India-China trade deficit down by $10 billion in 2018-19
Although the India-China trade deficit registered a marginal decline a couple of times over the past 10 years, the fall has never been as much as seen in 2018-19.
NBFCs are running out of options and selling bonds to the public
NBFCs are selling public bonds with the purpose of building a retail base. But individual investors may not be aware of the high risks.
Delays in sales of bankrupt firms raising funding costs, JSW Steel complains
Resolution process of bankrupt firms has been slowed as courts are inundated with appeals from founders, administrators, lenders & bidders.
Oil prices are climbing again and that’s bad news for inflation outlook
Crude prices are at 5-month high and pose a risk to benign inflation expectations that allowed RBI to cut rates.
Market opens cautiously as India sees day 1 of voting in Lok Sabha elections
The rupee depreciated 4 paise to 69.15 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday.
Currency, forex, growth in free fall: Economy is Pakistan’s real crisis, IMF only saviour
Pakistan has reserves for just two months of imports, and also faces a current account, fiscal deficit, inflation crisis.
Global analysts are ratcheting up their profit forecasts for Indian equities
Fundamentals of corporate India are improving & projections for next year’s earnings at S&P BSE Sensex Index companies has jumped to a record high.
Weak power demand indicates more slowdown pain ahead
Listless growth in electricity demand points to lack of appetite among factories & commercial firms who consume about half of India’s power.
The world is not even close to the next great recession
The world economy might be messy and there will be regional divergences aplenty, but it is not terrible as IMF data shows there are still some chances of growth.
Banking big-wigs turn to self-employment as Indian credit markets look worse than ever
The bankers branching out say that the recent market turmoil has created the need for a more boutique approach to navigating the credit markets.
India’s caste problem has a silver lining: urbanisation, and inter-caste marriage
Unlike villages, search for partners in cities shifts its focus from family and caste networks to friends and professional networks.
IAS poll observer: With Modi breaking rules, should EC give him special security treatment?
The Election Commission has suspended an IAS officer who had inspected PM Narendra Modi’s chopper in Odisha’s Sambalpur Tuesday.
Defence
China is now testing laser ASAT weapons from its naval ships
China has already tested missile & EMP anti-satellite weapons from the ground. Now it’s using icebreaker ships in the Yellow Sea/Bohai Sea area.
Modi & Shah have turned India into ‘Jingostan’ & are out to conquer the paranoid country
The Modi-Shah BJP has resurrected dangers & the enemy from the past, and built a scary jingoism. It’s a great diversionary tactic, but it never ends well.