COVID IMPACT ON PRICES
Commodity Talk: Gold's 13% H1CY2024 returns robust, but positives priced-in now, says Anuj Gupta
Average returns by gold over the past five years are at 8.43%. Its best six-month performance has been in 2020, the year of Covid lockdowns. That year gold yielded nearly 25% returns. The next highest are in 2024 at 13.26%. In H1 of 2022 and 2023, the returns were 5% and 6%. It has given negative returns of 6.60% in 2021.
Gold’s 13% uptick beats Nifty's H1CY24 gains. Who could hold the edge in second half?
HDFC Bank's shares surged approximately 3% to reach a new 52-week high on Wednesday. Investors reacted positively to news suggesting a potential increase in the bank's weightage in the MSCI Emerging Markets index. Doubling lenders' weightage in the global index can attract FII flows, ranging from $3.2 bn to $4 bn.
£315,000 Ferrari supercars growl a warning for EVs
Since going public in 2015, the Italian company has expanded both the volume and variety of cars it sells, while preserving exclusivity by raising prices, restricting who can order vehicles and resulting in long waiting lists. Around three-quarters of its cars are purchased by existing clients, while almost half the company’s vehicle sales are hybrids.
Prices of premium residential under-construction properties continue to rise in top cities
According to Savills India, prices of premium under-construction residential properties surged up to 53% in major cities like Gurugram, Delhi, Noida, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Gurugram led with the highest increase. North Goa also saw a 28% rise in villa prices, driven by remote work trends and high rental yields.
Central banks must prepare for profound impact of AI, BIS says
In its first major report about the rapidly advancing world of AI Bank for International Settlements (BIS)has said, policymakers need to harness its immense power to monitor data in real time to "sharpen" their inflation-predicting abilities. A former Swedish central banker said, "We like to hold humans accountable."
"It's all happening again": The supply chain is under strain
The intensifying upheaval in shipping is prompting carriers to lift rates while raising the specter of waterborne gridlock that could again threaten retailers with product shortages during the make-or-break holiday shopping season. The disruption could also exacerbate inflation, a source of economic anxiety animating the U.S. presidential election.
- Go To Page 1
Exceptionally hot summer & low reservoir levels to likely impact vegetables, fruit crop: RBI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) warned on Wednesday that the exceptionally hot summer and low reservoir levels could stress the summer crops of vegetables and fruits, potentially disrupting efforts to control inflation. Governor Shaktikanta Das highlighted that while overall inflation eased, food prices remain volatile and elevated, complicating the inflation battle.
China central bank boss says no major stimulus to boost economy
The country's recovery from the impact of Covid has slowed in the months since it abruptly lifted tough restrictions in late 2022, with a property crisis and tepid consumer demand weighing on growth.
Informal sector shows resilience, witnesses recovery post-pandemic: Survey
The informal sector faced a severe blow during the second wave of the pandemic, leading to a reduction in the number of units and workers. However, a gradual recovery was observed after the July quarter of 2021, according to the findings of an official survey reported by TOI. The annual survey of unincorporated sector enterprises (ASUSE) revealed the resilience of the informal sector, with the total number of establishments increasing from 5.8 crore in 2021-22 to 6.5 crore in 2022-23, marking a growth of nearly 5.9%.
HUL takes lead in reducing palm oil in soaps
Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is reducing the content of palm oil and its derivatives in soaps by 25%, a global first, as part of a strategy to offset commodity price volatility and reduce environmental impact. The innovation, called Stratos, took HUL almost five years to develop and will be rolled out in other countries by parent company Unilever. The technology replaces palm oil with a mix of plant-derived polysaccharides, vitamin blends, and natural fatty acids, improving the product while using 25% less palm oil.
