India and Qatar aim to double their bilateral trade to $28 billion in five years, transforming their relationship into a strategic partnership. PM Modi and Amir Al-Thani's high-level meeting led to key agreements on trade, investment, and energy cooperation, including extending India's LNG imports from Qatar. Additionally, they signed MoUs on economic cooperation and cultural exchange.
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More than 54.5 crore JanDhan accounts have been opened till January 15, 2025, with about 56 per cent belonging to women, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The government initiated the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana in 2014 to provide universal banking services, later focusing on 'every unbanked adult'.
Flipkart cofounder Binny Bansal has introduced Opptra, a startup focused on franchise business portfolios for branded consumer goods. Opptra will use AI-driven localisation and e-commerce expertise to expand brands across Asia and globally. The company leverages a global supply chain integrating automation and smart logistics, aiming for swift market penetration through a balance of online and offline channels.
The World Bank's $20 billion package for Pakistan will support a 10-year programme focusing on areas such as child stunting, learning poverty, and climate resilience. This initiative aims to ensure stability in development projects despite political changes. An additional $20 billion in private sector lending brings the total investment to $40 billion.
Private equity-venture capital investments increased by 10% in the January-March 2025 period, reaching $7.9 billion. Notable deals included Bain Capital's Rs 4,390 crore investment in Manappuram Finance, Actis' $163 million investment in Stride Climate Investments, and Darwinbox's $140 million raise led by Partners Group and KKR.
Moody’s Ratings expects significant foreign direct investment in the insurance sector if the government increases the FDI limit to 100% from 74%. This move, along with improving margins, can attract more foreign insurers, especially with the proposal allowing monoline and composite insurance companies. State-owned insurers' margins have improved due to recent government decisions.
There are two types of capital gains: long-term and short-term. Indexation helps reduce taxable gains by adjusting for inflation. Long-term capital losses can only be set off against similar gains, while short-term losses can be set off against any asset gains. Losses can be carried forward for eight years, but timely income tax return filing is essential.
Nissan is ceasing car production in India and selling its 51% stake in a Chennai factory to Renault. Despite struggling with market share, Nissan will continue to introduce new models and remain active in India. Renault plans new investments and electric vehicles, aiming to replicate past successes with models like Duster and Kwid.
7-Eleven's parent company, Seven & i Holdings, is exploring store sell-offs with Canadian firm Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT) to address antitrust concerns and a potential merger. Joint efforts by financial advisors are underway to find buyers, aiming to create a feasible divestiture plan. This follows measures to counter ACT's takeover bid, previously rejected for undervaluation.
Bitcoin hits an all-time high of $109,241 as anticipation grows for Donald Trump’s return to the White House and potential pro-crypto executive orders. Trump’s memecoin launch caused fluctuations in the digital asset market, further pushing the momentum of Bitcoin and other top tokens like Ether and XRP.
Reliance Industries Ltd surpassed analyst estimates with a 7.4% rise in net income, driven by strong gains in its telecom and retail units. Revenue increased by 6.6%, totaling 2.43 trillion rupees. Chairman Mukesh Ambani noted the resilience of the oil-to-chemicals business amid global volatility. The company also benefited from festive demand boosting retail performance.