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Explainers
Trump Reflects on 100 Days — Tariffs, Immigration, and His Take on Global Standing
In a candid Oval Office interview marking his first 100 days in office, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed a wide range of issues — from the economy and tariffs to immigration and international diplomacy. Trump defended his economic policies, particularly the implementation of tariffs, asserting that they were part of his campaign promises. Responding to concerns about rising costs, he insisted, “Well, they did sign up for it,” reaffirming his stance that the U.S. was being exploited in global trade and needed to act decisively.... Read more
Bank of Canada Presses Pause on Rate Cuts Amid Trade Turmoil
On a constant interest rate cut spree since last summer, the Bank of Canada (BoC) has finally chosen to keep its benchmark rates at bay at 2.75%. The central bank’s cautious stance comes in response to rising global trade tensions, particularly those triggered by unpredictable U.S. tariff policies under President Donald Trump.... Read more
Global Economy 2025: Challenges, Trends, and Opportunities
The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2025 report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) highlights stagnated global economic growth, which remains below the pre-pandemic annual average of 3.2%. Persistent challenges like weak investment, sluggish productivity, and high debt levels continue to hamper economic performance worldwide.. Read more
Trump’s Reciprocal Tariff Threat: Potential Impact on India’s Exports
US President Donald Trump’s plan to implement reciprocal tariffs starting April is raising concerns for India’s export sectors, particularly automobiles, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. Analysts estimate that India could face annual losses of up to $7 billion if these tariffs come into effect.... Read more
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 6.25% Amid Easing Inflation and Slowing Growth
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 6.25%, marking the first revision in two years. This decision, made unanimously, comes amid easing retail inflation and slowing economic growth, even as the Rupee faces global tariff war pressures. This was the last policy meeting for FY25 and the first under new RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra... Read more
Trump’s Tariff Plan: A Growing Concern for Ireland
US President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose new tariffs on April 2 has raised concerns for Ireland, a country heavily reliant on exports. The tariffs aim to reduce the US’s $1.2 trillion trade deficit by raising US tariffs to match those imposed by other nations. While details remain uncertain, experts fear that Ireland will be significantly affected, especially in key sectors like pharmaceuticals, medical products, and technology.... Read more
ECB Nears 2% Inflation Target, Lagarde Confirms
The European Central Bank (ECB) is on track to achieve its 2% inflation target, ECB President Christine Lagarde stated in a recent video message. She emphasized that significant progress was made in 2024, and 2025 is expected to be the year when inflation stabilizes at the target level, in line with the ECB’s strategy... Read more
Egypt Secures $2 Billion Loan Amid Rising Debt Concerns
Egypt’s Parliament gave a green signal to a $2 billion commercial loan request from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, helped along by a consortium of regional banks, inclusive of the Emirates NBD Capital Limited, Standard Chartered, and more. The loan is targeted to refinance past debts and resolve the country’s budget deficit... Read more
Romania Faces High Financial Stability Risks Amid Twin Deficits and Global Uncertainties
The National Bank of Romania (BNR), in its latest Financial Stability Report, highlights significant risks to the country’s financial stability. Chief among these is the deepening of the twin deficits, identified as the most critical domestic risk factor. The report underscores that severe systemic risks stem from global uncertainties tied to geopolitical tensions and deteriorating domestic macroeconomic balances... Read more
Moody’s Forecasts Strong Growth for India in 2024 Amid Global Challenges
Moody’s projects a robust 7.2% growth for the Indian economy in 2024, driven by a rebound in household consumption and moderating inflation, according to its latest Global Macro Outlook report for 2025-26. Household consumption is expected to rise due to strong festive demand and increased rural spending, supported by favourable rainfall patterns... Read more
Global Trade to Hit Record $33 Trillion in 2024 Amid Growing Uncertainty
Global trade is nicely placed to reach an unprecedented $33 trillion in 2024, buoyed by robust growth in services and goods, as per the UNCTAD's Global Trade Update. This marks a $1 trillion increase over 2023, with services trade contributing significantly, surging by 7% and accounting for half of the expansion. While goods trade grew by a margin of 2%, it remained sufficiently below its 2022 peak... Read more
The Impact of Trump’s Return and What It Means for Politics and Society
Donald Trump’s re-election has reignited global discussions on politics, morality, and economic priorities. His unexpected victory signifies more than a political shift—it reflects the electorate’s focus on tangible economic solutions over ethical considerations... Read more
Turkey’s Central Bank Maintains Caution Amid Persistent Inflation Concerns
The Turkish Central Bank kept its key policy rate unchanged at 50% during its 10th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting this year, extending a seven-month pause on Thursday. The decision aligns with market expectations, as officials aim to tackle persistent inflation despite a recent slight uptick... Read more
