Whirlpool India's shares plummeted 20% as Whirlpool Corporation plans to cut its stake to about 20% this year, generating $550-600 million. The reduced stake aims to provide autonomy for growth and support $700 million debt reduction. Last year, Whirlpool had already reduced its stake from 75% to 51%.
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Budget 2025 proposes a block assessment mechanism for transfer pricing to reduce compliance burdens. The new approach allows predetermined Arm's Length Price to apply for two additional years, though experts highlight the need for clarity on implementation and potential issues for taxpayers.
The government's decision last July to reduce import duties on gold has significantly had a positive impact on the industry, and any increase in tariffs in the upcoming Budget may have adverse effects, said World Gold Council.
Rural poverty in India has notably dropped to 4.86% in 2023-24, down from 25.7% in 2011-12, driven by government support. Urban poverty also declined to 4.09%. Increased consumption and infrastructure developments have contributed to narrowing the rural-urban income gap, with significant improvements in rural livelihoods.
Companies in India are expected to see an average salary increment of 8.8% in 2025, slightly down from 9.0% in 2024. While 75% of companies aim to maintain or reduce pay hikes due to muted revenue growth, top performers may receive 1.7 times higher increments than average employees, with a focus on optimizing costs and talent differentiation.
On January 19, 2025, Melania Trump launched the MELANIA meme coin, which quickly achieved a $4 billion market capitalization within 30 minutes. This launch affected the TRUMP meme coin, reducing its market cap by $5 billion. The MELANIA token allocation raised ethical concerns, with 90% held in a single wallet and significant portions allocated to team vesting and treasury.
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.
India's mobility industry is expected to exceed $600 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for electric vehicles, including preferences for advanced technology in electric four-wheelers and practicality in electric two-wheelers. Emerging mobility models, digital purchase journeys, and increasing influence of women and Gen Z are also shaping the sector's transformation.
Equity markets are bracing for a volatile, holiday-shortened week, influenced by US-China trade war developments and key Q4 earnings from Indian giants like Wipro and Infosys. Investors will closely monitor global cues, foreign investor activity, and inflation data. Market sentiment will also be affected by rupee-dollar movements and Brent crude oil prices amid significant global economic data releases.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella meets PM Narendra Modi expressing appreciation for India's AI-first approach and discussing ethical AI use and data privacy. Nadella is on a tour in India to promote Microsoft's AI and cloud investments. Modi highlights partnerships with global AI leaders fostering innovation and regulation in India.
Sebi is developing a 'when listed' concept for trading shares of companies post-IPO bidding closure to counteract the grey market's influence. This initiative aims to formalize the trading of yet-to-be-listed stocks in a regulated manner. Sebi is also streamlining the IPO submission process using AI tools to handle the anticipated surge in IPO applications effectively.