Covid scare is gone, but at-home consumption of alcohol sticks
According to latest data from global alcohol market analysts IWSR, 79.2% of alcobev volume sales in India last calendar year were ‘off-premise’, or outside bars and restaurants. While this share has come down from 82.4% in 2022, it is still higher than 72.5% during the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Diversify your portfolio to gain from post-elections policies: Mahantesh Sabarad
Mahantesh Sabarad, an Independent Market Expert, suggests that the capex theme will be lucrative, particularly for capital goods and industrial goods companies, if the current government continues. This outlook is based on the expectation of a strong emphasis on capex under the incumbent administration.
Travel demand to outpace supply for next decade: Yezdi Nagporewalla
But you will always have a mismatch between demand and supply and it is largely because the hospitality sector is interdependent on other aspects like infrastructure, like hygiene, like safety, and those aspects. So, the entire ecosystem actually has to fall into play to make it comparable with developed places.
We are poised to open a minimum of 25 hotels this year: Puneet Chhatwal, IHCL
I think as things are beginning to normalise, this global travel will also start coming back. And as of this October, we should see us getting close to the pre-COVID level. And it is only next year that India will cross the international arrival numbers that it had prior to COVID.
In a growing economy, new defensive sectors tend to emerge: 5 tiles and ceramic and home makers stocks with upside potential of up to 41%
Many times the word, defensive stocks is used on the street. Most of the time it is FMCG, pharma and others which are referred to as defensive stocks. The reason being that the demand for these companies is steady and is not impacted much even when there is any slowdown in an economy. The question is in an economy which is growing faster and new areas of consumption are coming up every second day, where the demand from being seasonal and cyclical has reached a stage where in all economic conditions it stays above single digit, shouldn't those also be considered as defensive and valued accordingly. Probably the Indian economy has reached a stage where the demand for tiles, ceramic and home building products, ex-cement has reached a level where in worst cases it will not go below a point.
Gotta fix those inequality gaps
Since 1947, India has experienced considerable economic expansion, yet the advantages of this growth have not been evenly spread. The era of economic liberalization brought forth fresh avenues and prosperity, but it also contributed to a surge in inequality, a trend further magnified by recent economic upheavals, such as the pandemic. In 1967-68, the top 10% of the population accounted for 36.49% of the total national income.
Restructuring impacts even the smallest player: 5 not so much talked about PSU banks
When it comes to PSU banks, all the limelight is taken by the top players, like SBI, BoB, PNB and one or two others. But the fact is that there are many other small PSU banks, which of course have smaller books and less of national presence, but the fact is that they have been also the beneficiary of the “ reconstruction and restructuring" (R&R) which both government and RBI have done in the banking sector in the last seven years. The good part of any R&R exercise in banking is that all the players whether it is small or large have to follow the rules and that ensures that the operating matrix improves across the sector and which leads to long term beneficial impact. We take a look at 5 small PSU banks, which are not normally in news, but over years they have also seen an improvement in their working. Yes, they have their own risks in terms of loan book and other business risk, but then because they are under owned in institutional space, a bit of institutional buying can lead to sharp re-rating.
Dr Lal PathLabs shares zoom 8% after Q4 results. Should you buy or sell?
Dr Lal PathLabs saw an 8% surge in shares to Rs 2,539.65 on the BSE following a 51% YoY increase in net profit to Rs 86 crore for Q4FY24. Analysts have varying opinions, with Kotak and JM Financial maintaining positive outlooks, while Goldman Sachs remains cautious.
Bikes will retake pre-covid peak in two years: TVS
Two-wheeler sales in India are expected to surpass pre-Covid peak this fiscal year or next, according to Sudarshan Venu, managing director at TVS Motor Company. The Indian economy is in a "good situation" with inflation under control, which will drive consumption going forward. TVS Motor is planning to launch multiple products to grow faster than the market, including a slew of electric vehicles (EVs) at varied price points to cater to diverse customers.
