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
AAI plans to turn Trichy Airport’s unused old terminal into shopping complex
The old terminal building with a combined area of 14,450 square metres was decommissioned on June 11, 2024, after the new integrated terminal built at Rs 1,112 crore became operational.
Chart of the Day | Who leads, who lags, in the consumer sector?
Q4 shows a mixed bag with a marginal pick-up, surprisingly, in discretionary consumption segments
Ambition is redefining the purpose of savings in India
India's saving culture has evolved from necessity to ambition. With technological growth, increasing connectivity, and opportunities for education and health, the focus has shifted towards long-term prosperity and national development
While the UK regulates, India waits: A wake-up call for crypto policy
A measured principle-based framework is the need of the hour for Indian crypto assets
Dhaka Diary 2: Will an election change anything?
Bangladesh’s economy is in trouble, with critical economic indicators weakening since the July 2024 ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Political uncertainty looms with the equation between Yunus and BNP turning fractious. More importantly, for many ordinary Bangladeshis, there’s a sense of quiet despair at the lack of political choice and the absence of positive economic developments. An Indian journalist gauges the public mood in Dhaka
Startup Street | The persisting appeal of ‘bad boy’ entrepreneurs
It is the blunt, abrasive but out-of-the-box thinking that excites investors who don’t mind giving entrepreneurs who have caused more than their fair share of heartburn, a second chance or more
Steep taxes can blunt premium play of alcohol companies
New taxes make premium products even more expensive for consumers
