Ruchir Sharma: The myth of the suppressed Chinese consumer
In reality, the country has the fastest household spending growth rate of the 21st century
India’s Misinformation Crisis: Deepfakes, bots, and broken trust
India faces a growing threat from digital misinformation, driven by deepfakes, bot factories, and poor media literacy. Urgent action is needed through regulation, education, tech innovation, and global cooperation
Israel-Iran conflict is spiraling out of control, putting energy supply chains at risk
Iran’s response to Israel’s attacks shows that it will not back down. The escalation over the last two days’ risks drawing other countries, and not just ones in the region, into the conflict. For India, the immediate risk is a disruption in flow of crude and LNG supplies through the Strait of Hormuz on account of Iran’s retaliatory measures
Siemens’ Sunil Mathur is confident of a private capex pick-up
Factories are running at 75-80 percent of their capacity in several sectors, levels at which capex plans take shape. But a string of geopolitical conflicts and the resulting uncertainty has made them cautious, says the company's MD & CEO
India a bright spot for solar module manufacturers amid global uncertainty
The demand for locally made solar modules is expected to rise significantly in India
India's interests at risk as Israel-Iran conflict threatens key trade routes
India has several economic interests in West Asia, including the Chabahar and Haifa ports. It will also suffer from increased oil prices. India’s plans to enhance trade and connectivity to Europe has also come under a threat
The curious case of the US dollar in the time of the Israel-Iran conflict
The US dollar, long seen as the ultimate safe haven, is behaving oddly in the face of geopolitical and economic stress. Despite high bond yields and global uncertainty, the greenback is weakening — and that’s raising deeper questions about its future
Data Story: FY25 corporate data shows strong financials, but capex growth signals caution
India Inc delivered its strongest financial performance in over a decade during FY25, with Return on Capital Employed hitting multi-year highs while maintaining healthy balance sheets. However, sluggish capital expenditure and cooling credit growth signal potential headwinds for the economy ahead
Ranthambore’s faith versus forest is a false dichotomy. Political sagacity can restore balance
An increasing incidence of conflict between tigers and humans in Ranthambore is on account of the presence of over 350 shrines within its habitat zone. A surge of pilgrims, especially on auspicious occasions, makes it hard to avoid conflict. Politicians are wary of finding a balanced solution out of the fear of hurting religious sentiments. However, there is no other way but to sensibly regulate the flow of human traffic to ensure that the iconic tiger reserve remains a haven for wildlife without preventing pilgrimage
The Reading List: June 13, 2025
Our research and opinion teams have curated a selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance for your weekend read
Vault Matters | Is it miscommunication, misunderstanding or the fear of missing targets that’s the root cause of mis-selling?
Mis-selling of financial products is at least a two-decade old problem and a solution is nowhere in sight. Maybe finding a solution is still many years away, but it would be worth trying to find the root cause of the problem
Israel’s airstrikes on Iran may fuel global geopolitical instability
The fallout on energy markets and the brittle West Asian security situation will depend on the scale and nature of Iran’s response. This conflict is being played out in the backdrop of a breakdown in the longstanding nuclear consensus among major powers, enhancing geopolitical risks. Middle powers such as India, Germany and Japan have a stake in sustaining the current equilibrium and therefore need to step up
BlackRock and alternative investments
The main thing retail investors need, if they are to benefit from alternatives, is much lower fees
Quick Take: Geopolitical tensions to keep risk premium elevated
Markets worldwide are reeling under what analysts are calling "Black Friday" - the financial turmoil triggered by Israel's attack on Iran. While equity markets tumble, oil and gold prices surge as investors brace for a new phase of global uncertainty.
Central banks are beginning to fret about dollar swap lines
Officials outside the US worry about what will happen when Jay Powell leaves the Fed
RSS draws global attention as US delegation attends RSS meet
RSSFACTS: A US delegation attended RSS’s prestigious valedictory session of third-year camp in Nagpur, signalling rising global curiosity and willingness to engage directly with the organisation, challenging long-held stereotypes in Western discourse.
How India’s decision to slash alcohol import duties impacts domestic spirits industry
India’s new trade deal with the UK reduces import duties but poses competitive challenges for domestic spirits, with local brands facing pressure from established global players and regulatory hurdles. This article offers a home-grown brand’s perspective
A B-school programme in temple management is finally here
The business of religion is huge, the scope for better-managed temples is immense. Will these students gain acceptance, will the concept gain ground?
Have mutual funds lost their mojo?
Retail investors have been losing faith. Average monthly inflow into equity mutual funds this year has been merely Rs 27,500 crore
Chart of the Day: Food drags inflation low enough to kindle more rate cut hopes
The lower than expected May inflation print has increased the odds of another rate cut
Microfinance Q4 a wake-up call for companies, policymakers
India’s microfinance sector is reeling under a client drop, shrinking loans, and rising defaults
Keeping foreign policy hostage to domestic political optics hurts India
Pakistan is a “phenomenal partner” to the US in countering terrorism, a US military general told the country’s legislators this week. It’s an observation Indians will find perverse, particularly from a country which partners India in multiple areas. This, in turn, begs the question on whether India’s diplomatic outreach has been futile. The answer may actually lie in the government’s domestic political priorities which often overwhelm everything else
Dollar weakness is turning all fund managers into currency traders
Hedging against falls in the dollar has not been a prime concern but Trump 2.0 is changing the mood
Why are real estate companies making a beeline for the primary market?
India has emerged as a top global destination for cross-border capital in real estate, ranking seventh worldwide in Colliers' June 2025 report. Fuelled by strong economic fundamentals and robust infrastructure growth, the sector is attracting significant investor interest
India’s new payments board aims to drive fintech growth
The RBI’s new Payments Regulatory Board introduces diverse, multi-stakeholder oversight, aiming to modernise payment regulation, foster innovation, enhance inclusion, and potentially pave the way for an independent regulator
