opinion

Policy | Model tenancy act is well intentioned but change unlikely soon

Land and urban development are state subjects and a new central law, once enacted, will be relevant only to the extent states decide to pass their own new laws on the subject in the light of the new central law.

Policy | The government should respect what the market is trying to tell it

Last Friday, 357 stocks touched new 52-week lows

Chandrayaan 2 | 15 crucial minutes and the commercial possibilities it opens

Unlike national pride that powered the first wave of space race, mercantile interests now spur spacefarers. Monetising access to space and space-based services and resources is the name of the game.

The reverse swing: Small data more important than Big Data

In the context of investing, the current fad for Big Data and machine learning seems overblown. Successful investing entails understanding basic probabilities well. While machines can be used to crunch these probabilities, the old-fashioned method of reading annual reports has worked pretty well.

50 years of bank nationalisation | It was more politics than economics

Banking nationalisation continues to cast a long shadow over Indian political economy even 50 years after the fateful day it was signed into a law. Given the political realities of India, it will continue to be relevant even 50 years from now.

Priority or parity for operational creditors under IBC? Lenders want an answer

There is an apparent grey zone on the amount to be set aside for operational creditors. It’s a good case where legislators should step in

Audit trail | When auditors resign, SEBI wants them to go out with a bang

SEBI is tightening the screws on auditor resignations, both on when they can resign and the disclosures to be made when that happens.

Politics | What a slowdown in China means for the world and India

The expected transition in the Chinese economy provides many new opportunities for India in the areas of manufacturing, infrastructure building as well as new linkages with the world’s second-largest economy.

Policy | 50 yrs of bank nationalisation: Is it time to privatise all banks?

Governance practices can be revamped only if PSU banks cut their umbilical cord to the government. All proposals in this directions – and umpteen committees have suggested this too – have just remained talk.

Politics | Kerala’s double standards towards businesses and industry

While at one hand the Left government is trying to project an image of being business-friendly, on the other it is stuck in petty red-tape.

50th anniversary of bank nationalisation: a surreal personal memoir

Before he became a commentator on the economy and markets, our columnist was a public sector banker.

Testing waters: Can co-working be the lucky mascot for Oyo?

Co-working as a business model is getting all the attention. But Oyo has to deal with a tough challenge from the likes of WeWork

Policy | Will the new Model Tenancy Act bridge the trust divide?

Conflicts between tenants and landlords are well known. The draft new Act is a long overdue attempt to set the house in order

Politics | Pakistan and the curious case of Hafiz Saeed

How Pakistan deals with Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case after the ICJ verdict and to what extent it makes serious attempts at convicting Hafiz Saeed will be test cases for Islamabad’s commitment to seeking normalisation of ties with New Delhi.

Policy | A shot in the arm for the insolvency code

The government's proposed amendments to the IBC could go a long way in ensuring that the insolvency code's objectives are achieved, and in a timely manner

Consumption Play | FMCG slowdown may be real but numbers show a nuanced picture for investors

The June quarter should see a slowdown in volume growth while price-led growth does some moderate lifting. That could mean that margins may either hold up or even improve.

Policy | Why NSE’s move to disallow derivatives in DHFL is wrong

There are other ways of protecting small investors and dampening trading interest in a stock. Increasing margins is one key example.

Politics | The NRC is a continuum of BJP’s majoritarian project

Its political opponents don’t realise the potential of the CAB in polarising the electorate and how it could propel the BJP to a spectacular victory in the West Bengal assembly election in 2021.

Chart of the Day | Kerala beats Mexico, but Burundi does better than Madhya Pradesh

Infant mortality has improved, but India still lags behind some much poorer countries.

Vaiko: A perpetual rebel who looks to strike a chord with masses?

The gutsy leader, who has always been in search of a cause, is no stranger to controversy. He can be an alternative pole in Tamil Nadu politics.

Markets | Is the bond market going crazy?

The fall in g-sec yields is understandable because investors are assuming further rate cuts. However, one can still not be sure if these cuts will deliver higher investment when the broader economic environment is not yet conducive.

Startups | At $5.5 bn valuation, Byju’s is making investors sit up and take note

Byju’s valuation is making news. The sheer size of India’s education market and growth prospects could be the key factor at play

Macro Matters | Does the growth slowdown have a structural tilt? The jury is out.

Businesses are discouraged from investing when demand is tepid. We need to watch out for the precursors of a permanent lowering of income expectations by consumers. It is time to shine the spotlight on the structural aspects of the slowdown.

Markets | Suzlon’s default is not a surprise

Structural issues in the wind power sector, wrong management calls, poor financial numbers and the very structure of FCCBs offer a clue on why bondholders would be lucky to get their money back.