Wholesale price inflation accelerated in December to 2.4% annually due to rising prices of some manufactured products and non-food items. Food articles inflation eased slightly to 8.5%, with vegetables at 28.7%. Potato inflation surged to 93.2%. Manufactured product prices increased by 2.1%.
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Investments in India are set to grow faster than consumption in FY26, driven by government and RBI measures. GDP growth is expected between 6.5-7%, with improving rural consumption and higher government spending bolstering economic activity. Private investments remain stable due to strong corporate order books, while nominal GDP growth could rise to 10-11%.
The Nasdaq tumbled 2.7 percent early Monday due to the emergence of DeepSeek, a low-cost Chinese generative AI venture, challenging US tech companies. Major AI players like Nvidia, Meta, and Microsoft saw significant stock drops as investors reevaluate the competitive landscape and investment outlook.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has disciplined a record 241 CAs this financial year, up from 119 last year. ICAI's president Charanjot Singh Nanda stressed maintaining high ethical standards and efficient disciplinary actions. Nanda emphasized that audit work is exclusive to Chartered Accountants and aims to make Indian CA firms global players, seeking government support.
Chinese stocks experienced their worst start to the year in nearly a decade due to weaker-than-expected manufacturing data and impending tariff hikes. The CSI 300 Index fell 2.9%, with the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index dropping 3.1%. Concerns over the economic recovery and lack of significant stimulus measures contributed to the market's fragile sentiment.
Despite global market downturns, India's investor participation surged, reaching 11.2 crore by February 2025, with 11.3 lakh new investors joining that month alone. The National Stock Exchange data reveals a significant rise in retail engagement over the past year. North and East India lead in growth, reflecting a shifting regional landscape in investor demographics, showcasing rising public interest in equities.
Adani Group and Aditya Birla Group are set to enter the high-growth wires and cables sector, challenging an industry dominated by smaller, unorganized players. This move is expected to disrupt the market significantly. Both conglomerates have invested heavily, with Adani forming a joint venture and Aditya Birla announcing a major investment and plans for a new plant.
The government approved a Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme to enhance credit availability for micro, small, and medium manufacturing sectors, under the Make in India initiative. The scheme provides 60% guarantee coverage for loans up to Rs 100 crore, aiding MSMEs in financing equipment and machinery purchases.
Nokia has settled a patent dispute with Amazon over video technologies used in Amazon's streaming services and devices. The settlement resolves all ongoing litigation between the two companies. Nokia had accused Amazon of violating its patents for video compression and content delivery in October 2023. Details of the settlement remain confidential.
As geopolitical tensions evolve into new forms, 40 per cent of board members and C-suite executives are are now identifying economic conditions as the most significant risk factor for their organisations over the next two to three years, according to a report by Protiviti.
Credit rating upgrades have continued to outpace downgrades in FY25, though at a slower pace compared to FY24. ICRA remains positive due to factors like tax relief and improved credit availability, while others like CareEdge and Crisil also see stability despite global headwinds.