Trade discussions were a crucial aspect of this visit and culminated in both nations launching Mission 500, a bold ambition of more than doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
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DeepSeek, a Chinese AI app, has reached the No. 1 spot in Apple's App Store productivity category, surpassing ChatGPT. The app’s R1 AI model matches top competitors at a fraction of their cost and is free. Industry leaders, including Perplexity’s CEO and Marc Andreessen, have praised the achievement, highlighting its significant impact on the AI industry.
The Reserve Bank of India cut its key repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25%, the first cut in nearly five years. This decision from the Monetary Policy Committee aims to stimulate economic growth and offers relief to borrowers with lower EMIs. The move is in response to reduced economic growth and inflation management challenges.
Global trade in 2025 is expected to transform due to geopolitical tensions, potential US-China trade wars, AI advancements, and sustainability demands. Experts urge Indian exporters to prioritize AI strategy and environmental standards to stay competitive. New technologies and trade agreements pushing sustainability are crucial for future trade dynamics.
In 2024, Tata's Punch SUV surpassed Maruti's Swift to become the best-selling car in India. Buyers are increasingly preferring SUVs over hatchbacks. Tata Motors achieved its highest sales volumes with SUV sales growing significantly. Maruti WagonR is the only hatchback in the top 5. Tata Motors' multi-powertrain strategy contributed to its strong SUV sales.
According to the RBI, India's credit-to-GDP ratio was 90.1% in 2022, indicating potential for higher credit growth compared to advanced and emerging markets. This growth can boost economic development. The analysis also finds that income growth positively impacts bank deposits.
For those investing in mid-cap stocks via SIPs, an investment horizon of at least eight years is necessary to ensure capital preservation, based on historical data from 2005 to 2025. Mid-cap funds have shown lower volatility and risks compared to small-cap funds, making a time frame of 8-10 years advisable for consistent positive returns.
Household debt in India has increased to 42.9% of GDP as of June 2024, driven mainly by a rise in the number of borrowers. Most borrowing is for consumption, asset creation, and productive activities, with highly rated borrowers prioritizing asset investments. This trend is seen as enhancing credit quality and financial resilience.
Gold prices reached an all-time high of Rs 86,875 per 10 grams, driven by investor demand for safe havens amid US trade tariffs and global economic slowdown. Silver also saw fluctuations, ending at Rs 99,389 per kilogram. Market sentiment reflects expectations of a less aggressive Federal Reserve policy and ongoing volatility in the dollar index and US trade.
RBI's new governor, Sanjay Malhotra, faces the tough task of balancing India's economic growth, inflation, and exchange rate amid US election fallout and government pressure for lower interest rates. He must also tackle regulatory reforms, digital fraud, and mis-selling of financial products, impacting bank lending and consumer protection.