Will short-term headwinds impact long-term potential? 6 stocks from hospital sector with upside potential of up to 30%
After outperforming the market, stocks from the healthcare sector or what is more commonly called hospital sector have gone into consolidation mode. The consolidation has been prompted by the fact that voices have been raised about differential pricing in the services of the hospitals. The matter has reached the Supreme Court and will be heard. Given the fact that while medicine is a science but in real life as practice it has an element of art in it. For example, a hospital who has a renowned surgeon from any branch, be it cardio, neuro on its roll may charge up more for the same surgery as compared to others. While the moral debate is on one side, there is another side to the story. In a country like India, the healthcare infrastructure needs vast expansion and upgradation. To some extent the street is ruthless and does not have much moral obligation.
New sectors to take GDP trajectory higher; a large part of allocations should be in midcaps: Harendra Kumar
Harendra Kumar anticipates GDP growth over the next five to ten years to come from sectors that traditionally never existed in India. For example, EMS players are doing really well. A huge semiconductor ecosystem is going to come. We are going to see a listing of EV players. Midcaps show greater growth potential. Auto sector expected to yield big returns.
Bitcoin Halving 2024 Explained : How it works & Why does it Matter
The 2024 Bitcoin halving, anticipated to drive prices up significantly, highlights the importance of Bitcoin in the crypto world. This event may lead to increased adoption, new regulations, and global financial system impacts.
Will avian flu become another pandemic and Joe Biden pay price for its spread in 2024 Presidential Election?
If media reports are to be believed, the Joe Biden administration is dangerously underprepared for the disease. The avian flu virus H5N1 has jumped to mammals in the last two years and more than 30 species, including homo sapiens, have been affected. Will it impact the 2024 US Presidential Election?
Fed keeps June rate cut hopes alive. How exciting is that for stock investors?
US Federal Reserve anticipates rate cuts in June, sparking global stock rally. Sensex and gold prices surge, reflecting market optimism. Fed's adjustments show confidence in economic stability.
Better option for uncertain times: Two unwanted sectors & 5 strong balance sheets
It is after a long period of time that both indices and market breadth are indicating that finally there is a correction. Now just because the market is correcting that does not mean that money is not going to come to markets. There are still lots of investors who would be sitting on cash and looking to deploy fresh money. The question is in current market conditions with headwinds getting added to already existing ones like high valuations, what strategy should an investor follow so that fresh money which he is putting in performs relatively better?
Oil extends fall as China's pledge to transform economy fails to impress
Brent futures for May fell 3 cents to $82.77 a barrel by 0159 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 11 cents, to $78.63.
Paying a price for sending money: The global impact of remittance fees and solutions
Barada Talukdar, a Kuwaiti mud specialist, uses Al Mulla Exchange to send money to his family and friends in Kuwait. However, the exchange rate fluctuations and commissions can be confusing for blue-collar workers like his cook. At the World Trade Organisation's ministerial conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, New Delhi discussed the issue of exorbitant fees for crossborder remittances. About 20 nations from Asia, Latin America, and Africa had spoken in favor of India's proposal to cut the cost of remittances.
Bajaj Finance shares plunge 5% on Q3 asset quality woes. Should you buy?
Shares of Bajaj Finance dropped nearly 5% on the NSE after reporting higher loan losses and provisions for the quarter. Macquarie reiterated 'Neutral' stance, while Jefferies and PhillipCapital gave 'Buy' ratings. Bajaj Finance's Q3 consolidated net profit grew 22% YoY to Rs 3,639 crore, slightly below expectations. Macquarie expects credit costs to increase as delinquencies normalize. Jefferies maintains 'Buy' rating with a target of Rs 9,400, citing strong AUM growth and better NIMs.
UNCTAD cautions on geopolitical tensions, climate change impact on global trade
The ongoing crisis in the Red Sea shipping route is causing disruptions in global trade, raising concerns about its impact on developing nations and global food prices. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warns that disruptions in grain shipments from Europe, Russia, and Ukraine pose risks to global food security.
Load More
