On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced it would keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5% for the 11th consecutive time. This decision comes despite the GDP growth rate for the July-September quarter falling to a 7-quarter low of 5.4%, which was below the RBI's earlier projection of 7%. The RBI paused its rate hike cycle in April last year after raising rates by 250 basis points since May 2022. In the fifth bi-monthly monetary policy review for the current fiscal year,

In October 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) made a significant move by adding 27 tonnes of gold to its reserves, bringing its total gold purchases for the year to 78 tonnes. This marks the highest level of purchases since 2009, when India acquired 200 tonnes from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The RBI's total gold reserves now stand at 882 tonnes. In comparison, India had bought only 16 tonnes of gold in 2023. The RBI's gold purchase comes amid global economic i

Oil prices have shown remarkable stability, remaining in a narrow range since mid-October, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fluctuating around $70 per barrel. This rangebound trend has been characterized by a significant drop in volatility, with recent levels at their lowest since August. Despite ongoing geopolitical risks, such as the tensions between Iran and Israel and the potential impacts of a second Donald Trump presidency, traders have remained cautious. The market's curren

In response to growing concerns over liquor shops charging more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for bottled liquor, the Andhra Pradesh government has introduced strict corrective measures. A new Government Order (G.O.) has been released, which imposes a fine of Rs 5 lakh for the first offense if liquor stores are found violating MRP regulations. The government aims to ensure that consumers are not charged unfair prices and that liquor sales are conducted with transparency. The n

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to maintain the status quo on the benchmark repo rate at 6.5% in its upcoming meeting from December 4 to 6. Despite India's GDP growth slowing to 5.4% in the July-September quarter, economists suggest that inflation concerns will likely take precedence, making a rate cut unlikely in December. Retail inflation rose to 6.2% in October, exceeding the RBI’s target range of 2-6%. Though a repo rate cu

RBL Bank and Bajaj Finance Ltd. have mutually decided to stop issuing new co-branded credit cards following discussions that have taken place over the past month. While the change will not affect RBL Bank’s overall credit card business, it marks the end of a significant partnership that previously accounted for a large portion of RBL Bank’s card issuances. As of September 2023, Bajaj Finserv co-branded cards represented 41% of RBL Bank’s total credit card issuances.

The Indian rupee opened flat at 84.24 against the US dollar on Thursday, following a slight dip of 11 paise to close at 84.45 on Wednesday. On Tuesday, it had closed at 84.34. The minor decline reflects the ongoing volatility in the foreign exchange market. The rupee had also opened weaker by 5 paise at 84.39 on Wednesday morning. Analysts predict that the rupee's range for the day will likely stay between 84.30 and 84.50. Anil Kumar Bhansali, head of treasury and executive dire

In a recent initiative to transform Andhra Pradesh into a technology hub, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu introduced a comprehensive new IT policy designed to promote Deep-Tech and Artificial Intelligence. During a review meeting, Naidu revealed plans to build an iconic Deep-Technology structure in Amaravati, aimed at harnessing the latest advancements in technology. The state government also announced a seed funding scheme under the Start-Up Policy to support SCs, STs, BCs, minorities, a

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the registration certificates of two non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)—Ulhas Securities Pvt. and Sikar Investment Co.. The registration of Ulhas Securities, based in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was granted in December 2003, while Sikar Investment, based in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, had been registered in March 1998. The cancellation was carried out under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, which allows the RBI to

The 1990 Immigration Act brought significant changes to the H-1B visa program and employment-based green cards, imposing caps of 65,000 and 140,000 annually, respectively. These restrictions were implemented without considering the growing demand for skilled labor fueled by technological advancements. The arbitrary cap on H-1B visas quickly became insufficient as more than 70% of graduate students in tech fields at US universities were international students. In response to the escalat

In just two days, equity investors faced a staggering loss of ₹13 lakh crore in market valuation as the BSE benchmark Sensex saw a sharp 2.27% drop. The benchmark index shed 1,805.2 points, with a 984.23-point decline on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, ending at 77,690.95. Experts cited soaring retail inflation, which hit a 14-month high of 6.21% in October, persistent foreign fund outflows, and muted corporate earnings as the primary reasons behind the significant market correction

The Indian rupee opened at 84.39 against the US dollar on Wednesday, remaining near its all-time low of 84.4162. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is continuing its efforts to stabilize the currency, with analysts Amit Pabari and Anil Kumar Bhansali suggesting that the ce

Donald Trump’s presidential appointments of Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz mark a decisive shift in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to China. Rubio, tapped as Secretary of State, and Waltz, named National Security Advisor, represent a hawkish approach to international relations, one that sharply contrasts with

Donald Trump’s recent vow to stop renewable energy projects, particularly offshore wind farms, on the first day of his potential presidency has raised alarm bells across the clean energy sector. In a statement that shocked industry leaders, Trump promised to “make sure that ends on day one,” referring to the offshore wind farms that are seen as a key component of the Biden administration’s green energy agenda. The pledge sent ripple effects through the stock market, wi

The possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House in 2024 raises important questions about the future of India-US relations. A second Trump presidency could bring significant shifts across several key areas, including trade, immigration, military cooperation, and broader diplomatic engagement. During his first term, Trump’s “America First” agenda and his transactional approach to foreign policy led to major policy changes such as tariffs on foreign goods

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reported an increase in its gold reserves, which now stand at 854.73 metric tonnes as of September 2024, up from 822.10 metric tonnes in March 2024. According to the half-yearly report on the management of foreign exchange reserves released on Tuesday, this increase indicates a strategic shift by the central bank amid rising geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation, and a stable interest rate environment. Out of the total gold reserves, 510.46

In a notable shift in immigration policy, Canada has decided to cut its immigration targets significantly, responding to increasing public concerns regarding the impact of new arrivals on housing and resources. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the government will lower its immigration goals from a planned 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025 to 395,000 for 2025 and 380,000 for 2026. This decision follows a recent survey indicating that a majority of Canadians now believe the co

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced its GDP growth forecast for India to 6.8% for the second quarter of fiscal 2024-25, a decrease of 20 basis points. In its October bulletin titled "State of the Economy," the RBI attributed this revision to a slackening momentum observed in some high-frequency indicators, which were partially impacted by unusual heavy rainfall in August and September. This latest forecast is lower than the previous projection of 7% made by RBI Gov

During a compelling interview at the  World Summit, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar shed light on the deteriorating diplomatic relations between India and Canada, which have faced significant strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations regarding India's involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jaishankar criticized what he termed "double standards" in diplomatic treatment, noting that while Canadian diplomat

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has expressed his displeasure regarding the rising complaints about the implementation of the new sand policy in Andhra Pradesh, particularly concerning the availability of sand and the high transportation charges associated with it. In light of these issues, the Mining Department has made a crucial adjustment to the policy. Effective immediately, citizens are now permitted to collect free sand from their nearest reaches and fulfillment points using