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
Tata Motors: Investors buy into hope of cyclical recovery, ignore structural challenges
The China business turnaround remains elusive, with continued market share losses
Will a high fiscal deficit in 2021-22 lead to inflation?
Core inflation continued to be sticky in December. As the recovery gathers strength, inflationary pressures may rise, if the government boosts consumption in the Budget
Chart of the Day | Post-festive industrial blues
All the sub-indices of the index of industrial production came in lower in November, except for mining and consumer staples
Supreme Court wades into farmers agitation, draws flak from both sides
In the eyes of many, the initial reaction of farmers not to go before the committee will make them appear intransigent
Forget privacy, messaging platforms like WhatsApp are all after your data
The universe for Facebook’s interest-based targeting will now stretch even further to include Whatsapp users as well. But it doesn’t stop here. Facebook’s grand plan is to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger with its other services like Boomerang, Threads and Shops
The most important thing Biden can learn from the Trump economy
During Trump’s time in office, it has become clear that the US economy can surpass what technocrats once thought were its limits
Budget Chart Point | India’s spending on healthcare increases, but remains awfully low
India's spending on public health and family welfare is perking up. The COVID-19 pandemic forced governments at the Centre and states to spend more on healthcare. But the figure as a percentage of GDP remains way below what's needed
How to prevent a logjam of insolvency infrastructure
Since the government's effort has been towards increasing the ease of business, it would be prudent to establish mechanisms that enable interested parties to conclude proceedings speedily
RBI Financial Stability Report tells investors: Wake up and smell the coffee
Report warns of a rise in NPAs which could hamper economic recovery, warns of stretched valuations of financial assets posing risks to financial stability
Jack Ma vs Xi Jinping: the future of private business in China
Taken together, the regulatory measures amount to an unprecedented squeeze on a business empire whose ubiquitous services are central to the functioning of China’s pioneering online economy
Budget 2021 | Time to fuel long-term credit growth through Alternative Investment Funds
In order to promote investments in infrastructure and other sectors that require long-term capital, the government should reduce the tax rate for locked-in, closed-ended structures that invest in such key sectors. This can be our ‘Atmanirbhar capital’
Why assembly polls in Assam are important for BJP
The BJP looks invincible when it is the challenger to the throne, but seems vulnerable while defending governments in the states
Maharashtra shows how to achieve housing growth
Whether builders pass on the benefits will depend on the rising prices of steel and cement
Why the Budget should be delayed
If the government wants to make realistic revenue projections and a proper expenditure plan, it needs to wait for better data
