wants to go big

Sanders, who twice ran unsuccessfully for the presidential nomination, said he would move quickly in his new role to push through a robust and deficit-financed economic stimulus package soon after President-elect Joe Biden takes office

China’s economy surges, and so does its currency

The stronger renminbi has implications for companies that make stuff in China, which are a pretty big group

By staying the implementation of the three farm laws, the SC has sent out the wrong message

Why is the apex court taking upon itself the burden not cast on it by the Constitution? Even if the court is moved by the plight of the farmers, it could exhort them to abjure their obstinacy in taking to the streets with alacrity

With elections due, political parties fight it out to celebrate Pongal in Tamil Nadu

Surprised by the AIADMK’s deft use of Pongal festival, the DMK is caught in a bind as it cannot oppose both the moves which have found good support among the people

Bitcoin’s wild ride leaves traditional money managers queasy

Bitcoin, the most actively-traded cryptocurrency, has endured its worst bout of tumult since the global market ructions in March

Budget Chart Point | Will the government consider a wealth tax this year?

The proportion of direct taxes to the central tax kitty has fallen

Chart of the Day: Global food prices reach for the sky

A V-shaped recovery is visible in the wrong place, as global food prices show no signs of reversing course