High Food Prices Cast Shadow on India's Festive Season Spending
As India's festival season begins, rising prices of essential items like edible oils, onions, and tomatoes have significantly increased grocery bills, affecting consumer spending. While the festive period typically sees high demand for electronics and other goods, this year’s start has been slow. Sales of home appliances and electronics rose only 5-7%, falling short of expected... Read more
Nassim Taleb Warns of Potential Market Collapse Amid Rising Risks
Renowned economist and risk expert Nassim Taleb, famous for "The Black Swan," has issued a stark warning about a potential market collapse. In an interview with Bloomberg, Taleb highlights growing concerns over high debt levels and what he describes as... Read more
Transforming Nigerian Forests into Economic Hubs: World Bank’s New Commitment
The World Bank has pledged its support to Nigeria in transforming the country's forests into economic hubs, aiming to tackle insecurity and environmental degradation. Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, announced the collaboration in Abuja alongside World Bank representatives, including Ndiame Diop, Nigeria’s Country Director, and Chakib Jenane, Regional Director for West and Central Africa Read more
India is on Track to Become the World’s Third-Largest Economy by 2031
India is on its way to becoming the third-largest global economy by 2030-31, driven by a projected 6.7% annual growth rate, according to S&P Global India. In 2024, India is already the fastest-growing large economy, with an 8.2% GDP growth rate, exceeding previous estimates Read more
British Debt Hits 100% of GDP: Challenges for Finance Minister Rachel Reeves
The UK’s public debt has reached 100% of its GDP, the highest since records began in 1993. This surge pressures Finance Minister Rachel Reeves as she prepares her October 30 budget. Public sector net debt, excluding public sector-owned banks, rose from 99.3% in July, marking the first time the debt ratio has reached this level since the early 1960s when the country was still grappling with World War II’s financial consequences.... Read more
India holds the top position for highest remittances with a unique record, according to said International Organisation for Migration.
The International Organization for Migration (I.O.M) has placed India in the top spot, as per its latest World Migration report (2024). The nation has received a record sum of $111.22 billion in remittances thereby emerging as the first country to cross the $100 billion mark... Read more
SEBI refines mutual fund laws to prevent tail-gating by portfolio management companies
The Securities Exchange Board of India has authorized the modifications made to Sebi (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996 to curb the practices of forward-trading (front-running) in portfolio managing companies.. Read more
Government Withdraws Tax Relief for FPIs in Mauritius following Tax Treaty Revision.
A pact validated by India and Mauritius jointly on March 7 called for the end of tax reliefs enjoyed by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) from Mauritius, with the modifications catching the public eye only on April 10. Read more
1.05 billion tons of food wasted, says UNEP
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) working in close association with the British NGO Wrap has found some alarming trends based on how food waste is handled globally. Approximately 785 million people face chronic starvation while households form the biggest group of food disposers (631 million tonnes). Read more
Direct tax collection hits Rs15.60 lakh crore, reaching 80% of the revised target for FY24.
Up to this point in the current fiscal year, there has been a 20% increase in net direct tax collection compared to the previous year, with a total of Rs.15.60 lakh Crore, considering 80% of the revised budget projections for the whole fiscal year. Read more
India and South Africa express contrasting views to the WTO investment agreement held in Abu Dhabi
At the recently concluded meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Abu Dhabi, India and South Africa indicated their disapproval of an investment agreement, hampering its adoption. A move of this nature will seriously affect the financing projections, costing billions of dollars. Read more
Popular card networks under RBI’s scanner
The Reserve Bank of India has recently issued a notice to a widely renowned card network provider, emphasizing on suspending all transactions using business cards for unauthorized payments made using unregistered entities. The order was announced by RBI after it discovered that Section 4 of the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007 was violated. Read more
BUDGET EXPLAINER- Expectations on Railways
India’s railways stand as one of the few sectors that has benefitted immensely from the Union Budget 2023. It received a whopping allocation of approximately Rs 2.5 lakh crores, a significant improvement since 2013 when it received Rs. 26,000 crores. A wide range of works which includes renovating various stations, assembling newer tracks, and launching Vande Bharat trains have resulted in a tremendous jump in the prices of rail stocks. Read more
BUDGET EXPLAINER- Mutual Funds - Expectations
Mutual funds (MFs) have gained significant attention over the last decade and a wider share of the Indian middle class have not just preferred saving money alone but rather engage more actively by investing in low-risk funds. The risk tolerance of a larger share of the population has improved significantly despite the economic shifts that occurred during this period.