opinion

Chart of the Day | No need to cut rates when India’s real yields are not only negative, but the lowest among major economies

The real return on fixed deposits with banks is around -2 percent at present

Bank loans have picked up sharply, but is it due to pent-up demand for credit?

It is very likely that the fall in credit to large companies is because they were able to access funds from other quarters, such as the debt and equity markets and through foreign direct investment

Chart of the Day | World trade almost back to pre-corona level, thanks largely to China

The big jump in Chinese imports is a boon to the exports of the rest of the world

Donald Trump’s ‘soft coup’ attempt failed, but the damage will last a generation

It’s easy to cast aside efforts to discredit the 2020 United States presidential elections as ridiculous, but to do so is both wrong and dangerous

Earnings growth in India to be over 25% in next two years: Mark Matthews

Recent policy measures by the central government should have a positive impact on growth, says Matthews

One year later, Uddhav Thackeray runs a strong, confident government

Uddhav Thackeray continues to exuberate confidence and his demeanour and poise do not have the trepidations of a first-time chief minister. His detractors are increasingly getting frustrated as he either ignores them, or finds constitutional means to tackle obstacles.

The Luxury E-Commerce Wars Heat Up

A supreme luxury e-commerce group is a compelling idea, but no one so far has been able to pull it off. Can that be about to change?

Contrarian scenarios that could upset the market consensus

Year-end forecasts from strategists narrow to a common outlook as the pandemic shock eases

Editorial of The New York Times: Bringing back Congressional earmarks can help.

Earmarks are spending requests — or limited tax or tariff benefits — inserted into bills at the behest of individual lawmakers for the benefit of specific entities in specific locations. They are used to determine spending priorities

KCR faces BJP, AIMIM scare in Hyderabad municipal polls

With Asaduddin Owaisi’s appeal limited to only minority votes, TDP getting nearly wiped out in Telangana and Congress’ fortunes fading in the state following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the BJP is seeing an opening in the southern state to emerge as the main opposition to KCR’s TRS party.

Prospects have improved, but a sustained positive trend in equities would require acceleration in economic activity, says Harshad Patwardhan of Edelweiss Asset Management

The chief investment officer (equities) at Edelweiss Asset Management identifies geopolitical risks and governments' response to a possible second wave of infections as key monitorables

Indian agriculture needs many more Verghese Kurien clones

Amul’s success hasn’t been the catalyst for similar movements across other agricultural commodities. With 50 percent of India’s population still dependent on income from agriculture, that’s a real tragedy.

Breudher And Nutmeg | The Dutch East India Company’s lost recipe in Kerala

If it was pepper that got all eyes on India and its wealth of spices, nutmeg has yet another story to tell, one that can never be complete without the story of Breudher

The Reading List: November 27, 2020

A selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance

Brexit is nipping at London’s role as a financial powerhouse

Global financial firms with big operations in London already know they will lose the biggest benefit of Britain’s EU membership: the ability to easily offer services to clients across the region from a single base

Paul Krugman writes: In Praise of Janet Yellen the Economist

It’s immensely reassuring to know that economic policy will be made by someone who knows what she is doing

Diego Maradona's legacy will forever be tinged with regret

The reality of Diego Maradona's fall from grace can't be ignored amidst the clamour of obituaries praising his myriad skills

Market leader Maruti Suzuki needs to up its game to sustain its rich valuations

While Maruti's sales growth has been strong, the larger concern is the limited scope ahead for premiumisation

It’s good that SEBI is easing pandemic related restrictions, but did they work?

Such ad hoc measures end up hurting the market more than stabilising it, especially for retail clients

India’s two-speed economy

The growth rate in real income for the top 10 percent is twice that for the rest of the population

Resisting China | What India started and the US consolidated, the world must now follow

Cynics who argue that banning digital apps does nothing to real intrusions by China’s People’s Liberation Army along India’s borders, ignore the fact that tech intrusions by Xi Jinping’s ambitions are as dangerous to the privacy and data security of citizens as hostile attempts at the border

After a decent COVID-19 run, cement industry awaits post festive demand test 

Channel checks by analysts indicate slow recovery in demand post festive season. Prices are either flat or showing signs of moderation

Two Goals, Two Lessons | What central bankers can learn from Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona’s first goal was akin to monetary policy of the earlier era where there was “mystery and mystique” associated with central banking. His second goal belonged to the modern central banking era

Don’t waste the crisis

Previous crises in India often led to great economic reforms. But will Prime Minister Narendra Modi use the Covid crisis to usher in second generation reforms – or fritter the opportunity away?