opinion

IATA chief: Four reasons to be optimistic about aviation

Optimism about the future does not take away the current pain that we are experiencing. Jobs are disappearing, as are some airlines. However, we must rely on our resilience and ingenuity in a crisis

FMCG sales near a turning point in June

Nielsen’s data for June shows growth recovering after a slump in May but the big surprise was a quicker than expected revival in the buying of discretionary consumption products

Chart of the Day | Real credit growth was negative even before the pandemic

The negative real rate of non-food credit in the December 2019 quarter was even lower than after the Global Financial Crisis

Gold: Safe haven asset or inflation hedge!

Gold seems to rally sharply even in the backdrop of weakness in the US Dollar. This counter intuitive move in gold prices is about investors viewing gold as an inflation hedge more than safe haven asset now

Politics | Why Kamal Nath was toppled, but Ashok Gehlot remains firmly in saddle

While Kamal Nath could not drastically improve the support base in the MP assembly, Ashok Gehlot was not content with the 99 seats won in Rajasthan; he worked to increase the support base to 117 in a House of 200

Forex stock places India in a better position to deal with the worst recession since 1930s

With a significant part of the country’s debt due for repayment in the current fiscal year, there is enhanced refinancing risk, considering the global financial market backdrop and COVID-19. Sizeable foreign exchange reserves place India in a better position to deal with this risk

Chart of the Day | Where are real deposit rates headed?

Real deposit rates have been negative since December even before COVID-19 struck

Monsoon Watch: Initial exuberance on farm sector needs to be tempered

The rainfall trend is showing a decelerating trend, with the Northwest cluster the main culprit. That appears to affect sowing but is still healthy over a year ago

Why $40 Brent is an important barrier for oil prices

Oil prices show that despite the supply-side cuts, demand continues to be under pressure

Google tax — Need to de-escalate tension

Instead of unilateral action, India and US must help in building global consensus on cross-border taxation rules

Political strife imposes a cost on Rajasthan

Playing politics at a time when all forces should join the fight against the virus is very unfortunate

The need of the hour in infrastructure is to think beyond boycotting China and build expertise 

Will cancellations of contracts given to Chinese companies and re-tendering processes cause delays in infrastructure development? Or will pushing back Chinese investments benefit infrastructure companies at home?

A dhoti resurgence as work from home becomes the norm

Truth be told, pants were never really made for the Indian male with his signature paunch atop mostly short legs making for a rather comical combination.

How Wirecard’s fall is likely to impact the FinTech industry

While regulations may imply safeguards, it is up to the industry players to instil and increase stakeholders’ confidence in the growth story of the FinTech and payments industry

Why China’s support to Myanmar’s Arakan Army is bad for India

The Arakan Army’s Beijing connection is well established and there is speculation about its involvement in the narcotics trade

Doubts blur post-unlock recovery amid whiff of inflation

The levelling off recovery on reopening calls for concerted containment efforts, and policy clarification

COVID-19 exposes the unsustainability of modern cities 

Though the transmission of the virus from one human to another is non-discriminatory, the impact of the infection and the measures taken in order to prevent, cure and treat COVID-19 has had a discriminatory impact based on one’s position in the social ladder

Will COVID catalyse an improvement in the household savings rate?

Households are likely to have a higher propensity to save, given the income uncertainties due to COVID-19

Disinvestment: Stop whistling in the dark

The plan to privatise some of the banks like Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and Bank of Maharashtra is downright outlandish

As hopes of government sops wane, auto investors stare at bleak prospects

SIAM’s repeated requests to the government for a temporary 10 percent cut in GST across auto segments, are justified. Also, an incentive-driven scrappage policy and procurement programme for diesel/CNG business by state transport undertakings could spur sales and alleviate tepid demand

Corporates need to take advantage of buoyant markets to fortify their balance sheets

There is no dearth of funds for good companies

GST — The compensation conundrum

States’ proposal to extend the time period looks sensible at a time when Centre’s ability to pay them their dues looks limited 

Captain Gopinath: Rahul Gandhi is no King Lear. He is Hamlet

There may still be a remote possibility to save the Congress, if Rahul Gandhi can take full command and get his mother to retire completely. Sonia Gandhi must let go if her son has to succeed and deliver